Desktop Linux Is Dead

digitaldc writes with this quote from PCWorld: "It kills me to say this: The dream of Linux as a major desktop OS is now pretty much dead. Despite phenomenal security and stability — and amazing strides in usability, performance, and compatibility — Linux simply isn't catching on with desktop users. And if there ever was a chance for desktop Linux to succeed, that ship has long since sunk. ... Ultimately, Linux is doomed on the desktop because of a critical lack of content. And that lack of content owes its existence to two key factors: the fragmentation of the Linux platform, and the fierce ideology of the open-source community at large."

Comments

wrong OS?

[tverbeek]

I thought it was BSD that was dead?

Re:wrong OS?

[Pieroxy]

I see in the summary three tags: troll, trolltroll and trolltrolltroll.

Does it mean it's a 6*troll or an average of just a 2*troll?

Re:wrong OS?

[Intron]

Wow, is it this that time of year again? Another "Linux Desktop is DEAD!" article? Is the writer really in need of something to put in front of his editor?

C'mon. i'm tired of reading these damn articles all saying the same shit. They've been saying the same crap for over 5 years now.

That means we should soon see a headline "2011 will be the year of desktop Linux!"

Re:wrong OS?

[skids]

That's orcish. Trolls can't count past two, and as such have no concept of "many."

Re:wrong OS?

[Anonymous Coward]

Apple designs to be productive, which makes it annoying for people who already have burned in productivity habits from platforms where this is less of a design ethic.

In other words, Apple designs its products to be productive for people who have never been productive before, but people who are currently productive shouldn't expect to be productive using Apple products?

Fuck

[binarylarry]

I upgraded to Ubuntu Maverick Meetkat last week.

It's the best desktop I ever used. And now its dead. :(

Re:Fuck

[abigsmurf]

I upgraded to Maverick Meerkat last week. I was most disappointed when it failed to give me cheap deals on my car insurance.

Too obscure?

Re:Fuck

[muckracer]

> I upgraded to Ubuntu Maverick Meetkat last week.

> It's the best desktop I ever used. And now its dead. :(

Well...if you just look AT your box it's both alive and dead. Whereas if you look inside, it's either/or. Therefore we can conclude with certainty, that the rumours of the death of Linux on the desktop box are between 0 - 100% wrong...depending on your entanglement with the Maverick Meerkat. :-)

Re:Fuck

[VGPowerlord]

I upgraded to Maverick Meerkat last week. I was most disappointed when it failed to give me cheap deals on my car insurance.

Too obscure?

I didn't know Maverick Meerkat did that. Now, if you'd said Dealing Duck or Gibbering Gecko, then it'd make sense.

Re:Fuck

[L4t3r4lu5]

They're related, but not the same. Maverick Meerkat starred in an adaptation of a feature film about homosexual fighter pilots.

trolling trolling trolling

[roman_mir]

This entire "story" must be summed up by the following:

Rawhide
I owe you $200 and you boys drank $300 worth of beer

Trolling, trolling, trolling
Trolling, trolling, trolling
Trolling, trolling, trolling
Trolling, trolling, trolling

Rawhide

Trolling, trolling, trolling
Though the streams are swollen
Keep them doggies trolling
Rawhide

Rain and wind and weather
Hell bent for leather
Wishing my gal was by my side

All the things I'm missin'
Good vittels, lovin', kissin'
Are waiting at the end of my ride

Move 'em on, head' em up
Head 'em up, move' em on
Move 'em on, head' em up
Rawhide

Cut 'em out, ride 'em in
Ride 'em in, cut 'em out
Call 'em out, ride 'em in
Rawhide

Keep moving, moving, moving
Though they're disapproving
Keep them doggies moving
Rawhide

Don't try to understand 'em
Just rope, throw and brand 'em
Soon we'll be living high and wide

My heart calculatin'
My true love will be waitin'
Be waiting at the end of my ride
Move 'em on, head' em up
Head 'em up, move' em on
Move 'em on, head' em up
Rawhide

Cut 'em out, ride 'em in
Ride 'em in, cut 'em out
Call 'em out, ride 'em in
Rawhide

Move 'em on, head' em up
Head 'em up, move' em on
Move 'em on, head' em up
Rawhide

Cut 'em out, ride 'em in
Ride 'em in, cut 'em out
Call 'em out, ride 'em in
Rawhide

Trolling, trolling, trolling
Trolling, trolling, trolling
Trolling, trolling, trolling
Trolling, trolling, trolling
Rawhide

Rawhide

Long live The Desktop Linux!

