Hey guys! Guess what! It’s another post about how Windows is kicking the crap out of Linux! Robin Harris over at ZDNet asserts that “Microsoft has kicked Linux to the curb, claiming an 80% attach rate for netbooks.” Wow!
Harris goes on to claim “Windows 7 is the final nail in the desktop Linux market’s coffin. Unless Microsoft gets stupid on pricing, it is game over for Linux netbook market share.” Wait … is Linux losing the desktop market, or the netbook market?
How many times can Linux die? How many times can Windows reassert its hegemony? Neither Microsoft, nor Apple, nor the Linux community will stop innovating. All three provide real value to their users. All three have specific strengths and weaknesses. All three continue to build upon the successes of the others.
Seriously, will the Linux community just say “Oh crap, Windows 7 is da bomb!” and stop developing? Will Richard Stallman realize his iconoclastic position is folly in the light of the pure joy that is Windows 7?
And what would a world look like without Linux, or Apple, or Microsoft? Competition is a good thing, as Microsoft is learning. Choice — real choice — is good for consumers.
argh, not this debate again
After Linux fanbois spent the latter half of the ’90s telling everyone how Linux was taking over the desktop, Microsoft was entering a death spiral, etc., etc., it’s funny to see all the bitter tears when faced with reality.
“Linux fanbois spent the latter half of the ’90s telling everyone how Linux was taking over the desktop, Microsoft was entering a death spiral, etc., etc”
Funny, I don’t remember that. Perhaps that’s just a manifestation of your own paranoia. And of course the reality is the ZDNet article is nothing more than flame bait. GNU/Linux is doing just fine.
Funny, a lot of us DO remember that. A lot of us do remember how Linux was going to devistate Microsoft on both the desktop and the server. Yet Microsoft is still very strong on the server and gaining ground on Linux, and Linux’s desktop presence is a joke.
It’s not that Microsoft fanboys are claiming the end of Linux is near, they’re just pointing out the fantasy that is Linux’s domination of Microsoft.
Are you an idiot, BThassBB? Clearly the M$ fanboys ARE claiming the end of Linux is near. Did you not bother to read the article?
I head the same thing about Microsoft the other day, so I guess the only ones left will be Apple. Microsoft does have itself backed into a corner though. If 7 turns out to be as “well liked” as Vista then it could be the final nail for them as well.
Really? What are we all going to do? Waste our money on a Mac? Suffer through Linux pain?
I don’t think so.
i would rather “suffer through linux pain” or shell out the extra cash for a mac anyday than run windows vista and if 7 is anything like vista there will be others like me..
kaydub: Easier said than done. If you think OS X or Linux are any sort of paradise… I wish you good luck.
Linux disappearing? Linux has suffered the same fate that Unix has for many years. The problem is that there isn’t just one. There are dozens of versions of the same thing and they are all different and they compete aginst their selves as opposed to Windows or other OSs. Linux’s inability to come to a consensus is its core problem. Having multiple developers and maufacturers all wanting there own version just totally dillutes the entire product.
And then there’s the little issue that the Linux derivatives really implement something more akin to Windows 95 than the modern products. Microsoft has many APIs for functionality that Linux hasn’t even gotten close to implementing yet. And it shows up when integrating into the enterprise, just as the Mac OS has problems integrating into the enterprise.
And people keep spouting ignorance on OS’s that they don’t understand, nor have used with any great degree.
To be honest, I think it is a change in tack. We’ve heard too many times “this is the year of the linux desktop” and all these idiots flock, hoping to get an exact WIndows replica without having to pay for it.
I think that it is now “Linux will be slaughtered by Windows”, so that people don’t expect anything from it, and maybe approach it with an open frame of mind.
Personally, I’d rather my boss deal with computers that have to be protected from the virii written for 90% of the computer market and be safe and usable at home.
And my luddite mrs can use both and prefers ubuntu.
Sure. The problem is “we are ignorant” and “we don’t understand”
Linuxhater was right. Freetards never learn.
Diehard, care to provide an example of these “APIs that linux hasn’t even gotten close to implementing yet” ?
While I am a fan of both Windows 7 and Linux, I have to disagree with you on this point. I don’t think you know what you’re talking about.
The Linux operating system is inherently more secure (at its simplest level due to its file permissions system).
The ease of installing many applications and drivers in Linux is leagues above that of Microsoft Windows. For example, with my 4 year old laptop I put in the Ubuntu Live CD and everything on my laptop just works, wireless connectivity, wired connectivity, display drivers are automatically loaded which utilize my screen’s maximum resolution, etc… When I installed Windows 7 on my laptop’s other partition, there isn’t even a build of my laptop’s wireless drivers available from Intel. I had to get an ad-hoc solution downloaded from an HP site. The video drivers required an additional installation.
