Except few browsers are commercial, the money to be made in browsers is in licensing engines to embedded products. Like portable net devices, kiosks, phones etc... in such applications the engine is the important thing since the GUI will change to suit the application.
So any major innovations are likely to be in the realm of tailoring the web to run on small devices, scaling it down.
I don't think you can standardise on any desktop, that would be unfair for those people developing other systems.
Yes it would be nice to ditch the KDE/Gnome names and just call the desktop simply "Linux Desktop", but Linux isn't the desktop, it's the kernel.
KDE and Gnome are available for other systems, Sun recently changed their default desktop for Solaris to Gnome 2. Sometimes you have to remind yourself sometimes that their is life outside of Linux:)
The guy mentioned FreeBSD ports, which is a source code compiling system.
Then there's drivers for hardware, if a driver isn't included in your kernel you often have to download source code and compile that. This isn't a simple as running device manager.
I'm a full time Linux user, but I can see the obstacles to it being adopted by many users.
Probably why Linux isn't in the top 10 of uptimes on Netcraft, people bringing the system down to change a kernel or recompile a component due to a security hole.
It's quite true what you say Linux for the inexperienced home user, only it's not just kernels either. What about installing new applications? users are used to downloading a setup.exe and running it. With some distros you use a package management tool, others you compile the source code. This will be intollerable for many users, anyway this is deviating from the topic.
Creating another serial bus is pretty dumb though. Surely we should be moving towards a world where you can plug your hard disk into any computer, your scanner into your mobile phone, your printer into your digital camera?
Why not create a serial bus with many different speeds depending on the application required, make a wireless version too. Why do we need bluetooth, 802whatever, USB, firewire, serial ATA and now serial SCSI? it's just in the interests of hardware vendors to make all these different technologies.
Best solution would be a proper filesystem structure to start with:)
Still it's too late given that Microsoft are going to further dumb down the OS by adding the database filesystem. Can you imagine the trojans and viruses we'll have when that comes out? some serious though needs to go into the management that system. The registry is already an obfuscation, you can only access entries through the provided OS calls and tools.
WINE allows Linux, FreeBSD etc.. all to use some Windows apps.
GPL and Linux are public enemy number 1 at Microsoft, WINE also allows apps to be ported easier.
Many seem to regard WINE as being useless, look at Crossover Office then, it's a nicely packaged version of WINE that run Office and other apps quite well actually.
They're probably doing it to break WINE as well. DLL problems aren't that bad with Win2k and XP, system DLLs are protected and with XP you can go back to a restore point.
If an app installer is so badly written that it messes up your installation then the software can't be much good either.
Ironic considering it was a US product, although Commodore Germany did create the A2000, not hard considering it was basically an redesigned A500 in a box.
So if there's ex Amiga bods on the team, how long before I can drag a KDE desktop down to see the one behind it:? it's of little use I know:)
If you release a good product the first time you can still improve on it.
Microsoft often release dud products followed by a much improved second version, just shows they can't create a killer product without a ton of feedback on their previous failures.
If it wasn't for Windows and Office they would be history.
Well since people have been known to use them for embedded tasks I would imagine so.
I can certainly see a VIA C3 selection in the processor section of the 2.4.20 debian kernel sources.
The platform is actually known as the VIA Eden platform and there's plenty of info here:
http://www.via.com.tw/en/Products/eden.jsp
Quote from the FAQ
--------Start-------- 4. What kind of applications will use the VIA Eden? Platform?
A: Based on the industry standard x86 architecture, the VIA Eden? Embedded System Platform is fully compatible with Microsoft Windows XP and a full range of Embedded Windows, Windows CE, and the latest Linux operating systems and applications. Compatibility is further enhanced with its support for all the most popular Internet programs and plug-ins.
Exactly, how much is a PS2+kit? got to be more than the cost of building a Mini-ITX system.
Why Mini-ITX I hear you say? well the hardware in a Mini-ITX system is a bit slow compared with a faster PC and so is a PS2. Ok the PS2 does DVD, but stick a H+ in there and you're sorted.
Exactly, the internal port of the PS2 is PCMCIA based (IIRC), it has two USB ports and firewire (all standard stuff) . Why then do we need all this custom stuff to run an OS? Answer: more cash for Sony.
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Except few browsers are commercial, the money to be made in browsers is in licensing engines to embedded products. Like portable net devices, kiosks, phones etc... in such applications the engine is the important thing since the GUI will change to suit the application.
So any major innovations are likely to be in the realm of tailoring the web to run on small devices, scaling it down.
Like having bookmark folders on the bookark toolbar in Konqueror.
I can have loads of links quickly accessible from the toolbar all classified into different sections.
News, Linux, Music, Film, TV etc.....
Love it.
I suggest you look at:
http://www.kde-look.org/
Ooo look at all the ugly desktops.
Talking of war, will Bill Gates and Dubya Bush be trying to "seek out and destroy the GUI desktops of mass Windows distruction" next?
:)
It's in their interests to protect Bill's way of life
I don't think you can standardise on any desktop, that would be unfair for those people developing other systems.
