Linux for All

[Zach]

Linux will never penetrate into the home-user market, as a broad-based competitor for Windows until it accepts the fact it has been diagnosed with Schizophrenia and starts taking medication for it.

There are too many distros, and this is the single problem preventing Linux from gaining a consumer identity. Great strides have been made in the user interface and user experience department but Linux needs to do several things to successfully compete with Windows. Choice is a good thing, but people fail to realize that too much choice can also make you weak. You have nowhere to focus your efforts, you can't find common ground with others, and in the end you just end up confusing end-users and providing a poor or marginal experience.



1) Settle on a coalition of no more than 3 different Linux distros that are all interoperable enough that you should be able to use the same software and hardware on them, without major changes on the part of said developers. This is especially true for Install/Package managers. Why should I have to compile from source simply because someone doesn't distribute anything but Debian packages? or only distributes in RPM, or whatever. That is just... functionally retarded

2) Lure Game Developers to Linux, or you will never compete outside of the Corporate Office. Period.

3) Lure Productivity / Home use developers. Focusing on specific markets of the software sector would be a good start. Video editing / production on Linux tends to suck, for instance. Because the veritable backbone of the Video For Windows interface and everything built on top of it has brought so many options to life over the years.

4) Get over its fear of commercialization. Until the hard-knocks within the FOSS community get it through their heads that money is not evil, and that they are crippling their own cause by doing everything they can to champion "Free" software over potential money-interests (and subsequently pushing that view onto users that "it must be free"), it will never be able to compete on the same level as Windows in the home user market. People want GOOD software that works, and they WANT to pay for it.

[heartbone]

Fwiw, I have in the last few years used various flavours of Linux for 1 reason or another including Mint, Debian & Centos. None feel as easy for me to use as Ubuntu.

I recently stumbled upon an officially supported derivative called 'Ubuntu Studio', I think it's great. I have now swapped all my PCs over to it.

Ubuntu One is an excellent service too, it's very handy to be able to use Deja Dup to do incremental back-ups of your important folders to free cloud storage.

I'm also eagerly awaiting Ubuntu Touch smartphones, although I'm dithering over whether I'd prefer that to a Jolla or Tizen device.

I too am eagerly awaiting Ubuntu Touch to make my touchscreen tablet computer work the way that it is capable of.
Microsoft's half assed Vista OS was too stupid to release,
but their emphasis on corporate profits over software quality caused it to be distributed to the masses,
and I became a dissatisfied customer.

Now five years later, thanks to Canonical just maybe I'll have a properly working OS for my touch tablet/laptop.

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/docu ... =c01470267
Yes I probably could have paid more cash and upgraded the tablet to Windows7 which had better touch screen support,
but I did not want to take the risk and get burned by M$ again.

I have some hope that in some way PureBasic can be used to develop Ubuntu Touch apps.

Linux will never penetrate into the home-user market, as a broad-based competitor for Windows until it accepts the fact it has been diagnosed with Schizophrenia and starts taking medication for it.

There are too many distros, and this is the single problem preventing Linux from gaining a consumer identity. Great strides have been made in the user interface and user experience department but Linux needs to do several things to successfully compete with Windows. Choice is a good thing, but people fail to realize that too much choice can also make you weak. You have nowhere to focus your efforts, you can't find common ground with others, and in the end you just end up confusing end-users and providing a poor or marginal experience.

Some people, including me, think that the great diversity of choice is a strength.

I think Linux's poor showing has more to do with mass marketing to the sheeple and less about the product's value.
If on TPTB's TV shows, hints were getting dropped about Linux, then certainly there would be demand created.
At this point, with no new guidance given by the corporate media, the herd will continue along their merry way with the ingrained concept that Windows=computing.

1) Settle on a coalition of no more than 3 different Linux distros that are all interoperable enough that you should be able to use the same software and hardware on them, without major changes on the part of said developers. This is especially true for Install/Package managers. Why should I have to compile from source simply because someone doesn't distribute anything but Debian packages? or only distributes in RPM, or whatever. That is just... functionally retarded

Sure I could settle (2 of the 3 would be UBUNTU & PUPPY), but that is sure to make someone unhappy.
Why not let the 'market' (each user) decide this one for themselves?
If for some reason someone decides on a less popular Linux, where they must do more work, that should continue to be a personal decision.