The same type of thing goes for my server that I have installed at my work. Installed Ubuntu server and everything just works. Not only that, for my small company the cost savings with using Linux (with a little elbow grease) far out-weigh the cost of the deployment of Microsoft products through-out my company.
To say that it is lacking in functionality is an ignorant statement. If you have used any new distributions of Linux you would know that your statement is inaccurate.
And this comment is coming from someone who absolutely *loves* Windows 7.
I would like to note that I do agree with your statement regarding too many distributions. This does add confusion to the market. But it does so in the same way that Microsoft offers several versions of Vista, for example.
I am to understand the biggest shortfall with Linux drivers are for touch screens, but this is supposed to be solved this year.
There also seem to be some new mp3 player device filesystem issues, but I think they can be overcome with enough due diligence.
For those reading, I didn’t say drivers, I said APIs. But while on the side of drivers, Windows and Linux when at equivalent release times, Windows has a lot more drivers.
But when talking about APIs, I’m talking about things such as the voice API, or telephony, or encryption, or DirectX, or printing, one of the many more that either Windows implements more fully or without Linux equivalent. This allow developers to create applications easier.
As to the Enterprise features, for the guy who says that it is all there and you can stream commands together, evidently you don’t work in a large enterprise. Putting together a Policy by stringing together a bunch of script commands is ludicrous. It isn’t a maintainable solution and it is pretty hard to determine what the end state is. Something as simple as Resultant Set of Policy is a good example of an additional API that helps out in this case.
But even back up a little more. How do you get the scripts to the machines to run? Worldwide? How do you distribute them?
Windows may have a lot more drivers, but you’re either needing to search for disks or have to go download them all first. I install Linux and everything is up and running at the correct resolution (video), I have sound, network, etc.
Apparently you haven’t used Linux at all. What kind of encryption are you talking about? There hasn’t been a printer issue on any site I’ve set up. Ever hear of CUPS, or Samba? Of course not, you’ve never used Linux I’m sure.
As far as enterprise, apparently you’re so used to your pointy-clicky crap that you can’t fathom that *gasp* maybe one script will work on a multitude of systems. How isn’t that maintainable? Scripts are set on the machines to run with cron, or can be run if the executable bit is set. Distribution is simple: rsync, scp, etc. Again, clearly you’re speaking about things which you don’t have any knowledge on.
The problem with MS admins is that they don’t really understand the philisophical difference between admin’ing MS Windows boxes and admin’ing Unix(-alikes). Unix is about chaining small tools together. In most cases, someone has already done that job for you.
Since you gave no specifics about APIs for the enterprise, I’m going to cover what I assume you’re talking about.
AD? That’s just an embrace.extended LDAP + Kerberos, invented on Unix. There are other great methods of implementing the same thing.
Group policy for permissions and installed applications? Scripting via key-based SHH and cron.
Pushing (or pulling) updates? again, SSH and cron.
Pushing out new images? Clusters have done this better than Windows for years using simple protocols like TFTP and DHCP.
Sharepoint (is that to be considered an API)? This is just a DMS. WebDAV and a VCS offer virtually the same functionality without the need to buy (and account for) CALs.
What else is there that an enterprise needs? You want everything MS has to offer without licensing costs? Look at eGroupware and Landscape for the clicky-clicky versions. Support will cost you, but the bean counters love fixed costs like that.
Unix has been heavy in the enterprise since the 70s. MS Windows started in the home and gained traction in businesses in the 90s. Whose toolset do you think is more mature? )Hint. It’s Unix, but Windows guys can’t see the tools because they’re blinded by what they think admin’ing **should be**.)
To sum up: a half-cooked bunch of hacks that barely work.
Why do you think Windows Server is gaining traction?
Just because admins are technical people it doesn’t mean they like wasting their time.
To sum up your response: I think Windows is best, so Linux just barely works. Scripting is not a ‘hack’, as you put it, it’s a means to an end. I’ve seen plenty of scripts on Windows servers too, so are those also half-cooked hacks?
Gaining traction? Got some numbers to back up your claims?
you obviously dont know jack shit about RED HAT and their admin tools. get a life and STFU
…. and in case you havent discovered it yet, 80% of the entire PLANET’s servers, runs some UNIX/POSIX/GNU/BSD/LINUX flavor, and that includes most of the worlds web servers, probably this one here too. Any half assed IT student could hack that sorry piece of crap IIS without even lifting a finger. Linux is the next century operating system, and Bill Gates aint stupid to see M$ producing more crap so he left that moneky Ballmer to take the blame. the list of crappy M$ software is endless. The Linux Kernel is the most collaborative effort in the history of mankind so that stupid and ignorant fanboys like you can have a JOB
@ DieHard
I couldn’t have said it better, you nailed it on the spot!
Windows 7 is the Barack Obama of operating systems.
Windows 7 is a NWO puppet?
