Comments on: Is 2008 the Year of the Linux Desktop? http://www.linux-mag.com/id/4357/ Open Source, Open Standards Mon, 22 Mar 2010 02:27:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.11 by: masinick http://www.linux-mag.com/id/4357/#comment-2613 Thu, 14 May 2009 14:18:24 +0000 http://www.linux-mag.com/id/4357/#comment-2613 Even in 2009, Linux as an overall system, including all markets, is a minority operating system. It has significant penetration into certain server markets, but much of that penetration has simply been at the expense of much higher priced UNIX server systems, which it has replaced. I was personally involved in one such effort, replacing a large Sun Solaris market data network with a much less expensive one from Red Hat Enterprise Linux. On the desktop, Linux has indeed been capable for a number of years. 2001 was probably one of the big years that Linux first made major inroads. I'd say that 2005 was another of those years, and both 2008 and 2009 have been good years. Nevertheless, news stories write that Linux has just cracked 1% penetration. While I question that number, actual desktop use is certainly under ten percent, but perhaps in the 3-6% range rather than the 1% range indicated in those surveys. On embedded devices and in other places that are difficult to record, Linux certainly has some action. But is this - or any other time, the year of the desktop for Linux? What does that mean? For me, sure, "Linux: Now is the Time!" as I wrote in 2001 for Extreme Tech. But what about the consumer? For more than 95% of them, the answer would be either "Who cares?" or "That's not for me" or "I can only use what I know" or something like that. To change this state, the entire cloud of computing has to change. If the majority of computer storage really is done "in a cloud", then that could make the difference. Some netbooks are promoting this strategy right now. I have my doubts that it will attract more than a percentage point at the most unless some entertainment venue makes it appealing enough. Write back in another 5-10 years; things are unlikely to change overnight. Even in 2009, Linux as an overall system, including all markets, is a minority operating system. It has significant penetration into certain server markets, but much of that penetration has simply been at the expense of much higher priced UNIX server systems, which it has replaced. I was personally involved in one such effort, replacing a large Sun Solaris market data network with a much less expensive one from Red Hat Enterprise Linux.

On the desktop, Linux has indeed been capable for a number of years. 2001 was probably one of the big years that Linux first made major inroads. I’d say that 2005 was another of those years, and both 2008 and 2009 have been good years. Nevertheless, news stories write that Linux has just cracked 1% penetration. While I question that number, actual desktop use is certainly under ten percent, but perhaps in the 3-6% range rather than the 1% range indicated in those surveys.

On embedded devices and in other places that are difficult to record, Linux certainly has some action. But is this - or any other time, the year of the desktop for Linux? What does that mean? For me, sure, “Linux: Now is the Time!” as I wrote in 2001 for Extreme Tech. But what about the consumer? For more than 95% of them, the answer would be either “Who cares?” or “That’s not for me” or “I can only use what I know” or something like that. To change this state, the entire cloud of computing has to change. If the majority of computer storage really is done “in a cloud”, then that could make the difference. Some netbooks are promoting this strategy right now. I have my doubts that it will attract more than a percentage point at the most unless some entertainment venue makes it appealing enough. Write back in another 5-10 years; things are unlikely to change overnight.

]]> by: graemeharrison http://www.linux-mag.com/id/4357/#comment-1974 Wed, 14 Jan 2009 08:02:23 +0000 http://www.linux-mag.com/id/4357/#comment-1974 Yeah, well that "I finally go the wireless to work!" is the key. the ONLY thing that Ubuntu as at Jan 2009 is still bad at is auto-install of wireless cards. Many laptop brands use Broadcom (www.broadcom.com) wireless mini-cards inside the PC, and as of 2009 Broadcom are still refusing to have their low-level firmware interface included in any Linux distros (though they freely allow M$ to supply to non-Broadcom customers)... Dell and others need to put pressure on Broadcom and any others which (even inadvertently) cause Linux to be hard to get working straight out of the box. Sort the wireless, make Wine a bit more intuitive and Ubuntu is BETTER than any M$ desktop OS. Graeme Harrison (prof at-symbol post.harvard.edu) Yeah, well that “I finally go the wireless to work!” is the key. the ONLY thing that Ubuntu as at Jan 2009 is still bad at is auto-install of wireless cards. Many laptop brands use Broadcom (www.broadcom.com) wireless mini-cards inside the PC, and as of 2009 Broadcom are still refusing to have their low-level firmware interface included in any Linux distros (though they freely allow M$ to supply to non-Broadcom customers)… Dell and others need to put pressure on Broadcom and any others which (even inadvertently) cause Linux to be hard to get working straight out of the box.
Sort the wireless, make Wine a bit more intuitive and Ubuntu is BETTER than any M$ desktop OS.
Graeme Harrison (prof at-symbol post.harvard.edu)

