[SATLUG] Linux Not Ready for the Desktop

[Glenn F. Boswell]

Ernest hit it on the head for me
> I think the reality of this argument is that people need to define what
> 'ready' means.  If by ready you mean that it operates and functions like M$,
> then no, it isn't.  But guess what?  99% of Linux users prefer it that way.
> I understand that you can make an argument that if it does not function or
> 'just work' out of the box like M$, then businesses and average users will
> not embrace it.  I make the same argument with Mac.  A Mac does not function
> like a PC at all.  To Mac users, the PC operates backwards.  To PC users,
> the Mac operates backwards.  To Linux users, both are a waste of the
> hardware that they are sitting on.  (Not to all Linux users)  My point is
> that it is more a matter of workflow.  M$ has dominated the desktop market
> for so long that they have established de facto workflow processes and
> standards.  The challenge isn't to convince people that Linux is ready, it
> is to show them that there is a different approach to workflow just like on
> Mac.  The good news is that M$'s stillborn child (Vista) changed the UI and
> functionality so much, as did office 2007 and workflow, that the current
> learning curve to catch up is the same as it would be to move to Linux or
> Mac.  M$ has actually done Mac and Linux a favor by frustrating people the
> world over and forcing them to consider alternatives.  This is where we need
> to capitalize.  With distros like Ubuntu, the usability is definitely
> there.  The user-friendliness is definitely on task now.  The applications
> could use a little tweaking, sure, but are they so bad that you can't work
> with them.  Of course not.
>
> My favorite thing about Linux is that you have options (choices).  If you
> want the latest and greatest, then build a new high end box and run all the
> eye candy you want until you puke.  If you just want to work and maybe surf
> the web, drop a light distro on there with a fast word processor like
> AbiWord.  The new Koffice suite promises to be great.  It sure looks like it
> so far from what I've seen, and I don't even run KDE.  If you want a little
> of both worlds, then you can find a distro to suit you well there too.  My
> area of interest is how and when VMWare is going to start cutting the OSes
> out as applications start to build their own appliances that will run as
> VMs.
>
> Ernest
I'm not a power user or writer or big time professional but I use Linux
(RH 6 - FC7) as my main box and have for the last 8 years. Yes I bitch about
not being able to play every thing with mplayer and xine and moan about
updates and proprietary drivers not working but day in and day out it
works and is virus free. Yes it could be a lot better but it is free and 
I can
tinker, fail, tinker some more , fail, learn a little,  tinker  some 
more  have
a  ah-hah  once in a while, and If I need M$ or OSX I have 
vmware-server.  It
can't get much better than that for me. If you need more get Ubuntu on
the desktop, it found everything on my throw-away box I travel with. Yes it
is not a "Pureist" linux but it sure works around all the "driver" issues.

just my $1.00/50

Boz

BTW If Vista is a dog on a Core2 Duo with 1 GB of ram what  does it take.

For Me I'll suffer along with less than "state of the art", play a 
little, save a  lot  of
bucks in software and equipment, complain a little, and thank God I have a
choice.  

-- 
Glenn Boswell "Boz"      gboswell at cis.sac.accd.edu
San Antonio College  Dept. CIS (210)-733-2866
"Freedom is not FREE", let us never forget.

"We make a living by what we Get.
 We make a LIFE by what we GIVE." anonymous