Time to Try a Linux Desktop?

bigbadwlf writes "EWeek has an opinion column, posted yesterday titled, Isn't Now the Time to Try a Linux Desktop? Quote: 'The crackers currently have the whip hand over Windows, and Microsoft's assertion that Internet Explorer is now part of the operating system shows its flawed reasoning. Worried sick about the latest rash of Internet Explorer security problems? I have the perfect solution for you, one that's even better than switching to Mozilla, Firefox or Opera. Switch operating systems: Go to Linux.'"

Linux?

[kennycoder]

What's that? ;)

Finally

[dj_cel]

Some one is getting the picture, remove the software of shame, attach the software of triumph!

Fuck

[yootje]

I never heard someone saying that I should switch to Linux. Wat an original idea!

Year 2004 is the year of Linux desktop!

[wheany]

Just like the year before.

Feh

[foidulus]

If you are really hardcore I suggest trying tron [wikipedia.org] on the desktop. Now that would be something to write about!

Re:Finally

[DarthWiggle]

Because Luddites read EWeek?

Ok Grandma and Gramps ....

[jrl87]

First, this button turns on the computer.

Second, you use this board with letters, numbers and symbols on it to input, "type", information into the computer ... we call it a key board.

Third, you move this kinf of round object here to select stuff on the screen, "moniter", which we call a mouse.

Ok, you got all of that. Good. Here's a cd with linux on it. You have to install it to use the computer. I have to go.

All kidding aside, you know that's going to happen, most of my family is that way with the ironic exception of my grandma. I think she has worked on computers since they came out. She has a box with XP on it that she rarely uses and another on that is of the pre-pentium era that she uses frequently. In her case, I think she would do better with linux than windows, but I don't think she is savvy enough to install it herself. If this is going to work, computers are going to have to be shipped with linux pre-installed and be readilly availabe.

Re:Hmm...

[Demanche]

Win4Lin = SCO Affilaited software.... Id rather take my chances with windows then sco ;)

What if I run FireFox and OpenOffice?

[khasim]

Will those run on Linux?

Re:The problem...

[EEBaum]

Mom used to equate "Netscape" with the internet. I'd say "check this out online" and get the reply, "OK, so I dial up my Netscape?"

Re:What if I run FireFox and OpenOffice?

[Anonymous Coward]

There's no law against idiots accessing and posting on slashdot... unfortunately.

Re:Ask yourself

[Anonymous Coward]

It seems to me that if you're intelligent enough to use Linux every day, you're probably intelligent enough to keep your Windows machine sort of secure.

With patches that don't exist? Yeah, I'll just whip out the old binary editor and patch it myself. Then it might be "sort of" secure. "Sort of" is good enough for me!

I know i've never had a security problem on any of my Windows computers..

"I'm smug enough to think that it will never happen to me!"

Going to Windows Update and clicking 'install updates' once every other month..

Every other month?!?! Christ man, are you insane? Two months without a critical patch means instant rooting for you boy! You should have Windows Update set to download patches automatically and inform you. Every other month is akin to bending over and grabing your ankles.