Slashdot Mirror
Linux on the Desktop
webmaven writes "Mitch Kapor's Open Source Application Foundation just released a 34 page report on the Desktop Linux market, written by Bart Decrem, who has discussed desktop Linux previously. The OSAF is working on Chandler, which the press have generally described as an 'Outlook Killer', but it's really intended to be in a completely new application category, more similar to Lotus Agenda in some ways than what currently consider a PIM (email + contacts + appointments). The report goes into some detail about the current state of desktop Linux, trends, and various limiting factors, and concludes that while a revolution is not immediately in the wings, a trend can definitely already be discerned, and they expect adoption of desktop Linux to increase over the next few years, and identifies leverage points to accelerate the process."
here's the real link: http://www.osafoundation.org/
Of course, the last time we heard from this guy, he was explaining, "My big gripe about KDE is I think it's butt-ugly. The main reason I keep using GNOME is that the icons on KDE are aesthetically offensive to me. And the letter K is kind of offensive, it's not very elegant." The new report is Slashdotted, but I'm curious to see what other letters are slowing Linux adoption on the desktop.
At any rate, at least this story should generate some life on Slashdot. I'm trying to avoid doing work, and the last five stories are still in single digits for comments, including FP! trolls.
What I'm listening to now on Pandora...
I don't run Windows anymore unless I want to play Carmageddon II at home, and at work I only get into Windows if I need to use the custom workorder system that ties into Novell and MS Access. I can watch movies, play a few games, listen to music, surf, do email, and the like all without Bill and his Evil Empire.
We need to start new-to-computers people with non-MS operating systems. They'll be much more inclined to use anything handed to them, and they'll dislike the crashing problems, popups, and weird behaviour of Microsoft's OSes. I repair Windows machines at work for my job, and every time something goes awry, I don't think of it as normal anymore, I think of it as bloody annoying.
Being nearly Windows-free for the last three years or so has been really awesome. These things are tools, not cheap toys that break a lot.
Do not look into laser with remaining eye.
I've switched to Linux as my full time desktop.
It is *ready*. It is usable. Even my wife gets it when she sits down at my machine. The only caveat is minor installations for the browser (Flash mainly).
I'm an avid Gnome user - but applications such as K3B for burning, Gaim, even Grip are easy enough to use for an average user.
The article did a fantastic job by going into details by category, and then summing up the good and the bad, and I like the smilies.
I still think you're missing the boat with Gimp, but that is another story. To answer your question, you're looking for Crossover Office 2.0. This version adds support for Photoshop version 7.0 and earlier. The review I read said performance and installation (of both Crossover and photoshop) were not problems.
A Swastika must point clockwise. It's supposed to represent progress, and in Nazi propaganda films, the symbol is animated and rotates clockwise too.
"Linux innovates very little except in technological areas."
Not many have said as much in as few words.
"It's GUIs even today fall short of Windows and Mac GUIs"
I find KDE desktop behavior to be vastly superior to that provided by Windows. Try opening a full screen browser and a smaller window over it. Now try to navigate in the browser _without obscuring the smaller window_. This is but one example, and maybe it can even be done in Windows, but I've never seen it, heard of it or stumbled across it drunk.
"It's pretty rare you actually get someone with a little compassion that has felt your pain and is willing to help you out."
You aren't looking for help in the right places then. I've never been flamed while (groups.)googling. Or are you looking for a live hand-holder on IRC and/or simply can't/won't actually read any documentation?
"Everything about Linux (and Unix in general) seems to be as if it is some kind of rite of passage."
What can I say but that yes, it basically treats you like a fscking adult who has some grasp of fundamental computing principles. Some of us find that incredibly refreshing. Actually though, this is what distributions are for IMNSHO. RedHat and Mandrake or whatever for grandma and Debian and Slackware (or roll-your-own for crying out loud) for people who want more control and less automated hand-holding.
Argh, it's the same thing, over and over and over and over....
"Gold still represents the ultimate form of payment in the world." - Alan Greenspan, 1999
Dictionary Nazi says,
n ary&va=commodification
/-"mä-d&-f&-'kA-sh&n/ noun
http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictio
One entry found for commodify.
Main Entry: commodify
Pronunciation: k&-'mä-d&-"fI
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Form(s): -fied; -fying
Date: 1982
: to turn (as an intrinsic value or a work of art) into a commodity
- commodification