Can Linux beat XP in homes yet or NOT?

GaryCarr gcarr at lanl.gov
Fri Jul 13 15:57:13 UTC 2007


Mustafa Qasim wrote:
>
>     Consumers are not interested in the OS wars. They don't care about
>     fighting the "Evil empire in Redmond".  For most consumers, a
>     computer
>     is a tool, a means to an end. They want to turn it on, log into
>     it, and
>     use it to do the things they want to do. They expect their computer to
>     automatically connect to the internet without hours of time spent
>     trying
>     to get their wireless to work, and frequently never succeeding. They
>     expect to hook up their printers, scanners, digital cameras, etc. and
>     have them immediately work, not spend hours trying to find
>     drivers, etc.
>     They expect to view a video sent by a friend by clicking on the
>     attachment, and have it work, not spend hours trying to get the right
>     codecs, and frequently never being able to play everything they can
>     effortlessly play on windows. They expect application programs to
>     play
>     music, etc. to be user friendly, not "Wizard" friendly.
>
>
> So Respected Sir GaryCarr .. acoording to your statements can u 
> justify Linux? after reading you statements that are of course true 
> can we suggest Linux instead of Windows?
>
>
>
>
>
> -- 
> Mustafa Qasim
> Lahore, Pakistan
> Cell: 0321-6614972
> URL: http://www.mustu.info
I do software development, system management, and network management on 
Linux at work (RHEL). Linux is a great software development platform, 
and a great server platform. We also use it for multiheaded operator 
consoles in a control system. Does a great job.

However, I don't believe Linux is a viable option as a consumer desktop 
for most consumers. I have serious doubts that it will ever be a viable 
consumer desktop option. I have heard numerous people recommend booting 
a live CD on a friend's windows box to convert them to Linux. If I boot 
the latest Ubuntu live CD on my HP laptop, it looks great. However, I 
can't connect to my wireless network, and I can't print on my printer. I 
have never tried it from a live CD, but I'm pretty sure I could not play 
music on my external USB disk, nor view videos sent from friends from 
windows boxes. The Macintosh has taken over the "not windows" consumer 
desktop niche, and I think it will only expand its position.
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