]]> by: ogardarsson http://www.linux-mag.com/id/4357/#comment-1310 Sun, 20 Jul 2008 20:16:28 +0000 http://www.linux-mag.com/id/4357/#comment-1310 I've been working with the Linux OS since 1997 but mostly on servers of one kind or another. Firewalls, mailservers, webservers and so on. All this time I've tested from time to time the available desktops starting with SuSE and Redhat. They looked great but never quite did everything I needed so I staid with whatever windows was running at the time. From 1985 to 1998 I used the Mac the most but gave up on it because of notorious instability until OSX came along. Lately I have been trying out many distros and many of the could at any time now replace Vista on my desktop. Fedora 9 and Ubuntu 8 are really good and have withstood almost all my tests. We have also been testing LTSP and just a few days ago set up a Kubuntu netcafe. So far the customers love it. It's fast, simple and reliable. It seems to me that there is a big shift this year towards Linux. It may have something to do with Ubuntu 8 reaching a certain level of usablity. For those that want to try Linux I recommend setting up a virtual machine on your computer instead of dual boot. Try VirtualBox from Sun. It's open source and works great on many platforms. Once you are comfortable using Linux, shift to Linux as your major OS and run Vista or XP as a virtual Machine on Linux. Use all your legacy Windows stuff there and enjoy the virus free security of Linux/Unix with snapshots and all those great tools that VB provides. I’ve been working with the Linux OS since 1997 but mostly on servers of one kind or another. Firewalls, mailservers, webservers and so on. All this time I’ve tested from time to time the available desktops starting with SuSE and Redhat. They looked great but never quite did everything I needed so I staid with whatever windows was running at the time. From 1985 to 1998 I used the Mac the most but gave up on it because of notorious instability until OSX came along.

Lately I have been trying out many distros and many of the could at any time now replace Vista on my desktop. Fedora 9 and Ubuntu 8 are really good and have withstood almost all my tests. We have also been testing LTSP and just a few days ago set up a Kubuntu netcafe. So far the customers love it. It’s fast, simple and reliable. It seems to me that there is a big shift this year towards Linux. It may have something to do with Ubuntu 8 reaching a certain level of usablity.

For those that want to try Linux I recommend setting up a virtual machine on your computer instead of dual boot. Try VirtualBox from Sun. It’s open source and works great on many platforms. Once you are comfortable using Linux, shift to Linux as your major OS and run Vista or XP as a virtual Machine on Linux. Use all your legacy Windows stuff there and enjoy the virus free security of Linux/Unix with snapshots and all those great tools that VB provides.