Personally I simply want the OS to be as assisting and unobtrusive as possible,
and if I have to build a lot of packages,
then I probably won't stick with that Linux distribution for very long.
So far in UBUNTU 13.04 I have not had to compile anything,
and in conjunction with WINE I think that have everything in place that I need to replace most every task that I did in XP.
The only exception that I can think of is MADDEN 08 NFL, which does not work 100% due to gamepad controller driver issues.

That is why I am currently so enthusiastic about the UBUNTU environment and its growing momentum baby!

Finally, the two other computer users that I've introduced to UBUNTU, and myself...
all three of us prefer that our computers now boot into UBUNTU and not XP.
That says a lot.

[Kuron]

Linux will never penetrate into the home-user market, as a broad-based competitor for Windows until it accepts the fact it has been diagnosed with Schizophrenia and starts taking medication for it.

For the home market, Windows is now the alternate OS. In 2012, Linux dethroned Windows in the home market. In 2012 over nine billion ARM CPUs were sold, more CPUs than Intel has sold in its entire existence. Home users are not buying PCs anymore, they are buying mobile devices. Linux and Linux-based OSes dominate the mobile market.

2) Lure Game Developers to Linux, or you will never compete outside of the Corporate Office. Period.

In 2012, the biggest name in the gaming industry announced the move to Linux. The game developers and the game players are making the move.

Video editing / production on Linux tends to suck, for instance. Because the veritable backbone of the Video For Windows interface and everything built on top of it has brought so many options to life over the years.

Video and audio production is VERY good on Linux. Unlike Windows that changes major APIs every couple of years and creates horrible incompatibilities with professional-grade hardware.

People want GOOD software that works, and they WANT to pay for it.

This is why Linux is so great for indie developers as Linux users will pay for software, unlike Windows users who expect everything for free. It is a proven fact, than when given the choice to pay what they want for software, Linux users on average will pay double what the Windows users pay.

[heartbone]

In keeping with this thread's theme, I present this list of 28 packages that I've installed from the UBUNTU Software Center.
Me being a certified secondary math teacher explains the GEOGEBRA and KAlgebra programs.
Most of the remainder is useful in reproducing Windows XP functionality not present in the core OS install, are game related, or system tools for programmer's needs.
Use these names to search for the download.
BOOTUP MANAGER, GUFW, VLC, GEOGEBRA, DOSBOX, 7-ZIP (p7zip), RAR, JOYSTICK (jstest-gtk), PCSX, WINE, MANAGE LAUNCHER, GIMP, FREETUX TV, AUDACIOUS, SYNAPTIC PACKAGE MANAGER, BLESS HEX EDITOR, FURIUS ISO MOUNT, KAZAM, GTKHASH, STELLA, K3b, APTonCD, AssoGiate, Meld Diff Viewer, Unity Tweak Tool, LMMS, Marble, KAlgebra

Some of these programs such as LMMS and GIMP are available for Windows.
Thunderbird and Firefox are preinstalled in UBUNTU.

I did have to go to SourceForge.net and download M64PY, the frontend to MUPEN64+ for which I had to use a terminal command to install. (sudo apt-get install mupen64plus)

The few games that I've installed, (but not gotten around to playing yet):
Gbrainy, Biniax-2, Jump'n'Bump, Kigo, Mastermind, Pentobi, TripleA, minetestc55, Enigma
(I just noticed that I've forgotten to D/L and install Liquid Wars.)

The system reports a total 7.5 GB used of the 200 GB partition reserved for UBUNTU.
Because I have not deleted the 508 MB of system saved downloaded archives,
to be fair this could be described as a 7 GB installation.

[Tenaja]

Accounting software and engineering software are the hooks that keep me on windows. It just does not exist elsewhere.

And no matter what the core is, or where it came from, Android on an Arm is NOT Linux on a desktop. It is comparing apples and oranges.

[tj1010]

Me and reality were wrong, all the smart people who proved us wrong with their personal experiences as experienced users are clearly right.. Poor MS.. maybe one day they will catch up to Linux..

[heartbone]

Living in the past?
Is there a medical term that describes "Fear of Linux"? Linoia?

