I'm kind of surprised that they're getting push-back for Microsoft after the whole NSA thing last year. I know it's unfair to blame the company for any of it, but it's still a US company that has to follow US law.
Linux-on-the-desktop pioneer Munich now considering a switch back to Windows
11–20 of 51 posts
Re: Linux-on-the-desktop pioneer Munich now considering a switch back to Windows
#12So far, it seems that people have missed the (to my mind) crucial statement that Microsoft is relocating its German headquarters to Munich. Could that have anything to do with the switch?
Re: Linux-on-the-desktop pioneer Munich now considering a switch back to Windows
#13The problem ultimately is that any Linux distribution turns what are usually normal user-level issues into sys-admin issues.
Re: Linux-on-the-desktop pioneer Munich now considering a switch back to Windows
#14Doesn't surprise me really. Despite the advances of some of the more popular distros, Linux still appeals to the power user, not to the casual user. I was reminded of that just recently when I was having to do some googling, sudo apt-get some libraries, and chmod some stuff, just to use a piece of fairly popular software, on Mint, one of the more approachable distros. I was struck by the thought "...I would never, ev…
I think Desktop Linux works well at the two extremes: kiosk PCs and very limited E-Mail/Browser/Solitaire machines on the one end, and the OS for the highly proficient users (e.g. 'hackers', academics) on the other end. In between there's either Windows or Mac, depending on the situation. I've even had some success bringing non-literates to a Mac+Windows-VM combo - everything other than MS Office tends to be a few notches easier understandable on the Mac and these users can now do more than before - for the windows-only-software they have a transparent VM that they don't even notice much.
Re: Linux-on-the-desktop pioneer Munich now considering a switch back to Windows
#15I'm sure many will say that the failure is the exact implementation of Linux, or miscalculated expectations, or incompetent sysops, or, or... They're all right. But it's also exactly the problem with Linux in a corporate environment. For better and worse, Microsoft have made Windows a single, predictable entity. While we developers see the myriad of Linux options out there as the result of freedom, customers see them…
I don't entirely disagree with you, I get what you're saying.
But I definitely don't see Windows as being tightly focussed nor a single predictable entity. The differences, nuances, and upgrade paths between 95, 98, ME, XP, Vista, 7, 8 are as fragmented and confusing as possible.
Linux isn't any better, this is true. But I don't buy that it's because of singular vision that Microsoft continues to dominate. Today Apple has the strongest composed experience, in my opinion. Too bad they have basically zero corporate presence.
Re: Linux-on-the-desktop pioneer Munich now considering a switch back to Windows
#16Google Translate butchers the article badly, but https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&pr... suggests that this is more of a personal ambition of the vice-mayor and the city council is positioning itself firmly against any move back to Windows. Ultimately, it is more surprising that things even managed to remain this peaceful so far. Windows holds a huge home advantage simply by being the operatin…
As one of those computer-literate relatives / offspring, I can't help but feel like I'm contributing to the problem by helping them "fix" their windows computers.
So I've stopped doing it.
I've explained politely but firmly that I'll be happy to help them transition to a Linux or Mac desktop because I use those in my daily life and am familiar with them, but I'm not helping them with their Windows 8 PC. I do not use it, don't plan to, and have no interest in it.
Anecdotally, the relative who is the most cautious seems to be the one who causes most of the problems by trying to click on all of the "helpful" messages that pop up. This came to light after they got a new laptop that only one of them had been using exclusively.
Re: Linux-on-the-desktop pioneer Munich now considering a switch back to Windows
#17Doesn't surprise me really. Despite the advances of some of the more popular distros, Linux still appeals to the power user, not to the casual user. I was reminded of that just recently when I was having to do some googling, sudo apt-get some libraries, and chmod some stuff, just to use a piece of fairly popular software, on Mint, one of the more approachable distros. I was struck by the thought "...I would never, ev…
Have you tried Windows recently? I haven't taken the plunge to move my relatives to Linux yet, but my experiences supporting relatives trying to use some mixture of Vista, Win7, and Win8 are extremely bad. I feel there was a period when many "normal" people did figure out Windows 95/98/XP and it could be taken as a default graphical computer interface. But the experience they gained has bitrotted as Microsoft has cha…
It's not even just users I support, I have difficulties with win8 myself. As an example every time I open up a metro windows, there is a big dialog at the right side saying 'swipe left to start (begin swiping from outside the screen) - I can't get rid of it with my touchpad or keyboard or anything. Could be because the VM doesn't send in these gestures, but heck, how could they just assume that everyone is able to do these kinds of gestures? - even for accessibility reasons this is terrible, an area where MS has been pretty good in the past.
Re: Linux-on-the-desktop pioneer Munich now considering a switch back to Windows
#18I'm sure many will say that the failure is the exact implementation of Linux, or miscalculated expectations, or incompetent sysops, or, or... They're all right. But it's also exactly the problem with Linux in a corporate environment. For better and worse, Microsoft have made Windows a single, predictable entity. While we developers see the myriad of Linux options out there as the result of freedom, customers see them…
I don't entirely disagree with you, I get what you're saying. But I definitely don't see Windows as being tightly focussed nor a single predictable entity. The differences, nuances, and upgrade paths between 95, 98, ME, XP, Vista, 7, 8 are as fragmented and confusing as possible. Linux isn't any better, this is true. But I don't buy that it's because of singular vision that Microsoft continues to dominate. Today Appl…
>Too bad they have basically zero corporate presence.
perhaps this is exactly why :)
Re: Linux-on-the-desktop pioneer Munich now considering a switch back to Windows
#19Google Translate butchers the article badly, but https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&pr... suggests that this is more of a personal ambition of the vice-mayor and the city council is positioning itself firmly against any move back to Windows. Ultimately, it is more surprising that things even managed to remain this peaceful so far. Windows holds a huge home advantage simply by being the operatin…
Makes me wonder - why hasn't anyone made a Linux desktop environments that tries to mimic Windows look and behaviour as much as possible? IP/patent issues maybe?
There would be a huge market for something like that, as this situation shows.
Re: Linux-on-the-desktop pioneer Munich now considering a switch back to Windows
#20Doesn't surprise me really. Despite the advances of some of the more popular distros, Linux still appeals to the power user, not to the casual user. I was reminded of that just recently when I was having to do some googling, sudo apt-get some libraries, and chmod some stuff, just to use a piece of fairly popular software, on Mint, one of the more approachable distros. I was struck by the thought "...I would never, ev…
Have you tried Windows recently? I haven't taken the plunge to move my relatives to Linux yet, but my experiences supporting relatives trying to use some mixture of Vista, Win7, and Win8 are extremely bad. I feel there was a period when many "normal" people did figure out Windows 95/98/XP and it could be taken as a default graphical computer interface. But the experience they gained has bitrotted as Microsoft has cha…
All my relatives use Win7 or Win8 and the Win8 ones are the happiest, love OneDrive, etc. etc. My sister then switched their phones over to Lumia 1020s because of Win8 and bought a Yoga 2 Pro. Her comment: "Wait. So what's all the fuss about? I love how this stuff all just works together and it's pretty much exactly like Win7."
I guess I should just be proud of the genius that is my sister who figured it all out on her own. I think I've answered 2-3 questions about Win Phone and one, my favorite, about their old printer.
Her: "What do we have to do to get it to work?" Me: "Have you plugged it in yet?" Her: "Daaaamn. It just worked."