Comments on: Linux Getting Closer to Being Ready for the Desktop http://suffolk757.com/blog/2009/08/07/linux-getting-closer-to-being-ready-for-the-desktop/ http://www.suffolk757.com Thu, 26 Aug 2010 14:45:51 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Dennis Murczak http://suffolk757.com/blog/2009/08/07/linux-getting-closer-to-being-ready-for-the-desktop/comment-page-1/#comment-189 Dennis Murczak Mon, 10 Aug 2009 14:31:54 +0000 http://suffolk757.com/blog/?p=173#comment-189 @lefty.crupps: Well, that can be argued about to no end, but the mature mainstream open source apps are definitely good enough for everyday use unless you need to do something special that is only offered by a specific proprietary application. Once you get used to Gimp, for example, you could do just about everything, you would just do it differently than in Photoshop. @Mr O: Linux is an excellent, if not the best, OS for heavy duty networking. The problem you are speaking about is that Windows strictly refuses to talk to anything than itself over a LAN. But that's not Linux' fault :-( @lefty.crupps: Well, that can be argued about to no end, but the mature mainstream open source apps are definitely good enough for everyday use unless you need to do something special that is only offered by a specific proprietary application. Once you get used to Gimp, for example, you could do just about everything, you would just do it differently than in Photoshop.

@Mr O: Linux is an excellent, if not the best, OS for heavy duty networking. The problem you are speaking about is that Windows strictly refuses to talk to anything than itself over a LAN. But that’s not Linux’ fault :-(

]]> By: lefty.crupps http://suffolk757.com/blog/2009/08/07/linux-getting-closer-to-being-ready-for-the-desktop/comment-page-1/#comment-188 lefty.crupps Mon, 10 Aug 2009 12:51:21 +0000 http://suffolk757.com/blog/?p=173#comment-188 > Although the free apps are good, they just aren’t the > same quality as paid versions. Not the same quality, no; they're usually better than the for-pay software titles. > Although the free apps are good, they just aren’t the
> same quality as paid versions.

Not the same quality, no; they’re usually better than the for-pay software titles.

]]> By: theblaqman http://suffolk757.com/blog/2009/08/07/linux-getting-closer-to-being-ready-for-the-desktop/comment-page-1/#comment-187 theblaqman Sun, 09 Aug 2009 22:41:13 +0000 http://suffolk757.com/blog/?p=173#comment-187 I dunno. I've played around with it on and off pretty much at least once a year. I have been pretty underwhelmed until Mint came out. But then I've been told I'm not an average consumer user, so the things I need a computer to do that Linux wouldn't do aren't typical pc user things. For instance, I have a multiple monitor setup with a widescreen hdtv as one, so rather than buying a separate tv, I just got a a tuner card and I dvr a lot. On the other hand, I use built in apps over third party (ie IE8 vs firefox), and open source but I always find one annoying thing that my hardware just won't do. Which is where the payed software comes in. With payed software, vendors would start supporting Linux on their hardware for the money they get from OEM agreements and the like. I dunno. I’ve played around with it on and off pretty much at least once a year. I have been pretty underwhelmed until Mint came out. But then I’ve been told I’m not an average consumer user, so the things I need a computer to do that Linux wouldn’t do aren’t typical pc user things. For instance, I have a multiple monitor setup with a widescreen hdtv as one, so rather than buying a separate tv, I just got a a tuner card and I dvr a lot. On the other hand, I use built in apps over third party (ie IE8 vs firefox), and open source but I always find one annoying thing that my hardware just won’t do. Which is where the payed software comes in. With payed software, vendors would start supporting Linux on their hardware for the money they get from OEM agreements and the like.

]]> By: theblaqman http://suffolk757.com/blog/2009/08/07/linux-getting-closer-to-being-ready-for-the-desktop/comment-page-1/#comment-186 theblaqman Sun, 09 Aug 2009 22:28:39 +0000 http://suffolk757.com/blog/?p=173#comment-186 That's the point of being ready for the desktop though. Most people who pose that question aren't taking about a generic, work focused installation. We're talking about home consumer use. I think the free apps are cool because they are free "impersonations" of Windows software, but then when you use the real version the free software pales in comparison. We're all entitled opinions though, maybe Google will convert the world to cloud computing with their OS and we'll all jump ship. That would be fine with me as long as with a free OS, the computer doesn't still cost the same as it does with the Windows license. That’s the point of being ready for the desktop though. Most people who pose that question aren’t taking about a generic, work focused installation. We’re talking about home consumer use. I think the free apps are cool because they are free “impersonations” of Windows software, but then when you use the real version the free software pales in comparison. We’re all entitled opinions though, maybe Google will convert the world to cloud computing with their OS and we’ll all jump ship. That would be fine with me as long as with a free OS, the computer doesn’t still cost the same as it does with the Windows license.

