I think I'm moving to Linux...

[sapphirescales]

Reading this it's Its fairly obvious you have either never used Linux or have little knowledge of Linux.
Your talking through your hat!

I've tried quite a few distros. Do I know Linux like I know Windows? Absolutely not, and I never claimed to. I'm talking about usability as my main operating system here. Crap like Gimp can't hold a candle to Photoshop. It's difficult to use and doesn't have half the features. Setting up even basic stuff like file sharing was a real chore. Half the time the drivers don't exist so you either don't have sound or you end up with a choppy video playback. Game support is almost non-existent.

Linux just isn't user friendly at all. Are some distros more friendly than others? Absolutely. I don't even find Android to be user friendly. Windows is very user friendly. Mac OS is pretty user friendly (though not as much as Windows is). iOS is pretty user friendly too. I've tried Mint, Ubuntu, Libuntu, Zorin OS, and a few others that I can't remember. Not even Zorin OS was user friendly.

Paid software is the foundation of the software industry itself. Sure there are some free pieces of software that have thrived, but without funding, most of these open source projects die. I don't want to run my business (or frankly even my personal life) on open source software.

Linux doesn't run anything that anyone's ever heard of other than Firefox, and frankly a browser is the last thing I'm concerned about. They're all pretty much the same. I care about having a good selection of software that has support and will likely still be around 6 months later.

Running my business on Linux is akin to a graphics design company trying to use smartphones instead of computers. Sure, it works for large enterprise businesses with the IT staff and support to write custom software, but for a usable OS for the regular public and regular business users, Linux is a MASSIVE FAILURE!

 

[GTP]

Linux doesn't run anything that anyone's ever heard of other than Firefox

I was going to answer this idiocy but honestly, I can't be bothered...
I'll just reiterate what I said earlier.

 

[Sky-Knight]

I love Linux, I use it all the time, everyone here uses it ALL THE TIME. There isn't a SOHO router on the planet that doesn't have it at its core. And we're not even going to get into the number of DNS servers, or web servers or any number of other things we use every day that are running on Linux.

I just don't think it has a place on the desktop. I've used Ubuntu, and Mint recently, and the latter is doing a good job of teaching my 3 year old how to use a computer. And that's great... but if I couldn't just fire up Steam and get at my games?

I can do a professional workstation on Linux anytime, but my rig isn't just my professional self, it's also what keeps me sane. And nothing matches Windows in terms of sheer market options to do whatever you want, whenever you want it, with minimal fuss.

I try to convert myself to an all Linux existence every couple of years or so, I never make it a week and get my action pack out and put Windows back.

 

[Umbra]

In term of usability/user-friendliness. Linux can't even compare with any of Windows, even WinXP is easier to use than the latest Linux distro...
Linux try to change, with those "Windows-like" distros but it is still a geek OS made by geeks for geeks.

Major software vendors won't go to Linux, and software is what make an OS popular.

Windows Mobile = few apps = dead
Android = massive apps catalog = most popular mobile OS.

Simple as that.

 

[sapphirescales]

In term of usability/user-friendliness. Linux can't even compare with any of Windows, even WinXP is easier to use than the latest Linux distro...
Linux try to change, with those "Windows-like" distros but it is still a geek OS made by geeks for geeks.

Major software vendors won't go to Linux, and software is what make an OS popular.

Windows Mobile = few apps = dead
Android = massive apps catalog = most popular mobile OS.

Simple as that.

EXACTLY! You can tell me how good Linux is until you're blue in the face, but without application support, you might as well use a Chromebook. It doesn't matter how good something is "under the hood" if it's useless in the practical world.

 

[Briggsy]

Crap like Gimp can't hold a candle to Photoshop.

GIMP is free. Photoshop costs a bomb.

GIMP isn't crap - it's just not Photoshop. It's not meant to be. Gimp has a purpose and a user base - and it does the job perfectly well.

As for Linux - I'm no Linux expert by any stretch of the imagination - but I know enough to know that you're talking absolute nonsense and it's obvious you've spent very little, if any time, actually using it.

On a side note, I bought a mountain bike last week. It's crap. Doesn't hold a candle to a car.

 

[Sky-Knight]

GIMP is Photoshop, just without all the filters. I use both, I know both. They both can do all the same work. Photoshop is just more efficient about it because it's got filters built in that do a ton of work for you. That's why that Creative Suite sells, because it save a professional enough time to justify that cost every single month. But what about nonprofessional use?

And if you feel that there is a lack of software support for Linux... oh wow... that's just wow. There's FAR more software for Linux than there is for Mac. And it's easier to find. Canonical isn't a nonprofit organization, and it has a revenue of 65.7 million USD. So much for Ubuntu being "free".

