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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.

#31

Post by freehunter »

Iv wrote: post #27
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…

People are really not reading my last paragraph, are they?

If Windows rates a 6/10, you don't unseat them by being 7/10 or even 8/10. You need to be better than "better than Windows". Ubuntu is striving to not be "better than Windows" but rather "really good on its own merits, without need for comparison". I like this and I appreciate this, but they're not quite there yet. Two years, maybe.

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

#33

Post by Iv »

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 actually find this criticism hilarous because I have observed that using a software center is far more easy for novices to do than downloading a file, choosing the correct one, saving it to a folder, finding it and opening it. And sometimes (far less frequently nowadays I admit) manage the software dependencies and download another thing.

This clumsy way is an habit from windows, debian has been light years ahead for a long time. Search your package name, click, click, install. Now App stores are all the rage and people fail to recognize that they have existed since a decade on linux...

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

#34

Post by MatthewPhillips »

spurgu wrote: post #30
MatthewPhillips wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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!

See my above post. Not being able to install 2 unrelated packages at once is a legit criticism. The merits of Windows/OSX installation are irrelevant to that point.

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

#35

Post by freehunter »

DanBC wrote: post #14
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'm not getting into a religious war but: I've had printer driver problems on OSX and on some Windows versions. The problem with printers is the evil practice of selling the machines at (or near) loss, and making money on ink / toner. Caveat Emptor applies. Windows users (used to? Still do?) have problems with installing software. They wouldn't use the add software wizard; the software would install things in weird p…

>but then I think OS X and Windows are not really ready for the masses

They're not, I agree, but they're there regardless. And it takes something special and completely different to break out of that (see, iPad).

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

#36

Post by freehunter »

codedivine wrote: post #13
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 mostly agree with you. I do recommend Linux to the more technical audience but stay away from recommending to non-tech friends and family. I think part of the problem can be solved if there was some nice hardware that came with Linux preinstalled, with all the driver configuration work already done for you. That will still not solve the printer issue you described, but the "install graphics/sound/wifi driver" issue…

What System76 needs to do is become an Amazon partner (as well as their current business). If I could go on Amazon and order a System76 laptop with the backing of Amazon, I would be much happier.

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

#37

Post by davidw »

It's not a binary either/or, though. Something like 6 years ago, the company I was working for went Ubuntu for pretty much everything, including the computers of the call center staff. Since we took care of the installations, all they had to do was know how to open a browser and openoffice, and they were just fine. In other words, Ubuntu was ready for 'prime time'. My wife has been using it for year as well. For her it's ready for 'prime time': I rarely have to fiddle with it. For other users, it's probably not ready. That group continues to shrink, though.

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

#38

Post by spurgu »

Derbasti wrote: post #18

Some people (on this thread, too) seem to think that in order for Linux to be successful, it needs to become Windows. I think the exact opposite is true. Linux will never beat Windows at being Windows. But it may well be the superior operating system for many people. If you ask me, this is what Linux should strive for, and incidentally, what it probably is striving for. Hardware compatibility is pretty good already.…

I agree. I don't see why a normal "surf-the-web, read emails, import/upload pictures" -person couldn't have Linux as their main desktop, especially if it's a user friendly distro like Linux Mint or Ubuntu. The main problem is that people haven't used a Linux desktop before and most are reluctant to try anything new (just notice how everyone curses every time FB changes something about the interface). It helps to have a family member well versed in Linux.

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

#39

Post by octopus »

orp wrote: post #3

I am unfortunately forced to disagree. I recently moved my home machine from Windows to Linux. After a little research, I picked Ubuntu 11.10 (with Unity). The installation went by pretty smoothly, everything seemed to work out of the box. The only manual configuration I had to do was to teach my Linux box to ping my Windows laptop. So far so good. Then, 2 weeks later, my disk went out of space. Turns out Ubuntu has…

Never heard of such "hidden log file" and I've used Ubuntu since version 7. I've also installed 11.10 on a spare machine a few months ago and I didn't encounter anything like that.

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

#40

Post by spurgu »

codedivine wrote: post #13
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 mostly agree with you. I do recommend Linux to the more technical audience but stay away from recommending to non-tech friends and family. I think part of the problem can be solved if there was some nice hardware that came with Linux preinstalled, with all the driver configuration work already done for you. That will still not solve the printer issue you described, but the "install graphics/sound/wifi driver" issue…

"I think part of the problem can be solved if there was some nice hardware that came with Linux preinstalled, with all the driver configuration work already done for you."

Something to think about: How many percent of the non-tech people you know have installed a fresh copy of Windows by themselves? It's always the tech savvy family member who does it

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