]]> By: theblaqman http://suffolk757.com/blog/2009/08/07/linux-getting-closer-to-being-ready-for-the-desktop/comment-page-1/#comment-185 theblaqman Sun, 09 Aug 2009 22:16:24 +0000 http://suffolk757.com/blog/?p=173#comment-185 Good points. They have come a long way with usability though. I agree with the working part somewhat. It does tend to take longer to look up and fix a Linux problem than a Windows problem, but mainly because there are so many linux distros and versions you have to weed through bad search results to find info, versus only a few versions of windows being used. But really, streaming video isn't much of a usability problem. You could install whatever media server software comes with Linux to do the same, the Linux people just assumed you wouldn't want to do as such I supposed. They seem to be polishing things up pretty fast though. Good points. They have come a long way with usability though. I agree with the working part somewhat. It does tend to take longer to look up and fix a Linux problem than a Windows problem, but mainly because there are so many linux distros and versions you have to weed through bad search results to find info, versus only a few versions of windows being used. But really, streaming video isn’t much of a usability problem. You could install whatever media server software comes with Linux to do the same, the Linux people just assumed you wouldn’t want to do as such I supposed. They seem to be polishing things up pretty fast though.

]]> By: Mr O http://suffolk757.com/blog/2009/08/07/linux-getting-closer-to-being-ready-for-the-desktop/comment-page-1/#comment-183 Mr O Sun, 09 Aug 2009 15:15:38 +0000 http://suffolk757.com/blog/?p=173#comment-183 Even if you had been able to connect to your windows server, the networking is still only half-assed. Example: I expect to be able to click on a video file on my server and have it open and play across the network in whatever media player that I want to use. Works fine in Windows, but in Linux you have to download the file to your PC and then play it, as it will not stream. Linux is ready for the desktop only if you are willing to compromise ease and functionality. At this point in my life I am no longer willing to work for my computer, rather than with it. Even if you had been able to connect to your windows server, the networking is still only half-assed.

Example: I expect to be able to click on a video file on my server and have it open and play across the network in whatever media player that I want to use. Works fine in Windows, but in Linux you have to download the file to your PC and then play it, as it will not stream.

Linux is ready for the desktop only if you are willing to compromise ease and functionality. At this point in my life I am no longer willing to work for my computer, rather than with it.

]]> By: Dennis Murczak http://suffolk757.com/blog/2009/08/07/linux-getting-closer-to-being-ready-for-the-desktop/comment-page-1/#comment-182 Dennis Murczak Sun, 09 Aug 2009 12:55:41 +0000 http://suffolk757.com/blog/?p=173#comment-182 Nice review, but I sort of disagree about the vendor/software support. Linux is marketed big time as a business desktop and of course on the backend, where its only competition is traditional Unix. As for paid apps, I strongly suppose most users will prefer what they can get for free and with less clicks. Linux has been ready for the desktop for years, it's just that nobody cared because of the constant Windows hype and (***edited) marketing. Nice review, but I sort of disagree about the vendor/software support. Linux is marketed big time as a business desktop and of course on the backend, where its only competition is traditional Unix. As for paid apps, I strongly suppose most users will prefer what they can get for free and with less clicks.

Linux has been ready for the desktop for years, it’s just that nobody cared because of the constant Windows hype and (***edited) marketing.

]]> By: kandor http://suffolk757.com/blog/2009/08/07/linux-getting-closer-to-being-ready-for-the-desktop/comment-page-1/#comment-181 kandor Sun, 09 Aug 2009 09:08:25 +0000 http://suffolk757.com/blog/?p=173#comment-181 As far as I am concerned, Linux is "ready for the desktop" since 2007. Not before, but it's already two years ago. As far as I am concerned, Linux is “ready for the desktop” since 2007. Not before, but it’s already two years ago.

]]> By: theblaqman http://suffolk757.com/blog/2009/08/07/linux-getting-closer-to-being-ready-for-the-desktop/comment-page-1/#comment-180 theblaqman Sun, 09 Aug 2009 03:33:30 +0000 http://suffolk757.com/blog/?p=173#comment-180 It might be. Its supposed to be similar to the zero configuration in macos x. To put it in perspective, there is no workgroup name to configure just a homegroup password to set and then anyone who connects with that password is connected to the network. It might be. Its supposed to be similar to the zero configuration in macos x. To put it in perspective, there is no workgroup name to configure just a homegroup password to set and then anyone who connects with that password is connected to the network.

]]> By: nshepperd http://suffolk757.com/blog/2009/08/07/linux-getting-closer-to-being-ready-for-the-desktop/comment-page-1/#comment-179 nshepperd Sun, 09 Aug 2009 00:50:18 +0000 http://suffolk757.com/blog/?p=173#comment-179 Oh dear, I hope this new windows networking is documented. If it isn't, reverse engineering it will be a pain... Oh dear, I hope this new windows networking is documented. If it isn’t, reverse engineering it will be a pain…

]]> By: matthews http://suffolk757.com/blog/2009/08/07/linux-getting-closer-to-being-ready-for-the-desktop/comment-page-1/#comment-178 matthews Sat, 08 Aug 2009 17:49:11 +0000 http://suffolk757.com/blog/?p=173#comment-178 Congratulations on your success with Mint. I've been using Mint for about a year and a half now... it has been great! I have to agree Mint Menu can be annoying. A big shout to the 757 I used to be station there before I got out of the navy. Congratulations on your success with Mint. I’ve been using Mint for about a year and a half now… it has been great! I have to agree Mint Menu can be annoying.

A big shout to the 757 I used to be station there before I got out of the navy.

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