CrunchGear

“Lastly, the iPhone. You need iTunes for the iPhone to be used to its full potential.”

so now iphone support determines if an os is desktop ready? give me a break.

“…programs we need for day-to-day use like Microsoft Office and uTorrent.”

Sure, because obviously Linux can’t offer anything to replace those gems. :P

“With Linux, you have a command prompt. Get the GUI working, install some more shit and sooner or later you may be greeted with something that looks reminiscent of a Solaris 4 install.”

I considered how to reply to this second quote, then realized that nothing I could add could make it sound more stupid than it already does.

Thanks for the semi-amusing flamebait. ^_^

I’m not a big fan of linux but recently a linux tool solved my problem and I have to back it up. You say that linux does not have partitioning tools? Or if they do, they aren’t good? Well recently I was reinstalling Vista and while doing so I wanted to resize my primary and logical partitions. Without losing data on a volume on my logical partition. Turns out, with Vista and ever other single partitioning tool I could get my hands on just doesn’t allow remapping of the primary/logical partition. I gave live booting Ubuntu 7.10 and tried using its partitioning manager. Low and behold, I was able to do exactly what I wanted to. No data loss, no headaches, nothing.

That said, I’m still a Windows user. I use Mac OS X at work, and get my unix fix there. Nothing wrong with linux however.

Agree 99%: The 95% of the uses, Firefox works much better than IE.

And it´s the same shit for Apple.

“he now has to split partitions up and a bunch of other crap. Linux’s partition tools usually leave much to be desired, so unless he sits there dangerously tinkering with fdisk, I don’t see an install coming out of this.”

Perhaps you haven’t noticed that Ubuntu has a simple slider to make room. Even back in 6.06
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/GraphicalInstall

True to the title, your stance is ‘unreasonable’. ;)

wtf?
Did I just read something that my 4-year old banged out before spilling apple juice on the keyboard? “First, he’d want to keeps some of the files he has on his Windows partition” Give me a break. This site is becoming a joke. Bad grammar; useless, rambling and often offensive posts.

I am reminded of the academic decathlon scene in Billy Madison. To paraphrase: Everyone on this site is now dumber for having read this post. I award you no points and may God have mercy on your soul.

Either this article is so biased or the writer is so ignorant, maybe both.
You can also have IE in Linux, I have it in my Ubuntu but I rarely use it.
Check IEs4Linux.

I totally agree 100%

Linux is not for the masses. The masses are idiots. They need a computer they can use without knowing anything about computers. The simpler, the less choices, the less configurations, the prettier . . . the better.

Like Apple!

@ Mark: Ah! You get it. Thanks! :-)

@ Everyone: I invite any and all of you to use the link at the bottom to BFF to respond if you’ve got more to say to Vince, which I’m sure you do. It’s your soapbox, use it.

Linux is good for experimenting, learning how device drivers work (because you sort of have to), learning operating system concepts. I use it because I like to tinker. But I truly abhor dealing with crappy display drivers, using Gnome (which sucks), and configuring every last device and GUI frontend. Eventually I will get sick of tinkering with linux and use OSX.

Oh, and did I mention Compiz and Beryl suck? Yes, they do. Wobbly, spinning, flaming cubes on my desktop, while basic things such as anti-aliasing, minimizing and switching to full-screen mode don’t work? KDE 4.0 / Kwin looks promising at least… too bad the proprietary NVidia drivers are fatally flawed.

lol, I started with a lengthy reply, then noticed the title.

Really, you actually haven’t used any of the OS’s you are talking about have you? You are a total novice writing about something you haven’t even tried.. of course you are only doing it to provoke an angry response and gain hits for your shitty story/website. If you want to criticise certain Free Software applications for whatever shortcomings that program may have (and like any software “it” will of course have something that not everyone likes) then please do so, but PLEASE do it based on some actual factual information and experience.

As of this article, you have lost any and all respect you might have gained with me as a journalist.

“Also, keep in mind that once you get Linux installed, you have to config it. Want the fancy OS X-esque Beryl Compsci-1.102.2 cube FX? Of course you do. With a Mac, the cool effects come right out of the box, they smack you in your face. With Linux, you have a command prompt. Get the GUI working, install some more shit and sooner or later you may be greeted with something that looks reminiscent of a Solaris 4 install”

What the fuck are you talking about?? You actually, blatently, made that up out of thin air! A _total_ idiot you may not be but a liar you are.

Did I stumble onto Trools.com or is this Crunchgear? Why would you give your roomate Ubuntu 6.something?

The whole I need to use M$ for office and torrent…thats just plain silly, iPunes is a different story.

