The Next Leap for Linux

Nrbelex writes "The New York Times is taking a look at the state of Linux. "Linux has always had a reputation of being difficult to install and daunting to use. Most of the popular Windows and Macintosh programs cannot be used on it, and hand-holding — not that you get that much of it with Windows — is rare. But those reasons for rejecting Linux are disappearing." The article discusses major PC makers' newest offers and compares them to their Windows counterparts."

Comments

Linux must tackle this first

[bogaboga]

In my opinion, Linux distros must provide a means of doing away with text configuration files, but still retain the ability to access them for those who wish. Everybody I have asked to edit some configuration file has loathed the idea. They are just used to pointing and clicking. They look terrified when presented with a configuration file. Some kept asking me where they should save it!

The other thin Linux distros must do is to make the default install beautiful. I knoe beauty lies in the hands of the beholder but an ugly app does not help matters in this way at all.The upcoming KDE release looks promising.

Here's another: In the server world, if one has to install a mail server for example, not less that 4 pieces of software have to be installed! This is insane. The installation should be handled by *one* script, that takes care of all components needed to create a fully functional mail server. If you wanted to install an ISP style mail server, an exercise in frustration awaits those who have not done it before.

In my early days, I had trouble with the Courier/POP/IMAP configuration since I did not know that one even needed it to have a working mail server. It does not have to be this way. I am an expert now by the way.

Last but not least; Marketing. Linux distros can do a better job at marketing.

The 'problem' with Linux.

[oliverthered]

There's only one reason I don't install Linux on every PC I build for people.

Drivers, or the lack of.

If I could give someone a linux box and know every bit of crap hardware they buy for it would work then I'd gladly install linux on it and they'd be very happy.

Two things Linux needs ...

[Ihlosi]

1. Support from hardware vendors. Mostly for graphics cards and WLAN. Let's see how AMD/ATIs efforts turn out.

2. Support from game companies. If I wasn't playing games, I'd have dumped Windows years ago.

The year of the desktop?

[00_NOP]

I've been using Linux for just over six years and I am never sure if it has become easier or I've just become more profficient, though certainly hardware support is much much better.

I've also noticed that desktop users have probably doubled to about 1 - 1.5% in that time, with most of the growth in the last 18 months (Ubuntu effect I am sure). Suspect we need about 3 - 5% before we are really in the big time: that's maybe three years away yet.

My latest Linux experience

[Cro Magnon]

I had a long stretch without Linux because trying to install it on a previous machine was a huge PITA. After trying Vista, I decided to give Linux another try, and I had very mixed results.

First, I tried Ubuntu. The good news is, nearly everything worked. The bad news is, the partition resize seemed to break Vista! It no longer booted! To be fair, I had some problems with that BEFORE the resize, but that was the straw that broke the camel's, um, window.

After fiddling with Ubuntu awhile, I switched to Fedora with similar mixed results. The Linux stuff worked, but Grub didn't set up Windows dual boot (Ubuntu's did, even though Vista itself was borked).

My conclusion? Linux STILL isn't ready, at least for people who still need Windows. I MIGHT have been able to fix my booting problems if I hadn't already moved my Windows software to my laptop, but most people would be screwed.

2008

[Random832]

will be the year of linux on the desktop.

Re:Less keystrokes

[gzerphey]

But isn't that where deb and RPM files come into play. True it doesn't have the same customization that the average /. user likes, but it will work for most average users.