Well, I wouldn't know about RH. I don't consider it a particularly newbie-friendly distro. On Mandrake, I just click on the Mandrake Control Center, then on Network, then on the Connection Wizard. There I can set up the DNS config by putting numbers in pretty widgets.
Now, wether the software works or not is another story. But it seems that - had it been working - the Red Hat configuration utility worked pretty much the same way. So we can bitch that software is buggy, or that it's counter-intuitive, but there's still a difference between the two...
(Example: have your mom do a " file> save as" in Windows. Not perfect but simple enough. Not have her do it in yer fave Linux distro.)
yeah... right, like she'll ever figure that one out.
What the hell are you talking about? "Save as..." is identical in Windows and Linux/KDE. With the difference that the "Save as..." dialog looks much nicer in KDE 3.1 (allowing for file previews, customizable shortcut bar, etc.).
To this day, even simple things make no sense in Linux.
FUD, FUD, FUD...would you care to give us a few examples?
Actually, you are either mistaken or just spreading FUD (I'll give you the benefit of the doubt): most Linux software out there does not need to be compiled by the user. In fact, a new Linux user, using a modern distro, might never have to compile a program at all. Binary packages have been available for a while now. With technologies such as RedCarpet, Mandrake's URPMI (with GUI frontend) or Lindows Click'n'Run makes it easier to install new software on Linux than on Windows. Also, note that most software for Linux is available for free. You should learn a little bit more about Linux before making such statements - unless you're purposefully spreading FUD, of course.
Yeah, but you still need to reboot whenever you install a new driver, and you can have multiple desktops and customizable window borders without having to install (sometimes unstable) third-party add-ons. What's your point? The two OSes have evolved in different ways, so some features have been available in one or the other first. The difference being that Linux evolves twice as fast as Windows. Now, in KDE 3.1, I have iconized previews of images, movies, text files, HTML files and PDF files in the file manager (+ larger previews in a tooltip "pop-up", if wanted). And translucent menus. And hi-quality anti-aliased fonts (with Dave Chester's XFT hack). And burning a folder to CD-writer with a right-click. And tons of applets for the panel (taskbar).
So, in version 3.2 we'll be able to do desktop resize/depth change/rotate(!) on-the-fly. What advantage will the Windows desktop have on Linux/KDE then?
You're welcome. Yeah, a lot of people like to vent on this website, rather than help out newbies - oh well, it's part of the game, I guess. Good luck with Mandrake and/or SuSE!
For even better looking fonts on a KDE Desktop, use Andale Sans (at font size 10 to 13, depending on your resolution) and David Chester's Xft + Freetype hack.
Before I start with my response here, I just want to express my gratitude for taking the time to help me.
No problem. I just happened to read about this today while trying to figure out why Ctrl-Alt-plus and Ctrl-Alt-minus weren't working on my computer. Turns out that function is broken on XFree86 version 4.2.99.5-0.20030122, but it's being worked on right now. So if you have that version (rpm -qa | grep XFree86 to find out), then that's why it's not working. If you have a regular version of XFree86 (i.e. 4.1 or 4.2), then it should work...unless you only have one resolution set for each bpp mode (then you're cycling through a single option, giving you the impression that it's not working...) Check your XF86Config-4 file under the "Screen" section, and make sure you have more than one resolution in the "Modes" part of the appropriate "Display" subsection for your default color depth. (Yeah, I can understand why a GUI configuration tool is useful for most Linux newcomers...)
I'm using Redhat and have been unable to locate anything like that. Could you steer me in the right direction? I did do a search, but it hasn't proven fruitful. Even an idea what keywords to search for would be helpful. I'd kinda prefer to be taught to fish, if you know what I mean.
Sorry, I don't know RedHat at all - I must admit that I'm a Mandrake man, so far it's been working like a charm and it's very newbie-friendly (I've only been using Linux for a year or so...)
Does anybody else know how to configure X through the GUI in RedHat?
Changing resolutions dynamically is possible by doing Ctrl-Alt-plus or Ctrl-Alt-minus, though that will not change the actual desktop size, which is less than ideal. However, the new RandR extension in XFree86 permits the dynamic resize, mode change, refresh change and even orientation change of the desktop on-the-fly. Expect it to be usable in control panel form as early as KDE 3.2 (due some time in the spring, I guess).