No, Windows 7 is the operating system that will bring peace to the middle east.
That would only make sense if I smoked what you’re smoking.
Win7 == peace in the middle east.
So, is that good or bad?
I just can’t resist answering this. I love my Linux, but I hate this nonsense.
Contrary to the popular idea the Linux and Windows competing – so how are they “competing”? Competing suggests an open market.
Microsoft has completely locked out newcomers through exclusivity agreements with hardware OEMs that stretch back the last 20 years. That’s not an open market, is it?
Even if that weren’t so – Linux is NOT a desktop operating system by design. UNIX was designed for multi-user servers. It can be USED as a desktop
The myth of Linux competing in the consumer market was embraced by Microsoft so that they can claim they aren’t a monopoly.
Linux has less of a desktop market percentage than Apple. The places where Linux has made inroads are places that Microsoft has traditionally neglected until recently: cost effective datacenters, devices, your anti-lock brakes and telemetry.
Most of the people I know who use Linux are techies, friends of techies, or those of us on a really tight budget – especially with Microsoft charging ever increasing fees for newer versions of Windows. Even so, they still use Windows to play PC games.
Please, if you are going to make an argument, at least be accurate. Stop preaching nonsense, regurgitating the market hype you have been told.
Who cares what operating system you use as long you are happy with it, and it gets the job done?
Operating systems are irrelevant in the Internet age. All you need is something that can connect: PC, Blackberry, Mac, iPhone, or any other device – who cares as long as it does what you need it to?
Spot on.
Load of bullshit. Linux is not competing because it’s too fragmented, poorly financed since the consumer desktop is not profitable for linux vendors, and as a result of that, is a horrible desktop system.
But it’s always easier to just blame Microsoft and stupid alienated users.
Let’s not forget why we are here.
It’s Windows 7: The Linux Killer!!!
Hey, why does Windows 7: The Linux Killer need to kill something that’s “too fragmented”, “poorly financed” and “not profitable for linux vendors”? Do you know some Linux vendors tj? If Linux is a miserable failure, like you eluded to, then why waste money trying to kill it? Why not just let it die?
You don’t know it yet, but some day you’ll be using Linux and liking it.
Hahaha
You linux fans keep saying that. You’ve been preaching that crap for over a decade now, and it is not flying. People weren’t using linux 10 years ago, they’re not using it now, and they won’t be in ten years either.
And yep, I know some Linux vendors. Do you? They don’t give a fuck about the desktop. Get a clue.
I actually believe the “Windows 7: Linux Killer” idea was slipped in by Jim Zemlin of the Linux Foundation. It is such a bonehead mantra because it can only fail. Besides, nobody has defined just exactly what criteria will determine when Linux is dead. It will quietly be dropped when Windows 7 fails to take the World by storm.
That brings an interesting point though. This debate gets people saying “will 2009 be the year that linux dies?” rather than spouting “2009 is the year of the linux desktop!”.
Is Linux a rising star or a sinking ship? Wondering when or how Linux dies implies the latter.
@ T.J.
Exactly the point. Again the article in itself is just too poor to argue on. We have news media for debates, social media for polls or whatever, but from a site like Crunchgear, we can at least expect a better opinionated write-up. Not the same old issues again where its just surfaced for the sake of it, to get dugg and to get people talk rationally or irrationally over a topic that is discussed thousand times without a conclusion.
Can We see some decisive articles from now on Crunchgear that actually doesn’t talk ‘who tells what’ but what ‘needs to be understood’. May be some new concepts – specific, sharp and for lesser mortals like me.
It’s a totally valid point, as Microsoft doesn’t give one dime of advertising money to ZDNet.
Oh, wait…
Oh I love that little penguin guy, he is sooo cute!
RT
http://www.total-privacy.us.tc
I have heard this debate for the past 8 years.
People Complain there are 4 versions of Windows Vista. Yet how many distros of Linux are there?
People Complain about the UAC in Windows. Yet you get the same pop up asking for the root user password when you try to change stuff in Linux.
People Complain about the taskbar in 7 being to much like MAC. … Funny to me it still looks like the tastbar just with a transperancy effect.
People Complain abou the Windows Desktop look. Funny Linux has two desktops gnome and kde. How much fun would that be to support in your organization….?
People state linux is dying. No no its not.
People state windows is dying. No no its not.
It’s a Windows World. Plain Fact. What is the percentage of Desktops that are on Windows Vs Linux vs MAC. Seriously End of Story. It’s a Windows World. No one wants to go out and buy a system to have to relearn everything. Then have to go rebuy their software for the new OS. Then have to find drivers that dont exist. Then have to learn to write their drivers, then have to ask on forum how do i do this only to have some full of them selves linux users say boy are you stupid go back to windows or buy a mac.