Accounting software and engineering software are the hooks that keep me on windows. It just does not exist elsewhere.

Posting misinformation is not cool.

Accounting Software
http://www.aaxnet.com/design/linuxacct.html

Chemical Engineering
http://www.download32.com/chemical-engi ... tware.html

Civil Engineering
http://www.fileguru.com/apps/linux_civil_engineering

Electrical Engineering Software
http://www.softscout.com/Linux-Electric ... g-Software

Mechanical Engineering Useful Software in Linux
http://linuxmadeasy.blogspot.com/2011/0 ... space.html

Tenaja, if in your claim you are referring to proprietary software which requires a Windows OS, chances are great that it will run just fine in WINE.
There is a UBUNTU LiveCD that does not require hard disk installation for you to determine your system's WINE compatibility.
Once WINE is installed, all that you need to do is double click on the program icon to run it.
For example M$ Office 2007 runs fine in WINE.
But then again OpenOffice, or the included Libre Office suite run just fine without it.

Yes it's OK to stick with Windows, but if you are going to get a new system,
then it's not very smart to pay more for less when you know of a better deal.
And if you are going to switch, it's probably better to start learning the new OS sooner rather than later.

For most, installing UBUNTU will make your system so snappy it'll feel new.

8 days and counting...
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/SaucySalamander/ReleaseSchedule

[Tenaja]

Living in the past?
Is there a medical term that describes "Fear of Linux"? Linoia?

Presuming you are referring to me, since my quote immediately follows your statement, I have no fear of Linux. In fact, I have three computers running Linux (not counting my Android devices). For the computers I personally use, my Linux boxes (3) exceed my Windows units (1).

Just because software exists on Linux does not mean it is as good, good enough, or the right fit--the latter being the most critical. I know I said "it does not exist," but what I really meant was "SolidWorks does not exist on linux", etc. None of the current Linux offerings (For accounting or engineering) are the right fit for me to import all of my data without losing critical time. Trust me, I have searched for alternatives this summer. I have been trying to replace my accounting software since I started using it in '99.

[heartbone]

Living in the past?
Is there a medical term that describes "Fear of Linux"? Linoia?

Presuming you are referring to me, since my quote immediately follows your statement, I have no fear of Linux. In fact, I have three computers running Linux (not counting my Android devices). For the computers I personally use, my Linux boxes (3) exceed my Windows units (1).

Just because software exists on Linux does not mean it is as good, good enough, or the right fit--the latter being the most critical. I know I said "it does not exist," but what I really meant was "SolidWorks does not exist on linux", etc. None of the current Linux offerings (For accounting or engineering) are the right fit for me to import all of my data without losing critical time. Trust me, I have searched for alternatives this summer. I have been trying to replace my accounting software since I started using it in '99.

It was partially aimed at you, more at the other respondents.
If you had orginally posted what you really meant, then it would not have been aimed at you even one little bit.
I sympathize with your predicament and hope that you can find a suitable Linux replacement.
1999 was a long time ago in computer terms.
I don't know much about what makes SolidWorks different, but have you approached the problem from the perspective of data migration/transformation to an open system?
I know of a nice little tool called PureBasic that might help you there.

[Kuron]

1999 was a long time ago in computer terms.

Indeed, Windows was actually good back then and a decent product. Microsoft was the top dog in the industry. Times have changed. Apple is the top dog. Windows 8 was so bad the biggest name in the gaming industry is moving to Linux. Windows and Microsoft have turned into the laughingstock of the industry and Ballmer has all-but destroyed Microsoft. Ballmer's legacy will be causing Microsoft to lose 34 BILLION dollars of value in just one day.

[Danilo]

Indeed, Windows was actually good back then and a decent product.

If you think Windows 98 was good, Windows 7 and Windows 8 are superior.

]Microsoft was the top dog in the industry. Times have changed. Apple is the top dog.

AFAIK Microsoft Windows is still the most widely used operating system for Desktop PCs, at work places and at home.

[Tenaja]

AFAIK Microsoft Windows is still the most widely used operating system for Desktop PCs, at work places and at home.

It is, and (still) by a huge margin. You can buy it at Costco with it preinstalled with a huge choice of machines. Sure, they are trying it with Chrome, but haven't seen much action there.