Right now, however, you can change the screen resolution for the next time you restart X without actually editing XF86Config-4, using the appropriate GUI app that comes with your distro (Mandrake Control Center for Mandrake, etc.). So, in a way, you are right in the sense that you need to restart X to truly change modes (and total desktop area) - however you are mistaken on all other accounts. I will agree with you that most other posters failed miserably in giving you this simple piece of information...c'mon guys, don't be so emotional!
In any case, this is really not a big issue, as most people don't resize their desktop once they've set it up to their liking...but now, with the RandR X extension, they'll be able to do it in real time. (Note: you can try it if you have the latest version of X, I think, by using the command "xrandr", but I believe the Desktop and Window managers are not yet aware of it, so it will probably cause some General Weirdness...type "man xrandr" to see how to use it.)
I know you're a troll and all, but do you think you could possibly read the posts before replying to them? I was talking about a system with Linux PRE-INSTALLED, not about having your girlfriend, mom or whatever install a new card and configure X...
Now, about your problem, did you try to run the X configuration tools that came with your distro (like the Mandrake Control Center)? What was the distro you tried? What's your video card? Did you know that the recent Mandrake automatically does this for you? (It did so with my NVIDIA GeForce4 Ti4400 - though I eventually downloaded the proprietary drivers).
And, BTW, do you think it is obvious to the uninitiated (i.e. your mom) to figure out how to set the monitor refresh rate in Windows? Just do the test and make her try to change it without telling her anything...Meanwhile, go back to your cave, Troll...
However, there's no way that I would seriously try to give a Linux system to my girlfriend, or even my fairly tech-savvy younger brother, simply because I know that they'd spend a lot of time trying to figure out how to do things that were idiotically simple on their Macs and damn-near impossible under Linux.
Any examples of things they wouldn't be able to do in Linux? Seriously, I'd be curious to hear them.
The truth is, Linux is ready to go head-to-head with WinXP and OS X. I've seen it being used by total computer newbies, and it wasn't any harder for them to learn it from scratch than it would have been if they were learning Windows from scratch...now, people who are used to Windows might look around a little bit before finding the correct menu entry, but the distro makers are working hard to make this as painless as possible (with such things as "start here" menus and icons). UI consistency is pretty much a done deal with newer KDE and Gnome apps. And you don't need Bluecurve: the File menu is always in the same place, so is the Edit menu, etc. - stop imagining that users are morons! Don't you remember, back in the days of DOS and TRS-80 and C64? How user-friendly was it then? And yet people learned how to use these computers quickly.
In any case, it is not "excruciatingly painful" to switch. Stop exaggerating and take a good look at a modern, pre-installed distro, please. The UI on KDE 3.1 is better and more intuitive than that of WinXP, not less, AND it has more features. Years? The future is now, brother, which is why so many corporations and governments are switching - or are you saying that your girlfriend or your "tech-savvy" younger brothers are dumber than govt. pencil-pushers?
What about pre-installed Linux? That's got the same functionalities as Windows and OS X out of the box - and it's being taken seriously. So far, the non-techies who have been using it seem to like it.
Remember, computers only become complicated when you install stuff/play around with the config. As geeks, we like to tinker with our machines, so obviously we run into troubles, but really we're looking for it. Mom/pop will usually be content to use it without try to change anything beyond the image background.
I've run into troubles with Windows before that took me as long to solve as Linux troubles. Some of the times, a complete reinstall of the OS was necessary. Obviously you had a bad experience with Linux - I haven't, and neither has my gf, who uses a Linux system that I've configured for her. It does everything she needs, and doesn't crash and/or suffer from general weirdness like her old Windows computer did.
Perhaps you should look into getting one of those preinstalled Linux boxes...
True, but they had early successes that made them a ton of money. Back in the days of Wolfenstein 3D and Commander Keen, competition wasn't as brutal as it is today.
These days id can afford to only have 17 employees because they only release one game every two years and a half or so. Like Blizzard, they can afford to work on a game for as long as they need to because they've got this cash reserve from previous hits. There are very few companies who can afford that - most need to churn out a steady flow of games in order to survive. That usually means larger teams.
My big problem is the Z "trigger", which is one of the most ill-placed buttons ever conceived. I've played it quite enough, but it does feel too small for me (not to mention too light). I do have pretty big hands, though I would not qualify them as "huge." It is, however, a matter of personal taste. Personally I'm fine with the original Xbox controller, but I know that most people tend to think it's too big (until they've actually played with it for a while, then they think it's very comfortable...)