This post is pretty FUDdy. Just the other day I had a friend email me marveling that after a frustrating hour trying to find XP drivers he tried some Linux distro and it installed with all drivers no trouble. Not saying that is standard or that you don’t make some good points, but to say that linux is harder to install or for a new person to learn is just not true.
“People Complain about the UAC in Windows. Yet you get the same pop up asking for the root user password when you try to change stuff in Linux.”
wrong, its a one time hassle free password that you only have to enter once to switch to the root account. standard UAC in windows consists of multiple popups which dont even ask for a password, they just warn you. i was once asked 5 times ‘are you sure’ when i tried to delete one thing in windows. that is a joke.
aswell, when people buy a linux ’system’, it already has drivers pre-installed, just like you dont have to find drivers for a complete windows ’system’. and under linux, the great majority of hardware is supported, and drivers are much easier to find. and in my experience, i’ve found linux communities, especially the ubuntu one, to be extremely friendly to newbies.
Linux as a desktop sucked until Ubuntu if you ask me. I only worked with it non-gui server side until Ubuntu made it easy enough to use as a desktop. Apple pisses me off these days more then MS. OS 10 is very cool, but isn’t linux either. I don’t get why Apple users wine about windows, what is the difference really to them? Like do they even know what BSD is? NO. Yet OS 10 has undone windows… what ever. Really I like to hang out and use Ubuntu for desktop. But at work I use XP and ubuntu on 2 difference machines sharing common keyboard, and mouse via synergy. I am too much for one OS at once! Take That! :)
Craig
Spot on, I was Linux sceptic until I started using Ubuntu. Now I happily run Ubuntu 8.10 as my primary OS on both desktop and laptop, and still use a 64bit Vista for gaming purposes only :)
Lets hope that Ubuntu keeps bringing new stuff to the Linux community.
p.s. I have converted my dad to Linux. The guy uses www, mail, movies, music, chess and google_earth. What is he going to use … Windows ?? I tried, and succeed ;)
Meh, I have comments too but its too much text for here:
Check: http://mozkey.blogspot.com/
Basically: Windows and Linux don’t compete for desktop users. Subnotebooks were introduced with linux to keep prices down.
When Microsoft said to manufacturers “we will give it to you for free, so c’mon lets make nice” the manufacturers said “Ok”
then microsoft said “oh btw you also have to have better specs for the windows only versions kthxbbq”
then consumers said “why are they the same price but that one has Lieenooks and less Jeegabites?”
Windows 7 is the last nail… WTF are you talking about??? Windows 7 is a fuzzy mockup of KDE 4.2
Muhaha, “the last nail”. Come on. You freetards said the same fucking thing about Windows XP and that was almost 8 years ago!
Don’t you get tired of spewing the same nonsense every time?
Dear Scott,
Your friends are starting to worry about you. Please stop writing you blog posts on cocaine. We miss you sober.
~Bill and Friends
If you want to knock out an article that generates heat, do the same old OS verses OS piece. All the assorted supporters will be sure to log in and make their positions know and with minimal effort on the writers part.
The downside is that it has all been done before (countless times) and nothing ever resolves. Perhaps it would be better if the writes would take their time and energy to do something fresh, productive and entertaining.
BobG
C’mon Scott, being reasonable hardly qualifies as good link bait. =)
As a tri-OS user, I corroborate your sentiments. My wife has demonstrated that in the case of netbooks specifically, she -DOES- -NOT- -CARE- what operating system Firefox is running on top of.
Windows 7 isn’t even out to the masses yet, and people are claiming it is a linux desktop killer? Everyone slow your roll. If the competition was over, OS X would have been the nail in the coffin long ago.
Hilarious !
Linux can never die, it’s not possible. Linux is not tied to one company.
Linux is not forced to generate X amount of revenue each year. Linux does not need to “invent” ways to keep revenue.
Microsoft ? Microsoft is putting out OS systems for only one reason – generate revenue.
I agree with all of you sick of this stupidity.
There’s a place for all of them.
Linux’s place is growing.
Windows’ place is reasserting itself with 2008 which I think is slick. (Vista SP1 isn’t bad if you know how to tame the beast.) 7 is just 2008 with Vista’s front and new geegaws.
My sister and parents use Macs and don’t trouble me in need of help at all.
And that netbook I just bought with XP Home on it, was reset in a matter of hours with Fedora 10 and all the hardware is now working.
(Yeah wireless and sound needed some extra research and help, but I found the answers and it all works.)
These article writers need to look at more important things in the world and get over this.
Oh yeah!! I can’t wait to fork out $$$$$ on new computer at Best Buy and jump on board this new OS that I know nothing about.
What could possibly go wrong????
Windows 7 is to Linux what Michael Shumacher is to your 90 year old grandmother.
Michael Shumacher retired didn’t he ??
You guys just don’t get it huh? Windows 7: a joy to use, Linux (any version): a pain to use.
Why?
