Linux is a piece-meal OS, and this is one of the primary reasons why people who use it, got it in the first place.
Older people, schools etc. are using Linux here.
Similarly, it's the same crowd who are going to want to build a custom PC... not a Dell.
I don't think the older people, non-techs or kids would know what they want in a custom computer and they're using Linux. Then again, Dell isn't really popular here either, most people don't even know the brand.
Basically, the reasons why power users love Linux so much are precisely the same reasons why mainstream users won't use it.
Because apparently it being free/cheaper, legal and works wouldn't be part of the reasons why a power user 'loves' Linux?
Where can I get a well supported full featured distro that doesn't remove 90% of the features from programs like XMMS, Mplayer and ffmpeg? (MP3 support, WMA support, DVD playback, RealAudio support etc etc)
I do believe all the commercial Linux distributions (the ones you need to pay for) offer all that out of the box.
That said, I just use Kubuntu and install that support after installing it. Of course if you find that too difficult, you can ask the community for help (Forums | irc://irc.freenode.net/kubuntu - IRC) and if you find that too difficult or don't want to bother.
You are of course always free to go out and buy a copy of SuSE Linux or perhaps Mandriva. I've used both commercial (pay) versions of these distributions and I can assure you that they support this out of the box.
Have you verified that the encryption and synchronization protocol are designed correctly
I looked at the sourcecode of the extension a while back out of curiosity (just extract the xpi file -- it's a zip file), it seemed the encryption was doing what it was meant todo.
I didn't really look too hard at the synchronization protocol because it was and is working fine for me.
All any Mac needs is a projector that can take a VGA signal, just like any PC.
As I said in another post:
Most projectors I've used are very fussy. They don't like certain refresh rates even though they 'advertise' they can do them among other things.
Ah, Stop right there - that's your problem. Why on earth would anyone *want* to run powerpoint, when they could run keynote ?
To actually show the presentation on a non-Mac.
So they can apply their knowledge on how to make Powerpoint presentations (which may exceed their knowledge of keynote)
To not bother with a program they know nothing about
*gasp* They may not actually like something about keynote
LOL! You're trying to say people prefer POWERPOINT ???
No, I'm saying some will.
But heres my reason. I prefer using Powerpoint because I don't have the time to waste learning yet another useless program that nobody uses in this nation (Poland), where the majority of people who know what Microsoft is, don't know what Apple is. Another reason why I don't like Keynote is that it's software locked into the Mac platform. The last thing I want todo is promote worse lock-ins. No thanks.
What does Powerpoint have to do with documentation
You mean you've never had to have a meeting after documenting something, having to present it in a presentation style to discuss it?
and why would a Mac user use it over Keynote?
I would imagine because the fussy projector wouldn't work with the Mac for one (hard enough to get them working with what they claim to support officially).
Another would be because the exportation to PPT (to run the presentation on Windows systems) would have it's annoyances.. Like objects, charts and tables getting converted to bitmap images, images with alpha flickering and giving all sorts of oddness, missaligned bullets, text inside shapes not wrapping properly etc. (note, some of these things only happen in certain circumstances)
And perhaps another... Not all Mac users like Keynote?
I don't synchronize passwords or cookies; that's really a privacy issue to me.
It's a privacy issue for me too.. That's why I encrypt them. I encrypt the passwords and cookies locally on the computer and I enable encryption on Google browser sync, so Google can't read it as plain text (though they could in theory bruteforce the data until they get the right pin).
I've had problems with it not doing the right thing when used from several computers
I have several computers with Firefox installed, not suffered issues with bookmark syncing (I barely add more bookmarks -- could be a reason). I'm particularly pleased with how well it syncs passwords and cookies.
It also seems to slow down some operations significantly.
It slows down the startup of the browser here. But that's mainly because it's asking for the password to access my encrypted password store. Other than that. Not noticed any slow downs.
In the end, I removed it; I think it still needs work.
