[TriLUG] Where is Linux today?

Brian Phelps brphelps at ieee.org
Fri Jun 20 10:15:05 EDT 2008


On Thu, 2008-06-19 at 10:24 -0400, Douglas A. Whitfield wrote:
> 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/

Who the hell says Linux can't have a "user friendly" interface:
http://img501.imageshack.us/img501/5513/1199328595027nn5.jpg
> 
> 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.
> >
> > --
> > TriLUG mailing list        : http://www.trilug.org/mailman/listinfo/trilug
> > TriLUG FAQ  : http://www.trilug.org/wiki/Frequently_Asked_Questions
> >
> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> Douglas A. Whitfield
> 
> UNC SILS, May 2008
> Co-Founder Carolina Open Source Initiative
> http://www.ibiblio.org/cosi
> cell: 919-360-0306




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