]]> by: jonnicc http://www.linux-mag.com/id/4357/#comment-951 Mon, 31 Mar 2008 05:40:34 +0000 http://www.linux-mag.com/id/4357/#comment-951 I switched to Ubuntu on January 4, 2008, and I haven't looked back. I can do almost everything a Windoze computer can do, sans iTunes. I'm sure there will be a port of iTunes to Linux soon, as everybody in the industry is going digital. I can count on my extensive family of Ubuntu programmers out in cyberspace to come up with the solutions that we all want. Apple needs to start thinking about the rest of us. They need to either open-source their OS & Apps, or stay at 3%. The price of their premium system, is twice to three times the price of a comparative Dell, HP or dare I say, Lenovo system, and OS X is UNIX! Ubuntu 8.04 Hardy Heron is going to be a big deal. With Gutsy Gibbon 7.10, I have tried to get all of those who would want to switch, to try it. Those who don't, are either serious gamesters, or Multimedia hounds that need to download MP3's from iTunes or Urge. I have had a great experience with Ubuntu Linux, and I am sticking with it! The real competition in Linux will begin when Open SUSE 11 comes out! Then it's going to be a real fight in the Linux world over the best desktop around! because of its stability, I'm puttin' my dough on Ubuntu 8.04. I switched to Ubuntu on January 4, 2008, and I haven’t looked back. I can do almost everything a Windoze computer can do, sans iTunes. I’m sure there will be a port of iTunes to Linux soon, as everybody in the industry is going digital. I can count on my extensive family of Ubuntu programmers out in cyberspace to come up with the solutions that we all want. Apple needs to start thinking about the rest of us. They need to either open-source their OS & Apps, or stay at 3%. The price of their premium system, is twice to three times the price of a comparative Dell, HP or dare I say, Lenovo system, and OS X is UNIX! Ubuntu 8.04 Hardy Heron is going to be a big deal. With Gutsy Gibbon 7.10, I have tried to get all of those who would want to switch, to try it. Those who don’t, are either serious gamesters, or Multimedia hounds that need to download MP3’s from iTunes or Urge. I have had a great experience with Ubuntu Linux, and I am sticking with it! The real competition in Linux will begin when Open SUSE 11 comes out! Then it’s going to be a real fight in the Linux world over the best desktop around! because of its stability, I’m puttin’ my dough on Ubuntu 8.04.

]]> by: hacklinuxdude http://www.linux-mag.com/id/4357/#comment-939 Fri, 28 Mar 2008 11:32:13 +0000 http://www.linux-mag.com/id/4357/#comment-939 I have already switch few months back to Ubuntu at my home and office machine and its surprisingly more easy (no virus,spyware, boltware, etc). I made a decision that I am going to use Linux from now on and removed all Microsoft crap from my machine. Took a month to get used to but finally done. I am enjoying this :) No more boltware. Machine is working as it is after months of heavy usage - no sign of slowdown :) I have already switch few months back to Ubuntu at my home and office machine and its surprisingly more easy (no virus,spyware, boltware, etc).

I made a decision that I am going to use Linux from now on and removed all Microsoft crap from my machine. Took a month to get used to but finally done. I am enjoying this :) No more boltware. Machine is working as it is after months of heavy usage - no sign of slowdown :)

]]> by: Dan Gheorghe Somnea http://www.linux-mag.com/id/4357/#comment-628 Fri, 23 Nov 2007 13:00:38 +0000 http://www.linux-mag.com/id/4357/#comment-628 Hello, An American proverb says: "The grass is always greener on the other side." 2008 could be the Linux' happy year as it has reserved the green grass of a land. A condition has to be mentioned: Both Linux and Windows were created for the same newbies. In Romania, Linux-based servers are popular. Teenagers "eat" Linux, bread and ... edulcorates. Windows or Linux, this is the "en-vogue" question ! A French proverb: "L'herbe est toujours plus verte chez le voisin." Meaning: 'The grass is always greener at the neighbours.' Sincerely yours, Dan Gheorghe http://dansomnea.tripod.com/ Hello,
An American proverb says:
“The grass is always greener on the other side.”

2008 could be the Linux’ happy year as it has reserved the green grass of a land.

A condition has to be mentioned:
Both Linux and Windows were created for the same newbies.
In Romania, Linux-based servers are popular. Teenagers “eat” Linux, bread and … edulcorates.
Windows or Linux, this is the “en-vogue” question !
A French proverb:
“L’herbe est toujours plus verte chez le voisin.”
Meaning: ‘The grass is always greener at the neighbours.’
Sincerely yours,
Dan Gheorghe
http://dansomnea.tripod.com/

