Comments on: Will ‘08 Be The Year For Desktop Linux? http://www.pcmech.com/article/will-08-be-the-year-for-desktop-linux/ Helping Normal People Get Their Geek On Mon, 23 Nov 2009 01:37:34 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: JinxterX http://www.pcmech.com/article/will-08-be-the-year-for-desktop-linux/comment-page-1/#comment-7254 JinxterX Tue, 22 Jan 2008 06:27:51 +0000 http://www.pcmech.com/article/will-08-be-the-year-for-desktop-linux/#comment-7254 I'll agree to disagree and leave it at that, otherwise this will get recursive and pointless. I’ll agree to disagree and leave it at that, otherwise this will get recursive and pointless.

]]> By: Rich Menga http://www.pcmech.com/article/will-08-be-the-year-for-desktop-linux/comment-page-1/#comment-7248 Rich Menga Tue, 22 Jan 2008 01:29:12 +0000 http://www.pcmech.com/article/will-08-be-the-year-for-desktop-linux/#comment-7248 You can fly the anti-Microsoft banner all you like, but when you start stating Windows users have a "lack of brain power" as you put it, that is not appropriate and doesn't redress any kind of balance whatsoever because you're targeting people. And I'm not going to argue over the semantics of the word Linux. No one has ever mistaken Linux in-title-only for OS X or Windows. If people were confusing Linux based OSes as a Microsoft or Apple product, then the semantics would count. That's not the case; no one cares. You can fly the anti-Microsoft banner all you like, but when you start stating Windows users have a “lack of brain power” as you put it, that is not appropriate and doesn’t redress any kind of balance whatsoever because you’re targeting people.

And I’m not going to argue over the semantics of the word Linux. No one has ever mistaken Linux in-title-only for OS X or Windows. If people were confusing Linux based OSes as a Microsoft or Apple product, then the semantics would count. That’s not the case; no one cares.

]]> By: JinxterX http://www.pcmech.com/article/will-08-be-the-year-for-desktop-linux/comment-page-1/#comment-7244 JinxterX Mon, 21 Jan 2008 23:35:47 +0000 http://www.pcmech.com/article/will-08-be-the-year-for-desktop-linux/#comment-7244 "And in true Linux nerd fashion" ..in true GNU/Linux nerd fashion.. would be more correct ;) Like the baud rate/bit rate distinction it's important to understand the real definition of Linux otherwise any comments relating to it simply don't make any sense, like saying (for example) Ubuntu is Linux, that's a totally incorrect statement. Yes it's true, I have an obsessive urge to fix errors and a bit of Windows bashing is good for the soul, after all there's FAR more pointless and uninformed "Linux" bashing out there from the Microsoft camp, so it's appropriate to try and redress the balance now and again :D “And in true Linux nerd fashion”

..in true GNU/Linux nerd fashion.. would be more correct ;)

Like the baud rate/bit rate distinction it’s important to understand the real definition of Linux otherwise any comments relating to it simply don’t make any sense, like saying (for example) Ubuntu is Linux, that’s a totally incorrect statement.

Yes it’s true, I have an obsessive urge to fix errors and a bit of Windows bashing is good for the soul, after all there’s FAR more pointless and uninformed “Linux” bashing out there from the Microsoft camp, so it’s appropriate to try and redress the balance now and again :D

]]> By: Rich Menga http://www.pcmech.com/article/will-08-be-the-year-for-desktop-linux/comment-page-1/#comment-7238 Rich Menga Mon, 21 Jan 2008 19:06:40 +0000 http://www.pcmech.com/article/will-08-be-the-year-for-desktop-linux/#comment-7238 Heh, nice. You sound like those nerds in the BBS days from years ago that correct someone by saying "Oh, no.. it's 2400 bits per second, not 2400 baud". And as usual, no one cares. And in true Linux nerd fashion, you took the opportunity to bash Windows users. Classic! One wonders if you can you make a point without putting down Windows users or correcting? Nah, probably not. But your comment was entertaining. :-) Heh, nice. You sound like those nerds in the BBS days from years ago that correct someone by saying “Oh, no.. it’s 2400 bits per second, not 2400 baud”. And as usual, no one cares.

And in true Linux nerd fashion, you took the opportunity to bash Windows users. Classic!

