Is Linus Torvalds Speaking for Linux Anymore?

An anonymous reader writes to tell us CNET is currently running a story asking 'Is Linus Torvalds even speaking for Linux anymore?' It examines both Torvalds' recent public statements on other operating systems and his current approach towards Linux. The author wonders if his utopian view of how an operating system should be viewed and used is just too alien from what the majority of users are really looking for. "if it were up to Torvalds, beauty and intuition would take a backseat to functionality. But when you look at distributions like Ubuntu or OpenSuse, it looks like no one is paying attention. 'An OS should never have been something that people (in general) really care about: it should be completely invisible and nobody should give a flying [expletive] about it except the technical people.' Sure, that statement makes some sense, but in the grand scheme of things, it's the design and usability factor that makes the operating system much easier to use. And while both Mac OS X and Windows have their issues, for the average person, it makes more sense to use those than Linux."

Comments

Listen...the guy INVENTED Linux...

[MindPrison]

...and if you wish, you could safely leave it at that, here's why: Imagine this - a person have a need (Like Linus had..he needed an OS for his development, he couldn't afford the *Nix, but he was smart enough to develop his own). Now - being kind and openhearted as he is - he shared it with his friends and the world, great. What he DIDN'T expect was that it would catch on like fire and spread the same spirit all over the planet and grow into what it is today, fair enough? Heck...he even admit that himself, what can I say..the guy is more honest than ANYONE I know. Does it really matter to you what Linus now wants? Sure - it has some "moral and spiritual" value somewhere...you know...he IS the father of Linux, but all that said...remember the other ones? You know...YOU and a million other coders that contribute every single day of your life making Linux better for everyone, now THAT MATTERS!

Makes sense

[Bombula]

Seems like what Torvald is saying is that the OS should be distinct from the interface - GUI or otherwise. That makes good sense in principle, but whether that's a practical marketing goal or not is questionable.

Re:FUD alert

[palegray.net]

Can somebody please explain to me how my parent comment about Linus Torvalds was moderated off-topic? Wow.

Re:FUD alert

[mcubed]

Ubuntu and Fedora aren't operating systems,

Well someone better tell Ubuntu and Fedora!:

from Fedora's website:

"What is Fedora? Fedora is a Linux-based operating system that showcases the latest in free and open source software."

from Ubuntu's website:

"Ubuntu is a community developed operating system that is perfect for laptops, desktops and servers."

Apparently, both are, um, operating under the assumption that they are "operating systems."