Comments on: What Is Desktop Linux Missing?

By: Linux Myth Dispeller - A Linux World Net Blog » Blog Archive » Penguin.SWF

Thu, 09 Nov 2006 08:05:35 +0000

[...] I have written before about how the lack of the Adobe Flash player for Linux is one of the hurdles that have to be crossed before Linux will be ready for the wider public. [...]

By: Linux Myth Dispeller - A Linux World Net Blog » Blog Archive » Desktop Linux In The Enterprise

Mon, 26 Jun 2006 18:12:47 +0000

[...] Previously I have talked about issues with desktop Linux that I believe must be resolved before home users will adopt it. Most of these are not as much of an issue for businesses looking to make a move to Linux desktops. Hardware can be selected that willnot have driver issues, DVD playback is a priority feature in most business settings, and there are some neat things that corporate IT departments can do to make life easier, mostly involving automated patch management. [...]

By: Jon

Jon — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 18:05:39 +0000

Shawn,
I agree that any DIY computing project is going to have hardware/software conflicts,but I don’t agree that, by extension, Linux on the desktop can be excused from having those problems.

Linux on the desktop is not about DIY projects. It is about the 80-90% of computers that come from the store with an OS loaded that is never changed. Desktop Linux is about Joe and Jane Average using Linux on a day-to-day basis. The fact that I have an laptop with SUSE running KDE on it has nothing to do with Linux on the desktop, because no one can go to Circuit City and buy that product.

By: Linux World Net » Blog Archive » My Favourite Posts

Linux World Net » Blog Archive » My Favourite Posts — Fri, 16 Jun 2006 21:41:29 +0000

[...] Jon on the Linux Myth Dispeller brutally enumerates what’s missing from Desktop Linux. My favourite sentence? “The DVD Playback issue is not settled. Honestly, how do expect your average Joe to use your product when watching a movie on his laptop could make him a felon?” [...]

By: Shawn

Shawn — Thu, 15 Jun 2006 08:05:01 +0000

You have some good points, but I’m not sure I agree with all of them. The drivers, and DVD issues are no brainers. But the Take a Hint From Apple section got me thinking… Sure, it’d be nice to install an OS and never have to tweak it to work. But that just is not reality for most of the DIY computers - regardless of platform. I have to jump through hoops with Win2K/XP to get my Gigabit NIC working, I have to download comercial drivers for my Nvidia card. I have to update my sound drivers. All this will happen wether I’m running Windows or Linux (I have no experience with Macs, so can’t comment).

The only way around the problem is if the hardware manufacture installs the OS for you - preinstalled operating systems, like you see on store bought laptops and desktops. Or like Apple, who controls both the hardware AND software.

So, as long as you have those who want to do it themselves (the DIY boxes), you will ALWAYS have installation issues. Simply because of the odd hardware combinations, and/or cutting edge hardware where the manufacturer only creates drivers for one version of an OS.

My Thoughts.