Why Linux Has Failed on the Desktop

SlinkySausage writes "Linux is burdened with 'enterprise crap' that makes it run poorly on desktop PCs, says kernel developer Con Kolivas. Kolivas recently walked away from years of work on the kernel in despair. APCmag.com has a lengthy interview with Kolivas, who explains what he sees is wrong with Linux from a performance perspective and how Microsoft has succeeded in crushing innovation in personal computers."

Re:Too much choice and yet none at all

[gardyloo]

I've run Linux for years and I still can't name all the available distros. I doubt ANYONE can.


      I can't name them, either. But I also can't name all the available versions of Windows. So what?

What's really needed

[Anonymous Coward]

What's fucking really needed:
- Linux fucking Desktop Edition
- Linux fucking Server Edition

With ONE fucking desktop/GUI, ONE fucking package installer and ONE fucking set of standard applications. People don't fucking want choices they just want their fucking computer to fucking work.

The above post was brought to you by Gordon fucking Ramsay.

Linux is not only failing on the desktop..

[delire]

.. but failing on the desktop very unsuccessfully. More and more people are using it and now even major hardware vendors are reporting great sales results of Linux on laptops. Some even say it's the least slowest-growing desktop operating system today. Linux is so crap it can't even fail properly!

My advice? Install it now and help it be even worse at failing.

Re:Linux on the Desktop?

[TobyWong]

Let me take a wild guess and say you didn't RTFA and neither did the people who modded you up.

Re:Don't think so

[Kadin2048]

In the 80's I would have told you that the ultimate desktop OS would be System 6 with Unix underneath.

Funny, that's exactly the same answer I'd give in 2007.

(The eye candy -- make it stop!)

Re:It hasn't

[zettabyte]

Even my girlfriend uses it as a desktop now, and had only 1 day to "convert" to the usage, and she's not that computer savvy.

That has to be the most brilliant use of vender lock in to date!

I'm going to go start a migration plan for my girlfriend to switch to Linux. Then when she gets tired of my geeky arse she'll have to think twice about dumping me!

:-D

Re:Applications

[Anonymous Coward]

For example, what do I replace After Effects with?


Vim.

Re:Correction: Why Linux has failed on YOUR deskto

[ahaning]

Ever since I finished installing Yggdrasil from the 5.25" floppies I borrowed from my friend...

Which reminds me, I really ought to return them.

Re:Don't think so

[saltydogdesign]

No way can you consider 100 million of anything a failure.

How about: 100 million dead?

Re:Don't think so

[Climate Shill]

You say toe-may-toe, I say toe-mah-toe....

I say Solanum lycopersicum. Which fully demonstrates my superiority, I think.

Re:Linux Hasn't Failed on My Desktop

[Anonymous Coward]

Rubbish.

My Grandma installed a stage 1 Gentoo by herself, but only after she constructed her own motherboard. She was walking uphill, in 6 feet of snow at the time. And apparently the Soviet army was hunting her during the process.

In Soviet Russia Ricer Grandma bootstraps Gentoo uphill in the snow, without Natalie Portman or any hot grits.

Re:Exchange, bitches!

[Anonymous Coward]

The Creationist Museum called. They want to hire you to set up a David vs. Goliath kiosk. The kiosk will be a Flash game of David fighting Goliath. You can't lose, so it should be easy to code up.

Re:Don't think so

[the1rob]

Yeeessss...superiority. That's exactly what I was thinking.

Now hand over the lunch money.

Re:Solution

[bladesjester]

I didn't miss the point. You did.

We're talking about linux on the DESKTOP. Your average home user does NOT have an admin that works on their desktop.

Re:Why this solution won't work:

[jafac]

Damn, are YOU sheltered.

The AVERAGE computer user is thinking "What's a Directory?".

Re:Solution

[T-Bone-T]

I'm not afraid of my computer. In fact, I like to mess around with it. That's why I am studying Computer Science. Do I want to go around messing with priorities all the time? NO! I don't want to deal with that shit. I like going to the Control Panel to mess wth stuff, not doing all that other complicated stuff that Linux users always suggest. When the answer is "That's simple, just bs -? 459 f/f' .,fp[[po it", the answer is not simple. Most users want simple answers.

The crux of the problem . . .

[Nearspace]

From the Interview
Are developer egos a problem in the open source development model in general?

Con Kolivas: Just trawl the normal support forums. I'd love to tell them all to suddenly flood lkml with their reports of failed boots with various kernels, hardware disappearing, stopping working suddenly, memory disappearing, trying to use software suspend and having your balls blown off by your laptop, and so on.

That might have persuasive value.