Well, the two consoles really don't aim for the same audience. Even though Nintendo desperately wants out of the "kids" category (with such games as Eternal Darkness and the Resident Evil exclusive deal), that's still its main target audience. Similarly, the Xbox has very few "kids" games, and definitely aims more towards the teen/young adult market. Sony remains way ahead in both markets - considering that 10-year olds seem to all be playing GTA3...
Personally, I don't have a favorite. I own an Xbox and a PS2, and I might get a GC once Zelda comes out. I had the chance to try it out at E3: it looks amazing, and plays well too. But I have to say that, so far, the GC's lineup has been the least impressive. I don't really like the controller either, it's too cramped for my big hands. I love the little discs, though!
Look, I never said that because a post was pro-microsoft, that it was therefore the work of Redmond. Seriously, before going on about logic, please carefully read what I've actually written. What I said is that there must be MS employees paid to be on this board to do some "direct" marketing, which certainly doesn't include praising Linux. Why do I think this is not only plausible, but highgly probable? Because it makes sense to do it, from MS's point of view, because it's relatively cheap and not very risky, and because they have a history of doing this (and worse).
However, you shouldn't assume that by this I mean it's impossible to say something good about Windows or Microsoft without being on Bill Gates' payroll. That's ridiculous. Even I have said good things about Win2k, which I find to be an adequate OS, and a big improvement on previous offerings. I have an Xbox and I love it (I'll love it even more when I can run Linux on it without a modchip...). I think MS Office is still the best office suite (I use it with Crossover Office). The Microsoft Design Gallery Live is the best place on the net to find clip art. Yet I'm very critical of other aspects of MS, and I really hope that Linux will continue to gain marketshare, because I honestly believe that OSes should not belong to anyone in particular. And, it's Linux is, IMO, a fundamentally better operating system.
Just so you know: if there's anything I'm really good about, it's looking at something skeptically and thinking about it. I'm a real libra, very much into the whole doubting and pondering thing. Too much, actually, sometimes I need to prop myself into action, or I get kind of absent-minded and could place myself in physical danger.:-)
Actually, the "community" is not a corporation, and the pro-Linux enthusiasts do not need to be paid to cheer for their OS of choice. So, no, it's not the same. You can't make such an analogy because there is no equivalent to Microsoft on the Linux side. Therefore, you missed the point completely.
Of course I don't have any evidence. I'm not trying to pass opinion as fact. I never claimed to do that. I'm just saying that it wouldn't make much sense not to do it. Perhaps you can trust MS not to be underhanded - I can't. All I can say is that if I was MS, I'd do it. Why not, after all? It's cheap, effective and not in itself illegal.
Why is it so hard to believe? You've got a company with 40 billion $ in cash reserves only. Imagine how big their marketing budget is. Paying a dozen or so people 12$-15$ an hour to read and post on Slashdot is nothing compared to other marketing tools, such as TV or magazine ads. You might not believe it. I did not personally hear about it. But it makes perfect sense from a marketing standpoint. As I said, if I was a MS marketing - you know, those people who used one of their own for their attempt at a "switch" ad - I wouldn't hesitate a second to do it. It'd be a very cost-effective thing to do.
I'm curious, though: why do you think MS wouldn't do it?
Not really. There are a number of MS employee reading this web site every day, with instructions to post pro-MS messages or mod up pro-MS messages. And if I was in their position, I'd do the same thing. This is much more efficient "marketing" than, say, MS ads on Newforge...
Unless I'm mistaken, the article (and the leaked memo it refers to) is mainly about the corporate desktop. All of the examples you give concern the home desktop. I think it's clear that Linux will make inroads in the workplace before doing so in the home (just like Windows did, actually). On the corporate desktop, there is already enough productivity software available to make it viable, and more coming.
Also, you can use Quicken on Linux with Codeweaver's Crossover Office. I do every day, as a matter of fact, online banking included. It has yet to crash once, so it's pretty stable.
The Johnson Center's IT team installed CrossOver Office Server Edition. There's a difference - the Server Edition lets you run MS apps from a server on a Linux thin client.
Slashdot Mirror
Well, I wouldn't know about RH. I don't consider it a particularly newbie-friendly distro. On Mandrake, I just click on the Mandrake Control Center, then on Network, then on the Connection Wizard. There I can set up the DNS config by putting numbers in pretty widgets.
