Forum > Science and Technology
Why linux desktop hasn't taken off
taxed:
An objective article on why Linux hasn't dominated the Desktop market. I have been a long time Linux user, and have always wished for Windows' rapid demise. Linux slowly gains market share, but it is still a while off.
http://www.networkworld.com/news/2012/043012-linux-desktop-258724.html
tbone0106:
I can't help agreeing with you, and joining you in wishing for the demise of the EVIL WINDOWS!!! But folks have been dreaming about said demise for decades now. It hasn't happened, and probably won't, mainly because -- as your article points out so clearly -- there ain't nothin' else out there that gets the job done.
I've used various versions of Linux off and on over my 'puter years. Ubuntu most recently, others in the past. It hasn't changed a bit, though it's slightly more user-friendly than it used to be -- and it used to be not user-friendly at all.
Linux is to the software world what Wikipedia is to the information world -- a gigantic, never-ending argument. Millions of people struggle to change it to fit their ideas every day.
90% of all useful commercial and entertainment software for a PC is written to run on a Windows platform. Roughly 9% is made for a Mac. That leaves about 1% for the endless variations of Linux...
Um, I think I'll stick with ol' Bill Gates, at least for a while, if y'all don't mind.
taxed:
--- Quote from: tbone0106 on May 04, 2012, 07:43:14 PM ---I can't help agreeing with you, and joining you in wishing for the demise of the EVIL WINDOWS!!! But folks have been dreaming about said demise for decades now. It hasn't happened, and probably won't, mainly because -- as your article points out so clearly -- there ain't nothin' else out there that gets the job done.
--- End quote ---
It doesn't say that. It's about market share. Linux, as an OS, is far superior to Windows.
--- Quote ---I've used various versions of Linux off and on over my 'puter years. Ubuntu most recently, others in the past. It hasn't changed a bit, though it's slightly more user-friendly than it used to be -- and it used to be not user-friendly at all.
--- End quote ---
It's far more user friendly than it was in the past. Anyone can install and use it with no problems.
--- Quote ---Linux is to the software world what Wikipedia is to the information world -- a gigantic, never-ending argument. Millions of people struggle to change it to fit their ideas every day.
90% of all useful commercial and entertainment software for a PC is written to run on a Windows platform. Roughly 9% is made for a Mac. That leaves about 1% for the endless variations of Linux...
Um, I think I'll stick with ol' Bill Gates, at least for a while, if y'all don't mind.
--- End quote ---
Yuk.
tbone0106:
--- Quote from: taxed on May 04, 2012, 09:56:11 PM ---It doesn't say that. It's about market share. Linux, as an OS, is far superior to Windows.
--- End quote ---
Oh, piffle. Superior in what specific ways? Linux, in its basic form, runs the internet, for instance, but 90% of desktop users access the internet by way of Windows. 9% use some version of Apple's OS. Roughly 1% use a version of Linux. How and why is Linux better, and why does almost NOBODY use it as a desktop OS? (Getting back to the OP.)
--- Quote ---It's far more user friendly than it was in the past. Anyone can install and use it with no problems.
--- End quote ---
How does Linux get LESS user friendly than it was? NO, sorry, not anyone can install and use it with no problems, that simply isn't true! Linux users hate it, but it is FACT that Linux has not even begun to tackle hardware compatibility issues in the way Microsoft has. (Apple opted out of that battle a long time ago, and just sticks with their own stuff.) I've been in the 'puter biz off and on for nearly twenty years, and I've been continually amazed at how Microsoft gets progressively more inclusive and comprehensive with hardware compatiibility, and how Linux versions seem to be two or three years behind -- all the time.
In addition, adopting Linux means abandoning ALL your treasured Windows programs -- or I guess they're called "apps" these days. No more SIMS or Call of Duty! NOTHING you can buy at Walmart or Best Buy will run on your Linux machine. Yeah, you have OO, the free answer to Microsoft's Office suite, but I can get that to run on Windows, and skip all the Linux razz-ma-tazz.
BUT that's the way it really ought to be, I think. There's not a logical way of thinking that leads to a conclusion that a completely free, open-source operating system like Linux should somehow compete with Microsoft's Windows, is there?
