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hOMi wrote:
>Penguins throw down your arms. The Linux battle for the desktop is a
>fruitless waste of time.
>Linux stands a chance to become a major force in modern computing. But
>it won't be on the desktop, where consumers have already made their
>choice.
I kind of agree with the article, but the reasons are different. Its not a
matter of choice, its more of a matter of simplicity and security.
SIMPLICITY:
The problem is simple. Linux=POWER, which requires expertise. When we talk
about the desktop, we are talking about people who have no idea of computer
technology - people who are so ignorant, that they usually don't have any
damn idea about their computer; they might not even know the configuration!
We are looking at people who don't really want to know what happens in the
background; the computer is just a tool to get their job done, and they
have every right to think so!
They don't really care about email clients and ftp and stuff - the browser
is their only interface to the net. The apps normally used Word, Excel to
put together some crude documents, some graphics app to create pictures
and, in a new breed, some html editor to create home-pages. Remember the
Frontpage line: "Professional web pages without programming."
Windows is the kind of system that covers up all details and brings forth a
mighty simple interface for super-fast use. You don't need to worry about
ppp connections, partition mounts, file permissions and all. You just start
the computer and do whatever you want to do.
But Linux doesn't work this way. It puts the power in your hands, and with
that comes a responsibility -- to understand the power and wield it
effectively. We are the kind of people who don't mind sleepless nights just
to get a job done "just so". When we connect to the net we don't just dial
into an ISP and browse around a little. We appreciate the power of the
shell which is alien to most normal users. We want to customise every part
of the system, without putting anything to default.
Imagine a CAD specialist who is very good at his job. Why should he worry
about networking, security and stuff? The computer is just a means of
creating great designs for him - he isn't interested in how elegant the
system is and how great it is to script out some great config jobs. These
are the kind of people we must think about when we say "desktop" and
immediately we see that Linux fails to cater to them.
SECURITY:
All these thoughts about lay users brings us to the second point. If people
did adopt Linux for use on the desktop, that could spell serious trouble.
Out of the box installations can never be secure - and the users are going
to be very sloppy about it. I won't be surprised if all these systems had a
single user - "root". Imagine such systems connected to the net by high
bandwidth lines. They will prove a wonderful haven for all the anti-social
elements that prowl the net. The power that Linux provides will slip into
the wrong hands! DoS attacks and indirect intrusions will be very easy and
so will be the spread of trojans and nasty programs!
The whole point is that if Linux aims at the desktop, a massive paradigm
shift - not on the part of the user, but on the part of the developers.
Linux will have to be scaled down to very simple levels. Powerful network
services will have to be turned into simple utilities like "my connection"
just to prevent their misuse but intruders. After all, all the windows
cracking and password stealing takes place through server like trojans
running on the target. The file system security will have to be retained,
but we cannot expect the user to be very good at maintaining his system.
In short, Linux will have to go the Windows way, embracing simplicity, but
retaining its core security features!
Whew! That was long!!
Sameer.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
But I say, why do we need the desktop? Linux should stay the way it is -
For the geeks, by the geeks!
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