]]> by: Krishna Srikanth http://www.linux-mag.com/id/4357/#comment-614 Tue, 20 Nov 2007 12:03:18 +0000 http://www.linux-mag.com/id/4357/#comment-614 Plus. Windows is the first popular desktop. Even than Mac. Obviously users try to compare other os' features with the ones they experienced in windows. Like games, softwares and especially drivers. In windows, there is a rare chance that users need to go to command line. But in linux, still command line rules the OS.So first preference to make linux on desktop should be devoted in developing GUIs for almost all of the functionalities. Though linux can be accepted at workstation desktop, it might take some (may be long) time to replace home desktop. As I said, Multimedia, Gaming and device drivers are a big concerns. I agree with Satheesh babu. Though unix studies are in universities, schools and colleges still depend on windows because their softwares are still in win. even c, c++ and java are taught on windows. Ok. I had enough of views declared. Let me tell you that i have taken my first step in taking linux to home desktop. I installed ubuntu 7.10 on my home sys (dual boot) and will try to survive in that. I would also like to participate in ubuntu development, not as a developer, but as a frontend user and articulating what is needed further. Manda Krishna Srikanth <a href="http://www.krishnasrikanth.com/" rel="nofollow">www.krishnasrikanth.com</a> Plus. Windows is the first popular desktop. Even than Mac. Obviously users try to compare other os’ features with the ones they experienced in windows. Like games, softwares and especially drivers.

In windows, there is a rare chance that users need to go to command line. But in linux, still command line rules the OS.So first preference to make linux on desktop should be devoted in developing GUIs for almost all of the functionalities.

Though linux can be accepted at workstation desktop, it might take some (may be long) time to replace home desktop. As I said, Multimedia, Gaming and device drivers are a big concerns.

I agree with Satheesh babu. Though unix studies are in universities, schools and colleges still depend on windows because their softwares are still in win. even c, c++ and java are taught on windows.

Ok. I had enough of views declared. Let me tell you that i have taken my first step in taking linux to home desktop. I installed ubuntu 7.10 on my home sys (dual boot) and will try to survive in that. I would also like to participate in ubuntu development, not as a developer, but as a frontend user and articulating what is needed further.

Manda Krishna Srikanth
www.krishnasrikanth.com

]]> by: satheesh babu http://www.linux-mag.com/id/4357/#comment-613 Tue, 20 Nov 2007 05:19:19 +0000 http://www.linux-mag.com/id/4357/#comment-613 I have been using Linux for over 8 years now, along with windows. IMHO, possibly the only way Linux can get accepted by the masses is through schools. Windows is THE system as far as the current generation of general public is concerned. All sorts of valid reasons are there which goes for it or against it, but Windows is THE ONE, right now. For another OS to get accepted, it should get injected into the society seemlessly, unnoticed (as hhemken pointed out) and as i see it that can happen only over a generation or two, that too if it is injected through the schools. People SIMPLY RESIST CHANGE (or they are made to), especially with systems/machines/toys that we want to use quickly, and we expect no fuss to get created, and it doesn't help to know that i'm an odd one out using Linux than Windows. Its wonderful that Linux runs most of the embedded gadgets these days, but the point is that the user doesn't need to interface directly with the OS in those systems and hence they don't notice. We need to create a generation which is aware - that there IS CHOICE; that choice is good - that they need not study rocket science to work with alternate OSes, or use the systems running 2-3 alternate OSes Hence I believe that the long term answer lies in schools. Get the kids to work with these systems, get them to love these systems and get them to ask their parents to buy them these systems! And make sure that the apps on Linux keep pace with windows! Till then dual boot systems might be the best bargain that Linux market can hope for to get a significant footprint. regards satheesh I have been using Linux for over 8 years now, along with windows. IMHO, possibly the only way Linux can get accepted by the masses is through schools. Windows is THE system as far as the current generation of general public is concerned. All sorts of valid reasons are there which goes for it or against it, but Windows is THE ONE, right now. For another OS to get accepted, it should get injected into the society seemlessly, unnoticed (as hhemken pointed out) and as i see it that can happen only over a generation or two, that too if it is injected through the schools. People SIMPLY RESIST CHANGE (or they are made to), especially with systems/machines/toys that we want to use quickly, and we expect no fuss to get created, and it doesn’t help to know that i’m an odd one out using Linux than Windows. Its wonderful that Linux runs most of the embedded gadgets these days, but the point is that the user doesn’t need to interface directly with the OS in those systems and hence they don’t notice. We need to create a generation which is aware
- that there IS CHOICE; that choice is good
- that they need not study rocket science to work with alternate OSes, or use the systems running 2-3 alternate OSes

Hence I believe that the long term answer lies in schools. Get the kids to work with these systems, get them to love these systems and get them to ask their parents to buy them these systems! And make sure that the apps on Linux keep pace with windows!

