The Failures Of Desktop Linux

PDAJames writes "Maybe Linux isn't quite ready for the desktop after all. After an earlier, very positive evaluation of SuSE Linux Desktop, ZDNet UK has carried out a more in-depth review, running the system in a production environment for two weeks, and found it wanting. A key problem area was interacting with the corporate Windows network. When will this stuff finally be ironed out?"

Doesn't play well with Windows boxes?

[mu_wtfo]

Well, the obvious solution is to get rid of all the Windows machines on the network. Presto, problem solved!

Slashdot Trilogy

[borgdows]

Episode 1 [slashdot.org] : Microsoft is a failure
Episode 2 : Linux is a failure <-- YOU ARE HERE
Episode 3 : SCO is THE failure (soon on /.)

Re:Doesn't play well with Windows boxes?

[corgicorgi]

Get rid of all the Linux boxes and the Windows machines still won't play well with each other.

Re:Hmmmmmm

[Ruds]

Yes, I can see that meeting now:

CUSTOMER: Well, we're having trouble making our new Linux boxes talk to our large installed base of Windows boxes.

MICROSOFT: You don't say.

C: No, really. We'd really like it if you were to make Windows boxes easier to talk to by publishing your heretofore closed standard.

M: So let me get this straight. You want us to make it easier for our competitors to replace us? If we do this, then our market share goes down because the barrier to switching lowers. But if we don't, you'll keep buying Windows because it's cheaper than doing a complete rollover. Let me consider that.

C: Thanks, we'd really appreciate it!

Matt

Wrong target!

[Montreal Geek]

Regardless of the relative merit of the various OSes from Microsoft, it's about time that reviewers stop equating "ready for desktop use" with "works like Windows".

Just imagine the result if, say, movies were judged on how close they are to the common denominator!

- Well, Gene, Schindler's List was tought provoking and great storytelling. Thumbs down.

- I agree, it's not worth seeing unless they edit it to add at least a gratuitous sex scenes that doesn't advance the plot. A few random car chases wouldn't have hurt either. Two thumbs down.

Feh!

If the only "problems" left with a Linux distribution are that "it doesn't do X like Windows" or "it doesn't interoperate with X of Windows" then it may be time to take a long, hard look at Windows.

-- MG

Windows is NOT ready for the desktop

[Rares Marian]

Doesn't play well with Linux boxes.

Re:Hmmmmmm

[Anonymous Coward]

C: Hi I need to be able to use this product you sold me to be able to connect to our server.

M: Not you again. Look if you pay for a windows license then it will work.

C: Do you want me to read out some of the terms of the US DOJ Antitrust settlement?

M: Go ahead, We'll ignore it like we have been doing. You see our desktop monopoly is the only thing preventing you changing platforms, we will therefore GIVE you a windows server license because your custom is valuable to us.

C: So Microsofts message to customers who want to use competeing products is "FUCK-OFF"?

M: Exactly, feel free to quote us on that.

A.C.

Re:Hmmmmmm

[Branman361]

What happens when the conversation starts out like this? CUSTOMER: "We're having trouble having our brand new Windows box talk to our network of Linux boxes."

Re:Doesn't play well with Windows boxes?

[Milo77]

This may be the dumbest thing I've ever read on Slashdot.
really? haven't been reading long, have you :)

Re:Slashdot Trilogy

[Anonymous Coward]

Episode V:

Darth McBride: "I'm your father Linus"

Re:Doesn't play well with Windows boxes?

[Bush Pig]

In fact, I can remember milk, bread, groceries etc, being delivered by horse and cart when I was a small child in the 1950's in Adelaide. My grandmother used to race out into the street with a shovel to pick up the horseshit for her roses.

Aah ... nostalgia!

The Microsoft Radio.

[twitter]

I forgot to mention that all important part of American atuomotive engineering, the Radio. The Microsoft radio would be another expensive option, available by no cost free US Postal download. The lease holder for this radio would have to once again prove their identity, via M$ PickPocket, sign a 10 page confesion of theivery and promise eternal servitude to Bill Gates. It would come with earphones only and mostly play advertisments, much like ordinary comercial we know, but Microsoft would be able to change the advertisments and other playlists at will. Playing the headphones loud enough to be enjoyed by passing pedestrians or your horses would terminate your license to the radio and the vehicle which would be routed to Redmond for a thourogh examination of the thief. Yes, pedestrians would go faster than the Microsoft vehicle, especially near end of life is reached, but that is not a problem as sidewalks would be outlawed by the DMCA as a circumvention device. Still, runaway Microsoft vehicles would manage to kill many owners and innocent bystanders each year. Terrorists would take advantage of a buffer overflow in the radio's unused horse interface to cause massive property damage and much dung crashing. The same interface will be available year after year despite Microsoft claims that the problem was solved by secure hay and other user anoyances.

Re:Doesn't play well with Windows boxes?

[Anonymous Coward]

Now you don't even have to leave the house. All you have to do is fire up a web browser and find all your horseshit needs in Slashdot comments!

Ah... technology!

Re:Doesn't play well with Windows boxes?

[bigman2003]

Has anyone ever come under scrutiny, been prosecuted, chastised, or even yelled at for violating something that was only present in the EULA?

Have you ever torn off a mattress tag?

Wash a shirt that was 'dry clean only'?

Used your lawnmower without safety goggles?

Re:Doesn't play well with Windows boxes?

[MntlChaos]

Sales team? not look stupid? HUH?

Re:Doesn't play well with Windows boxes?

[Anonymous Coward]

Getting Windows boxes to play with each other is easy.
Setting them up so that they are not played with by all those other "friendly" boxes outside, that's the problem.