Why Isn't Linux Catching on?
Let’s get right to it: considering the popularity of open source applications and utilities, why hasn’t the open source flagship - the Linux operating system - caught on with mainstream PC users?
With the various incarnations of Linux available at the click of a button, why do the majority of PC users prefer to drop $200 US on a Windows Vista or Mac OS install disk instead of trying the third, free option?
According to Adrian Kingsley-Hughes at ZDNet, the lack of understanding between the Linux community and the average computer user can be boiled down to five crucial points:
- Login or register to post comments
- Printer-friendly version
- 1361 reads
- PDF version
More in Tux Machines
- Highlights
- Front Page
- Latest Headlines
- Archive
- Recent comments
- All-Time Popular Stories
- Hot Topics
- New Members
digiKam 7.7.0 is releasedAfter three months of active maintenance and another bug triage, the digiKam team is proud to present version 7.7.0 of its open source digital photo manager. See below the list of most important features coming with this release. |
Dilution and Misuse of the "Linux" Brand
|
Samsung, Red Hat to Work on Linux Drivers for Future TechThe metaverse is expected to uproot system design as we know it, and Samsung is one of many hardware vendors re-imagining data center infrastructure in preparation for a parallel 3D world. Samsung is working on new memory technologies that provide faster bandwidth inside hardware for data to travel between CPUs, storage and other computing resources. The company also announced it was partnering with Red Hat to ensure these technologies have Linux compatibility. |
today's howtos
|
Kicking a dead horse (old article)
There were many rebuttals to the cited FUD piece, which also neglects to mention the fact that Linux is a GPL-licensed kernel, not just a desktop O/S.
I think it's getting there though
Too many distro's?
Sun loves Ubuntu and many people (who are interested in Linux) have heard about Ubuntu.
Being honest I have pointed it out to many people as it has a massive forum based support and looks an appealing ditro to those new to Linux. Quite a nice feeling that I can point someone to a distro and say look on the forum's if you have a problem, you can do that on other ditro's am sure, but I have the impression the ubuntu one is the most active. (openSuSE user btw)
People don't buy Vista install disks!
I haven't seen anyone buy one yet. I know people that got Vista preinstalled or thrown in when they built an OEM system, but I haven't seen anybody run out and buy Vista to upgrade their machine.
I know someone who was tempted by DX10 but then UT3 came out and he was distracted by that.
If Linux were preinstalled/preconfigured like Mac/Windows then people would probably be very happy with it.
People are USED to Microsoft.
People can use Microsoft, it's easy to find what you want and people have some limited experience at using it. It's not brilliant, but for turning on and writing an email people can cope with it.
They simply, (in a LOT of cases) haven't heard of Linux, mac maybe and they think it looks nice... (then they see the price tag)
Command line not needed.
I can avoid the command line completely in OpenSuSE if I want and I think that says something for the development that has been put into Linux to date.
Not needed, but I still regularly use it as it's just so powerful.
I know a few Computing Students at University who have installed cygwin on windows simply for this.
I wouldn't call it geeky anymore.
I have left people to use my system and they haven't had to ask me what I have installed to do what on my desktop.
Whereas, if they saw my windows install I am sure that they would be completely lost. My Linux install looks better, is quicker, and has more app's in a lot less space, so for me it's an all round winner