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Post by jojo on May 21, 2015 11:52:28 GMT
It's like they don't want Linux to be more popular Ain't that the truth. From my very first foray into Linux, back in the days of CIT on MSN, when you I and others asked Lynnrose to start a Linux sub-forum, that's been the impression I've had. I started with very little knowledge other than reputation, but had played about with various OSs, mostly pre PC and even edited a magazine on BBC BASIC for a while. But the utter hostility I got from linux forums, not to mention the quite deliberate obfuscation. If Linux could settle down to producing a stable OS, based upon a desktop, avoiding unnecesary extras, options to select or alter, that simply surffed the net, I really do think they could be onto a winner. The biggest problem for Linux, additional programs would disappear in the way is is slowly doing with AppleOS. Back in those long since days of CIT MSN, I really did think somehting would have emerged by now. The nearest I've see was the SteamOS Desktop, once I found it, image posted above. Linux forums are as unfriendly now as they have ever been from my occasionaly wandering in to a few. If I were the overly suspicious type I might conjecture that perhaps those with the most to loose are keeping the obvious comeptition at bay. I also must say I'm very wary of the notion of having to rely upon someone's server to run an OS. I would prefer an OS that I can install on my computer and which does what I tell it to, not what someone has deemed to be suitable. Just saying |
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Post by mikkh on May 21, 2015 19:18:03 GMT
Stability is not a problem, a lot of the internet runs on Linux servers because it is more stable. Server OS's are a whole new ballgame though
And your utopian version of Linux already exists on two platforms it's called Android on mobile phones and chromebook for people wanting a no nonsense cheap laptop variant
I get your point though, the DIY desktop situation can be a minefield and after years of testing literally every one that exists, I conclude that only a small handful are fit for purpose
The problem is compounded because many are getting kudos for (mostly) working and being free, when only the handful I identified should be getting the plaudits really. It starts getting really silly when advocates of a certain distro defend it in a football fan type mentality. Should there be just one Linux? Logically you would think yes, but the 'free' nature of Linux only applies to home users. In the business sector selling Linux is quite lucrative and I can't see Red Hat, Suse and Ubuntu (and a few others) merging any time soon.
For me PClinuxOS fit's the bill perfectly, it's only downside being it needs a fairly good system to see it at it's best, but that is true of other popular distros like Ubuntu, OpenSuse, Mint etc And even in the Windows community you're not going to enjoy your experience on Windows 7,8 and the upcoming 10 without decent hardware. The days of Linux being a light alternative to Windows passed a long time ago, unless you resort to specialist distros like Puppy that are made for older systems.
SteamOS doesn't come close to being in my list of worthy distros btw, it's a one trick pony that doesn't even need to exist because you can install steam yourself on top of many distros
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Post by jojo on May 21, 2015 21:34:10 GMT
Nice annalogy about Football Fan Mentality.
Agree about Steam, especialy since it seemed only interested in selling stuff and of course, it didn't work. (Though possibly because the Steam server wasn't responding. I couldn't tell because my screen was blank, but it would explain why it stoped wortking suddenly).
The set up though, with icons rather than having everything in a long menu list of obscure names. That seemed like a great idea.
My wife for example, is no fool, but struggles with some of the repeatedly silly innovations in Windows. This afternoon for example, Skype wanted to update itself while she was using it. I thought I'd turned off all the updaters on her machine, but that one slipped past. The point is, I have to repeatedly step in and turn this on or off, manually run updaters and so on. She was a registered nurse for 35 years, but she just doesn't have a computer sort of mind.
There is not a chance in a million she would manage with Linux. I doubt most ordianry users would.
The server issue is a bit different simply because it is relying upon somehting over which we have little control. I am personally reluctant to give access to possibly sensitive data to people I don't know and who could be anywhere. I appreciate that that is a general reality of modern computing, but Windows is one of the most watched and overseen commercial institutions in history. With major organisations such as the EU and the US legal people vying with each other to put the screws into M$ or Google these companies will be very careful.
Shame really. Linux has spent so long now trying to sell itself as the better alternative, only to succum to what is has until recently been what it claimed to be an alternative to.
Never mind. Perhaps another alternative will come along in the future.
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Post by mikkh on May 21, 2015 23:35:25 GMT
I disagree, Linux is no harder to use than Windows at a base level. There's icons to click on a desktop, of which number one choice is the internet
Once on the internet, there's no difference - well apart from you can't be infected by nasties aimed at Windows users
You can use Facebook, Youtube, Ebay, do your online banking, or anything you usually do on the web
What else does the average non technical user do with a computer?
Copy photos from a camera and then print them? No harder to do in Linux
Use an office type program and use the printer again? pretty straightforward as well, and setting up the printer in the first place is generally automatic
Update various security programs and run time consuming scans to make sure you're not infected? No need for that palaver in Linux
Use Skype to keep in touch with people in different countries? Skype is available in Linux too
That's it for a lot of people, no need to understand the inner workings of the OS - most don't understand Windows, so why should they worry about a different OS
Higher up the knowledge chain is where the problems start, especially for those so brainwashed by Windows, they're lost if they can't locate control panel or some other Windows specific thing
Again at base level, it's the same though - you can still drag and drop, press the right mouse button to copy and paste, use universal keyboard shortcuts etc. In Linux you can even press the print screen button and something actually happens!
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Post by jojo on May 22, 2015 10:54:29 GMT
You're beautiful mikkh.
Anyhoo, I have a tablet which I mentioned a while ago. Bought for less than cheep. It's OK, battery life is absymal. But it gets Skype and I've been using it to show people around my house, which is nice.
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