[TriLUG] Where is Linux today?

[Douglas A. Whitfield]

I'm jumping in here a little late, and this isn't exactly an OS issue, but
it speaks to the "Microsoft is the most user-friendly because that's what
people know issue":
http://douglasawh.wordpress.com/2008/06/18/a-rant-from-a-friend-about-office-2007/

My friend has probably never used OOo or Linux.  He's a little over the top,
but with OOo doing .docx, more people could use OOo and I think "Word" (as
many people call Office) is a stumbling block for many people moving to
Linux.  I know the issue isn't whether people will move to Linux, but
whether they should, but this speaks to that point too.  If people aren't
happy with MS Office and OOo can now do .docx, what *shouldn't* they move to
Linux?

On Tue, Jun 17, 2008 at 12:56 PM, Maxwell Spangler <
maxpublic08 at maxwellspangler.com> wrote:

>
> A thread on dc-lug asking why there aren't any Linux conferences or many
> install fests got me thinking (and writing) about where Linux is today.
>
> My answer to why there are no linux conferences is this three-parter:
>
> 1) We don't need Linux conferences to promote Linux.  Linux gets enough
> press and peer to peer discussion as an accepted operating system that
> we don't need to fight our way up that hill: we're already up there with
> the other operating systems, in general.  It's now time for Linux to
> show what it can do and it will win or lose users and organizations
> support based on practical abilities the way any other operating system
> competes.
>
> 2) We don't want Linux conferences any more.  The excitement and
> momentum of the earlier Linux community has gone (or greatly diminished)
> the way the energy of any start-up organization or political movement
> dissipates over time.  When the idea is young, the possibilities are
> infinite, but when the idea starts to mature into solid forms, the
> reality of what it will be in the future brings people down to earth.
> Linux is amazing today compared to what we started with but it still has
> significant flaws, limitations and is starting to trail other operating
> systems in some key ways causing a drain on the community of supporters.
>
> 3) A successful Linux conference today would require a big effort and
> big money to produce.  Without the energy and excitement about Linux
> this kind of event requires corporate backing and that seems
> contradictory to what a classic Linux user is interested in.  The Redhat
> Linux shows in Raleigh in the past were, to me, a rare balance between
> the corporate need and the community love.  Redhat 98 and 99 were really
> cool events but I don't think we'll see them again.
>
> These are my opinions, and I think I'm right about them, but I'm
> interested in your opinions.
>
> At the heart of my perspective is my long term history with Linux and my
> less energetic attitude towards it today.  I use Linux every day for
> work and home and have no plans to change. I'm very comfortable with it,
> but rarely do I get excited about it.  I recently recommended that a
> good friend get a new laptop WITH Vista (for a high quality yet
> inexpensive out of the box experience) and I generally tell anyone
> asking about selecting a computer to look hard at Apple Macintosh (for
> an excellent overall hardware + software experience.)
>
> I don't recommend Linux.  Why would I recommend Linux to a typical user
> who wants to do simple tasks that OS X and Vista both do so well and
> require no specialized training or support with?  I especially don't
> want everybody's brother calling *me* personally to support their Linux
> system when it can't get on the net or "runs really slow" (as every
> computer seems to do over time.)
>
> If you put your personal politics and preferences aside, you have to
> admit that Linux, Mac OS X and Vista are all very powerful and capable
> operating systems.  It's a much better computing world than it was just
> over ten years ago when Windows 98 would have been the default operating
> system used by the world.  Back then I would have said Linux multi-tasks
> better, crashes less, has a mountain of freely available programs, etc.
> But now all three operating systems multi-task in multi-CPU environments
> extremely well and the quality of applications available for Mac and
> Vista seems to be easily surpassing Linux.**
>
> I think Linux is stalled and I think that's why we don't see community
> events anymore.
>
> So what do you think?  Are you excited about Linux?  Why?
>
>
>
> ** Linux has always been a technie's environment and it's techie
> oriented tools are probably as good or superior to those found on the
> other operating systems.  I believe that.  But it's things like burning
> a DVD from a home video camera that I find vastly easier and more
> productive on those operating systems than Linux.
>
> --
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>



-- 
Douglas A. Whitfield

UNC SILS, May 2008
Co-Founder Carolina Open Source Initiative
http://www.ibiblio.org/cosi
cell: 919-360-0306