[rvw]

The Desktop Linux is dead! Long live the Desktop Linux! (You may shout out and dance around.)

Good timing

[lotec85]

I got on board the Linux bandwagon just as the wheels fell off!

Re:Good timing

[JustOK]

don't worry, they'll reinvent the wheel

Mobilize the mob

[zill]

and the fierce ideology of the open-source community at large

Linux troll! M$ minion! He needs to be hanged, drawn and quartered.

Re:seriously? you guys posted this?

[neumayr]

The only thing that keeps businesses running Windows at all is the large volume of industry-specific applications (and even web sites) that only work on Win32 and IE. It certainly isn't lower support costs.

Uh huh. Even if that were true, you're expecting them to reimplement all those application to what, Linux and Firefox?

This story is a troll, yes, but as long as it's here, let's feed it!

Again?

[suso]

Its dead again? Good thing it has a bunch of friends that can cast level 9 resurrection.

Re:Again?

[Anonymous Coward]

Good for them, but resurect is a lvl 7 spell O.o

XP's end of life will see a jump in Linux adoption

[Robo1icious]

When XP reaches its end of life Linux will see a huge jump in users. Microsoft has done a good job of making sure Vista and Windows 7 are difficult to maintain without a valid license. Once they end support for XP many users will be left with the decision of spending several hundred dollars on a License or learning to love Linux for free.

I'm posting this from a Linux desktop

[dwheeler]

I'm posting this, from a Linux desktop. It doesn't look dead to me.

Re:On the contrary

[beschra]

Troll Trifecta. I like the sound of that. I don't care about the meaning just the sound. Troll Trifecta. Troll Trifecta. Troll Trifecta.

Yes it's all.. true?

[ElusiveJoe]

I had no problems with playing DVDs on my Ubuntu. Well, of course the highly praised WinXP offers that, too... Wait, it doesn't!

Oh, and no DRM... I surely miss this "switch off features if the user is doing anything suspicious" feature from Vista. I feel so insecure without a Master observing me and telling me what I can and cannot do with my computer. The restrictions are beneficial for users, everyone knows that.

And there is no Flash for linux available or even planned in the near future. Robert Strohmeyer told so and I believe him. Just ignore all these "Install Flash" suggestions in Firefox, it's non-existent in linux.

Let's better talk about iPhones and Steve Jobs. Because Steve Jobs is sooo cool. The only way linux can survive is being cool. Like in high-school, you know. Try to hang out with cool guys and do everything like them. Then everyone will love you. Of course, if you're not an ugly geek.

Re:Long live Linux on the Desktop

[muckracer]

> Another Linux users with his head firmly rammed up his own ass. Motherfucker, you are obsessed with yourself. For the huge, overwhelming, majority of people on this fucking planet,
> Linux is a fucking pile of retarded donkey shit. All you can focus on is yourself. "ohhh, it's not dead on *MY* desktop." Congradufuckinglations, except the article wasn't about your
> life or lack thereof. Fuck you.

Hey...Outlook failed to pop up the reminder, that it's time to renew your meds. :-)

Guess what?

[sirrunsalot]

Here's one thing *nix can do!

sudo echo "127.0.0.1 www.pcworld.com" >> /etc/hosts"

Goodbye.

Re:Games

[imakemusic]

That and decent music creating software. I've said it before but I'll say it again: while it is possible to create music on Linux it is by no means easy or enjoyable. Get me Ableton Live on Linux and I'll be happy.

Oh, and Photoshop.

and a pony.

Re:three million

[Yvan256]

If you want a "killer app", Left 4 Dead 2 launched on the Mac a few weeks ago.

Re:Linux has the same drag as Mac in business

[CarpetShark]

"Paradox for DOS works quite well. I still use it on a regular basis for various tasks. I can concentrate on working with my data"

Such as which floppy disk contains which PCX file? ;)

It's not dead! Or is it?...

[dacarr]

OK. So if desktop Linux is dead, it's moving pretty well on my computer, which tells me that it's undead. So I, for one, welcome our new zombie penguin overlords.

Oh Nooo.

[semi-old-geek]

I better stock up on some copies before they are all gone.

rderoko

[rderoko]

Well I guess the Redmond Washington PR department must have gotten a new influx of cash so they can spread their message of joy throughout the world. I have often wondered how to get on that gravy train, I have an opinion on just about everything !