Linux is about to take over the low end of PCs

This is an opinion piece I saw that I thought was kind of thought provoking.

http://www.desktoplinux.com/news/NS2414535067.html

way cool article, doug!!!...it's about time.......

I have been a linux user on my main pc now for almost 2yrs. I see no reason to lock myself into Microsoft's idea of computing should be.

Excuse my ignorance and naivete', but don't people need to have some computer skills for Linux? And if I can't just install World of Warcraft or Sony Vegas and play / use , quite frankly, it will never see the light of day on a computer I own.

Linux install and learning curve are slowly flattening out. I believe Dell or Gateway I don't recall which, is now selling laptops with Ubuntu Linux.

BTW Ubuntu Linux has a mission to be the MOST user friendly distribution, and they seem to be on their way. I also understand that Mandriva is now much more user friendly than it was a couple years ago.

Linux tend to install the easiest with slightly older boxes with standard components that are a couple of years old. It's when you try to be cutting edge with special purpose components where Linux starts to snag for the "non-power user"

Linux still sucks. It doesn't even compare to vista or osx. I use linux on boxes I don't have to look at (i.e. either a co-located server or some box that sits in my closet)

Everything about the x system(xorg or x11) window managers (enlightenment, twvm) and graphic toolkits (gtk, gnome, kde) all feel a good 2 years behind anything MS or apple puts out.

Most of those cheap PC's, people are wiping linux and installing XP.

BTW I just installed YDL on a PS3 last week, that was kind of fun.

WHATEVER! :sqmad:

I was just being opinionated on an opinion peice. :P

This is like deja vu.....for the upteenth time.....Last time I tried to install a variant of Linux (actually bought it at Staples) that was "as easy to install as windows" I hosed my C drive and all the data...cd ended up in about 18 pieces after I beat the crap out of it.....

What happened to the wally world pc with Lindows.....

Linux....it always gonna be " not ready for primetime"......a niche os...sadly

My brother on the other hand is a die hard Linux dude....running Ubantu I believe. Hasn't run windows for a couple of years.....

To piss him off I'll send him something in an .xls or .ppt format...

I bought him Doom 3 for Christmas when it came out......that pe'ed him off....lol

As much as I knaw my teeth with Windows...it works......most times....

I use linux and can open .xls or .ppt with OpenOffice.org office suite.

I run Linux full time at home. If anything learning my way around a terminal window has made managing servers, editing files via the command line, moving huge files around that much less of a learning curve for me.

Anyone with half a brain knows that Linux just ain't Windows or OS X. Every operating system has it's positives and negatives though and little intricacies that only frequent users know. To each his own I guess.

I'll give you a for instance, my friend's parents just setup an old PC with XP on it but it was virus laden and sat for a couple of years unused. I came down to FL and was supposed to fix it.. Well they had no XP disc, and with dial up I was not about to sit and wait hours to download removal tools. So I wiped it and installed Ubuntu. One problem they're on dial up and I cannot figure out for the life of me how to make it dial a connection. Until I dive in to some long boring technical documentation they're computer is pretty much useless.

Every operating system has it's place. Ubuntu as a Linux distro, I think its great for your power surfer and your occasional surfer who just wants to check the news, stock market and email family. Virtually bullet proof security wise out of the box, you don't need to worry about grandma and grandpa being inundated with spyware and viruses.

With MS OS on your machine, you've gotta have aftermarket firewalls and all kindsa other patches. That goes without saying. Many are free but the ones that really work will cost yas.

Im actually running 3 OS systems... XP Pro, Vista Ultimate and Fedora Core 2 all on the same machine... Ususally im in XP...
I have to ask, maybe someone should start a pole, but what Linux version is everyone using...???

Debian Etch dual HD boot w/Windows 98SE for when I HAVE TO use Windows.

I figure there's two reasons to go with Linux:

1) Yer too cheap to buy real software, and have no clue as to how to open a Window...
2) See # 1

:sqlaugh: :sqwink:

I have no problem paying for "real software" when I can find what I want that works the way I want it to work!

With MS OS on your machine, you've gotta have aftermarket firewalls and all kindsa other patches. That goes without saying. Many are free but the ones that really work will cost yas.


C'mon now, Wolfie. ;-)

That rule of thumb is for any OS.

I have no problem paying for "real software" when I can find what I want that works the way I want it to work!