Now, wether the software works or not is another story. But it seems that - had it been working - the Red Hat configuration utility worked pretty much the same way. So we can bitch that software is buggy, or that it's counter-intuitive, but there's still a difference between the two...
(Example: have your mom do a " file> save as" in Windows. Not perfect but simple enough. Not have her do it in yer fave Linux distro.) yeah ... right, like she'll ever figure that one out.
What the hell are you talking about? "Save as..." is identical in Windows and Linux/KDE. With the difference that the "Save as..." dialog looks much nicer in KDE 3.1 (allowing for file previews, customizable shortcut bar, etc.).
To this day, even simple things make no sense in Linux.
FUD, FUD, FUD...would you care to give us a few examples?
Actually, you are either mistaken or just spreading FUD (I'll give you the benefit of the doubt): most Linux software out there does not need to be compiled by the user. In fact, a new Linux user, using a modern distro, might never have to compile a program at all. Binary packages have been available for a while now. With technologies such as RedCarpet, Mandrake's URPMI (with GUI frontend) or Lindows Click'n'Run makes it easier to install new software on Linux than on Windows. Also, note that most software for Linux is available for free. You should learn a little bit more about Linux before making such statements - unless you're purposefully spreading FUD, of course.
Yeah, but you still need to reboot whenever you install a new driver, and you can have multiple desktops and customizable window borders without having to install (sometimes unstable) third-party add-ons. What's your point? The two OSes have evolved in different ways, so some features have been available in one or the other first. The difference being that Linux evolves twice as fast as Windows. Now, in KDE 3.1, I have iconized previews of images, movies, text files, HTML files and PDF files in the file manager (+ larger previews in a tooltip "pop-up", if wanted). And translucent menus. And hi-quality anti-aliased fonts (with Dave Chester's XFT hack). And burning a folder to CD-writer with a right-click. And tons of applets for the panel (taskbar).
So, in version 3.2 we'll be able to do desktop resize/depth change/rotate(!) on-the-fly. What advantage will the Windows desktop have on Linux/KDE then?
You're welcome. Yeah, a lot of people like to vent on this website, rather than help out newbies - oh well, it's part of the game, I guess. Good luck with Mandrake and/or SuSE!
For even better looking fonts on a KDE Desktop, use Andale Sans (at font size 10 to 13, depending on your resolution) and David Chester's Xft + Freetype hack.
Before I start with my response here, I just want to express my gratitude for taking the time to help me.
No problem. I just happened to read about this today while trying to figure out why Ctrl-Alt-plus and Ctrl-Alt-minus weren't working on my computer. Turns out that function is broken on XFree86 version 4.2.99.5-0.20030122, but it's being worked on right now. So if you have that version (rpm -qa | grep XFree86 to find out), then that's why it's not working. If you have a regular version of XFree86 (i.e. 4.1 or 4.2), then it should work...unless you only have one resolution set for each bpp mode (then you're cycling through a single option, giving you the impression that it's not working...) Check your XF86Config-4 file under the "Screen" section, and make sure you have more than one resolution in the "Modes" part of the appropriate "Display" subsection for your default color depth. (Yeah, I can understand why a GUI configuration tool is useful for most Linux newcomers...)
I'm using Redhat and have been unable to locate anything like that. Could you steer me in the right direction? I did do a search, but it hasn't proven fruitful. Even an idea what keywords to search for would be helpful. I'd kinda prefer to be taught to fish, if you know what I mean.
Sorry, I don't know RedHat at all - I must admit that I'm a Mandrake man, so far it's been working like a charm and it's very newbie-friendly (I've only been using Linux for a year or so...)
Does anybody else know how to configure X through the GUI in RedHat?
Changing resolutions dynamically is possible by doing Ctrl-Alt-plus or Ctrl-Alt-minus, though that will not change the actual desktop size, which is less than ideal. However, the new RandR extension in XFree86 permits the dynamic resize, mode change, refresh change and even orientation change of the desktop on-the-fly. Expect it to be usable in control panel form as early as KDE 3.2 (due some time in the spring, I guess).
Right now, however, you can change the screen resolution for the next time you restart X without actually editing XF86Config-4, using the appropriate GUI app that comes with your distro (Mandrake Control Center for Mandrake, etc.). So, in a way, you are right in the sense that you need to restart X to truly change modes (and total desktop area) - however you are mistaken on all other accounts. I will agree with you that most other posters failed miserably in giving you this simple piece of information...c'mon guys, don't be so emotional!
