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When someone criticizes our favorite operating system on the Linux blogs, they typically get called Windows fanbois and are sent packing. But when someone from the right side of fence takes the trouble to put together a video and accompanying slide show explaining *why* they think Linux sucks -- and, moreover, what they think needs to be done to fix it -- it's hard not to pay attention. Sure enough, that's just what came up on the Linux blogs last week thanks to the efforts of Bryan Lunduke, cohost of Jupiter Broadcasting's Linux Action Show.
For some reason simply trying to lay out obvious issues that don't even get to the level of the OS nuts and bolts in actual use and are more of a marketing dynamic brings down a rain of napalm on your head.
Something like "most consumers who want the OS to work like an appliance, will take a look at the CLI and walk away. You can talk about how the CLI isn't needed, but most users will do a Google search to find a solution because that's what Windows users do. And they will see thousands of hits with CLI instructions. I can't tell you how often a Linux noob has showed me a pooched install they screwed up from busted dependencies and were totally unaware of repositories, the GUI front end for APT or Synaptics, and typed in some old CLI terminal commands or .deb or .rpm package."
I've had people ask me how much Micro$oft was paying me and worse from a comment like that. Or God help you if you point out OSX tripled their marketshare with a GUI front end on a BSD bedrock and a couple of grand cost of entry during the Vista disaster, while Linux barely moved the needle.
The sad part is being 50+ with 30 years of IT as the way I've payed my bills and a solid background in 'nixes, mostly doing training and instruction, and getting blasted by a kid who just installed Ubuntu and has a bad case of Microsoft derangement syndrome.
You only get the mindless blasting in the consumer desktop discussions. Server or embedded threads have a tiny amount of this.
Something like "most consumers who want the OS to work like an appliance, will take a look at the CLI and walk away. You can talk about how the CLI isn't needed, but most users will do a Google search to find a solution because that's what Windows users do. And they will see thousands of hits with CLI instructions. I can't tell you how often a Linux noob has showed me a pooched install they screwed up from busted dependencies and were totally unaware of repositories, the GUI front end for APT or Synaptics, and typed in some old CLI terminal commands or .deb or .rpm package."
I've had people ask me how much Micro$oft was paying me and worse from a comment like that. Or God help you if you point out OSX tripled their marketshare with a GUI front end on a BSD bedrock and a couple of grand cost of entry during the Vista disaster, while Linux barely moved the needle.
The sad part is being 50+ with 30 years of IT as the way I've payed my bills and a solid background in 'nixes, mostly doing training and instruction, and getting blasted by a kid who just installed Ubuntu and has a bad case of Microsoft derangement syndrome.
You only get the mindless blasting in the consumer desktop discussions. Server or embedded threads have a tiny amount of this.
GNU/Linux moved the needle in a big way
Posted by: pogson 2009-05-12 04:54:46 In reply to: aquaadverse
"while Linux barely moved the needle."
Not at all the case.
In April, 2009, NetApplications showed GNU/Linux at 1.02%
In April, 2006, they showed 0.38%. In that period PCs increased in number from about 1000 million to 1300 million, a 30% increase. GNU/Linux showed a 268% increase in share and about 350% increase in numbers. By any measure, GNU/Linux is soaring.
If 1% were true, would M$ be making layoffs? Nope. The number is closer to 10% in the real world, not NetApplications' world.
The reasons for GNU/Linux success are obvious:
- no one in their right mind will upgrade a 5 year old PC with XP to Vista but they will go to GNU/Linux and see a good improvement.
- the old PCs make decent thin clients with GNU/Linux, too
- GNU/Linux has a good chunk of netbooks
- Vista sucks on lots of PCs especially the first batch when it was released
- 7 is Vista II. Few want it.
- even a 10 year old PC that shows 1024x768 is still useful with GNU/Linux. Guess what? Folks are tired of chucking 3-4 year old PCs just because that other OS does not work on them.
Not at all the case.
In April, 2009, NetApplications showed GNU/Linux at 1.02%
In April, 2006, they showed 0.38%. In that period PCs increased in number from about 1000 million to 1300 million, a 30% increase. GNU/Linux showed a 268% increase in share and about 350% increase in numbers. By any measure, GNU/Linux is soaring.
If 1% were true, would M$ be making layoffs? Nope. The number is closer to 10% in the real world, not NetApplications' world.
The reasons for GNU/Linux success are obvious:
- no one in their right mind will upgrade a 5 year old PC with XP to Vista but they will go to GNU/Linux and see a good improvement.
- the old PCs make decent thin clients with GNU/Linux, too
- GNU/Linux has a good chunk of netbooks
- Vista sucks on lots of PCs especially the first batch when it was released
- 7 is Vista II. Few want it.
- even a 10 year old PC that shows 1024x768 is still useful with GNU/Linux. Guess what? Folks are tired of chucking 3-4 year old PCs just because that other OS does not work on them.
