Joe Hylkema said:
I'm living proof that it's more than ready for the desktop. I was running Linux as the sole OS on my sole desktop box before I became a computer science student here at WSU. Even now, I've had but one CS class (Introduction to C programming) and I'm running Linux just fine, thank you. I INSTALLED it and am running it beautifully even though I am myself only a notch above a desktop user.
For the SuSE CEO to say this is most disheartening. :(
People here on this list are, generally, clueful about Linux and are not who people are talking about when speaking of "desktop users". I've worked in tech- and customer-support, I know what they're like, and it isn't pretty. More to the point, I don't think Linux will cut it with them until it's pre-installed, there is a pervasive support structure (and I mean to the point that BIOSs are written for Linux, peripherals have linux drivers included on the CD in the box, etc.), and support in general is as common as for Windows. People running Linux today will learn things like modules.conf, xf86config, and fsck (to name just a few things that intimidate and befuddle new users), possibly enjoy themselves in the process, and perhaps even get upset if you take such things away - especially if it dumbs-down the system. Desktop users generally don't want to, they certainly won't enjoy it, and they're happy to do without, even if it means they're not getting the most out of their system or makes it less flexible. Desktop users include people who say, "beige" when asked what kind of computer they have, flip the power switch when they're done with the computer, and see nothing wrong with using root as their main account. Linux needs to consider these types of people in any attempt to move onto the desktop. Which is not to say that none of these things are being addressed. Linux can, with a certain amount of effort and skill, be used as a desktop system now. With 2.4 Linux will be in an even better position to push (further) onto the desktop. And of course that's hardly the end of Linux's evolution.
For the SuSE CEO to say this is most disheartening. :(
As for preaching Money$uck's FUD, I don't think that will be an issue much longer. The government has already said "we're not talking splash screens or contractural revisions."
As far as Dyroff's comments go, don't take the article at face value. Not knowing what /else/ he said to CNN, and since CNN got to pick the quotes, that could be more CNNs slant than anything else. I've gotten so that I assume anything CNN, ABC, NBC, and the rest say is biased toward their advertisers and owners, shoddily researched, contextually disconnected, overhyped, and/or simply wrong. [Other than that, they're ok. ;) ] If you ignore the CNN text, Dyroff basically said: - Linux doesn't have apps. - Linux needs apps, - businesses will lead the first large-scale adoption of Linux on the desktop, - hardware support is improving, - Linux users are more computer literate than the average desktop user, - people who aren't familiar with unix have the most problems with Linux, - 6.4 will be out next month, - Red Hat sells more boxes in the U.S. than SuSE, - SuSE is expanding its international markets. I could balk at the first comment, but my (linux newbie) brother is constantly coming up with apps that don't have a Linux counterpart, or if they do, they don't interoperate with their Windows counterpart, so the perception is definitely there. Last week it was netmeeting, for example. (If anyone can help with this question btw I'll be happy to pass any suggestions along.) On the rest, I could quibble, but I really don't have a problem with any of them. I don't mind the lack of hype either. I'd rather have people _undersell_ it than to hype it like M$-ware and leave the users with a bad first impression. (JMHO) -John ps.. BTW, did anyone else look at the poll: "Do you have Linux running on your desktop?" Yes 72% No 28% Not that I believe on-line polls either, but it was amusingly at odds with the headline, "Linux still not ready for desktop...". :) pps.. please direct any flames to jmgrant@primenet.com and not the list. -- To unsubscribe send e-mail to suse-linux-e-unsubscribe@suse.com For additional commands send e-mail to suse-linux-e-help@suse.com Also check the FAQ at http://www.suse.com/Support/Doku/FAQ/