Maybe you should raise your concerns with Google? Provide them feedback.
Sometimes it just takes one particular thing to make a decision on considering possible. For example, I knew when I switched to Linux on my main desktop not all my Windows games would work... But I got other benefits that I wanted.
If it also had a program like Indesign, photoshop and their subsequent ability to use CMYK properly, I would.
I don't know of alternatives to Indesign (mostly because I haven't done much with publishing related things yet). But Krita offers much Photoshop functionality and has had support for CMYK since 1.5.
You are worthy of assimilation. Lower your firewalls and surrender your beige boxes, we will add your biological and technological distinctiveness to our own. Resistance is futile.
You can make a white list of allowed applications, it's a standard thing. I do it with my kids accounts.
Would you mind enlightening me on how todo this?
I still haven't found a way to prevent users from executing.app folders that they manage to get onto the system (please don't tell me about file/folder permissions -- this isn't the same).
Well, other than the obvious issues of the fact that Apple doesn't even provide adequate support of their products (they don't even support hardware and software older than three years -- what corporation has ONLY hardware that's less than three years old) and as a server, lack of performance compared to running Linux. Not need to mention issues of locking down the Mac (One can lock down windows a lot more -- Just try to create a whitelist of applications that can only be ran on the Mac, it's not possible).
I still don't see any collaboration software on OS X that's comparable to that on windows.
Hell, we at least need something like CRM in a corporation.
Now what's needed in a enterprise? *cough*
Years of spyware, malware and virus headaches that affect Windows XP have pushed IT managers to scramble for new options they might not have considered in the past.
I actually haven't seen widespread chaos caused by spyware, malware in a corporation or enterprise yet...
The learning curve and disparity of Linux distributions is too high for easy general office use.
There is a reason why people are trained to use Microsoft office. If a firm were to change to Linux, they would train the staff that needs to be trained to use it.
Many corporate applications have been ported to W3-compliant Web services that are OS-agnostic.
Woha? Where did this come from? Sources?
The Mac platform has moved to Windows-compatible Intel chips, which are less expensive and more powerful than older PowerPC processors and make virtualization a viable alternative.
Can still get non-Macs for less money with the components one needs, rather than unwanted extras or not everything wanted.
Mac enterprise administration has become more mainstream and interoperable with Active Directory
Really? Why can't you set any policies on a windows server then? You need a OS X server todo it.
Microsoft's user and inventory LDAP database.
What OS doesn't support this?
Active Directory is the backbone of most corporate environments and can be tied to everything IT-related, including IP phones, facilities access and, of course, computer security.
Yes, it's usually a big mess, adding OS X into it is just going to make it a bigger mess to manage.
Because Macs work with Microsoft's directory
I have to disagree, they don't work with it. There merely support some authentication features of it. No windows policies. Any policies you need, need to be set on a OS X server running open directory
enterprise administrators can now more easily manage Macs alongside Windows machines.
As long as they have a OS X server at their disposal at that particular time...
Apple's consumer lineup is falling into the hands of business decision-makers and their families, and scoring well. What works well at home could do well at work.
Macs work well at home? I've only had constant hardware failures with them...
All of Apple's machines are ready to move into the enterprise, depending on the job at hand. The company's simple and elegant product line, which is also highly customizable, will be Apple's entree to the business market -- if IT decision-makers can get over their prejudice against equipment that's traditionally been aimed at consumers.
The tendency of Linux zealots on Slashdot to call everything FUD as a defense has weakened the term to me.
Well, the issue isn't about you, it's about the Linux community.
I now recognize it as meaning "I am afraid of what this person is saying."
In the majority of cases I see the word "FUD" used in Slashdot (I browse at 0), it's usually after they've explained why they see said thing as FUD. Such as "no evidence" or "blatant lying". So I can't really agree with your personal view there.
The problem, as I see it, is the fact that the Linux zealotry community is deadset in the belief that they couldn't possibly be wrong about anything.