I use Windows because game devs write games for Windows, and while Valve has pumped a BUCKET of cash into making Linux game happy, it's just not quite there. But once again I can put together a professional workstation that can perform ANY FUNCTION with Linux in my sleep. And I'd use one myself, if I could get my games to run on it.

 

[sapphirescales]

And if you feel that there is a lack of software support for Linux... oh wow... that's just wow. There's FAR more software for Linux than there is for Mac.

It's not about the number of software programs available, but whether or not it supports the main software that people actually USE. I don't care if there are 20 different crappy AVI converters available in the weird store knockoff that Linux has. How old are they? How long will they be supported? What happens if/when they're pulled from the "store?" And most importantly, ARE THEY ANY GOOD? I'm not a Mac person, but at least you can get mainstream software on a Mac.

If Linux is sooooo good, why don't you load it onto every one of your client's machines? Yeah, that's right. Because it doesn't support ANY software that anyone knows or gives two sh*ts about. Oh, you've got Libre Office? If it didn't support .doc/.docx files it would be USELESS to anyone living in the real world. It's still a piece of crap software, but at least you can kinda sorta make it work if you're too cheap to buy Office so long as all you need to do is write school papers/letters/whatever and allow other people using NORMAL software to open these files.

And Libre Office is one of the BEST pieces of software available for Linux because it's compatible with Office. What about all the other weird off the wall software that's only for Linux? It's absolutely USELESS unless whoever you're interacting with also uses Linux. I'm not saying I like it this way. It's just the way it is. It's the chicken in the egg thing. It's useless because no one uses it, and no one wants to use it because it's useless.

Microsoft has the same issue with Windows on smartphones. Windows 10 Mobile may be an excellent OS, but it's USELESS in the REAL WORLD where you need to be able to actually use apps that people actually USE. Microsoft could make 100 new apps for their mobile OS, but unless people actually USE these apps, and without support from software developers that develop software that people actually USE, it's a hopeless endeavor. Hence why Microsoft is calling it quits with Windows Mobile. They were too late to the game, and all the money in the world can't save them.

 

[sapphirescales]

GIMP is free. Photoshop costs a bomb.

GIMP isn't crap - it's just not Photoshop. It's not meant to be.

Well, I suppose you could say the same thing about MS Paint. It's free. Who gives a crap if it doesn't do what you need it to do? Even if Gimp did everything that Photoshop did, the UI is atrocious and totally non user friendly. Yes, there's other off the wall software available for Windows that you can use instead, but Photoshop is the industry standard for a reason. So it really doesn't matter whether you use some weird piece of crap software from a Linux repository, or download a weird piece of crap software for Windows. It's still a weird piece of crap software. But at least if you have Windows, you have a CHOICE to run what people actually USE.

 

[Sky-Knight]

Actually, given the SaaS trends, the local OS is becoming rapidly irrelevant.

You're correct that I don't use Linux on production desktops for my customers because they have some LOB app that needs Windows. But, there is a Linux server for Quickbooks, and that one has a web app that works fine on all OSs. As things progress, this will become less and less of an issue.

There are Linux versions of AutoCAD, aka FreeCAD, and before you scoff that one is maintained by MIT, and technically speaking MacOS X is Linux now too... so with some tweaks you can run Mac software on Linux now.

And did you just insinuate that Photoshop had a user friendly UI? Really?

The software quality on the Linux side of the fence runs the gambit from junk to awesome, free to fully monetized. In general I find the software support for Linux to be superior to Apple, given you can run all OSX software on Linux, but then you get the rest of the stuff too.

 

[Diggs]

Hmmm.... and we didn't even get to the security issues yet.

 

[Briggsy]

Well, I suppose you could say the same thing about MS Paint. It's free. Who gives a crap if it doesn't do what you need it to do? Even if Gimp did everything that Photoshop did, the UI is atrocious and totally non user friendly. Yes, there's other off the wall software available for Windows that you can use instead, but Photoshop is the industry standard for a reason. So it really doesn't matter whether you use some weird piece of crap software from a Linux repository, or download a weird piece of crap software for Windows. It's still a weird piece of crap software. But at least if you have Windows, you have a CHOICE to run what people actually USE.

MS Paint does what some people need it to do too.

It's called choice. All of this software is aimed at different users needs. There' a reason why Photoshop is the industry standard - it' the best, and it does complex stuff. Because of that, it comes at a price. It's aimed at professional use and niche users.

If people want an image package that can do some middle of the road work that doesn't need to be too complex - but more than MS Paint can offer, then there's GIMP. For those that Dont like GIMP, there are other alternatives such as Paint.net, etc.

For those that just want something basic, there's MS Paint.

Plenty of options for everyone at varying cost (or free). The same applies to Linux software. The same applies to Mac software.

