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Tristan · 14-07-2005, 11:49

I tried Red Hat Linux 9 way back when and found it really quite rubbish, as it didn't have support for either my wired or wireless network cards, sound cards, etc etc.

However, desktop Linux has moved on massively since then. I'm now running Fedora Core 4. It has out-of-the-box support for my wireless card (Prism 2.5 chipset), my wired network card, both sound cards, my printer, my bluetooth adaptor and my SATA controller. All the configuration I had to do for them amounted to specifying the SSID of my wireless network (because I have it hidden on my router), and whether or not I wanted to use DHCP. Not one of these drivers exists in Windows (except for the printer, but with quality massively inferior to the proper HP drivers). The Red Hat installation programme, Anaconda, is also about a million times easier to use than the Windows installation routine.

It's undeniable that the learning curve for *administering* a Linux box is steeper than that for Windows. Even with the latest distros, it's necessary to dip into the command line occasionally to perform maintenance tasks. However, crucially, a *user* can these days sit down at a Linux desktop and do everything just as easily as on Windows.

In environments where it's either undesirable or unnecessary for users to have admin privaleges, Linux is a perfectly usable desktop. My girlfriend is almost* perfectly happy using Linux, because she doesn't care what it does underneath, as long as she can click the right box and have it work. Similarly, in office situations where administration is handled by the IT department, Linux is a great solution.

Obviously, Linux is also great for the very tech-savvy geeks out there. It's almost infinitely configurable, and much easier and much more fun to play with "under the hood" than Windows.

Where Linux isn't ready yet is for the intermediate mass-market. People who aren't knowledgable about computers, but still need to set up and look after their home boxes. For example, RPM and Deb make it very easy to install software, but the user still has to know what version they're running, and in some cases even which kernel version they have. This is far from ideal.

As a home OS, Linux will remain as a niche for some time to come. However, as more firms and governement bodies switch over (as is happening all over the world), the number of people using it on a day-to-day basis will grow, which will in turn increase the numbers wanting to give it a go on their own PCs. This in turn will lead to better config tools, more games being ported, etc, which will lead to more people using it....

* Her only gripe is that Gaim doesn't have webcam support (yet).

14-07-2005, 11:49	#11
Tristan Inactive Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Glastonbury! Services: Telewest DTV & 4Meg BB (Bath), NTL DTV and 2Meg BB (Poole) Posts: 1,350	Re: Linux On Desktop I tried Red Hat Linux 9 way back when and found it really quite rubbish, as it didn't have support for either my wired or wireless network cards, sound cards, etc etc. However, desktop Linux has moved on massively since then. I'm now running Fedora Core 4. It has out-of-the-box support for my wireless card (Prism 2.5 chipset), my wired network card, both sound cards, my printer, my bluetooth adaptor and my SATA controller. All the configuration I had to do for them amounted to specifying the SSID of my wireless network (because I have it hidden on my router), and whether or not I wanted to use DHCP. Not one of these drivers exists in Windows (except for the printer, but with quality massively inferior to the proper HP drivers). The Red Hat installation programme, Anaconda, is also about a million times easier to use than the Windows installation routine. It's undeniable that the learning curve for administering a Linux box is steeper than that for Windows. Even with the latest distros, it's necessary to dip into the command line occasionally to perform maintenance tasks. However, crucially, a user can these days sit down at a Linux desktop and do everything just as easily as on Windows. In environments where it's either undesirable or unnecessary for users to have admin privaleges, Linux is a perfectly usable desktop. My girlfriend is almost* perfectly happy using Linux, because she doesn't care what it does underneath, as long as she can click the right box and have it work. Similarly, in office situations where administration is handled by the IT department, Linux is a great solution. Obviously, Linux is also great for the very tech-savvy geeks out there. It's almost infinitely configurable, and much easier and much more fun to play with "under the hood" than Windows. Where Linux isn't ready yet is for the intermediate mass-market. People who aren't knowledgable about computers, but still need to set up and look after their home boxes. For example, RPM and Deb make it very easy to install software, but the user still has to know what version they're running, and in some cases even which kernel version they have. This is far from ideal. As a home OS, Linux will remain as a niche for some time to come. However, as more firms and governement bodies switch over (as is happening all over the world), the number of people using it on a day-to-day basis will grow, which will in turn increase the numbers wanting to give it a go on their own PCs. This in turn will lead to better config tools, more games being ported, etc, which will lead to more people using it.... * Her only gripe is that Gaim doesn't have webcam support (yet).