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Asa Dotzler on Why Linux Isn't Ready for the Desktop
An anonymous reader writes "Asa Dotzler of The Mozilla Foundation compares the explosive growth of Firefox to the anything but explosive growth of Linux and what it needs to do to get there for the "regular user" AKA mom, dad and grandma Bootsie."
He dared to blasphemeth. He hath derided the holy OS on /. and he must be modded down -1 troll into oblivion!
These posts express my own personal views, not those of my employer
But my mother and father already use Linux - mostly for the games though.
"Grandma Bootsie"? Is that the name of your grandma or the name of your cat?
Longhorn has the Red Screen of Death.
Mac OS 9 had the Sad Mac and the Bomb.
OS X has the big power button in the background. (And maybe one more.)
And Linux? I don't know what it's got.
Linux users need some iconic way to know that they've really fsck'ed up the their computer. Then they can be satified when they haven't seen it in a while.
We need something....like a dead penguin. Or maybe a slightly stunned penguin. I don't know, get a Japanese manga artist to draw it.
Duh, it's free! (my appologies to my fellow jews, just couldn't resist)
Thats no power user....thats a space station!
I say, let's make a graphic interface for Linux designed around Mozilla, the Mozilla toolkit, and XPCOM. It already comes damn close to being able to do it, and developing apps for it would be a breeze. Not to mention all of the software installation problems that would solve. Besides, I think it would be funny to watch all these pretentious Mozilla guys put in their place with a little bit of irony.
This signature has Super Cow Powers
Article was posted at 8:57
Your reply was posted at 8:58
That's 806 Words Per minute.
Very Impressive Mr. Gates!
This was obviously a planned attack from MS labs.
The government which is strong enough to protect you from everything is strong enough to take everything from you.
10) the desktop is disappearing and replaced by portables, special function devices, small form factors (I never had a PC on a desk, btw: put it away, into the next room basement, etc, and just run kbd and video cables)
9) too big a QA team working 24/7 worldwide
8) too long up; if it does not crash, how do I know it is actually working at all?
7) does not support Microsoft only printers
6) does not support Microsoft only scanners
5) does not support Microsoft only cams
4) you need an emulator to run notepad.exe, what a waste!
3) way too many applications and developers; and those developers are actually talking to each other; very very spooky. I want silos!
2) networking is way too fast for normal people
1) no online activation, so how can it work at all, he?
BTW, TMP is one of my favorite ranters on Slashdot, but this one .. I don't know. It just isn't angry enough. I wish some Linux-using republican would tailgate The Mad Poster for ten minutes, then pass him on the right-side shoulder while going 90 mph, revealing a bumper sticker on the back of their SUV, showing a penguin flipping him off. Then maybe we'd get a better rant.
C'mon, TMP, lay off the prozac.
As copyright owner of this comment, I authorize everyone to defeat any technological measure which limits access to it.
Grand. Theft. Auto. San. An. Dreas.
Thank you.
I hold very few opinions. I hold information based on observation and fact. If you wish to disagree, please use facts.
- It will mean more time explaining to people how to do this or that in Linux such as "How do I play a CD, do I use the Helix player, CD player or Music player?" Stick with Windows so I can tell you "I have no idea, I don't use Windows I use Linux"
- Droves of so-called "experts" popping up to "fix" home users computers. Its a pandemic problem with Windows. X person uses Windows at home, he installs a printer, scanner and a new hard drive all by there self and all of a sudden, they have flyers everywhere to "fix" computers. (You've tried all the rest, now try the best!!!). Then at work, they are explaining to the boss why X thing will "certainly" work in Linux while I have to argue why this thing will NOT work, why the "expert" is NOT an expert just an idiot who thinks they are.
- Flooding the market with useless Linux "experts" (redundant, maybe but for a reason). All of a sudden more and more "schools" start popping up offering to help you get your LCNE and your LHDJAKS certifications, which are absolutely useless other then to impress some idiot executive to get a job. If the MCSE craze showed us anything, its that too many bad cooks with useless certifications spoil it for everyone. They drive prices and demand way down.
- Spy-ware companies tend to target the largest OS group (which currently is Windows) and I would HATE for them to start mass targeting Linux.
SOOOO.... being a Linux user PLEASE, home users, STAY AWAY. Linux is, at this point, not a very friendly place for people not willing to RTFM. There is a little thinking (and reading) at times to be able to do things and get things to work right. If your someone who would like to check out Linux, try a livecd (google Linux livecd) and be prepared to do a little reading and work to get your system to do what you want at times.On a final note, its not that I don't want to have regular users on Linux at all...I've switched my wife to it (it took a year), its just that, in agreement with the article, its not totally a point and click environment and I like it that way. If it evolves into a more "Windows like" environment where the OS anticipates your every move (sometimes incorrectly) then great. Come on over. I wont be there. I use Linux not only because I don't mind the extra work involved, but because I like it.
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well shit maybe i'm not then. guess my moms lied to me all these years. bitch probably just didn't wanna buy me any christmas presents.
I've seen it. Last time I tried to use Ubuntu, I got a black screen with some white text that ended with one line that just said something along the lines of:
>
Worst error message ever. Had to re-install W2K
I don't respond to AC's.
The problem is not linux, it is manufacturer support.
Sure you can buy ice cream. Just remember that this ice cream doesn't work with a lot of cups, cones, bowls or spoons. And even if it claims to work, it may only allow you to take bites in 1/2 teaspoon sizes or less. But if you wait long enough, it's sure to improve.
But it's totally worth it because you're no longer giving your hard-earned money to those bastards at Baskin-Robbins.