Tons of reasons. For example, in Windows, when you want to manage your files, you just run Explorer and get it done. In Linux you have to use esoteric command lines to do even the most simple things. And have you ever tried to find anti-virus or firewall software for Linux? There is almost NONE, and the ones you do find are for corporate use, not home users like me. Then there is the lack of proper partitioning (Linux uses some bizarre proprietary scheme, rather than standard drive letters).
Linux is simply confusing and bizarre. Nothing works the way you expect it, and you cannot run any Windows games or applications like you can with Windows.
You obviously need to learn a lot more about linux.
Manage your files in linux with konqueror or Dolphin or Krusader to name just a few GUI file managers, CLI is not required.
AntiVirius, How about AVG for linux or clamAV, not that you actually need antivirus software except to check the emails from windows users.
Partitioning. Of course it has proper partioning. It also has a number of benefits that windows does not.
Sometimes you have to learn about something before you realize what it’s true capabilities are.
I run a business using only linux systems, so it’s more than capable of replacing windows. Opensuse to be exact. Oh yes and I also play WOW via wine on linux.
fail.
the windows ’standard’ drive lettering is not standard at all, and is infact much more unstable then linux partitioning, in fact, i’m pretty sure it uses the same system as mac os. apps you can use that do the same thing as Explorer: konqueror, nautilus, thunar, and many others.
you dont need virus scanners in linux, the only malware you get are the ones YOU physically install yourself.
‘nothing works the way you expect it” hey? would that be because it dosent come up with an error message every 5 minutes? like my install of XP, and Vista.
that meant to read “i’m pretty sure linux uses the same system as mac os”
I absolutely love Linux and in recent years it’s becoming more and more user friendly. However Windows is my primary OS and currently I have removed Linux from my computer. Why? Lack of specific 3rd party apps.
I am an avid Adobe user; photoshop, flash, illustrator etc… I have tried Gimp and the likes and have also tried to load them via Wine. In my opinion I think Linux would have massive growth if large companies like Canonical would invest in apps like Wine or go into discussions with Adobe.
Anyone can say whatever he wants. Why bother?
The only way Microsoft can kill Linux with Windows 7 is the price. Yup, they will have to GIVE every user of Windows XP a free upgrade.
And guess what kind Monopolistic hot water that will put them into without George Bush letting them off the hook?
I’ll tell you what I don’t get: Why Windows users defend their platform as if they worked for Microsoft. What do you have to gain from defending Microsoft or Windows? Bill and Steve are not going to send you a check for your defense of Microsoft’s name on comment threads such as this one, and in the end, you still be paying Microsoft for a copy of Windows 7 when it comes out – either a boxed copy or with a new machine.
and Mark’s going to send you a check for defending Ubuntu. Right.
Everyone likes to save money. Do you think there’s a reason people are willing to pay for Microsoft while they’re not willing to try Linux for free?! Face it, Linux is little more than a pretender afa the Desktop is concerned.
In what way is Linux a pretender?
I’ve been watching these comments with great interest. There’s a lot of respectable passion, but an unfortunate amount of vitriol, too.
Part of the problem is that there’s no archetypical “The Desktop”. My dad’s laptop, which he uses solely for web browsing, is one kind of desktop. A corporate office with hundreds of locked-down centrally managed PCs is another kind of desktop.
Some folks won’t try the free Linux because they’re scare of change. Others won’t try it because the people on whom they rely for tech support steer them away from it.
It’s particularly interesting to me that folks aren’t using these comments as opportunities to really enumerate the specific strengths and weaknesses of the various options.
In what specific ways does Linux fall short that Windows excels? Is it just a matter of comfort — you’ve grown up with Windows, and know how to do well most of what you need to do? Learning Linux will require a modification to some skills, and the learning curve can be a nuisance. But learning how to make Windows Vista or Windows 7 really sing also has a learning curve.
Leaving third-party applications out of this for the time being, how does Windows really beat Linux for, say, the average home computer user? The user who doesn’t want to administer a computer, and uses a computer primarily as a gateway to the Internet.
Maybe we can flesh this out into a full post, so folks can enumerate the reasons for their claims, rather than the same old recitation that one product is superior to the other.
http://linuxhaters.blogspot.com/
It’s all written there. Educate yourself, and then come back to tell us it’s a just a matter of being used to something.
Must be more than that when after using Linux myself for more than 2 years I went back to Windows, sick of all the problems and jumping through all the hoops.
But no, you still want to believe the fault lies with the users. It’s explained brilliantly in the blog, by the way.
Not in this life time… If every.
How can a corporation kill a community
http://spraveenitpro.blogspot.com
Relevant facts from http://www.marketshare.hitlinks.com
market share by operating system:
Windows: Feb 2008 (91.58%) ; Dec 2008 (88.68%)
Linux: Feb 2008 (0.65%) ; Dec 2008 (0.85%)
Mac: Feb 2008 (7.46%) ; Dec 2008 (9.63%)
Windows is dominant but losing market share to Mac. Linux is a much smaller player but is also making market share gains.