One wonders if you can you make a point without putting down Windows users or correcting? Nah, probably not. But your comment was entertaining. :-)

]]> By: JinxterX http://www.pcmech.com/article/will-08-be-the-year-for-desktop-linux/comment-page-1/#comment-7227 JinxterX Mon, 21 Jan 2008 06:37:12 +0000 http://www.pcmech.com/article/will-08-be-the-year-for-desktop-linux/#comment-7227 Point of information: Linux is the kernel, it's not an OS. I don't see how anyone can complain about something that has cost them NO money, maybe if Ubuntu (which I don't use, I prefer Gentoo) cost $100 they might have a legitimate argument. The main problem Windows users have with Linux kernel based OS's is the fact that you actually need some intelligence to use it properly and the lack of brain power plus non logical thought processes (and complete ignorance of the facts) is reflected in some of the comments above. The year of "Desktop Linux" occurred circa 2004 as far as I'm concerned. Perhaps you should rename this article "Will '08 Be The Year of Desktop Linux For Dummies?" :p Point of information: Linux is the kernel, it’s not an OS.

I don’t see how anyone can complain about something that has cost them NO money, maybe if Ubuntu (which I don’t use, I prefer Gentoo) cost $100 they might have a legitimate argument.

The main problem Windows users have with Linux kernel based OS’s is the fact that you actually need some intelligence to use it properly and the lack of brain power plus non logical thought processes (and complete ignorance of the facts) is reflected in some of the comments above.

The year of “Desktop Linux” occurred circa 2004 as far as I’m concerned.

Perhaps you should rename this article “Will ‘08 Be The Year of Desktop Linux For Dummies?” :p

]]> By: Anthony Webster http://www.pcmech.com/article/will-08-be-the-year-for-desktop-linux/comment-page-1/#comment-7219 Anthony Webster Sun, 20 Jan 2008 21:15:03 +0000 http://www.pcmech.com/article/will-08-be-the-year-for-desktop-linux/#comment-7219 As a older user of PC's with a history going back to Windows 2.0 and DOS, I am currently working on changeover from Win XP to Linux namely UUbuntu 7.10. To date Gutsy is the best release yet with more hardware support than ever and it's stable. It may lack some polish, but it is useable, easy to get going and comes with a lot of sensible features out of the box. Once I change over to Linux I wont go back. As a older user of PC’s with a history going back to Windows 2.0 and DOS, I am currently working on changeover from Win XP to Linux namely UUbuntu 7.10.

To date Gutsy is the best release yet with more hardware support than ever and it’s stable. It may lack some polish, but it is useable, easy to get going and comes with a lot of sensible features out of the box.

Once I change over to Linux I wont go back.

]]> By: Jay Armstrong http://www.pcmech.com/article/will-08-be-the-year-for-desktop-linux/comment-page-1/#comment-7210 Jay Armstrong Sun, 20 Jan 2008 15:04:02 +0000 http://www.pcmech.com/article/will-08-be-the-year-for-desktop-linux/#comment-7210 Good post. I believe the #1 obstacle to widespread linux adoption is its dependence on the command line. I switched a few months ago from XP to Ubuntu 7.04 and have had to learn my share of CLI. GUI is the way to go because it doesn't require that users spend as much time learning their OS and it lets them just get down to business. The reason many tools still aren't fully GUIfied (multi-monitor setup, for example, is GUIed in ubuntu 7.10 and fedora 7/8 but I haven't seen it anywhere else) is because Linux has been an OS for geeks by geeks. And if the geeks (programmers in this case) know how to use it already then they don't have a lot of incentive to program GUIs for the average user. Regardless of how we got here, Linux is rapidly approaching the 'grandma' stage of development with the commercial & community efforts we see in most of the major distros. I'll be moving my friends, family, and clients over to it slowly -- starting this year -- instead of upgrading anyone to Vista, principally because of its ridiculous prioritization of DRM over performance. A couple tips as well: Virtualbox has been very good to me in place of VMware, and it's open source; PCLinuxOS, Mepis, and Fedora make fairly easy KDE distros; Ubuntu and Mint make very easy Gnome distros. Also keep an eye on the gOS Ubuntu derivative. At the moment, multi-monitor is a pain for a new user but it's a one-time thing. Linux makes multiple desktops as easy as pie whereas most Windows users have no clue that it's even possible. Good post. I believe the #1 obstacle to widespread linux adoption is its dependence on the command line. I switched a few months ago from XP to Ubuntu 7.04 and have had to learn my share of CLI. GUI is the way to go because it doesn’t require that users spend as much time learning their OS and it lets them just get down to business. The reason many tools still aren’t fully GUIfied (multi-monitor setup, for example, is GUIed in ubuntu 7.10 and fedora 7/8 but I haven’t seen it anywhere else) is because Linux has been an OS for geeks by geeks. And if the geeks (programmers in this case) know how to use it already then they don’t have a lot of incentive to program GUIs for the average user.