“With a Mac, the cool effects come right out of the box, they smack you in your face” I’d bet if you gave someone $2200 to set up your linux install, they’d get the effects working for you. Thats would count as”out of the box” right?

Coming next week on Unreasonable Stance…Which is more fun Clubbing baby seals, or Shooting homeless puppies with BB Guns?

Interesting article. Sounds as if the last Linux distribution you used was Slackware 3.0

I like macs myself, however, you won’t gain anything of any personal value by sitting here bashing on other operating systems. Good luck with all that malice you have built up.

That´s a joke, but I am agree with it:

Linux doesn´t offers me something that Windows can´t, but Windows offers me videogames.

@ Bittermormon: Dude, don’t tempt me with that one. That’d be a great article.

@ Jake: At least someone gets it.

What to say to this “smart” text ? Not much, the author itself has shown how “great” , “deep” and “wide” is his knowledge of computers an OSes.
That is his opinion, let him live in his happy world.
What about me: I ve used, tested, seen Windows (all from 3.11 to Vista ) , bunch of Linux distros (from RH 6.0 on) and worked a little on OSX. Its true that Windows is defacto standard for playing games on PC, but my home/business/fun/work combo = PC with Linux Mint and PS2 (modified a bit ;) )
Why i use Linux ? Im smart enough to use it (geeeeeek) , but also price concious (no $ for $oftware), i like safe working on PC (not updating/scaning for spyware/removing viruses etc) Before that, ive had XP on similar comp ,but those monthly and weekly repairs took too much time, so ive “switched”.
Why i dont us OSX? Expensive hardware,narrow choice, almost no customisation, expensive $oftware
So…. Linux is more than ready for desktop.

Your facts suck, but I agree in principle. Linux is fine for basic stuff, but most people’s heads will explode if they turn on desktop effects and their window decorations disappear. Really it’s best used for granny workloads (web, mail, office) and by power users. And for enterprise stuff, of course.

Desktop is getting there. Ubuntu would be ready if the failsafe graphics config actually worked and if turning on desktop effects didn’t tend to break things.

Article sure drew the zealots out of the woodwork. Hint, guys: Read the description at the top of the page. The article is similar to a joke.

Ummmmm - should we perhaps direct a few of the peeps above to the definition of ‘unreasonable’… ?

“Like, - I’m totally smart enough to use Linux, but just can’t help myself from turning into a flame-tard when someone disses my fav OS…”

Relaaaax, people!

sound like this guy hasnt even seen a modern linux installer.

1. “…Vince takes an unpopular opinion and defends it to the death….”
2. Sleep deprivation brings out anger in people.
3. People who use lists might bring out anger in people.
4. :)
5. refer #1

This is a joke, right? Lol. This was the funniest entry I have ever read. Well, close enough to the funniest anyways. Man, I’m linking this to my worst-rants page. rofl.

Damn, what a bunch of fucking morons! read the post title AND the intro! and then read again the post from Jake, and maybe, MAYBE you’ll get a clue…

Anyway, article aside: I love Linux, and I have used tons and tons of distros, and tons of Windows (since 2.0), very little Macs though, and my honest opinion Linux isn’t ready for desktop. If you’re a geek (like me), then you’ll be ok using Linux. You’re a regular user, forget about it.

What can I say? PURE IGNORANCE. I can’t tell you how many times I used a Linux Live CD (Wolvix, Ubuntu, Linux Mint, System Rescue CD) to partition the hard drive the way I want.

Not only live CD, I have installed Linux by dual booting with Windows XP. Please has this author ever used Windows Partitioning utility (diskpart, fdisk), leave alone GParted?? Ha Ha Ha..

Recently I switched to Ubuntu. I wanted a change and wanted to get back into programming. As a former power user I had to relearn quite a lot, Firefox is virtually the same but slightly less stable (mostly around flash) and much faster. Basic Desktop usage is very easy and I don’t think you need to know a thing about the command prompt if you were lucky like me. The system seems very secure I need to type my password in whenever I want to do anything cool.

You might want to take another look. I don’t think you are quite up-to-date my friend. No whizz bang compiz out of the box without config? Wrong! Ubuntu 7.10 requires no fiddling and just works.

If you are happy with an iPhone you are obviously happy with proprietary lock-in. It may take a little bit of effort on your part to break the chains, but man is the reward worth it.

Hmm… I keep backups of all my important files as ever IT pro should. All current files go onto the USB HDD.
My bank’s site works on Moz just fine, and torrent; no problem (that’s how I got Ubuntu 7.10 last nite)
iPhone?!? My Zen Stone and Nokia works just fine. Bonus point for more $$ into my retirement fund :)

I just installed Ubuntu 7.10 on my wifes laptop, and it works just fine. Out of the box. And proprietary video and modem drivers are just like three clicks (Yes, clicks. No command line stuff.) away. But you don’t even need to go there, because the desktop effects work just fine with the included open drivers.

