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I’m calling it: Ubuntu is finally ready for the world.

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Re: I’m calling it: Ubuntu is finally ready for the world.

#21

Post by icebraining »

freehunter wrote: post #2

I strongly disagree, and take exception to the fact that this "article" is 3 paragraphs long with zero information yet throws out the idea that Linux, even Ubuntu, is 1:1 competitive with Windows or OSX on the desktop. Contrary to the author, hardware is still a mess. Have a Lexmark wireless printer? Tough luck, there is no way to print to it from Linux. Have switchable graphics? Good luck there, too. Want your new l…

Linux won't be ready until you can download a file from the Internet, run it, and install it just with a couple clicks (and not "you need to set the 'exectuable' flag!" error).

We're talking about Ubuntu, not all Linux distributions. And in Ubuntu, that works fine: try downloading any .deb and double clicking it.

Re: I’m calling it: Ubuntu is finally ready for the world.

#22

Post by MatthewPhillips »

icebraining wrote: post #21
freehunter wrote: post #2

I strongly disagree, and take exception to the fact that this "article" is 3 paragraphs long with zero information yet throws out the idea that Linux, even Ubuntu, is 1:1 competitive with Windows or OSX on the desktop. Contrary to the author, hardware is still a mess. Have a Lexmark wireless printer? Tough luck, there is no way to print to it from Linux. Have switchable graphics? Good luck there, too. Want your new l…

Linux won't be ready until you can download a file from the Internet, run it, and install it just with a couple clicks (and not "you need to set the 'exectuable' flag!" error). We're talking about Ubuntu , not all Linux distributions. And in Ubuntu, that works fine: try downloading any .deb and double clicking it.

It's a legitimate criticism that you can't install software while updating your system.

Re: I’m calling it: Ubuntu is finally ready for the world.

#23

Post by api »

mcdillon wrote: post #4
freehunter wrote: post #2

I strongly disagree, and take exception to the fact that this "article" is 3 paragraphs long with zero information yet throws out the idea that Linux, even Ubuntu, is 1:1 competitive with Windows or OSX on the desktop. Contrary to the author, hardware is still a mess. Have a Lexmark wireless printer? Tough luck, there is no way to print to it from Linux. Have switchable graphics? Good luck there, too. Want your new l…

Good points there, I completely forgot about Lexmark printers because the last one I bought wouldn't work on Mac OS X or Linux and I returned it; haven't bought Lexmark again. That's not to say that people shouldn't buy them, just explaining my view.

In my experience: cheap inkjet printers are a nightmare on anything except recent Windows versions. If you want to use a printer for anything other than recent windows versions, don't buy one. Pony up and buy something better.

Re: I’m calling it: Ubuntu is finally ready for the world.

#24

Post by freehunter »

icebraining wrote: post #21
freehunter wrote: post #2

I strongly disagree, and take exception to the fact that this "article" is 3 paragraphs long with zero information yet throws out the idea that Linux, even Ubuntu, is 1:1 competitive with Windows or OSX on the desktop. Contrary to the author, hardware is still a mess. Have a Lexmark wireless printer? Tough luck, there is no way to print to it from Linux. Have switchable graphics? Good luck there, too. Want your new l…

Linux won't be ready until you can download a file from the Internet, run it, and install it just with a couple clicks (and not "you need to set the 'exectuable' flag!" error). We're talking about Ubuntu , not all Linux distributions. And in Ubuntu, that works fine: try downloading any .deb and double clicking it.

I'm using 11.10 at home, and when I download a file from the Internet as a .deb, it will install from the Ubuntu Software Center (but not if an update is running). If I download it as anything else (.sh, etc), it needs to have the flag set manually. Unfortunately, quite a few installers come as .sh for universal compatibility.

Most recently, installing VMWare tools I ran into this. Granted most consumers won't be installing VMWare Tools, but you do run into the issue of "what format will your software ship in?" .deb? .rpm?

Re: I’m calling it: Ubuntu is finally ready for the world.

#25

Post by icebraining »

MatthewPhillips wrote: post #22
icebraining wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Linux won't be ready until you can download a file from the Internet, run it, and install it just with a couple clicks (and not "you need to set the 'exectuable' flag!" error). We're talking about Ubuntu , not all Linux distributions. And in Ubuntu, that works fine: try downloading any .deb and double clicking it.

