Slashdot Mirror
Desktop Linux on x86 - Adapt or Die
An anonymous reader writes "The recent announcement of Apple's upcoming x86 systems has gotten a lot of people thinking. Among the conjecture, there has been much thought given to how Linux will be affected by this move. The author of this article does not believe that Linux as a whole is threatened harmed by the 'Mactel' alliance, but does point out that his could mean major trouble for distros like Xandros and Linspire which are reliant on the desktop audience. These distros are clearly not ready to take on OS X, which will soon be the primary x86 alternative to Windows XP not only because of OS X's dedicated and outspoken user base but because of its slick looks and ease of use."
See, you can buy cheap hardware and run linux. OSX wont replace linux for those who are conscious about what money they have and what the hardware will cost.
MS should be worried shitless that, one day, Apple will release OSX for all x86 desktops and put a big dent in MS's marketshare. Unless Apple signed some no-OS-compete agreement forever with MS, they have a lot more to worry about in the long run (think 10+ years).
The Doormat
If you're not outraged, then you're not paying attention.
As a long-time Macintosh user, Apple's move to Intel chips has actually sparked my interest in Linux.
It's not yet entirely clear why Apple chose Intel. There is some reason to suspect Intel hardware will ease implementation of system-wide DRM capabilities. Time will tell.
The microcomputer revolution of the 1970s and '80s was about individuals controlling machines that had once been the exclusive domain of governments and big corporations. Now DRM, product activation, live updates and other technologies are being used to take back that control. Well, I'm not going back.
I don't doubt that the Linux desktop might seem crude in comparison to Mac OS X. But if Apple chose Intel to help put DRM everywhere, then I, for one, will be more than willing to go "rough it" with the free souls of the Linux world.
When all you have is an axe, everything looks like a grindstone.
These people need to realise that one day they will be forced to pay seperate licences. You cann't get away with it forever. And Microsoft has already started pressuring users and businesses to buy licences with the "genuine (dis?)advantage" program.
With DRM and palladium coming, I think Microsoft will be able to enforce license purchases within the next 2 years. Notice I said 'be able'-they won't do it yet, not as long as there are viable free alternatives like Linux.
So their strategy is to get as many users as possible on windows, pirated or not, and when there are only a few left on Linux, force everyone to pay. Then you'll look ofcourse for a free alternative, but it'll be too little too late.
The funny thing is, most windows users with pirated versions, think they are 'cheating' Microsoft, while infact they are playing Microsoft's game. And Microsoft treats them like criminals, like they've done something bad. The same tactic banks use. They'll give you more credit than you can afford, and when you cann't pay it back on time, they'll blame you and treat you like you've done something bad. So people usually fall into the trap, borrow more than they can afford and end up paying extraordinary fees without complaining. After all, it's their fault...isn't it?
These people need to stop thinking about short term convenience and think the long term implications of their actions.
Nowdays, Linux is very easy to use and very powerful. There really is, no excuse not to use it.
VStrider.
????
I've presented this story before. My business partner is not computer savy at all -- she still has an AOL dial-up account. She calls the computer a "cpu" -- you know the type, points at the case and says "cpu". She's the type of person who bought a computer years ago and since it still allows her to check email, she has no interest in getting something else.
When I set up our office, I used linux set up with the KDE desktop. I was surprised one day when I came in and saw she had independently changed the wallpaper to her kid's picture. She's never had a problem with openoffice (used MS Office before) or Mozilla or Kmail.
I'm thinking that if she can use it, almost anyone can. She may not be able to do a deep configuration, but she wouldn't be able to do that with her windows box -- I know this -- recently she called me up and asked me how she could burn a CD from her computer at home (she has no problem with k3b). Fact is, it's been so long since I've used any windows software it was hard to guide her (you know, I'm saying stuff like "ok, look at the menu for something suggests the concept of burning or writing
What changed under Obama? Nothing Good
There seems to be a lot of arguing back and forth about the user interface, but quite frankly I think that the user interfaces of gnome and kde and the distros that use them are just fine. I think, as you do, that their interfaces are just as serviceable as Windows or Mac.
There are some things that need to change, though. One thing, which I read about from time to time is the lack of a consistent clipboard in Linux. That's a big one to me.
Another factor, though, which I don't see much mention of, is the lack of good error messages and other systme-level feedback in Linux.
My typical example of this is getting printers to work. I'm no Linux expert, but I do know more about it than Mom and Pop at least. But getting a printer to work that's attached to a Windows machine is always a headache. I pray that it works the first time, and sometimes it does, but more likely than not it doesn't. So where's the problem? Is it CUPS? Is it Samba? Or somewhere else? There are no error messages whatsoever to give me clue.. Instead, the system either reports nothing, or reports that printing was successfully spooled. However, nothing emerges from the printer, so it's always some manner of guess and check. Once it finally works, it works forever, but I'm afraid to even touch the printer configuration for fear of screwing it up again.
Another example is a machine I dual boot into Linux or Windows. In Linux, all of a sudden the network connection was incredibly sporadic. I finally gave up using the computer and went to another, as I didn't have time to tweak this and discover that to figure out the problem.
Later I booted the same machine into Windows, and as Windows started up it informed me that there was an IP address conflict and that it would therefore deactivate the network card. Well, once I knew that, it was easy to fix the problem for both windows and linux.
Anyway, that's what I mean by lack of error messages and system feedback in Linux. And that's the level where I think Linux needs the most improvement.