Linux *Won't* Fail on the Desktop?

HanzoSan sent in a story claiming that Linux will Succeed on the desktop, and not just the server market where it already has had much success. I think that the latest version of KDE has demonstrated that it can compete, but with the increasing dependance on file formats that have no support on Linux, it's going to be awfully difficult. That said, Linux has been my desktop for many moons, and I don't plan on changing it (Maybe If Apple released TiBook's with 3 mouse buttons I'd at least have an option ;)

Well, what's the DESKTOP killer app?

[mekkab]

Give 'em a reason.
What do people need? Currently, they need compatibility with Microsoft products (and they don't even have that between releases of microsoft products!)

But if they can get all their old data and still keep chugging, that's an incentive.

But other than that, What is being offered? (I mean ASIDE from reliability! Does it come in a cute titanium frame?)

IMHO...

[Drakula]

...one of two things has to happen. The average user must become more computer savvy, including being able to deal with a command line and wanting to understand to some degree what the OS is doing.

The other thing is Linux will have to become more like a the black box that other OSes are. Everything is hidden and little to no knowledge of what is going on is required.

It is unfortunate but if you look at other technologies, similar things have occurred. For example, look at the automobile. The complexity of them has gotten to the point that the average driver has little idea of the inner workings and they don't really want to know anyway. I realize this is a bad analogy but hoepfully it makes some sense.

Pre-emptive anti-flame

[GlobalEcho]

Maybe If Apple released TiBook's with 3 mouse buttons I'd at least have an option

For the Apple enthusiast's in the audience, you do know Taco is just pulling your leg. Right? Right?

Re:Universal File Formats

[stjobe]

Heh, I always told my Windows-using friends to save any documents they send to me in RTF format so I could Read The Fucker :)
(Alternative for the cuss-o-fobe: Read That File)

For convenience

[weird mehgny]

I dunno which of Linux/Windows is better, so I run Cygwin in Win4Lin.

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[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

Re:Well, what's the DESKTOP killer app?

[TheReverand]

I thought everyone knew... The killer app is here [kde.org]!

Re:If TiBooks had 3 mouse buttons?!?!

[negativekarmanow tm]

I've never met a laptop owner who didn't carry a mouse

I'm a laptop owner, and I never carry a mouse. I do, however, have several dead pigeons and a small dog in my bag.

Re:Universal File Formats

[Pauly]

Non lazy IT admin makes a change... now if only another 50 IT admins do this... DOC would be a rarity within months.

Or you could simply take advantage of all those lazy admins and write a simple macro virus that configures Word in this way automatically. Imagine it, millions of Outlook users blithely opening an email with a subject "Improve Your Sex Life!" that actually does what it promises!

Re:Well, what's the DESKTOP killer app?

[frozenray]

Get the various streaming media formats supported on Linux. Get the various video formats supported. Get the various "features" of broken web-browsers supported in Linux browsers. Once all the features of porn sites are easily accessible using Linux, then success will come.

If what you say is true, then these guys [netscape.com] are visionaries.

Quote: "The goal of the Pornzilla project is to make Mozilla into a great porn browser."

Note that the project has "Members" (apparently they're not trying to be funny here) as well as a "throbber" feature (whatever that is, I don't really want to know).

The wonders of Open Source...

Re:Whose desktop are we talking about?

[drsquare]

You're right. Let's compare the methods of installation of programs on Windows and Linux:

Windows:

• Open browser
• Go to google.com
• Search for name of program
• Spend ten minutes navigating some shitty site to find the program you want
• Click on "download"
• Click "save"
• Press "enter"
• Open Explorer
• Navigate to file
• Double click on file
• OK
• Next
• Next
• Next
• Next
• Next
• Accept
• Next
• Finish
• Reboot

Linux:

• Open xterm
• Type 'su'
• Type in root password
• Type 'apt-get install programname'

As you can see, the Windows method is much more user friendly, and takes much less time. Linux will never succeed as long as it is so difficult to install programs.

Go ahead -- mod him down!

[warrior]

He asked for it, right? Don't buy into reverse psychology.

For the love of god

[alernon]

>Maybe If Apple released TiBook's with 3 mouse buttons I'd at least have an option

Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrggggggggggggggggg.

(Beats head repeatedly against desk)

user friendliness war is over

[Alien Being]

Linux won. Windows users are constantly dealing with trojan spyware, viruses, increasing licensing costs, mysterious popup ads in the middle of a racing game, applications that think they own the whole system, etc.

Those are the complaints i'm hearing from friends who are casual home users. It's ironic that their reason for using windows is that it's alleged to be user friendly. I just shrug and think "glad it's not me".

If Linux ever achieves a 25% share of the desktop market, it too will probably be afflicted with some of windows' problems... So forget i said anything... keep using windows and wearing the bullseye on YOUR back.

Re:Mainly Windows users on Slashdot anyway

[Anonymous Coward]

I refuse to answer that question on the grounds that it may incriminate me.

Why Mac Users Prefer One-Button Mice

[6R1MM]

They click the mouse with their index finger; and the next finger over is reserved for when people tell them they should be using Windows.