I do not believe that a Linux based desktop is any harder for the average person to use. I have been messing with family and friends for years (my Dad's laptop dual booted and he really had no idea which operating system he was using). I really did mean that desktop Linux for the regular user has been here for 10 years.
The ugly truth is that Linux will likely always be a niche on the desktop workstation. As I see it, going forward iOS and Android (and maybe Windows mobile) will be what most consumers use, while the "power users" will likely still gravitate towards a more traditional OS. I am not sure what you are referring to by the "Whole Linux/FOSS "user_experience"", but it has been true for years that Ubuntu is easier to install than Windows. There was no real differntiator in my mind, both had some sort of button that expands to list your apps, both had file systems that most of their users did not understand. Applications are arguably easier to install (I am in this camp), but most users do not care. We do not have mainstream gaming support, we do not play blu-ray movies. As a result a FLOSS desktop is likely never going to go mainstream, and there is not a lot that I can see that can be done about it. I believe that we should stop worrying about it. There are millions of desktops powered by a FLOSS OS of some sort and our efforts should go in to preserving and improving this. I am troubled by the possibility of locked PCs (like what Apple does and what might be coming for Windows 8) that will prevent us from installing our own OS. As an aside (and obvious flame bait), basing a desktop around BSD is rather silly, unless you enjoy the driver dance that Linux largely left behind in the 90s. On Mon, Dec 5, 2011 at 12:45 AM, Mel Walters <[email protected]> wrote: > On Wed, 2011-11-30 at 17:35 -0700, Gustin Johnson wrote: >> Desktop for Linux has been here for a decade. > > I was not really talking about the Linux desk top as much as the Whole > Linux/FOSS "user_experience" period. > Yes I know we have been using it for about ten years, but we are the > exception not the rule. > We know how to make it happen, and to that extent it is really cool. > It's close but not quite ready for the general user. > The fault is not in the user , but with those who know how to make use > of it with out improvements. We (and I am using the royal we here) do > not want to fix it for the general user. It is not our itch, so who > cares yet? > > Something like PC-BSD (BSD for workstation) claims you can just click on > a file to install. No fancy procedures needed. > Now I have tried a PC-BSD live boot of it but so far did not make it > work. I find some of their concepts intriguing and still want to try it > out. > > Any one else willing to fill in the blanks for me? > If we can not jump out of our paradigm, maybe the next generations will > have to get it done? > > >> It does not count >> because most people are not even aware of an Operating System, much >> less do they care. >> >> I am not sold on the idea that a Linux desktop is any harder than one >> of the others. The people who find it hard are the so called power > > My son is a power user and he finds it all trivial to use. (Windows, > Linux, BSD, gaming machines, virtual machines, solid state drives, HDD > arrays) > >> users. >> >> Anyway, the whole debate is moot as the desktop is dead. I do not >> mean extinct but it is becoming irrelevant from a consumer point of >> view. I suspect the modern desktop is going to live on as a niche >> that is outside the mainstream consciousness. >> >> I found the comment about tech friends kind of funny. How many people >> have tech friends that can actually help them with Macs or Windows? >> >> On Wed, Nov 23, 2011 at 10:41 PM, Mel Walters <[email protected]> wrote: >> > -- Linux and Free & Open Source Software On the Desk top >> > >> > I hear discussions and claims on both sides. >> > 1/ The Desk Top is here for Linux. >> > 2/ No it does not count because it is still too difficult to keep up for >> > the average user. >> > >> > I am of the opinion that it takes time, effort and dedication to >> > succeed. >> > >> > How many are willing to do that? >> > How many have tech friends that can support them? >> > >> > Mel >> > >> > >> > _______________________________________________ >> > clug-talk mailing list >> > [email protected] >> > http://clug.ca/mailman/listinfo/clug-talk_clug.ca >> > Mailing List Guidelines (http://clug.ca/ml_guidelines.php) >> > **Please remove these lines when replying >> >> _______________________________________________ >> clug-talk mailing list >> [email protected] >> http://clug.ca/mailman/listinfo/clug-talk_clug.ca >> Mailing List Guidelines (http://clug.ca/ml_guidelines.php) >> **Please remove these lines when replying > > > > _______________________________________________ > clug-talk mailing list > [email protected] > http://clug.ca/mailman/listinfo/clug-talk_clug.ca > Mailing List Guidelines (http://clug.ca/ml_guidelines.php) > **Please remove these lines when replying _______________________________________________ clug-talk mailing list [email protected] http://clug.ca/mailman/listinfo/clug-talk_clug.ca Mailing List Guidelines (http://clug.ca/ml_guidelines.php) **Please remove these lines when replying