Does it matter which system any individual thinks is better – nope. The right OS is the one that works best for you.
In the days of machines that can boot multiple operating systems – why does anyone concern themselves with this argument?
Yeah, but those statistics are from before Windows 7 is released. Have you USED Windows 7? It is more open than linux, faster than linux, and gets you laid far more often than linux.
>>Have you USED Windows 7? It is more open than linux…<<
How is Windows 7 more open than Linux? What do you mean by open? When we say Open Systems or Open Software, usually we mean that the source code is available for any and all to view and/pr modify and reuse.
Yeah! That’ll be the day that Microsoft 7 is an Open Software Solution. Um hmm. RIGHT!!!!
Oh how everyone on this board wished there were some magic OS that “got you laid more often.” ;)
Hey… The iPhone OS has gotten me laid on two separate occasions. Back in the Summer of 2007, when the iPhone first came out, using my iPhone in a bar had prompted women to approach me to ask if they could get get a demo. And after a few hours and numerous drinks later, we ended back at my place (and the other time, her place) for a real multi-touch experience.
Sadly, that has happened since though. These days, everyone has their own phone so that they can multi-touch themselves.
Just how tough would it be to create a desktop that mimics XP? The laundry list of annoying little things that an end user must adjust to is endless.
Take Ubuntu for example:
1) Can’t drag a shortcut to the desktop.
2) You should see what you have to do to have you numlock key come on automatically…
3) Printer status icon, not automatic… another thing to look up.
4) Is my firewall working. Can I get a status icon? I don’t know. Let me read ANOTHER 10 man pages…
I could fill TWO pages of things that people need to relearn when they switch from M$. I’ve been following linux for 10 years and they are no closer to desktop acceptance. That sad part is, I WANT linux to succeed! There are just too many splinter groups. Hell half of them could be getting a stipend from you know who… ;o)
“1) Can’t drag a shortcut to the desktop.”
I have never tried to drag a link to the desktop until I read your post. I just did – it made an icon that when double-clicked opens the link in Firefox. That seems like a reasonable thing to happen I suppose. What is the expected action?
Ubuntu 8.04
My mistake. I’m using to Xubuntu. Not Ubuntu. It must be a feature that’s stripped to help run on older hardware…
I did forget to mention envelopes…
If you want a desktop that mimics XP (ok … really 2000), you use ReactOS. Everything is the same and binary compatible. But … why would you bother to switch OSes to one that’s exactly the same?
WRT Ubuntu
1) Drag and drop works in any recent version.
2) Numlock key is on in any recent version.
3) Printing icon is there if you have a printer … in any recent version.
4) You don’t need a firewall unless you add services because Ubuntu doesn’t have open ports by default. If you want one, there are several to choose from: just go to Add/Remove and search for “firewall.”
ENVELOPES!
End users don’t understand why it’s so difficult to print envelopes. Google “linux, envelopes, print”… See what I mean? No matter what the technical explanation, most end users take it for granted. Therefore, they think it’s really easy to program and question the competency of linux programmers.
Solve this problem and your name will be legend…
P.S. – Xunbuntu. This is really cool little operating system!
Windows 7 is the second coming of Christ.
who gives a crap.. let the windows users stick with windows… let them waste their time and money on something they like… i mean.. anything that can trick someone into spending money is good for the economy right?
in the mean time.. i’ll stick with one of the many linux distros i have grown to love. I am glad i have made the switch.
People are willing to spend money in things that are useful to them. What a surprise!
Besides… if you get your Windows preinstalled, it’s not really more expensive than the same PC with preinstalled Linux, so you’re just full of crap.
not true, if you buy a pc with windows preinstalled, your still paying for that copy of windows. depending on what it is, a certain ammount of money goes to microsoft from that sale.
You can have my GNU/Linux when you pry it from my cold and dead hands.
No, really – when MS/OSs provide the source code so we can all know what it does and how it does it, and when Microsoft gives it away for free, with the agreement that anyone can make improvements and give the improvements back for anyone and everyone to use … THAT’S when I will go back to using Microsoft products.
Until then, my SIG will continue to say:
“ubuntu – life without windows”
>You can have my GNU/Linux when you pry it from my cold and dead hands
if you mean GNU/Linux is your Penis then eeeuuuwww.
>You can have my GNU/Linux when you pry it from my cold and dead hands.
Ha, thanks man … this is the thought of the day in my opinion. I think I might quote this from time to time. Cheers :)
Spot on, it’s all about!
http://www.fsf.org
@easy to do :
Buddy, if you can’t even drag an icon onto your desktop using Ubuntu, I’m stunned that you managed to type that blog comment. You know, cos English is pretty tough and you sound like a total lost cause.
