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Windows Interoperability in A Linux Distro
Magenta writes "There is a review of the Desktop OS Version 3 Business Edition from Xandros. This operating system is meant to allow users to easily move from Windows XP to Linux without the problems that can arise. Xandros not only can use Window's file system but it is able to run a great number of Windows programs using its CrossOver Office tool from CodeWeavers. This is one of the most accessible distros to come along in awhile and it marks a big step forward in the progress on Linux on the desktop."
The only question that comes to mind is:
When do these Windows compatibilites start to become security issues in Linux? I mean I am all for having some Windows apps run in Linux. The main reason I use Linux at home was because things like IE and other security ridden problems in Windows arent available in Linux.
Just my $.02
The lack of savvy Linux users out there to help people get set up and give them some minimal training is indeed an issue in furthering the spread of Linux and other open-source operating systems. Also, there is no proof, per se, that mimicking Windows is a mistake. You are also correct in saying that I would argue that is is, though.
My first set of experiences with Linux were with "user friendly" distributions. Mandrake 9.2 comes to mind. Not only did the (albeit minimal) Windows-mimicking not impress me, it turned me off. It turned me off because I wasn't looking for something that acted like Windows (poorly) and was just as full of bugs and flaky behaviour as Windows itself. If I wanted poor UI design and bugs, I could stay with Windows (without losing the software I was accustomed to).
Debian, however, impressed me a lot. It didn't try to be Windows (out of the box - I'm not trying to start a distro flame war, and I'm not ignorant, so please spare us all the trouble) and it had a reasonably simple installation. It took a bit of tweaking to get it right for my hardware, and that is an issue that (as mentioned) does need work. Debian was what ultimately convinced me to switch to Linux. I had a similar experience with FreeBSD, although I ultimately decided that I liked the feel of Debian a bit better.
My point is that a clean and clearly superior operating system speaks for itself. Several of my friends have now switched to Linux simply from my offhanded comments and observing me using it. They're not techno-geeks by any stretch either, but once they see that it isn't as scary as it sounds (FUD), they're willing to give it a good solid try.
I clearly don't have the solution to the "Linux isn't popular enough" problem. Ideally, we'd put a core of Linux geeks in the center of every village and let it spread by grassroots, but that isn't going to happen. Instead, I think the best solution we have at the moment is to get better "out of the box" support without trying to win over the "I want a poor Windows clone" crowd. Ubuntu, by all accounts, fares farely well out of the box. This, I think, will be more of a win for the Linux community than any amount of Windows envy.