I write my own -- no worries here :)

Linux IS good... for certain people anyway

If you just want to access the internet, by all means use windows (gag)
If you like editing media, go with Mac (YAY)

But if you REALLY want to control your system, know what makes it tick, and use commands like "ls" all the time instead of using a GUI (Linux users know what I mean) Linux is for you. While it takes longer to learn, Linux is more flexible. It is only growing, and I doubt you will ever see it die.

Why? you use it more than Microsoft every day. I guarantee it. Every time you stop at a stoplight, Linux. Checking the time on your digital watch? Linux again.

*Even when you use the web on your windows computer, Linux is most likely serving it.

Let's all just get along and realize they dont make size 5 shoes for size 11 feet. It would be too cramped and uncomfortable. USE WHAT FITS YOU, and respect each OS for their positives, not negatives.

mmk?

:D

Ryan

I use linux and can open .xls or .ppt with OpenOffice.org office suite.

I'm on XP and I can open .xls or .ppt with the open office suite. l337 h3x0r iz I.

I'd rather use REAL office. I just can't afford it, so I suffer with OO which is about as good as office 2000 was.

/me digs in his piles of CDs to see if he still has o2k

**little edit***
Again, Linux is a good free OS that is better than the mainstream stuff at some things, like a mysql/php/apache server, but how many of us run those on a desktop?

I save my CPU cycles for counterstrike

Again, Linux is a good free OS that is better than the mainstream stuff at some things, like a mysql/php/apache server, but how many of us run those on a desktop?

I do, as a testbed for web pages before they go live. I did at one time a complete working back up of my website on the desktop.

Yah but you'd prolly be way better off running those things on a linux box, that's 1/4 the speed of your desktop, and stuffing it all in a closet.

My "in-house" nix box is a 1u dual pIII 800mhz Dell rackmount with raid5 and 2 gigs of ram. It serves my CVS (SVN soon) needs. It sits in my garage under a blanket of dryer lint (because it's on a shelf next to the dryer) It has all the apache/mysql/php I need on it too.

Heck, you should just get one of those cheap PC's and use it as an inhouse AMP server.

The AMP server is exactly what I run on my Linux machine full time in the background.

1gHz AMD 32bit Athalon 512meg ram Primary HD 60gig Maxtor(Linux) Secondary HD 30gig Maxtor(Windows98SE) Third HD 80gig Seagate(misc data) all IDE drives 5400rpm.

Linux still sucks. It doesn't even compare to vista or osx.


:sqlaugh::sqlaugh::sqlaugh:

Okay, honestly, I am neither a Vista or OSX basher because I like both. Definitely believe people bandwagon bash Vista with little justification. I am also not a linux nut who will only use linux.

But saying linux sucks and can't compare to Vista? What kind of reality are you living in? I am not trying to be a jerk in any way, shape or form. But I have trouble believing anyone educated would ever make such a statement.

:sqlaugh::sqlaugh::sqlaugh:

Okay, honestly, I am neither a Vista or OSX basher because I like both. Definitely believe people bandwagon bash Vista with little justification. I am also not a linux nut who will only use linux.

But saying linux sucks and can't compare to Vista? What kind of reality are you living in? I am not trying to be a jerk in any way, shape or form. But I have trouble believing anyone educated would ever make such a statement.

I said it sucks for a desktop box. I never said it sucks for LAMP servers (servers are kind of considered high end aren't they?) Ask yourself though, how many average joe walmart shoppers are going to say "WTH?" when they try to load deer hunter on one of these machines?

I said people will wipe linux and install pirated XP, probably from the neighbors son that "knows" a little about computers. He'll do it with an ISO image he grabbed off bittorrent.

That's the reality i'm talking about. Sure, we can all be optimistic about linux, but truthfully until software support for it is better, average joe walmart will just use it as a toy OS till they get bored, wipe it, then install XP or vista.

i'll stay with what I have thanks

Hey everyone...

whoever said TV doesnt teach anything...well they lie.
Here's a quote from spider-man (the movie)

"with great power comes great responsibility"

Okay....yea... i guess that's true
however, it is even more true when applied to linux.
you have to be responsible to take hold of the power it has.
you cant really just walk up to a computer and expect it to do your taxes.
Even when you first started using windows.... it took you time to learn it
Linux is no different

And, if school has taught me anything, it was this quote from one of the random colorful posters....

"An expert in anything was once a beginner."


I'm getting off topic, but just use what works for you
you usually get what you "pay" for, whether with money or time/effort.

Thanks Ryan for such wise words from a bright young man.