Hi
This is probably the wrong forum for my mail. If so, please forgive me.
I write this not becsause I need assistance with any technical issue on my
Linux (currently OpenSuse 10.3. I use it now professionally against my
emplyoers will. Hope they won't read this.) installation.
I write this because I feel a bit confused regarding the evergoing articles
from different reporters asking if, or claiming that "Now is the right time
to dump that other OS for Linux".
I can agree that Linux, in most senses being a completely free OS, is really
a great thing. I've used OpenSuse since 9.3, I've tested and used Fedora
since it was Red Hat 8, I've used Ubuntu since 6.04, and they all amazed me
in many ways. They did things that I thought was not possible with any other
OS than the preinstalled one.
And the fact that I can get this stuff, completely free, it's really great.
Almost unbelievable.
But, yes you know it would be coming, coming back to my confusion, the
usability is not close to what I need and that is the reason I write this.
After all theese articles in magazines and on the web, "is Linux ready to
throw out Windows" - in my world no. And I would like it to be, believe me.
Just one example from this evening. I wanted to synchronise my pulse watch
with the software that I got from the vendor of this watch. I sync via IR.
In Windows it's no problem. In Linux - forget it. I will be able to run my
software via Wine (or the flavours like CrossOver Office) but it won't be
able to see my watch via IR.
Some of the stuff I do with my machines daily is not at all supported in
Linux and it seems no one else (the article-writers and Distro-planners) is
talking about it.
I use notebooks 100%. Many different ones since that is part of my job.
I need to use bluetooth - the built-in bluetooth which is not supported.
I need to use IRDA - the built-in IRDA which is not supported.
I need to use hotkeys - which is only partly supported depending on distro
and version.
I need to use StandBy and Hibernation - which is sometimes supported and if
so, sometimes work but to be honest I always save my files and close my mail
before entering any of those modes. That is not the case with Windows.
I need to use hotplug on my Selectable Bay - which is totally unsupported.
I need to dock / undock my machine from a docking device - which is more or
less totally unrecognised by the system.
And the most confusing issue
I need to hook up to external display devices - external screens, beamers
via VGA, TV sets via composite or SVHS. Not even the most basic setup works
perfect.
Not to mention some more complicated ones.
Sometimes I try to see the sight before me, this Linux developer has
produced some great ideas during his last showering session. Now he wants to
talk about them and show some drafts in a meeting.
He hooks up his machine to the beamer and then....oh sorry, got to boot up
in another OS to switch to "display clone mode".
Again - I am humbled by the work of all people out there. Really! But either
it's me living in my own bubble of hardware connections that no one else
uses, or everyone else knows how to get all theese thing up and running
without any problems.
I mean, of course I can search forums for one or two small things, but the
above feels really like basics of a notebook computer.
I can see a lot of labour is put to get many nice things - like desktop
effect to take one easy-to-take-a-stand-for/against-project.
But what about the basics?
/Tom
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