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Why Linux is not ready for the desktop, the final edition

itvision.altervista.org

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Re: Why Linux is not ready for the desktop, the final edition

#21

Post by bongodongobob »

This article is low effort flamebait.

1. This section is basically pedantry. "you cant use the same software across multiple Linux distros". OK? And PC software doesn't run on a Mac. They are different OS's "Linux" being confused as it's own OS, is just, whatever.

2. Windows and Macs have plenty of bugs too. So much so that we don't do in-place server upgrades, it's a full rebuild each version. I mean look at the Windows 10-11 upgrade situation, it's not great.

3. Lack of general software and games - What? You can play AAA games on Steam on Linux out of the box for the most part. I will concede that industry specific software is likely going to be Windows only, but you can run Windows in a VM. There are options here.

4. Network file sharing isn't any different than on Windows, this is just nonsense.

5. Lack of funding - hand wavy and again, whatever.

6. Hardware support - I haven't really had hardware issues in years. Every Lenovo laptop I've installed Linux on works flawlessly, even Wifi drivers are present in setup.

7. Nonsense again. The Linux community is super helpful.

Re: Why Linux is not ready for the desktop, the final edition

#22

Post by pshirshov »

the__alchemist wrote: post #6

I've been patiently trying a distro of Linux every other year for the past 20... Someday. The general trend: Things work well from a native install. When you start installing software and drivers, the OS gets totalled , sooner or later. > What's worse is that software compiled for the current version of Linux X will not necessarily work for the current version of Linux Y. Linux distros insist that all the software mu…

But you don't install software and drivers on Linux, you edit your nix flake, switch and it always works. If it doesn't work up to your liking, you boot into the previous generation.

Also for some mysterious reasons, compiling C code under Nix always works and dependencies can't be missing.

Re: Why Linux is not ready for the desktop, the final edition

#23

Post by bryanlarsen »

I've been working on a cross-platform Windows/MacOS/Linux application for the last 2 years. All three of them have very significant pain points. Linux isn't ready for the desktop, but neither are Windows and MacOS in significantly different ways.

Re: Why Linux is not ready for the desktop, the final edition

#24

Post by lbj »

I wonder who he keeps running into. Not only do I use Linux on a daily basis, I run about 20 virtual *nixs from that Linux desktop and everything runs really great, but when I run into problems, the Arch community (ie. colleagues, forums, mailing lists) have been nothing but extremely helpful and friendly. Without exception.

Is Arch the exception?

Re: Why Linux is not ready for the desktop, the final edition

#25

Post by teruakohatu »

perihelions wrote: post #4

- "The vast majority of applications exist only for Windows, and speaking of games, Linux hasn't seen any AAA titles for many years now," The vast majority of AAA titles run seamlessly on Linux. Per protondb[0], ≥80% of the top 10, top 100, and top 1000 are rated "platinum" or "gold" for Linux functioning (by users). [0] https://www.protondb.com/

Wine/proton work so well at this point it may as well just be considered just another runtime environment (like Java or the .Net vm).

Re: Why Linux is not ready for the desktop, the final edition

#27

Post by __fst__ »

I'm using Linux as my main desktop for so long now (>15yrs) that I probably wouldn't be able to handle a modern Windows system anymore. I have not touched any Windows installation for years, and everytime I have to help my wife with some issue on her Windows laptop I just find it crazy how people can tolerate that. It might not be on the same quality level as MacOS but I like the freedom of choice Linux gives me.

Re: Why Linux is not ready for the desktop, the final edition

#28

Post by roland35 »

I actually just installed Ubuntu desktop on a spare mini PC I had to try out some cpp game development, and it is a surprisingly nice experience! I prefer it over my windows PC which seems plagued with weird occasional glitches. I still need windows for some things like CAD tools, but I think I'll stick with Ubuntu for most things!

Re: Why Linux is not ready for the desktop, the final edition

#30

Post by hactually »

> Finally, since drivers in Linux are generally part of the kernel (there are a few exceptions, including NVIDIA), you cannot upgrade them to the latest version or downgrade them to the version that worked for you on the fly. You have to boot into a different kernel. This is extremely inconvenient and not always possible

I mean, that's just false. Most drivers are done as kernel modules and you can push/pull them in without missing a beat.

if he's talking about graphics cards or similar subsystems - you might need a reboot, much like Windows does.

IMO, this reads like a gamer reviewing Linux because they thought it would be cool without knowing much about to use it as a workstation to get shit done.

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