Originally posted by SirT
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Will The Free Software Desktop Ever Make It?
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For me, Linux was ready for the desktop 10 years ago.
For my girlfriend, it was last year. She wouldn't go back to anything else now.
With each person, it's different. I'd say that we're on a really good way. It will probably never be ready for EVERYBODY and everybody's requirements, but quite frankly speaking, I don't give a flying crap
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Probably my longest comment ever
Originally posted by mendieta View PostDespite all that, it looks like linux won'r replace windows massively, not out of lack of anything, but really because people want what they know. Whatever.
Originally posted by Tudhalyas View PostI think we're missing the point here. In order to become a good desktop operating system, Linux needs 2 things:- A stable API for its kernel and its main subsystems, namely the graphics and audio stack. If you want people outside the open source movement to support Linux, you'll have to give them stable APIs so they can write their modules without the worry that they won't work with the next release of the package. This would also ensures some degree of backward compatibility towards old, non-open binaries that are no more supported by the developers. Yes, we would all like 100% free software on our machines, but this is not a perfect world.
Originally posted by Tudhalyas View Post- One (and only one) thing for every critical task of the OS, so that people can find a similar environment on any distro they may try: one graphical server, one audio framework, one package management system, one GUI toolkit, etc. I know, Linux should be all about users' choice, but when it comes to critical parts of the OS we shouldn't have the luxury of choosing which parts fits us best. With an uniform system framework across distros, people (users and developers alike) would get more attracted to Linux, IMHO.
Originally posted by Tudhalyas View PostIf we can achieve these two goals, then Linux on the desktop will finally emerge from its niche.
Originally posted by clem11388 View PostThis is very true, I have been using Linux as my main OS for about 1 year now, but only out of necessity because windows was wigging out on me on both my desktop and laptop. Linux (Ubuntu specifically) has been treating me very well so far.
Originally posted by clem11388 View PostI have noticed that in the past 2 to 3 years Linux has become MUCH bigger than it used to be. This charge being led mostly by Ubuntu and its various derivative distributions that have branched off of it. I CAN'T WAIT to see where things go in the next 2, 3, 4 or 5 years. Linux won't be the top dog in that time. But with out any doubt some BIG things will be happening, especially in the standardization for lots of aspects of Linux usage.
Originally posted by DoDoENT View PostSo, Linux fails to make simple things simple, but succeeds in making complicated things simple, and that's why we like it.
On the other hand, Windows succeeds in making simple things simple and complicated things even more complicated .
Originally posted by another_sam View PostTwo deadly scenarios have to be addressed for Linux to reach masses:
1. Updating a 10.04 installed through Wubi causes "error: no such device" + "grub rescue". The average user commits suicide for less than this.
2. Configuring xorg.conf is like defusing a bomb. You cut the wrong wBOOMMM!!
Originally posted by another_sam View PostI think at least 10% of Windows users could use Ubuntu nowadays, and that they would benefit greatly from its greater speed, much faster maintenance, much greater security, and quite easier use (for not bomb-defusing cases, I mean).
The reason for the current 1% instead of 10% is that Ubuntu was not pre-installed on their machines.
An additional 5% would be possible with more papercut fixing (progressing at good pace) and the damn Photoshop working seamlessly on wine (progressing at good pace also).
Originally posted by blackiwid View PostI can understand if someone gets angry when something does not work like it should or like someone think it should work.
Originally posted by blackiwid View PostThen it's always this linux has this and this small issue, but windows is perfect (at least the much problems with it get not quoted).
Originally posted by blackiwid View PostSo software is never perfect it has always bugs in it. At least if it gets bigger then 100.000 lines.
Originally posted by blackiwid View PostI think linux is today on the desktop. Not in future, today. That not 99% of the users use it is no point because most of the people who used both systems would agree that MAC OS X is the better than windows but has also not that big market share.
Originally posted by blackiwid View PostWindows works on most computers, and it is installed on most computers you can buy and most people used it for several years. Especially the last point is the point why they dont will change if windows will do their job in nearly enough as they want it.
Originally posted by blackiwid View PostI know its written to another context but it fits the problem here too:
"and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed."
* United States Declaration of Independence
Originally posted by blackiwid View PostBtw. that's also the point why we have most of the other important problems on the earth.
Originally posted by pejakm View PostFor all of you whiners out there: if you dislike Linux OS so much, simply STFU and go install Windows or whatever, and then tons of other bullshit software just to make that OS secure and usable.
Anyway - the bottom line is I think it always comes down to choosing whatever set of annoyances and inconveniences you can handle the best.
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Originally posted by ?John? View PostIt just plain sucks when someone is blaming something that he obviously isn't even willing to learn using properly.
Anyway - the bottom line is I think it always comes down to choosing whatever set of annoyances and inconveniences you can handle the best.
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With good driver support binary blob or not...
...linux desktops should have gained %10 usage by 2010, and many popular proprietary applications-games should have been ported to linux. The answer why companies don't port their applications is because they don't want to mess with customers asking for help solving a problem that has nothing to do with their software but is indeed caused by a still buggy ATI driver, an unsupported audio interface-soundcard etc. This is the major reason of linux desktop's setback and companies like AMD, creative are to blame. Praising AMD for just releasing specs to their hardware and leaving all the daunting work to opensource developers won't solve anything... but not purchasing their hardware and encouraging people to do the same will.
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Originally posted by glxextxexlg View PostPraising AMD for just releasing specs to their hardware and leaving all the daunting work to opensource developers won't solve anything...
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Originally posted by glxextxexlg View PostPraising AMD for just releasing specs to their hardware and leaving all the daunting work to opensource developers won't solve anything... but not purchasing their hardware and encouraging people to do the same will.
You won't be playing many games with that.....
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Originally posted by ?John? View PostNever gonna happen - see what Linus and Greg Kroah-Hartman have to say about this and as far as I'm concerned, they're perfectly right. You may not agree with them and dislike their opinion all you want but that's pretty much all you can do about it besides forking Linux and seeing how it works out for yourself.
Originally posted by ?John? View PostI agree that much more investment in any efforts to polish and standardize these areas would almost certainly help us with the serious lack of manpower we're facing right now.
Originally posted by ?John? View PostBut again: we absolutely have to avoid tying our hands too much with backwards compatibility or we end up creating yet another pile of inconsistent junk held together only by a crapload of duct tape. At that point, I really don't care if it's free (as in freedom) or not.
Originally posted by ?John? View PostAll I'm trying to say is that I think it's much better to take all the time we need to make things right instead of rushing right into the hellmouth even if that means not emerging from the niche any time soon.
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Originally posted by glxextxexlg View Post...linux desktops should have gained %10 usage by 2010, and many popular proprietary applications-games should have been ported to linux.
Originally posted by glxextxexlg View PostThe answer why companies don't port their applications is because they don't want to mess with customers asking for help solving a problem that has nothing to do with their software but is indeed caused by a still buggy ATI driver, an unsupported audio interface-soundcard etc.
Originally posted by glxextxexlg View PostThis is the major reason of linux desktop's setback and companies like AMD, creative are to blame. Praising AMD for just releasing specs to their hardware and leaving all the daunting work to opensource developers won't solve anything... but not purchasing their hardware and encouraging people to do the same will.
So there is right now some big changes in the linux-graphics-development. So all takes a bit longer (majorly gallium3d). But the time between new hardware-releases and working drivers even with advanced features like 3d are get always smaller. And all the supportet hardware gains from the new features we read each month about here on phoronix ^^
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