In any case, this is really not a big issue, as most people don't resize their desktop once they've set it up to their liking...but now, with the RandR X extension, they'll be able to do it in real time. (Note: you can try it if you have the latest version of X, I think, by using the command "xrandr", but I believe the Desktop and Window managers are not yet aware of it, so it will probably cause some General Weirdness...type "man xrandr" to see how to use it.)
Have a nice day...
I know you're a troll and all, but do you think you could possibly read the posts before replying to them? I was talking about a system with Linux PRE-INSTALLED, not about having your girlfriend, mom or whatever install a new card and configure X...
Now, about your problem, did you try to run the X configuration tools that came with your distro (like the Mandrake Control Center)? What was the distro you tried? What's your video card? Did you know that the recent Mandrake automatically does this for you? (It did so with my NVIDIA GeForce4 Ti4400 - though I eventually downloaded the proprietary drivers).
And, BTW, do you think it is obvious to the uninitiated (i.e. your mom) to figure out how to set the monitor refresh rate in Windows? Just do the test and make her try to change it without telling her anything...Meanwhile, go back to your cave, Troll...
However, there's no way that I would seriously try to give a Linux system to my girlfriend, or even my fairly tech-savvy younger brother, simply because I know that they'd spend a lot of time trying to figure out how to do things that were idiotically simple on their Macs and damn-near impossible under Linux.
Any examples of things they wouldn't be able to do in Linux? Seriously, I'd be curious to hear them.
The truth is, Linux is ready to go head-to-head with WinXP and OS X. I've seen it being used by total computer newbies, and it wasn't any harder for them to learn it from scratch than it would have been if they were learning Windows from scratch...now, people who are used to Windows might look around a little bit before finding the correct menu entry, but the distro makers are working hard to make this as painless as possible (with such things as "start here" menus and icons). UI consistency is pretty much a done deal with newer KDE and Gnome apps. And you don't need Bluecurve: the File menu is always in the same place, so is the Edit menu, etc. - stop imagining that users are morons! Don't you remember, back in the days of DOS and TRS-80 and C64? How user-friendly was it then? And yet people learned how to use these computers quickly.
In any case, it is not "excruciatingly painful" to switch. Stop exaggerating and take a good look at a modern, pre-installed distro, please. The UI on KDE 3.1 is better and more intuitive than that of WinXP, not less, AND it has more features. Years? The future is now, brother, which is why so many corporations and governments are switching - or are you saying that your girlfriend or your "tech-savvy" younger brothers are dumber than govt. pencil-pushers?
What about pre-installed Linux? That's got the same functionalities as Windows and OS X out of the box - and it's being taken seriously. So far, the non-techies who have been using it seem to like it.
Remember, computers only become complicated when you install stuff/play around with the config. As geeks, we like to tinker with our machines, so obviously we run into troubles, but really we're looking for it. Mom/pop will usually be content to use it without try to change anything beyond the image background.
I've run into troubles with Windows before that took me as long to solve as Linux troubles. Some of the times, a complete reinstall of the OS was necessary. Obviously you had a bad experience with Linux - I haven't, and neither has my gf, who uses a Linux system that I've configured for her. It does everything she needs, and doesn't crash and/or suffer from general weirdness like her old Windows computer did.
Perhaps you should look into getting one of those preinstalled Linux boxes...
Or, as we used to say: eschew obfuscation.
Open what source? Aren't all the drak tools GPL'ed?
True, but they had early successes that made them a ton of money. Back in the days of Wolfenstein 3D and Commander Keen, competition wasn't as brutal as it is today.
These days id can afford to only have 17 employees because they only release one game every two years and a half or so. Like Blizzard, they can afford to work on a game for as long as they need to because they've got this cash reserve from previous hits. There are very few companies who can afford that - most need to churn out a steady flow of games in order to survive. That usually means larger teams.
My big problem is the Z "trigger", which is one of the most ill-placed buttons ever conceived. I've played it quite enough, but it does feel too small for me (not to mention too light). I do have pretty big hands, though I would not qualify them as "huge." It is, however, a matter of personal taste. Personally I'm fine with the original Xbox controller, but I know that most people tend to think it's too big (until they've actually played with it for a while, then they think it's very comfortable...)