Jesus. Some cracking comments here. A real eye opener.
Linux will never die , remember that ! :))
>Linux will never die
it just smells funny
Linux is already dead, it just hasn’t realized it.
Linux: Dead OS walking.
I don’t have much use for these types of articles because, Linux is already superior to Windows. I don’t need popularity contests to prove that.
IE has larger market share than Firefox… does that mean IE is better?… Far from it.
Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha
Linux will still be there: http://www.splashtop.com/
>nor the Linux community will stop innovating
If Innovating is stealing stuff from Windows and Mac OS X then no…
Guys, please stop linking to “stories” on zdnet’s blogs. ZDNet pays them for bringing so many hits to the pages for the ad revenue. If you research how many sensational/provocative blog entries zdnet has produced, you will see what I mean.
I actually ditched my Kubuntu 8.10 partition for Windows 7 Beta… (and I’ve been using Ubuntu/Kubuntu since 2005).
There’s something addictive about windows that I keep coming back… or it might just be the games…
Nice Pic by the way… that awful sound BANG ! BANG ! … my baby shot me down… lol.
This is so stupid, no comment is good enough….
Frankly i dont care what window does.. am quite happy with my linux box. it does all i need and it just the best Os. for me. i tried windows 7 doing the xmas hols. and i wasnt carried away.. and frankly i dont think anything would move me away from linux.. linux is not for eveybody.. same applies to windows..
I ordered a Gnu/Linux Acer AspireOne from my local computer store and saved 100 dollars (That’s right, not from a stinkin big box). First thing I did was replaced their OS with Ubuntu. Runs great and loving it.
My computer at home has Ubuntu installed and loving that as well. I’ve been free of Windows for a couple years now and will never look back.
Gnu/Linux will be around forever. No corporate monopoly will control me.
I switched to Linux for one reason: MS enforcing DRM via their OS. With MS driver signing, media DMR, etc, MS owns the computer YOU paid for when you install one of their OS’s.
Would you buy a car from Ford if they told you that you can only drive it on certain roads? I didn’t think so. It’s MY F*CKING HARDWARE! I will use it as I please. Linux lets me do so, MS does not, therefore Linux wins…every time.
Linux don’t let you use DRM-protected stuff. So no, you can do everything you want in Linux, but you only care about Linux propaganda, not about truths.
umm… serious? point of linux is that it doesn’t LOCK you into drm-protected stuff… cause the idea is, if you buy something, it’s yours to do with as you please…. it is possible to play drm files, and crack them in linux, without having to download virus/trojan infected software to do so.
from what i have seen, most of the windows users have been the unintelligent ape types.
some of the linux users have done the same…. i would say number is about equal to the market share though.
but…. serious? you windows guys need to get a clue. i work for a datacenter, and we have more windows reinstalls/issues than anything else, because no one knows how to admin them, and despite the perceived difficulty of running linux, the linux servers rarely have non-hardware related issues. faster to run things on the same hardware, less resource hungry… *WAY* less prone to be taken down because an issue with a certain worm wasn’t patched…
the issues with windows on a server are endless…. and 2008 is just…. stupid. sorry, but it is.
windows keeps users in a state of fear and lack of knowledge of what is happening, linux asks the user to use the resources readily available to them to learn how to tweak things to act EXACTLY the way they want them to.
i changed to linux from windows after my xp machine was failing to respond from being left on for 3 days straight (might have had a trojan/virus or two, or might have been some other app eating all resources) all i know is that, since i changed to linux, i have laughed at every person that complains about a broken box.
to put this into perspective, i have had a machine that was completely unresponsive due to a faulty driver, keyboard was not working, screen had junk on it, did i have to reboot? nope, i ssh’ed in, and reset the driver, killed the apps using it, and 1 minute later, i was back into a working system. try that with windows, most of the time the answer to things not acting right is reboot….
enough of my rant… i run gentoo and LFS, i don’t give a flying fig what you run, cause my OS’s will run circles around yours…. and do what they need to, every time they need to, quickly and effectively, without fail. period.
And now for a reality check.
Windows and Linux are both in no immediate danger of ceasing to exist.
Windows 7 is likely to be a noticeable improvement on the first revision of Vista, as described by XKCD:
http://xkcd.com/528/
What’s interesting is the longer term plan from both Microsoft and the Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) communities.
Last week, for the first time ever, Microsoft sent an official representative to the annual linux.conf.au. Here’s a video of the talk:
https://fossbazaar.org/content/lawrence-crumpton-did-hell-freeze-over
The representative Lawrence Crumpton, provided a well meaning talk on how MS are attempting to understand and connect with various FOSS communities. He mentioned how the ongoing efforts to document MS technologies has been a greater effort for them than writing Windows 7, and how he hopes in time FOSS communities can assist MS with that.