The problem is, the 'Linux community' as you so call it, has a issue of people doing faulty comparisons. Such as a preinstalled Windows system, with all the drivers, software preconfigured to installing Linux from scratch on badly supported hardware with little knowledge on what todo when things like drivers don't come with the system.
Thus, when people claim things "Linux is not ready for the desktop", they need to provide evidence as to/WHY/ it's that way or it's just 'saying things', in other words, FUD.
I've never met a nerd who could admit he was wrong.
Generalizing.
The community ruined Linux for me.
That's fine for me as long as this remains a small percentage of users who tried Linux. It's impossible to make 100% happy.
It's my own fault for being an extremely technical non-nerd.
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I think the official instructions would be a better comparison. They can be found here.
That said, I just use Kubuntu and install that support after installing it. Of course if you find that too difficult, you can ask the community for help (Forums | irc://irc.freenode.net/kubuntu - IRC) and if you find that too difficult or don't want to bother.
You are of course always free to go out and buy a copy of SuSE Linux or perhaps Mandriva. I've used both commercial (pay) versions of these distributions and I can assure you that they support this out of the box.
I also imagine the amount of people asking for Linux isn't as high as average Joe's need for a computer.
I didn't really look too hard at the synchronization protocol because it was and is working fine for me.
Most projectors I've used are very fussy. They don't like certain refresh rates even though they 'advertise' they can do them among other things.
- To actually show the presentation on a non-Mac.
- So they can apply their knowledge on how to make Powerpoint presentations (which may exceed their knowledge of keynote)
- To not bother with a program they know nothing about
- *gasp* They may not actually like something about keynote
No, I'm saying some will.But heres my reason. I prefer using Powerpoint because I don't have the time to waste learning yet another useless program that nobody uses in this nation (Poland), where the majority of people who know what Microsoft is, don't know what Apple is. Another reason why I don't like Keynote is that it's software locked into the Mac platform. The last thing I want todo is promote worse lock-ins. No thanks.
The funny thing is that if you try to use ATi's projector options in Windows, the projectors often don't want to work with it at all.
Another would be because the exportation to PPT (to run the presentation on Windows systems) would have it's annoyances.. Like objects, charts and tables getting converted to bitmap images, images with alpha flickering and giving all sorts of oddness, missaligned bullets, text inside shapes not wrapping properly etc. (note, some of these things only happen in certain circumstances)
And perhaps another... Not all Mac users like Keynote?
Where is the cookie and password syncing (which are optional in Google browser sync)?
And what's less intrusive about it making all your bookmarks searchable for everyone?
So far, my 'must-have' extension list:
- Google browser sync
- Fasterfox
That's my 'must-have' list, I can cope without other extensions...If there was a quicksilver equivalent that had the same functionality available on the Linux desktop, would you consider Linux?
I still haven't found a way to prevent users from executing
I still don't see any collaboration software on OS X that's comparable to that on windows.
Hell, we at least need something like CRM in a corporation.
Now what's needed in a enterprise? *cough*I actually haven't seen widespread chaos caused by spyware, malware in a corporation or enterprise yet...There is a reason why people are trained to use Microsoft office. If a firm were to change to Linux, they would train the staff that needs to be trained to use it.Woha? Where did this come from? Sources?Can still get non-Macs for less money with the components one needs, rather than unwanted extras or not everything wanted.Really? Why can't you set any policies on a windows server then? You need a OS X server todo it.What OS doesn't support this?Yes, it's usually a big mess, adding OS X into it is just going to make it a bigger mess to manage.I have to disagree, they don't work with it. There merely support some authentication features of it. No windows policies. Any policies you need, need to be set on a OS X server running open directoryAs long as they have a OS X server at their disposal at that particular time...Macs work well at home? I've only had constant hardware failures with them...Hahah.
Thus, when people claim things "Linux is not ready for the desktop", they need to provide evidence as to