Why Linux Has Failed on the Desktop

SlinkySausage writes "Linux is burdened with 'enterprise crap' that makes it run poorly on desktop PCs, says kernel developer Con Kolivas. Kolivas recently walked away from years of work on the kernel in despair. APCmag.com has a lengthy interview with Kolivas, who explains what he sees is wrong with Linux from a performance perspective and how Microsoft has succeeded in crushing innovation in personal computers."

Comments

Re:Correction: Why Linux has failed on YOUR deskto

[Hijacked Public]

Thank christ someone showed up to point out this grevious error.

Obviously we all here at Slashdot thought that Linux had failed across all desktops everywhere and had you not taken pains to point out that it was still working on some of them no one here would have even bothered to press the Power button, assuming instead that their computers would not even POST due to Linux being installed on the hard drive.

Thank you for the service you have provided us here today.

Re:what an unprofessional whiner

[LingNoi]

Ahh! He has mod points! It burns! It burns!

Is Slashdot sincere in it's intentions?

[jkrise]

The title section on the site says "Slashdot - Don't Fear the Penguins"; obviously meaning the Linux mascot, and implying the Free and Open Source Software philosophy. But almost every article that follows is full of fear, misinterpretation, sensationalism or plain untruths.... specially with respect to Linux and notable Open Source offerings.

In contrast, many articles contain positive spin about Microsoft, Apple, Cisco, Oracle or other 'Closed Source' firms - who are very antithetical to the views and leanings of the founders of this site! Needless to say, these articles are 'spin' and again misrepresentations or wrong interpretations of the facts.

The very few articles that are even mildly critical of these Closed Source corporations are completely hijacked and taken-over by shills and fanboys; and even thoughtful, insightful comments get modded down - apparently the shills have taken over the moderation system as well.

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Coming to this article: Apparently the author has been involved with kernel development over a long time. That implies working with huge text files, and an intimate knowledge of hardware, and low level software. It is mysterious how such a knowledgable person should find it intimidating to use Linux on a desktop. There are millions of folks who have less than 1% technical know-how than this author - and who use Linux painlessly on the desktop, for several years.

The entire article is littered with FUD - there are numerous references to forum postings, and newbie reactions. If we judge the well-being of humankind based on the happenings in the Intensive Care Unit of a Hospital, we will think it amazing we even survived this long!

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The author seems to be named Con Kolivas. Nice con job, but I guess he'd find any buyers for his views on this site. If Slashdot is sincere, that is.

Re:M$FT S3X()R comments mod'd up,all others Flameb

[lordtoran]

Your post is a textbook example of oldschool FUD and flamebait. And I hope you will be modded appropriately.

Re:Correction: Why Linux has failed on YOUR deskto

[lordtoran]

I'm not challenging your thinking, but I'd like to know exactly what Linux offers that Windows and Mac failed to offer. Is it simply that it's open source and that's the killer feature for you? Please elaborate on your strong but very broad statement. For me, the killer features (compared to Windows) are:

• Package manager. No need to manually hunt down, install, clean up or update software.
• Highly configurable and concise GUI (KDE).
• The GUI doesn't get in the way with popups and stuff.
• Better multitasking and responsiveness, and better handling of applications that hang.
• Bash as a commandline fallback if you screwed something up.
• ext3 is faster and more robust than NTFS.
• Cool, unbloated desktop apps like Kaffeine, k3b and Amarok.

Re:Correction: Why Linux has failed on YOUR deskto

[lordtoran]

20000+ packages (including unsupported repositories) is too limited for you? Dude, get a life!

Re:MS does this, why not copy them?

[lordtoran]

And create a standard for it so that user's can buy "Linux Desktop for Dummies", instead of [insert distro vendor] Desktop for Dummies, which will never get written because distro-specific is too small a niche. Here you go.