1999 was a long time ago in computer terms.
I don't know much about what makes SolidWorks different, but have you approached the problem from the perspective of data migration/transformation to an open system?
I know of a nice little tool called PureBasic that might help you there.

Sure, '99 was a while ago, but I have upgraded every few years, and those upgrades came with new features that made the "other" software options even less attractive.

[Kuron]

If you think Windows 98 was good, Windows 7 and Windows 8 are superior.

This is untrue. People actually bought Windows 98. Nobody is buying Windows 8.

AFAIK Microsoft Windows is still the most widely used operating system for Desktop PCs, at work places and at home.

Windows is made by Microsoft. Microsoft is no longer the top dog. Apple not only surpassed Microsoft to become the most profitable company in the industry, Apple is often the most profitable company of all industries combined.

Windows is NOT the most widely used OS at home as nobody buys desktops anymore. Home users are buying tablets and other mobile devices. The only place Windows is still dominant is the Enterprise market. 9 billion ARM processors were sold in 2012, the majority to average home users. This is more than Intel had made in their existence. There is no arguing the fact, Windows is now the alternative OS and it is largely due to Ballmer all-but destroying Microsoft.

[Danilo]

9 billion ARM processors were sold in 2012, the majority to average home users.

Most of this ARM processors are built into telephones/smartphones, washing machines, refrigerators,
control units in cars, Smart TVs/3D TVs. Of course also in Tablets, like the Surface RT (2), iPad, Kindle.

Just because all of this 9 billion processors did not came from Intel and do not run Windows, does
not mean the end of the world. Both companies still make billions. Everybody knows they overslept the
new hype of creating new tablets and smartphones every 6 month. Apple was much better and faster here,
and Android took the market for cheap devices. Thats for tablets and smartphones, still not for desktop PCs
and workstations, with many hundred million machines used at work places, every day.
It's a fight, it is how the industry works. There are competitors now, where there was almost no competition
for Microsoft in 1999. That's why they created a completely new Windows, running on a range of different
devices. Smartphones, Tablets, Desktop PCs, Touch Notebooks, even at 3 meter touch displays that are
coming. NOT doing this new stuff would be much more fatal to Microsoft.

From a developers point of view, Windows is still one of the best supported platforms. Microsoft did not
stop at the Windows 95 API and just add new functions to this old API every release. They always provide very huge,
up-to-date APIs and new Frameworks for new emerging technologies. What we use today for programming
modern Windows applications, Win8 AppStore/Tablet applications and games, Windows Phone apps, XBox games,
...was started by Microsoft way over 10 years ago. A high quality, very huge, and very supported platform.
Only Apple provides a similar, high quality and actively supported platform for MacOSX and iOS programming
to cover desktop, tablets, and smartphones. All-in-one and from one source, stable APIs and professional support available.
Very important point for commercial developers, and the reason so much professional, high-quality and commercially supported
software is available for Windows and MacOSX only.

I still think Microsoft provides good developer tools and a very good, huge development platform for different devices.
And the new devices they provide (smartphones, tablets) are very good, especially the quality (which has it's price, I admit -
it is on par with Apple in that point).

You may think what you want, it is OK. Just note that not everybody agrees with your point of view.
Sounds little bit like you are deeply disappointed by Microsoft, maybe you hate them. Don't know
the exact reason, though.
If you want to switch to Linux or MacOSX, just do it. No need to hate Microsoft or Mr. Ballmer and start campaigns against them.
Just switch, if you want. Or maybe use the different available platforms all together, like some of us do... that's freedom of choice.
Could even be an advantage for yourself if you know some more platforms and know how to develop on them. Nobody stops
you to make money by writing iOS, Android, or Windows AppStore apps and games, if that's what you want. Still plenty of opportunity available.

[skywalk]

It is agreed that Windows 8.1 is a strong candidate for upgrade within the business community. The fact that sales are slow is not indicative of a poor product or the demise of Microsoft. Consider instead, the incredible inertia that must be overcome to dislodge so many working Windows 7 installations.
I continually root for Linux and the Raspberry Pi's of the computing world since they truly push the larger players to innovate. As ARM has forced Intel and Microsoft to think low power and small, I am curious to see the next generation of tiny Windows?