I think Linux does its thing, and does it well. Microsoft does its thing, makes a shitpot of money, and does it well. Apple is just weird.
.
taxed:
--- Quote from: tbone0106 on May 10, 2012, 12:18:12 AM ---Oh, piffle. Superior in what specific ways?
--- End quote ---
Security and stability. For example, malicious code can't get root access on a Linux box. That is a pretty significant architecture difference. Linux/Unix boxes are designed to run 24x7 for years on end.
--- Quote --- Linux, in its basic form, runs the internet, for instance, but 90% of desktop users access the internet by way of Windows. 9% use some version of Apple's OS. Roughly 1% use a version of Linux. How and why is Linux better, and why does almost NOBODY use it as a desktop OS? (Getting back to the OP.)
--- End quote ---
Yes, but that has nothing to do with the OS itself. No one is arguing Window's market share (getting back to the OP).
--- Quote ---How does Linux get LESS user friendly than it was?
--- End quote ---
It doesn't. If you can answer 1) your timezone, 2) what language you speak, and 3) if you want to use it exclusively on your box, then you can install Linux. Installing Ubuntu 12.04, for instance, was so easy it was silly. Installing Linux is no longer an issue like it was.
--- Quote --- NO, sorry, not anyone can install and use it with no problems, that simply isn't true! Linux users hate it, but it is FACT that Linux has not even begun to tackle hardware compatibility issues in the way Microsoft has.
--- End quote ---
Huh? Linux hardware compatibility gets far better with every release.
--- Quote --- (Apple opted out of that battle a long time ago, and just sticks with their own stuff.) I've been in the 'puter biz off and on for nearly twenty years,
--- End quote ---
Same here, at the systems programming and software application development levels, and working in and owning a data center with various flavors of Windows, Unix, and Linux.
--- Quote --- and I've been continually amazed at how Microsoft gets progressively more inclusive and comprehensive with hardware compatiibility, and how Linux versions seem to be two or three years behind -- all the time.
--- End quote ---
What hardware are you running that I couldn't? I'm sure there is some, so I'm curious about it. I haven't really run into anything.
--- Quote ---In addition, adopting Linux means abandoning ALL your treasured Windows programs -- or I guess they're called "apps" these days. No more SIMS or Call of Duty!
--- End quote ---
Huh? Here is a video of someone playing Call Of Duty on Ubuntu 10.04:
Call of Duty 4 on Ubuntu Gameplay
Here is Sims 3:
Gaming In Linux : The Sims 3
It's my understanding those run under PlayOnLinux emulator just fine. I have a few gamer friends who game on Ubuntu, and they say most stuff runs fine. I'm not familiar with it though, so I can't speak to gaming, but they are pretty hard core. The Windows emulator on Linux is the missing link right now for the Ubuntu Desktop. It is difficult to configure, not intuitive, but I have run enough Windows programs on Linux to know that for the most part, it works fine. Again, I think this is their biggest hurdle to become more widely accepted.
--- Quote ---NOTHING you can buy at Walmart or Best Buy will run on your Linux machine.
--- End quote ---
If you mean devices, I can personally attest that isn't accurate. For software, it goes back to the emulator.
--- Quote ---Yeah, you have OO, the free answer to Microsoft's Office suite, but I can get that to run on Windows, and skip all the Linux razz-ma-tazz.
--- End quote ---
Then one less reason why Microsoft has an advantage...
--- Quote ---BUT that's the way it really ought to be, I think. There's not a logical way of thinking that leads to a conclusion that a completely free, open-source operating system like Linux should somehow compete with Microsoft's Windows, is there?
--- End quote ---
Yes. Functionality, security, and stability, it's already passed windows. Once Linux handles the emulator issues, it will gain market share far more rapidly. For bugs and security patches, Linux has the advantage because the community can patch and fix far quicker than Windows.
--- Quote ---I think Linux does its thing, and does it well. Microsoft does its thing, makes a shitpot of money, and does it well. Apple is just weird.
--- End quote ---
Apple makes a good product. Windows doesn't. The fact is, the Windows OS is inferior to the others. Apple "just works".
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