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Microsoft's Linux Kernel

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Re: Microsoft's Linux Kernel

#361
post #265

This is really Microsoft catching up to the Mac in terms of integration with the open-source ecosystem which importantly drives the web. In the mid 2000's the Mac really took off due to being a good-enough Linux replacement on the command line, while taking care of all the hardware integration and providing a sleek desktop experience. This really helped the Mac take off among hackers. This system wasn't as open-sourc…

>In the mid 2000's the Mac really took off due to being a good-enough Linux replacement on the command line, while taking care of all the hardware integration and providing a sleek desktop experience. This really helped the Mac take off among hackers. This system wasn't as open-source as Linux, but it was good enough: Most of us don't want to mess about with the desktop stack.

Who are you to claim this?

The closed off nature of Apple is very dangerous to trust, and I don't know any 'hackers' who are willing to risk unchecked/vulnerable OSes.

I have no idea if Apple has a backdoor to the FBI. We do know on Linux there is no hidden backdoor.

Re: Microsoft's Linux Kernel

#362
As a dev and Linux/OSX user I'm still struggling to see who exactly this is for. All of the tools I want to use are very well supported on OSX and I don't have much use for Microsoft software like Office these days with Google Sheets et cetera. Is this being geared more towards corporate customers who have chosen to standardise all of their IT on Microsoft products, but who need easier access to dev tools/environments?

Re: Microsoft's Linux Kernel

#363
post #351

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I guess we do, as I've said elsewhere, it has literally been years since I've encountered anything I couldn't do on Linux just the same as on Windows. I firmly believe the reason more organisations haven't changed is inertia. To paraphrase a cliché, no one was ever fired for choosing Microsoft.

I don't see how inertia would be the reason if you also believe that it has been good enough for 15 years. I would say desktop Linux simply doesn't offer enough unique value for the effort involved in large scale deployments, unless you are someone like Google. Most things that have improved for users in recent years, like web application, actually favours Windows. Because the primary use case for desktop operating s…

I said I've used it for 15 years not that it would've necessarily been a good choice for a non-technical user that long ago. On the other hand, non-technical users usually require significant IT support on Windows as well. That's where inertia comes in. Linux may not offer a significant value proposition over Windows, so Windows stays. That doesn't necessarily mean Windows offers a significant value proposition over Linux either. Inertia.

Re: Microsoft's Linux Kernel

#364
post #350

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I keep seeing this angst over whether Linux will ever be ready on the desktop. Well, I've been using it exclusively for something like 15 years.

>I keep seeing this angst over whether Linux will ever be ready on the desktop. Well, I've been using it exclusively for something like 15 years. >For most purposes, it has been ready for years.[...] Most people, however, could switch to one of many Linux distributions and be just as productive if not moreso. If "most people" includes non-technical users, I doubt they could switch to Linux without difficulties. E.g.…

I agree with this sentiment. I'm not a hacker, gamer or coder. I'm an architect who enjoys tech. I've used Ubuntu and other distros. The one thing that stops Linux from becoming mainstream for desktop use is software. Software for enterprises and software for consumers.

The tech community doesn't realize that there is more than just office applications and browsers that people use. I can not install BIM (Revit) software on Ubuntu for example. I can't install Lightroom on Ubuntu. I know that there are alternatives and work arounds to software, but consumers only understand what they understand and is easy and mainstream.

The tech community can't expect consumers to spend time looking for alternative software. I feel that this is why the Windows Phone failed, because there was a lack of mainstream software (apps).

The day that BIM (Revit) is available to install on Ubuntu is the day I switch.

Re: Microsoft's Linux Kernel

#365
post #362

As a dev and Linux/OSX user I'm still struggling to see who exactly this is for. All of the tools I want to use are very well supported on OSX and I don't have much use for Microsoft software like Office these days with Google Sheets et cetera. Is this being geared more towards corporate customers who have chosen to standardise all of their IT on Microsoft products, but who need easier access to dev tools/environment…

This is great for any developer who prefers the Windows desktop experience to linux/macOS. I'm primarily on a mac myself, but I've used the original WSL and it works quite well.

Re: Microsoft's Linux Kernel

#366
post #362

As a dev and Linux/OSX user I'm still struggling to see who exactly this is for. All of the tools I want to use are very well supported on OSX and I don't have much use for Microsoft software like Office these days with Google Sheets et cetera. Is this being geared more towards corporate customers who have chosen to standardise all of their IT on Microsoft products, but who need easier access to dev tools/environment…

Certianly aimed at me (non-corp) as I won't go near anything from Google. And while I've never had problems with them (worked there once), I'm amazingly pro Microsoft lately.

Re: Microsoft's Linux Kernel

#367
post #362

As a dev and Linux/OSX user I'm still struggling to see who exactly this is for. All of the tools I want to use are very well supported on OSX and I don't have much use for Microsoft software like Office these days with Google Sheets et cetera. Is this being geared more towards corporate customers who have chosen to standardise all of their IT on Microsoft products, but who need easier access to dev tools/environment…

> As a dev and Linux/OSX user I'm still struggling to see who exactly this is for

It is for Windows users.

> All of the tools I want to use are very well supported on OSX and I don't have much use for Microsoft software like Office these days with Google Sheets et cetera.

Sure, OS X is a good solution for people or institutions who can afford those computers, who don't want to or can't use Linux, and don't mind paying that much.

> Is this being geared more towards corporate customers who have chosen to standardise all of their IT on Microsoft products, but who need easier access to dev tools/environments?

Yes, definitely, or just individual developers who want to use Windows. I don't know any devs who do this, but Kenneth Reitz was tweeting a lot about how much he was enjoying working on Windows and thought people's complaints about it were overblown.

Re: Microsoft's Linux Kernel

#368
post #362

As a dev and Linux/OSX user I'm still struggling to see who exactly this is for. All of the tools I want to use are very well supported on OSX and I don't have much use for Microsoft software like Office these days with Google Sheets et cetera. Is this being geared more towards corporate customers who have chosen to standardise all of their IT on Microsoft products, but who need easier access to dev tools/environment…

This is for me. I prefer Windows on the desktop, have a bunch of software that I use for my day to day that only exists on Windows, use a Linux VM for a portion of my dev work, employer is locked in on Windows, can't dual boot because of IT, etc...

The current WSL is pretty good, but version 2 is going to be a massive upgrade.

I also refuse to give Apple money for their overpriced garbage products.

Re: Microsoft's Linux Kernel

#369
post #362

As a dev and Linux/OSX user I'm still struggling to see who exactly this is for. All of the tools I want to use are very well supported on OSX and I don't have much use for Microsoft software like Office these days with Google Sheets et cetera. Is this being geared more towards corporate customers who have chosen to standardise all of their IT on Microsoft products, but who need easier access to dev tools/environment…

I recently switched to Windows after 10 years of Macs, because I didn’t fee like forking out €3k for a decent 15” laptop. I switched to a Razer (€1700) which can actually game + with WSL I can actually do Rails development. After a month of using this machine, my carpal tunnel pains dropped off significantly (in part because I ditched the Magic Mouse for a Logitech MX) and my fingers don’t swell or hurt from bashing a non-existant keyboard on the MBP. So to me when it comes to computers, Apple is dead.
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