Till then dual boot systems might be the best bargain that Linux market can hope for to get a significant footprint.

regards
satheesh

]]> by: Krishna Srikanth http://www.linux-mag.com/id/4357/#comment-612 Mon, 19 Nov 2007 10:40:44 +0000 http://www.linux-mag.com/id/4357/#comment-612 Great people with great thoughts. But in these comments, the people speaking against linux are getting negative points against their names. I wonder why that happens. Ok let me tell you my linux experience. People, who told many good things about ubuntu made me download 7.10 a whole day. Later i burnt it on cd and restarted as the live cd. 1st restart - It was fine. I was able to see the desktop with all those window effects as in vista. I thought to install it, so restarted in windows and made some freespace and went back to ubuntu 2nd restart - this time i was not able to get the screen. Some strange color dots were displayed. So i restarted in safe graphics mode 3rd restart - this time i was able to login. i started to install. but in step 2/7 i found a bug. I am in India/Calcutta time zone, but my sys time was shown as african time, and changing timezone changed my sys time. Laptop:- I have HP Pavilion, dv6516 with vista, and tried to run as live cd. But speakers, altec's one, were not recognized, it was so calm. I could not dare to install ubuntu on that and loose vista on the whole. so went back to windows. Manda Krishna Srikanth Great people with great thoughts. But in these comments, the people speaking against linux are getting negative points against their names. I wonder why that happens.

Ok let me tell you my linux experience. People, who told many good things about ubuntu made me download 7.10 a whole day. Later i burnt it on cd and restarted as the live cd.

1st restart - It was fine. I was able to see the desktop with all those window effects as in vista. I thought to install it, so restarted in windows and made some freespace and went back to ubuntu

2nd restart - this time i was not able to get the screen. Some strange color dots were displayed. So i restarted in safe graphics mode

3rd restart - this time i was able to login. i started to install. but in step 2/7 i found a bug. I am in India/Calcutta time zone, but my sys time was shown as african time, and changing timezone changed my sys time.

Laptop:- I have HP Pavilion, dv6516 with vista, and tried to run as live cd. But speakers, altec’s one, were not recognized, it was so calm. I could not dare to install ubuntu on that and loose vista on the whole. so went back to windows.

Manda Krishna Srikanth

]]> by: b s http://www.linux-mag.com/id/4357/#comment-610 Sat, 17 Nov 2007 12:59:35 +0000 http://www.linux-mag.com/id/4357/#comment-610 Hi, I'm from Sweden and the main reason I'm still stuck to MS are among several: 1. Some media outlets have web-TV apps that requires a mixture of QuickTime, Windows Media Player and IE to work !!! 2. I use an excellent translationprogram called Babylon. It works by middle button clicking a word and a translation pops up in a sec. The greatest advantage is that if u have an idiom it "scans" to the right and left of the word and if it finds the word being part of an idiom it is translated !! Also they have a marvelous development tool to create your own vocabularies. Hitherto they have refused to port their app to Linux. 3. I'm using Skype and the Linux-version is substandard. Also so called Skaypecasts do not work. 4. The web cams I have, have no driver support for Linux. These are the main issues intuitively forcing me to my MS partition instead of my Ubuntu partition every time I log on !!!! Regards! Hi, I’m from Sweden and the main reason I’m still stuck to MS are among several:

1. Some media outlets have web-TV apps that requires a mixture of QuickTime, Windows Media Player and IE to work !!!

2. I use an excellent translationprogram called Babylon. It works by middle button clicking a word and a translation pops up in a sec. The greatest advantage is that if u have an idiom it “scans” to the right and left of the word and if it finds the word being part of an idiom it is translated !! Also they have a marvelous development tool to create your own vocabularies. Hitherto they have refused to port their app to Linux.

3. I’m using Skype and the Linux-version is substandard. Also so called Skaypecasts do not work.

4. The web cams I have, have no driver support for Linux.

These are the main issues intuitively forcing me to my MS partition instead of my Ubuntu partition every time I log on !!!!

Regards!

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