Well, the two consoles really don't aim for the same audience. Even though Nintendo desperately wants out of the "kids" category (with such games as Eternal Darkness and the Resident Evil exclusive deal), that's still its main target audience. Similarly, the Xbox has very few "kids" games, and definitely aims more towards the teen/young adult market. Sony remains way ahead in both markets - considering that 10-year olds seem to all be playing GTA3...
Personally, I don't have a favorite. I own an Xbox and a PS2, and I might get a GC once Zelda comes out. I had the chance to try it out at E3: it looks amazing, and plays well too. But I have to say that, so far, the GC's lineup has been the least impressive. I don't really like the controller either, it's too cramped for my big hands. I love the little discs, though!
Look, I never said that because a post was pro-microsoft, that it was therefore the work of Redmond. Seriously, before going on about logic, please carefully read what I've actually written. What I said is that there must be MS employees paid to be on this board to do some "direct" marketing, which certainly doesn't include praising Linux. Why do I think this is not only plausible, but highgly probable? Because it makes sense to do it, from MS's point of view, because it's relatively cheap and not very risky, and because they have a history of doing this (and worse).
:-)
However, you shouldn't assume that by this I mean it's impossible to say something good about Windows or Microsoft without being on Bill Gates' payroll. That's ridiculous. Even I have said good things about Win2k, which I find to be an adequate OS, and a big improvement on previous offerings. I have an Xbox and I love it (I'll love it even more when I can run Linux on it without a modchip...). I think MS Office is still the best office suite (I use it with Crossover Office). The Microsoft Design Gallery Live is the best place on the net to find clip art. Yet I'm very critical of other aspects of MS, and I really hope that Linux will continue to gain marketshare, because I honestly believe that OSes should not belong to anyone in particular. And, it's Linux is, IMO, a fundamentally better operating system.
Just so you know: if there's anything I'm really good about, it's looking at something skeptically and thinking about it. I'm a real libra, very much into the whole doubting and pondering thing. Too much, actually, sometimes I need to prop myself into action, or I get kind of absent-minded and could place myself in physical danger.
Okay, so I forgot to put "IMFHO" in front of my sentence. So prove that I'm wrong, and I'll give you a special prize... :-)
Actually, the "community" is not a corporation, and the pro-Linux enthusiasts do not need to be paid to cheer for their OS of choice. So, no, it's not the same. You can't make such an analogy because there is no equivalent to Microsoft on the Linux side. Therefore, you missed the point completely.
Of course I don't have any evidence. I'm not trying to pass opinion as fact. I never claimed to do that. I'm just saying that it wouldn't make much sense not to do it. Perhaps you can trust MS not to be underhanded - I can't. All I can say is that if I was MS, I'd do it. Why not, after all? It's cheap, effective and not in itself illegal.
Why is it so hard to believe? You've got a company with 40 billion $ in cash reserves only. Imagine how big their marketing budget is. Paying a dozen or so people 12$-15$ an hour to read and post on Slashdot is nothing compared to other marketing tools, such as TV or magazine ads. You might not believe it. I did not personally hear about it. But it makes perfect sense from a marketing standpoint. As I said, if I was a MS marketing - you know, those people who used one of their own for their attempt at a "switch" ad - I wouldn't hesitate a second to do it. It'd be a very cost-effective thing to do.
I'm curious, though: why do you think MS wouldn't do it?
Well, it DID try to use an injunction against Lindows...that's not quite the same as a lawsuit, but I'd be careful about using the word NEVER, here.
Not really. There are a number of MS employee reading this web site every day, with instructions to post pro-MS messages or mod up pro-MS messages. And if I was in their position, I'd do the same thing. This is much more efficient "marketing" than, say, MS ads on Newforge...
Unless I'm mistaken, the article (and the leaked memo it refers to) is mainly about the corporate desktop. All of the examples you give concern the home desktop. I think it's clear that Linux will make inroads in the workplace before doing so in the home (just like Windows did, actually). On the corporate desktop, there is already enough productivity software available to make it viable, and more coming.
Also, you can use Quicken on Linux with Codeweaver's Crossover Office. I do every day, as a matter of fact, online banking included. It has yet to crash once, so it's pretty stable.
The Johnson Center's IT team installed CrossOver Office Server Edition. There's a difference - the Server Edition lets you run MS apps from a server on a Linux thin client.