Barney T. Administrators Posted March 15, 2008 Administrators Share Posted March 15, 2008 Found this interesting.... I'm posting it as one person's thoughts (an opinion piece), not as an OS bashing article. The prevailing wisdom about Linux on the desktop runs something like this: "I'll believe Linux is ready for the desktop as soon as you can give me a Linux distribution that even my grandmother can run."For some time, the folks at Ubuntu have been trying their best to make Granny -- and most everyone else -- happy. They've attempted to build a Linux distribution that's easy to install, use, configure, and maintain -- one that's at least as easy as Windows, and whenever possible, even easier. As a result, Ubuntu is one of the Linux distributions that has been most directly touted as an alternative to Windows. In this feature, I'm going to compare the newly-released Ubuntu 7.04 (codenamed "Feisty Fawn") with Microsoft Windows Vista in a number of categories. To keep the playing field as level as possible, I'm looking wherever I can at applications -- not just in the sense of "programs," but in the sense of what the average user is going to do with the OS in a workday. Sometimes the differences between the two OSes are profound, but sometimes the playing field levels itself -- OpenOffice.org, for instance, is installed by default in Ubuntu, but adding it to Vista isn't terribly difficult. I tried to stick whenever possible with preinstalled software, although this rule sometimes had to be bent a little -- for instance, to see what backup solutions were available for Ubuntu through its own software catalog. Also, while I was tempted to compare Vista's Aero interface to the Beryl window manager (which has a similar palette of visual effects), I decided that pretty graphics, while nice, had more to do with personal preference than efficiency. In addition, Beryl isn't installed by default in Ubuntu, and Aero isn't available on all PCs. In each case, I've tried to look at practical benefits rather than theoretical ones -- what works, what doesn't, and what you have to do to get certain things done. I should also note that, despite being a big fan of Vista, I've tried to keep my enthusiasm for it from overriding my judgment. Everyone needs something different, and not everyone needs (or wants) Vista -- or Ubuntu -- so I've done my best to keep my mind, and my eyes, wide open. Source: Informationweek Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vincent Posted March 15, 2008 Share Posted March 15, 2008 (edited) On my Laptop for instance, Ubuntu automatically installs all the drivers for every single piece of hardware, i dont have to install, sounds, video, hell even wifi drivers, But windows, all these have to be installed. So when he states that Windows wins in this category, i don't think he's done his research. edit Image editing:For picture editing, Ubuntu comes with GIMP 2.2, a very powerful Photoshop-like application that unfortunately suffers from a very unfriendly user interface -- although a third-party add-on, GimpShop, fixes that issues fairly well. Uhm wtf is this guy smoking o_0. i walked quite a few people who've been used to photoshop, through gimp and they've adapted quite easily, ?they found the UI very friendly and easy. Edited March 15, 2008 by ripgut Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
panicswitched Posted March 15, 2008 Share Posted March 15, 2008 not really a fan of vista as i have to install my wifi drivers, though i have to do the same with ubuntu :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pc_Madness Posted March 15, 2008 Share Posted March 15, 2008 April 27, 2007 12:00 AM Shouldn't we wait another.. month? and then compare to it 8.04? :p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ichi Posted March 15, 2008 Share Posted March 15, 2008 the newly-released Ubuntu 7.04 :huh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WastedJoker Posted March 15, 2008 Share Posted March 15, 2008 Why do Linux feel they have to compare themselves to Windows? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unksi Posted March 15, 2008 Share Posted March 15, 2008 Why do Linux feel they have to compare themselves to Windows? They don't. Its usually the Windows people doing that. They are the only ones that have to; Linux people already know how great it is ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markwolfe Veteran Posted March 15, 2008 Veteran Share Posted March 15, 2008 Uhm wtf is this guy smoking o_0. i walked quite a few people who've been used to photoshop, through gimp and they've adapted quite easily, they found the UI very friendly and easy.GIMP is a complex app (just like Photoshop is complex). Both are more difficult than I would give to someone wanting to crop, resize and correct exposure/contrast on family photos to send to relatives. I'm going to compare the newly-released Ubuntu 7.04:huh: Yeah, that's what I was thinking, too! The article is about a year old,and could use a refresh of specific points, though the general tone is valid - Linux is ready for many (not all) desktops.Why do Linux feel they have to compare themselves to Windows?Ummm... because isn't that what the world compares it to when they try it or use it? :unsure: :p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prince Charming Posted March 15, 2008 Share Posted March 15, 2008 It's quite odd. It might just be how I read it, but the article came across to me as though the conclusion had been written first, then the rest of the article filled in to suit the conclusion. I would also disagree with a couple of points (Mainly Media - I would rate Vista quite a bit ahead of Ubuntu), but otherwise its a relatively fair and free from bias assessment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4CxbqFxVnstmA Veteran Posted March 15, 2008 Veteran Share Posted March 15, 2008 Why do Linux feel they have to compare themselves to Windows? I think it's