Regardless of how we got here, Linux is rapidly approaching the ‘grandma’ stage of development with the commercial & community efforts we see in most of the major distros. I’ll be moving my friends, family, and clients over to it slowly — starting this year — instead of upgrading anyone to Vista, principally because of its ridiculous prioritization of DRM over performance.

A couple tips as well: Virtualbox has been very good to me in place of VMware, and it’s open source; PCLinuxOS, Mepis, and Fedora make fairly easy KDE distros; Ubuntu and Mint make very easy Gnome distros. Also keep an eye on the gOS Ubuntu derivative. At the moment, multi-monitor is a pain for a new user but it’s a one-time thing. Linux makes multiple desktops as easy as pie whereas most Windows users have no clue that it’s even possible.

]]> By: Vinicius http://www.pcmech.com/article/will-08-be-the-year-for-desktop-linux/comment-page-1/#comment-7188 Vinicius Sat, 19 Jan 2008 23:05:00 +0000 http://www.pcmech.com/article/will-08-be-the-year-for-desktop-linux/#comment-7188 For me the only thing that keeps me from using linux full time is an easier than mythtv (maybe I'm a bit dumb to set it up) and gaming support. I use it for serious thing, but it lacks a bit in enternaiment things For me the only thing that keeps me from using linux full time is an easier than mythtv (maybe I’m a bit dumb to set it up) and gaming support. I use it for serious thing, but it lacks a bit in enternaiment things

]]> By: Red http://www.pcmech.com/article/will-08-be-the-year-for-desktop-linux/comment-page-1/#comment-7182 Red Sat, 19 Jan 2008 18:36:43 +0000 http://www.pcmech.com/article/will-08-be-the-year-for-desktop-linux/#comment-7182 Answer is NO. I mean ppl have been asking this (stupid) question every year since linux came. Linux is for geeks. CLI ?? Cmon, this is 2008 NOT 1968. We got mice and big screens, please do use them and maybe then it will make some sense but not before that. There are no standards, every distro's got its own way of going about just to make it work....What's with that ? When linux recognizes that ppl want something that just works and when they abandon that CLI crap, when thay make it compatible with like what 3 bilion other distros around then maybe just maybe they will have some sucess. Until then it's just a OS for ppl with no friends or girlfriends also known as geeks. Answer is NO. I mean ppl have been asking this (stupid) question every year since linux came.
Linux is for geeks. CLI ?? Cmon, this is 2008 NOT 1968. We got mice and big screens, please do use them and maybe then it will make some sense but not before that.
There are no standards, every distro’s got its own way of going about just to make it work….What’s with that ?
When linux recognizes that ppl want something that just works and when they abandon that CLI crap, when thay make it compatible with like what 3 bilion other distros around then maybe just maybe they will have some sucess. Until then it’s just a OS for ppl with no friends or girlfriends also known as geeks.

]]> By: Rich Menga http://www.pcmech.com/article/will-08-be-the-year-for-desktop-linux/comment-page-1/#comment-7114 Rich Menga Thu, 17 Jan 2008 18:38:01 +0000 http://www.pcmech.com/article/will-08-be-the-year-for-desktop-linux/#comment-7114 The open nature of Linux is a love-it-or-hate-it thing; no argument there. The lack of retail consumer support is a huge drawback. Linux's saving grace is that it's the only OS that I know of you can try without buying anything, and also use without buying anything. Maybe it doesn't have Big Retail support (other than server editions) but that price is oh so nice. Personally speaking, I'm not looking for a Windows or OS X killer. I just want something that does everything I can do in XP now other than Mac. Ubuntu 7.10 was really, *really* close. This is why I cross fingers for Ubuntu 8. The open nature of Linux is a love-it-or-hate-it thing; no argument there. The lack of retail consumer support is a huge drawback.

Linux’s saving grace is that it’s the only OS that I know of you can try without buying anything, and also use without buying anything.

Maybe it doesn’t have Big Retail support (other than server editions) but that price is oh so nice.

Personally speaking, I’m not looking for a Windows or OS X killer. I just want something that does everything I can do in XP now other than Mac. Ubuntu 7.10 was really, *really* close. This is why I cross fingers for Ubuntu 8.

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