What was most interesting to hear is when he said that if Microsoft don’t cooperate with Open Source communities, Microsoft will die. Watch the video and hear him say it for yourself.
Microsoft are a corporation and need to make a suitable profit. That’s easy to understand.
What’s interesting is that Open Source communities, and even Linux itself can assist them to that end, but to achieve that result, MS will have to play fair with FOSS communities and adhere to open ratified standards.
Time will tell.
arguing in internet is like winning in paraolympics, noone cares.
I use everyday OsX (for work and freetime in my laptop), Linux (on my work and home server + one web-desktop at home) and Windows on my second desktop (this is mainly for gaming, alltought i dont game so much).
Pros / Cons of different systems:
OSx:
+ It works, looks nice (out of the box), good for music making and adobe supports it
- Price is high (due “design” and “apple-tax”
- Not so many nativegames
- Feels kinda gay to carry An Apple
Linux:
+ It works (ubuntu out of the box), good for internet usage and comes with big variority of programs (out of the box), it´s free, its customizable, lots of free software, super for server usage, woks on light machinery
- Too many choices possible to make by beginner user (Window manager, software for this and this)
- Ubuntu is slow compared to more lightweight distros (debian, gentoo, sabayon…)
- They say you dont need to know about computers to run linux, but i have to admin that theres lots of small details that is needed to fix before its ready for every grandmas/companys/inviduals desktop (for example package management shows big list of small programs that everyday user really dont need to know shit)
Windows:
+ Indrusty standard, lots of commercial programs, everyone does it, it has loats of games
- Sometimes unstable (depends on hardware), its ugly (personal opinion), UAC (u can turn this off), viruses/trojans/etc.
…list goes on. And as you see every system has its own pros / cons, for my parents i prefer to get Apple, its easy when u have learned the logic behind it. For my little bro choise is Windows (he likes games), for my geek friends its Linux (they like to code and tweak their systems to get maxium performance), for me… well its all three + amiga os!
Theres no idea to argue about what os is the best, omfg i think not all of you people drive by same car (eventought we all know that mercedes is THE best of all). But hey there are faggots who like toyotas, hummers etc. also. :)
riiiiiiiiiiight. so just because some study says Linux isn’t being widely used in ‘Netbooks’ means Linux as a whole is failing?
umm, WRONG! netbooks suck anyway, they are just fads just like the tablet pc.
No, Linux as a whole is not failing. It works ok on web servers, supercomputers, and embedded systems. It has always been irrelevant and nonsensical on the desktop, and it will always be.
I installed Windows 7 on my brother’s computer, and it cured his AIDS.
Oh, I forgot to mention that it was Linux that gave him AIDS in the first place.
I would love to use linux, but unfortunately, I don’t have a computer I can use it on. I did install Mandriva on this really old computer I had, which was impressive, because it was made for Windows ME. Basically, I was practically installing the equivalent of Windows Vista, in Linux form, onto this 8+ year old computer. Of course, it does run slowly, but it runs well enough to be moderately usable. That’s why I stick to Linux, I don’t need the top of the line computers(mostly cause I don’t need one) to run Vista, so I just use this.
As for Windows 7, If I ever got a computer that came with it, i’d dual-boot Ubuntu. I like Linux, but now and then i’ll probably play some Windows games. Other than that, i’m all Linux.
“I would love to use linux, but unfortunately, I don’t have a computer I can use it on. I did install Mandriva on this really old computer…”
Hmmm. I thought Mandriva was linux…
If mac and linux died from who will microsoft copy the ideas???
Have you not used Windows 7? I guess you are not aware that Windows 7 is the first *perfect* operating system.
It will never need to be updated, because after the beta is complete, it will be 100% bug free. Microsoft has guaranteed this in writing, and all the early reviews indicate this to be true.
Windows 7 will run exactly as fast on your old Pentium 4 with 256mb of ram as it does on the latest Core 2 Quad’s with 16GB of ram, even with all features fully enabled. Again, all the early reviews prove this to be true.
Windows 7 will be completely immune to all viruses and trojans. Early reviewers have confirmed that it will not even need a firewall or anti-virus software, because it is 100% immune to all malware.
>Windows 7 will be completely immune to all viruses and trojans. Early reviewers have confirmed that it will not even need a firewall or anti-virus software, because it is 100% immune to all malware.
See …
Mut*erF*uc*ers have already copied this feature. It has been in all Linux distros for years now :P
No, Windows is not perfect and we all know that. But it’s useful… unlike that perfect nerdy Linux.
Bullshit. How is Windows 7 not perfect? It runs all applications, it supports ALL hardware. It doesn’t crash. It is faster and more open than lin-sux.
Windows 7 is ABSOLUTELY perfect, and I dare any of you linux losers to show me otherwise.
Linux: FAIL.