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Thread ID: 83703 2007-10-10 07:23:00 "Linux is not ready for the desktop"!! johnd (85) Press F1
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600124 2007-10-12 01:57:00 Depends on which fanboy you're asking lol. One contingent in this forum will swear by PCLinuxOS, while another will swear by the advantages of Ubuntu. I personally prefer Gentoo, but for the first timer, Mepis is a pretty good starter
It does actually seem as if the forum is surprisingly united when it comes to recommending Linux distro's, PCLinuxOS and Ubuntu both give considerably different end user experiences due to there use of KDE and Gnome respectively. There will always be the KDE vs. Gnome war but atleast on these forums its the two distro's that seem to be consistently recommended.
Pete O'Neil (6584)
600125 2007-10-12 02:38:00 Righto.. i have to tear this apart, or atleast the assumption that those running linux MUST spend more time "managing" thier computers than windows users, or mac users for that matter.


Its not that Linux users "have" to spend more time "managing" Linux compared to Windows or Mac, its more that they can if they want to which is part of the appeal of Linux among the tech minded crowd.

Broadly speaking, Windows users view their PCs as a tool that they use or have to use each day for work and at home for play, games, music, photos etc. Some PC users use a PC because they like to be able to work with the hardware of their choice when building a new machine or update an existing one.

Mac users use Macs because they want to and generally because they don't want to have to do anything to the OS like maintenance or defragging (not required with OS X)
How ever in certain scientific fields, Mac using scientists are able to make use of the Terminal for running some applications and tweaking others.
winmacguy (3367)
600126 2007-10-12 07:08:00 Just curious as to why you think PCLOS is such a pathetic distro.I personally don't like it because the documentation for it is rather scarce. Even the forums have minimal info Myth (110)
600127 2007-10-12 07:10:00 and that my friends is the point! :-)
that is the one factor that stops a good number of users.

until there is less in-fighting of distro's there will be a problem getting good uptake on the desktop.

a new user has no clue as to which distro does what and asking for advise on the average tech forum will leave them even more confused.
Nicely set up. However, I was trying to give an honest non-fanboy opinion
Myth (110)
600128 2007-10-12 07:14:00 OK - I seem to have started a ripe one here (not unexpected I must admit)! After reading all of this I guess some of you will still say "he just doesn't get it" - and no I don't I guess. How can people state categorically that "Linux is NOT ready for the desktop" when it is successfully being used on the desktop by (for example):
1. Myself - OK lets put that to one side since I am a technical person
2. By quite a number of ordinary mostly older people who have systems set up by my friend with next to no return calls.
3. European Governmental use - just as an example "The minister of infrastructure and technological development of Extremadura, the autonomous region of Spain where Mérida is the capital, has invested €300,000 over the past three years to develop Linux and distribute it to the regional government’s PCs" ref. globaltechforum.eiu.com

Anyway - unless something significant is said, I bow out here ...
johnd (85)
600129 2007-10-12 07:36:00 How ever in certain scientific fields, Mac using scientists are able to make use of the Terminal for running some applications and tweaking others.I fire up a terminal almost every time I sit down in front of a mac. Your point? Erayd (23)
600130 2007-10-12 07:36:00 I personally don't like it because the documentation for it is rather scarce. Even the forums have minimal info
I would agree with that. It is probably a lot to do with the live CD bit. It's a pity they don't do an all inclusive DVD
mikebartnz (21)
600131 2007-10-12 07:43:00 I fire up a terminal almost every time I sit down in front of a mac. Your point?

Your not the only person. I wish I was more capable at using Terminal. I guess my point is that it is there if you want it but it is not essential in day to day use of a Mac although if needed it provides a Unix command prompt for many tasks.
winmacguy (3367)
600132 2007-10-12 08:11:00 Your not the only person. I wish I was more capable at using Terminal. I guess my point is that it is there if you want it but it is not essential in day to day use of a Mac although if needed it provides a Unix command prompt for many tasks.

It seems pretty much needed for OS X Server though. You need to edit some config files, use ssh, copy/delete file and folders without the mucking around using the Finder and fix file permissions.
gibler (49)
600133 2007-10-12 08:20:00 It seems pretty much needed for OS X Server though. You need to edit some config files, use ssh, copy/delete file and folders without the mucking around using the Finder and fix file permissions.

Very true although there is a difference between a Mac/Unix admin user requirements and a designer or Mac Op production. The only other person who would need to use the terminal in would be the prepress department. regular users don't need it.
I gather Apple has endeavoured to enable most of the server functions via the GUI rather than the Terminal.

Will be interesting to see what Leopard server is going to be like.
winmacguy (3367)
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