the only way to let many people out there know that they do have a choice. I was reading the following on SlashDot and thought it was spot on-- My experience is the average computer user believes MS products are the only ones available. This is too sadly true... anyone who has worked in tech support or repair in a consumer based, Windows based environment can attest to that. The number of times an average Windows user has told me "I clicked on the Internet and..." (umm, IE is NOT the Internet) "I need to buy a new Windows for my ______" (umm, do you mean a computer with Windows on it?) "So that MAC is Windows?" (no, hardware is not an OS...) "My Windows isn't turning on - it keeps telling me 'Drive Failure'" (no, your hardware/mobo/BIOS is telling you that - your computer hasnt even started loading Windows) "So, OpenOffice is Word?" (Ugh... no - but it is compatible for what you would need it for - and FREE.) - customer proceeds to buy a copy of Office because "that can't be true... it's not (Microsoft/Office/etc)" "Well, someone installed Firefox for me, but I needed to get on the Internet, so I clicked the Internet button (IE again)." (IE is NOT the Internet) Heck, many users even seem to think that Office is part of Windows (and thus many would wonder why that part of Windows stopped working in 60 days - when the trial expired - we actually had customers come into CompUSA who threatened to sue us and HP/Compaq/etc because that "part of" Windows broke, and we wouldn't fix it and told them they had to pay to get it "fixed" - no matter how many times we explained it to them or showed them the "60 Day Trial" icon). Heck, the number of people who think you cannot create a Word (compatible) document - much less any document - without Office - is astounding. MS has been very good at equating function=some MS product - and too many users aren't tech saavy enough to understand that is not the case. Frankly, though, I think hardcore advertising and preinstallations are the main ways that Linux can wake a large audience up to its benefits. The preinstalls are coming along well, and things like the Asus EEE laptops are quite cool and cheap and so easy to use. I think it's things like that that will get Linux the recognition it deserves. Of course I also believe in word-of-mouth and in projects like Shift. These also get others interested. I just think that a tipping point for Linux will mostly come about by preinstallations. But whenever and however the tipping point is reached, there will already be available every sort of help online for just about every type of Linux and program that runs on Linux. :yes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foub Posted March 15, 2008 Share Posted March 15, 2008 (edited) Why do Linux feel they have to compare themselves to Windows? Because Ubuntu is better and free. :) Edited March 15, 2008 by Foub Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foub Posted March 15, 2008 Share Posted March 15, 2008 I think it's the only way to let many people out there know that they do have a choice.I was reading the following on SlashDot and thought it was spot on-- This is too sadly true... anyone who has worked in tech support or repair in a consumer based, Windows based environment can attest to that. The number of times an average Windows user has told me "I clicked on the Internet and..." (umm, IE is NOT the Internet) "I need to buy a new Windows for my ______" (umm, do you mean a computer with Windows on it?) "So that MAC is Windows?" (no, hardware is not an OS...) "My Windows isn't turning on - it keeps telling me 'Drive Failure'" (no, your hardware/mobo/BIOS is telling you that - your computer hasnt even started loading Windows) "So, OpenOffice is Word?" (Ugh... no - but it is compatible for what you would need it for - and FREE.) - customer proceeds to buy a copy of Office because "that can't be true... it's not (Microsoft/Office/etc)" "Well, someone installed Firefox for me, but I needed to get on the Internet, so I clicked the Internet button (IE again)." (IE is NOT the Internet) Heck, many users even seem to think that Office is part of Windows (and thus many would wonder why that part of Windows stopped working in 60 days - when the trial expired - we actually had customers come into CompUSA who threatened to sue us and HP/Compaq/etc because that "part of" Windows broke, and we wouldn't fix it and told them they had to pay to get it "fixed" - no matter how many times we explained it to them or showed them the "60 Day Trial" icon). Heck, the number of people who think you cannot create a Word (compatible) document - much less any document - without Office - is astounding. MS has been very good at equating function=some MS product - and too many users aren't tech saavy enough to understand that is not the case. Frankly, though, I think hardcore advertising and preinstallations are the main ways that Linux can wake a large audience up to its benefits. The preinstalls are coming along well, and things like the Asus EEE laptops are quite cool and cheap and so easy to use. I think it's things like that that will get Linux the recognition it deserves. Of course I also believe in word-of-mouth and in projects like Shift. These also get others interested. I just think that a tipping point for Linux will mostly come about by preinstallations. But whenever and however the tipping point is reached, there will already be available every sort of help online for just about every type of Linux and program that runs on Linux. :yes: I had heard of one guy who wanted the tech to repair his Windows 99. He thought that it was like a car with a different model number for each year of computers and not for each version of Windows. For an example of just how clueless most are when it comes to computers; http://www.rinkworks.com/stupid/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spaceelf Posted March 15, 2008 Share Posted March 15, 2008 Although I wouldn't say Ubuntu is bad for any reason, I think it's a waste of time for most people. I really don't care if its easy enough for my grandma to use, since she's dead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WastedJoker Posted March 15, 2008 Share Posted March 15, 2008 I'm at my most productive with Windows nad have never felt I'm lacking because I use Windows. However, I do dual-boot with Vista and Ubuntu because Ubuntu looked like it'd be handy to get familiar with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoDEAN Posted March 15, 2008 Share Posted March 15, 2008 Does Ubuntu do games? No. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rpgfan Posted March 15, 2008 Share Posted March 15, 2008 I love those crazy stories at RinkWorks. :p As much as I've had poor luck with Ubuntu, I've had more trouble with Vista, so I'm thinking Ubuntu is a step in the right direction. It is just easy to use, if you can use it. :p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jock Horror Posted March 15, 2008 Share Posted March 15, 2008 Does Ubuntu do games? No. I was forced to post the screenshot... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melfster Posted March 15, 2008 Share Posted March 15, 2008 I think the author meant the latest and greatest games like Crysis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tews Posted March 15, 2008 Share Posted March 15, 2008 For all the kiddies out there that think the measure of a computer is whether it plays "games"... get a life ... get a console .... get a job! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foub Posted March 15, 2008 Share Posted March 15, 2008 Does Ubuntu do games? No. Wrong, it does games, even many Windows games using WINE. Plus some are even porting over Windows games to Linux as well. Here's a sample.... http://gaming.gwos.org/doku.php Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foub Posted March 15, 2008 Share Posted March 15, 2008 I think the author meant the latest and greatest games like Crysis. Some of them as well....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azmodan Posted March 15, 2008 Share Posted March 15, 2008 I walked quite a few people who've been used to photoshop, through gimp and they've adapted quite easily, they found the UI very friendly and easy. Maybe he hasn't smoked this. Because Ubuntu is better and free. :) Sadly, people compare value with price. Does Ubuntu do games? No. Same reason why some websites remain fully compatible with Internet Explorer. Computer game companies target their products to the largest market. I know some good companies decide to port their software to Linux, but there's this key element that is Windows only: Mr Direct X. Some popular games like World of Warcraft do work on Wine, but it isn't the same as having the native OS. This is my PC at work. I run Samba and other services with a couple of vbs scripts on each PC to make gradual backups. The only use I've got for Windows Vista (ultimate) is Fireworks and Dreamweaver, because Wine couldn't emulate them. I wish Virtualbox could support the host's graphic cards and hardware acceleration, I would ditch away my Windows back at home and virtualize it inside Ubuntu. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
08993 Posted March 15, 2008 Share Posted March 15, 2008 Gaming always drives me back to Windows, right now for example I'm on Gutsy but will be re-installing Vista tonight as a MMO beta I've been invited to participate in doesn't want to play with Wine. Damn Direct X - If OpenGL would have prevailed things could be very different. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glowstick Posted March 15, 2008 Share Posted March 15, 2008 (edited) Although I wouldn't say Ubuntu is bad for any reason, I think it's a waste of time for most people. Most people just browse the web, do emails, instant messaging and write some simple documents. None of these tasks is harder in Ubuntu than in Windows. It's ironic that it's less of a pain in the ass to connect to wireless networks in Ubuntu (or even Solaris) than it is in Windows. The thing that comes after those quoted above. --edit: Wrong words slippin' from mah fingahs! Edited March 15, 2008 by Tom Servo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spaceelf Posted March 15, 2008 Share Posted March 15, 2008 In my case it wouldn't connect to a wireless network until after I figured out that it had termed my drivers 'restricted' and enabled that, which was really retarded. True that those simple tasks aren't very complicated in Linux, however, there are things that are more complicated. For example, finding applications you're FAMILIAR with (not just saying replacements here.) A lot of people don't want to relearn another environment when they're already working five days a week and have no drive to go learn something for a month when they have social lives and other expectations. Being sure those applications actually work (for example Opera and the latest Flash don't yet work together in Linux unless you're using the 9.5 betas.) I have nothing against Ubuntu, I think it's a great start, but you'd have a hard time convincing most people that they should switch because it doesn't do what Windows does, and yes, gaming is part of that. There's not too much thats complicated, but there is definately relearning involved. Also tech support, you're that much less likely to find help with a Linux client than you are with Windows or even Mac, if something goes wrong. Or support within your company if you need to connect to their VPN or whatever. Sure, linux is a good option for power users who can figure out what they're doing, assuming they feel like spending the time to administrate more than one environment properly and feel like they're gaining something, but for a lot of people there's just nothing compelling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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