By your logic, a £10,000 Ford Fiesta must be weird crap because it doesn't have the same features as a £100,000 Aston Martin.

 

[backwoodsman]

Guys, guys, chill out a bit! How about we take a breather for a while and discuss a less-controversial topic, like maybe gun control?

 

[sapphirescales]

By your logic, a £10,000 Ford Fiesta must be weird crap because it doesn't have the same features as a £100,000 Aston Martin.

No. The ford isn't weird crap because it's a Ford. What Linux has is some weird off the wall company that made it's first car 3 months ago for a niche market of people that like to go 22mph at all times. First off, the niche market is TOO niche. That car company probably won't be around for long. Second of all, who wants a car that can only go 22mph?

There just isn't enough support from enough users because practically NO ONE uses Linux as their desktop OS. They're targeting such a small niche that I don't trust them to be around for long.

I'm not talking about Linux on the server or Android or anything else. I'm talking about Linux as a DESKTOP OS that NORMAL EVERYDAY PEOPLE actually use! That's like, what? 2% of the market? Using Linux for your desktop OS is like betting on the skinny 5 year old girl at the hot dog eating contest when she's surrounded by fat adult men that have been doing hot dog eating contests for 20+ years.

I'd rather just use a freaking Chromebook because at least Google's behind it, and everything is done in the browser so you don't have to worry about weird off the wall programs self destructing, or a software update bricking your OS installation.

 

[Diggs]

Sigh........

 

[LordIntruder]

Windows is very user friendly. Mac OS is pretty user friendly (though not as much as Windows is).

bs. You mixed "user friendly" with "let the user think that he is able to do everything himself without risking security holes, malware and virus infection and so on up to destroying the whole installation". There's the same law for all operatings systems: it is not done by removing the installation media. You must know what you are doing. M$ don't just keep quiet about that fact, M$ lies direct at your face and want to make you believe that you can do everything without knowledge.

What about all the other weird off the wall software that's only for Linux? It's absolutely USELESS unless whoever you're interacting with also uses Linux.

So it is with Wintendo.

They're targeting such a small niche that I don't trust them to be around for long.

You want to take a look at the "birthday" of Linux and then do the same with wintendo.

I'd rather just use a freaking Chromebook because at least Google's behind it, and everything is done in the browser so you don't have to worry about

Ah, now I see. You're just too lazy or not able to learn complex things that really need the will to get knowledge! Am I right?

GIMP is Photoshop, just without all the filters.

https://alvinalexander.com/design/gimp-catalog-filters-effects-examples-cheat-sheet

Only two of nearly 2.310.000 Answers from aunt google if I ask her gimp filters. And gimp has the ability to use filters and scripts written by your own. Just for your information.

Disclaimer: Since beginning of 2000 I am using Linux as my favorite operating system at home. I miss nothing but games. But if I want to play I boot the playstation. In the office I am the only one with a linux desktop. Why? Because I can. And it happens very often that I get a usb stick, a hard drive, an optical medium for testing if I can see more than the guys with the windows machines. Of course I am a windows technician all the day long if we talk about the customer's problems. For me I made the personal decision that M$ is not the answer. It is the question. The answer is "no!".

 

[Markverhyden]

Guys, guys, chill out a bit! How about we take a breather for a while and discuss a less-controversial topic, like maybe gun control global warming?

Because we all know that M@cr0$h@ft is responsible for global warming......

 

[LordIntruder]

responsible for global warming is methan. And who throws it out all day long? The cows! So here's my statement, dear vegetarians: I do a lot against global warming because I eat beef! What do you do? (scnr)

 

[trevm999]

Using a Desktop OS pretty much means you are a power user now. Yes, needing to use a desktop word processor means you are a power user. Now we have power users that only know what they have been explicitly taught, and so can only use the tools they have been taught and there is a mental barrier for them to learn new things. And then we have power users who have a better grasp of how things actually work and can learn new things as they need to and find creative solutions to their needs.

The former tend towards Windows, because a lot of money has gone into making Microsoft products what are taught. However, software improvements are in danger of making their "power user skills" obsolete.

The latter drift towards Linux because they need flexibility and control over their system. Sometime they need to know how things interface with it in order to get something to work right, so that needs to be transparent.

Windows 10 is terrible for real power users. It is a Desktop OS, so that means less is abstracted away from the end user (like with a mobile OS) however how it works is often not public and has to be reverse engineered, leaving less and less options for power users to configure. And now the it's backend is the file system, the registry, and a SQLite database! Linux is just files and folders.

TLDR;
Desktop OS's are for power users. We currently have a "middle-ground" of power user that will eventually disappear, and Windows 10 is too complicated and restricted for power users.

 

[GTP]

bs.

Nailed it!