Re: might give Linux OS 2007 a go
 

to true mate hence I would always recommend that people use windows at home, despite working on unix systems at work i run windows at home.

Re: might give Linux OS 2007 a go
 

:tu:

Re: might give Linux OS 2007 a go
 

first highlight, i'm not the only one who thinks this way, and i managed starting off on compiling things, never touched packaged based distros. when you say "windows users" are you implying they know nothing? for the people who just use browse the web and read email, what advantage do they have to using linux? barely any.

second highlight, the average joe can use a microwave or a remote for the tv can't they? a simple ./configure --help will show the options they have, don't understand one? thats what google is for! for me if theres an error when compiling i can usually spot whats wrong, for the cases where the problem is new to me, googling for the error has always given a solution. to compile things, it is a simple set of commands that most people are either too lazy to "learn" or think its beyond them

Re: might give Linux OS 2007 a go
 

Not everyone is like you mate and yes linux has a lot of followers but nowhere near as many as windows why do you think that is? just cuz everyone is lazy? or just cuz sometimes things need to be easy and if your not that interested why would you want to learn stuff
Im by no means a noob but I dont want to have to run linux I have no interest in it so I dont really want to spend my time learning it

Re: might give Linux OS 2007 a go
 

Come on Zing - still Mr Negative on the Linux front.

All it comes down to is knowledge and the patience to learn as with any operating system.

Re: might give Linux OS 2007 a go
 

and im to busy to have to learn something very few people will ever need my help with so where is the logic in learning that? all ill get out of being able to use linux is ill be able to use linux whoopie doo

Re: might give Linux OS 2007 a go
 

Not sure it does. What most people refer to as OSX is a closed source add on to Free BSD.

The problem for Linux is that to take off in the home market, it needs to just work. Little reconfiguring. Users also need to be sure that the software they buy or download will work, and isn't compiled for a different distribution.

One advantage of Windows is that 90% of the time, it just works with a little wizard-based configuration. The Mac is the same, except it has the advantage that Apple has full control over the hardware, so it is a little more reliable. Both platforms have the advantage that if you install a piece of software for that platform, you can be fairly sure it will work (obviously, it may require something you don't have)

I'm not knocking Linux. Far from it. I experiment with Linux from time to time, and the two devices I have that use varients of Linux are incredibly reliable. My old WRT router gets rebooted whenever a new version of DD-WRT is released, and my Tivo only gets rebooted if there is a power cut.

Re: might give Linux OS 2007 a go
 

People like install packages so much because they are friendly and the average home user would run away screaming if faced with having to compile something. I know people who look blank when I mention having to use PKZIP and PKUNZIP a few years back.

Most install packages for larger applications (eg, Office etc) all include custom installs so you're not forced to install something you don't want.

When I released my Windows apps, I used InstallShield to make the setup package (there are free ones however) so the user wouldn't be presented with a ZIP file with a Readme telling them to copy files here, there and everywhere (I'm sure that would have got my support email box full in no time!). It's just not what they want, nor do most of them understand anything more than a Wizard.

Re: might give Linux OS 2007 a go
 

The simple solution is, if you want to run Linux at home, go for it? No matter what anyone says you have to make your own mind up about it

Re: might give Linux OS 2007 a go
 

but dont come crying when the system is unusable to you after you do

Re: might give Linux OS 2007 a go
 

The main problem with Linux for the masses isn't program installation. If you have a decent distro with decent packagers & good repos, problems are negligible.

Hardware recognition & drivers is a far bigger issue. Failure of hardware manufacturers to provide linux drivers (or even allow access to specs so others can write them) is the main problem...

Re: might give Linux OS 2007 a go
 

Spent several months with Ubuntu Dapper and Drake but always had to dual boot with XP because two of my scanners aren't supported, my Canon printer worked but not at full resolution and my tv card would not work no matter what i tried! Let's not mention that you have to rely on Windows dll's for such basic things such as mp3 and avi :(

Agreed Linux is more appealing the Micro$ stuff but until there's a distro that can work out of the box like XP then i can only see it being a "geek" machine :(

Re: might give Linux OS 2007 a go
 

True true true but seriously I do wish you could see the performance gains you get out of running a linux desktop.

You're well aware of my recent conversion to full desktop linux and boy am I happy but just in case there are problems/lack of software then run another computer and windows in parallel.

I don't think I'll ever go back to a 1 machine 1 OS setup whether it be linux or windows. Dual machine it - have your cake and eat it too.

Re: might give Linux OS 2007 a go
 

slight performance gains in one hand hassle in changing from something thats efficient now in the other errrrrrr ;)

Re: might give Linux OS 2007 a go
 

" This ones always going to be on the dark side Luke "