It's a legitimate criticism that you can't install software while updating your system.

Sure, I quoted that particular line for a reason; I don't disagree with the rest.

Re: I’m calling it: Ubuntu is finally ready for the world.

#26

Post by [deleted] »

MatthewPhillips wrote: post #22
icebraining wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Linux won't be ready until you can download a file from the Internet, run it, and install it just with a couple clicks (and not "you need to set the 'exectuable' flag!" error). We're talking about Ubuntu , not all Linux distributions. And in Ubuntu, that works fine: try downloading any .deb and double clicking it.

It's a legitimate criticism that you can't install software while updating your system.

[deleted]

Re: I’m calling it: Ubuntu is finally ready for the world.

#27

Post by Iv »

freehunter wrote: post #2

I strongly disagree, and take exception to the fact that this "article" is 3 paragraphs long with zero information yet throws out the idea that Linux, even Ubuntu, is 1:1 competitive with Windows or OSX on the desktop. Contrary to the author, hardware is still a mess. Have a Lexmark wireless printer? Tough luck, there is no way to print to it from Linux. Have switchable graphics? Good luck there, too. Want your new l…

I have a Microsoft webcam. The kind that is sold with a big label on the USB plug saying INSTALL THE DRIVER BEFORE PLUGGING !

It never worked on my wife's Vista. It worked without installing drivers on Ubuntu. A microsoft hardware failing on a microsoft software. This day I decided Ubuntu was ready for mainstream.

A few hardware makers play foul (I am hating nVidia a lot on the whole Optimus issue) but when it comes to software, I think that it is superior in usability under linux.

It is easier to install new software, new hardware, to share files. On the subject of file sharing, I have seen people on a network using different versions of Windows (XP, Vista and 7 IIRC) they couldn't manage to see each other easily. I had to copy from one to the other using my ubuntu laptop.

Sure, you can find cases where linux will be inferior, but on average, I think it is more than ready for mainstream.

Re: I’m calling it: Ubuntu is finally ready for the world.

#28

Post by freehunter »

kiloaper wrote: post #19
freehunter wrote: post #2

I strongly disagree, and take exception to the fact that this "article" is 3 paragraphs long with zero information yet throws out the idea that Linux, even Ubuntu, is 1:1 competitive with Windows or OSX on the desktop. Contrary to the author, hardware is still a mess. Have a Lexmark wireless printer? Tough luck, there is no way to print to it from Linux. Have switchable graphics? Good luck there, too. Want your new l…

Switchable graphics do indeed suck. I returned a laptop because of it, despite being told specifically the model I ordered did not have Optimus hybrid graphics. But it's not unsolvable. It's problem with companies not supporting Linux. Nvidia just joined the Linux foundation and ways to accommodate switchable graphics are already being discussed. It rules out some of the newest hardware in the short term but I have n…

>The Software Center... [is] far better than what's available on Windows at the moment

I agree on this, though not everything that can or should be installed on Ubuntu comes through the Software Center or even as a .deb or apt repo. For things outside of this, a .exe file on Windows has the upper hand. .exe (or .msi) is a Windows universal. .deb and .rpm are not Linux universals.

>Installers can block each other on Windows as well. This point just seems like nit-picking.

And it's frustrating. You will notice I said "it has to be better than 'better than Windows'", because "better than Windows" still means "learning something other than Windows".

I use Ubuntu. I like it. I'm excited to see where they're going. I'm one of the seemingly few people who don't condemn Canonical for their tight-fisted control over their system. But this article is flawed, and I think throwing some constructive criticism into the mix would be helpful.

Re: I’m calling it: Ubuntu is finally ready for the world.

#30

Post by spurgu »

MatthewPhillips wrote: post #22
icebraining wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Linux won't be ready until you can download a file from the Internet, run it, and install it just with a couple clicks (and not "you need to set the 'exectuable' flag!" error). We're talking about Ubuntu , not all Linux distributions. And in Ubuntu, that works fine: try downloading any .deb and double clicking it.

It's a legitimate criticism that you can't install software while updating your system.

Oh please, don't get me started on installing software on Windows or OS X. Linux package managers are the nuts!
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