This is an interesting one. But never really understood it, even from a purely technology standpoint. Maybe Winbreds originally used Linux in 1999 and than act like it hasn’t improved since then.
So I can run Firefox and Chrome. Let’s me honest here, that’s 90% of a computer already. But it doesn’t end there. I can do professional software development, and even some fairly serious photo editing in The GIMP. I can edit documents in OpenOffice, and if I am really paranoid about it not looking right in MS Office, I can RUN MS Office on Linux via this program called Wine.
All the hardware I use works out the box, obviously something never true even in Windows XP. Yet Winbreds act like Linux as a desktop is not even competitive to Windows 3.1 or some crazy shit like that.
Oh noes, someone on the Internet likes Linux more than Windows! He must be mentally insane! Let’s call him “zealot” and hurl profanities at him! Continue countering those “zealots” guys.
I don’t know why they need to spread such amazing FUD about this great OS. Are they threatened by it? Why?
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We’re not spreading anti-Linux FUD, you are spreading FUD on any things or persons not named Linux.
You keep inspiring new TMs!
Actually, Adam, Linux has gone backwards since 1999. It was half-way decent back then.
No longer, however. And the reason? The reason is that people who can actually design and write computer software are, for some utterly unaccountable reason, put off by bleating divots like you.
You can, indeed, run WINE and OpenOffice and dah GIMP. Deep joy folly folly.
You can also chop your own testicles off with a bread-knife. I wouldn’t recommend it, but then that’s freedom for you.
I used Linux way back in 1999 and I can tell you for a fact is sucked donkey balls. Look at Linux OSes in 2010:
You have web browsers that are competitive with Windows offerings. All that existed on Linux in 1999 was Lynx or Netscape. Netscape absolutely DID NOT work for most web sites around this time period. This is when IE had 90%+ marketshare.
You got installers that have a total of five steps and you have a working system. Yes really. All you had in 1999 was Ncurses GUIs with cryptic instructions, and you usually had to configure your mouse. =)
It was almost impossible to install Linux in dual boot. You actually had to reformat Windows. How many people willing to try Linux would risk that, even in 1999?
You actually have hardware drivers (I know you guys act like common hardware drivers don’t exist in Linux, but it’s BS).
GNOME and KDE were extremely new and primitive back then. The most popular widget toolkit was probably Tk. Yes, Tk. Almost everything needed the console.
I can go on and on…
“even some fairly serious photo editing in The GIMP.”
http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2010/12/single-window-gimp-release-delayed-but-why/
@Adam_king, nobody disputes that Linux desktop has made some advancements. Most would agree it has come a long way from 10 years ago. What people do dispute is the fact that advocates claim that desktop Linux is on par with Windows or OSX in terms of functionality, when it isn’t.
Closing the lid on you laptop should sleep the computer, wifi shouldn’t break with updates, I should be able to sync my iPhone, I should be able to create Flash content with a Flash IDE, I should be able to use Steam, etc.
Until all of that is possible, desktop Linux is still playing catchup to Windows and OSX, no matter how much it’s progressed since 1999.
“Closing the lid on you laptop should sleep the computer, wifi shouldn’t break with updates, I should be able to sync my iPhone, I should be able to create Flash content with a Flash IDE, I should be able to use Steam, etc.”
You know what the sad thing is? You are totally wrong. Am I going to say that people haven’t had problems with Linux? No. But most people can do those things. Even the “Flash IDE” and “Steam” via Wine, or using Adobe Flex SDK which does run on Linux natively.
Can Linux do everything Windoze can do at the same level? No. But can Windoze download new software from the Internet using PKI infrastructure so you know they haven’t been tampered with? No it can not. Is that a serious security flaw? F*ck yes.
Does Windows or OS X have tiling window managers or a competitor to Compiz Fusion? Nope.
Can I [legally] put Windoze or OS X on a flash drive with my entire desktop and use it to boot into my machine on any machine? Didn’t think so.
Oh and here is a a cute “feature” I’ve seen in the past all too often. Can Windoze be installed if you lose the product key or the original CD? IE: Will Microsoft provide you a new one? Hell f*cking no! I’ve actually been FORCED to install Ubuntu on some people’s machines for this reason (f*ck if I’m going to help them pirate a new copy of Windoze).
“I used Linux way back in 1999”
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How could you use Linux, when you’re only 2?
“Even the “Flash IDE” and “Steam” via Wine”
Running things in Wine sucks.. I haven’t tried Flash IDE, but I’ve done Steam, and that was the worst experience ever(keep in mind this was a year ago, I don’t know if it works better now).
“a competitor to Compiz Fusion?”
There’s quite a bit of software that does what Compiz fusion does for Windows.
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