:)
Yes it would be nice to ditch the KDE/Gnome names and just call the desktop simply "Linux Desktop", but Linux isn't the desktop, it's the kernel.
KDE and Gnome are available for other systems, Sun recently changed their default desktop for Solaris to Gnome 2. Sometimes you have to remind yourself sometimes that their is life outside of Linux
Maybe because Red Hat's KDE install is bastardised? Red Hat isn't the distro to run if you like KDE.
You can install apt4rpm with Red Hat anyway, gives you apt-get and lets you get any updates without a subscription to RHN.
The guy mentioned FreeBSD ports, which is a source code compiling system.
Then there's drivers for hardware, if a driver isn't included in your kernel you often have to download source code and compile that. This isn't a simple as running device manager.
I'm a full time Linux user, but I can see the obstacles to it being adopted by many users.
So the average home user is going to let their computer spend 24 hours compiling OpenOffice are they?
"Package: kernel-source-2.4.20 2.4.20-5
:)
This package provides the source code for the Linux kernel version 2.4.20 with modifications by Debian"
Vanilla with strawberry topping I think
Probably why Linux isn't in the top 10 of uptimes on Netcraft, people bringing the system down to change a kernel or recompile a component due to a security hole.
It's quite true what you say Linux for the inexperienced home user, only it's not just kernels either. What about installing new applications? users are used to downloading a setup.exe and running it. With some distros you use a package management tool, others you compile the source code. This will be intollerable for many users, anyway this is deviating from the topic.
Debian use tried and tested software, their kernel sources contain quite a few bugfixes too.
Running the vanilla sources from www.kernel.org means you sometimes miss out on some bugfixes, unless you follow kernel development.
Creating another serial bus is pretty dumb though. Surely we should be moving towards a world where you can plug your hard disk into any computer, your scanner into your mobile phone, your printer into your digital camera?
Why not create a serial bus with many different speeds depending on the application required, make a wireless version too. Why do we need bluetooth, 802whatever, USB, firewire, serial ATA and now serial SCSI? it's just in the interests of hardware vendors to make all these different technologies.
Maybe Intuit need a product called ion, then their users would be able to make better decisions about buying their software :)
;)
(for the slow people, Intuit ion)
Best solution would be a proper filesystem structure to start with :)
Still it's too late given that Microsoft are going to further dumb down the OS by adding the database filesystem. Can you imagine the trojans and viruses we'll have when that comes out? some serious though needs to go into the management that system. The registry is already an obfuscation, you can only access entries through the provided OS calls and tools.
WINE allows Linux, FreeBSD etc.. all to use some Windows apps.
GPL and Linux are public enemy number 1 at Microsoft, WINE also allows apps to be ported easier.
Many seem to regard WINE as being useless, look at Crossover Office then, it's a nicely packaged version of WINE that run Office and other apps quite well actually.
They're probably doing it to break WINE as well. DLL problems aren't that bad with Win2k and XP, system DLLs are protected and with XP you can go back to a restore point.
If an app installer is so badly written that it messes up your installation then the software can't be much good either.
Ironic considering it was a US product, although Commodore Germany did create the A2000, not hard considering it was basically an redesigned A500 in a box.
:)
So if there's ex Amiga bods on the team, how long before I can drag a KDE desktop down to see the one behind it:? it's of little use I know
UK research in this area is conservative as well.
:)
If you want to talk about stem cells, cloning etc.. look at Italy. They'll do anything to give a granny another child
If you release a good product the first time you can still improve on it.
Microsoft often release dud products followed by a much improved second version, just shows they can't create a killer product without a ton of feedback on their previous failures.
If it wasn't for Windows and Office they would be history.
Pinball is dying, arcades will be if they don't start and design multiuser networked arcade games.
When was the last time you played an arcade conversion on your PC? they're quite rare now.
The big ugly case is being replaced soon, the slim XBox will be out sometime this year.
Should of been released small to start with though IMHO.
Well since people have been known to use them for embedded tasks I would imagine so.
I can certainly see a VIA C3 selection in the processor section of the 2.4.20 debian kernel sources.
The platform is actually known as the VIA Eden platform and there's plenty of info here:
http://www.via.com.tw/en/Products/eden.jsp
Quote from the FAQ
--------Start--------
4. What kind of applications will use the VIA Eden? Platform?
A: Based on the industry standard x86 architecture, the VIA Eden? Embedded System Platform is fully compatible with Microsoft Windows XP and a full range of Embedded Windows, Windows CE, and the latest Linux operating systems and applications. Compatibility is further enhanced with its support for all the most popular Internet programs and plug-ins.
--------End--------
Exactly, how much is a PS2+kit? got to be more than the cost of building a Mini-ITX system.
Why Mini-ITX I hear you say? well the hardware in a Mini-ITX system is a bit slow compared with a faster PC and so is a PS2. Ok the PS2 does DVD, but stick a H+ in there and you're sorted.
Exactly, the internal port of the PS2 is PCMCIA based (IIRC), it has two USB ports and firewire (all standard stuff) . Why then do we need all this custom stuff to run an OS? Answer: more cash for Sony.