If you really need Microsoft Office and uTorrent, then Windows is probably easier then messing around with Wine and emulation and stuff. But if you need an office suite and a torrent client I don’t really see the problem.

OK, you’ll get one point for the games thing. But for the price you pay for a Windows Vista license you can easily get an Xbox. And a Wii.

Are there still banks requiring IE? Or any other kind of business for that matter, which conciously chooses to alienate a growing customer base because their web designers are too damn lazy to conform with standards and make sure that their online solutions work with anything else than IE 6.0sp1? Tough luck, then, but if this is the case then I am confident that this is a problem that will eliminate itself through natural selection. And this will happen very soon.

And what the bloody hell is an iPhone?

Using your own cannon, Windows is not ready for the desktop either. I mean seriously, an OS that has at least one new exploitable security flaw discovered weekly, needs several 3rd party applications in order to be at all useful & relatively secure, and costs several hundred dollars to use. Is that what you consider production ready?

I use Linux/OSS every day as I have been for over 7 years now and have yet to experience any major lack of functionality with it. I wish I could say the same for Windows. Bitrot, data loss, corruption, reinstalls, fragmentation, malware infestations, etc. etc. etc. All from just normal everyday usage, are you kidding me? And you actually pay money for this mess?!?

As a parting shot, before you start deriding something, you should really take the time to get to know it at least a little bit before you begin bashing it. Otherwise you just end up making an ass of yourself, as you have demonstrated perfectly with your article.

“iPhone” - yeah right!

lol @ this post’s comments

was this a joke?

@dan: Uh, yeah. Like I said waaaaaaaay up in comment #2: “Semi-amusing flamebait.” And sure enough, lots of angry people who missed the point. :P

For me Windows is for sure better than linux

I am going to agree with you, but your argument is flawed.

“Out of the box” is a big thing for you, which explains why you like Fisher Price Operating Systems.

Windows - this one’s box is so open, it is like walking down the street with your money stuck to your back with sticky tape.

Apple - the Mac, iPhone,… etc: all classic examples of form over function, for all those fashion victims who want to look good.

Linux - too much power for the plebs. Ubuntu 7.10 is very nearly there; indeed you can have better desktop (Compiz Fusion) than the others, zero viruses, a faster and easier install process than Windoze, fundamentally safer than all the rest, and the fastest…. oh wait, the downside was…. oh yes, it isn’t a Fisher Price Pretty Thing…. no that wasn’t it… problems do require a brain, yeah that was it, but hey, all the smartest, most helpful people are out there to help!

Maybe real computers should be difficult. Give the masses a browser tablet, or an iPorn or an eBook - diversify into pretty, simple gadgets to fulfil their needs without taxing their little brains.

They all deserve respect

Windows Vista is a very good system and is supported by tons of game games and apps.

Apple works perfectly with a apple computer and sound and visuals are outstanding.

Linux One Word PCLinuxOS nuff said.

My favorite part of using Linux is when ALSA crashes wish some strange error message (cpu overload). You hit “Ok” and continue to use the computer, but it somehow feels a lot slower than before. Not until you look at a process manager do you see that ARTSD process is using a constant 85% CPU power. Stupid, ignorant, lying, Linux fanboys, who should be kicked in the nuts for being SO GOD DAMN ANNOYING, will often tout some garbage about Linux multitasking being better than Windows. Not true, as reflected in this instance, though there are more.

Ready for the desktop? They can’t even get a decent, standardized system for sound playback working. Printing? Don’t even get me started. Linux will always be an oddball hobby OS. If anything replaces Windows, let’s pray to god it isn’t ANYTHING Unix based, but something new and better.

HAHAHAHA, I am so laughing my balls off at half the replies here. Do none of you actually know how to read?

Nice take dude, and it sure was fun watching you wind up the kiddies. :P
Now to return to my PCLinuxOS Gnome Desktop and continue gaming/working. :) Cheers

Honestly, The author cant be that ignorant can he. If this post is a joke then shame on him. If all he wanted to do is bring out the fud trolls then he got his wish. The fact is that toda’ys linix distro’s are quite good. The functionality has advanced so that it has either passed windows or caught up to it in many way’s. Let’s throw out the fact that it is much more secure than windows out of the box and focus on real use (as in every day use) and you will see that today’s linux is an outstanding alternative to windows( I will give you the gaming fact) The distro’s are beautiful with outstanding effects and with enough applications for every day use oh yeah and no authentication bull crap to boot. There are several distro’s that are ready for the masses including my favorite distro, PCLinuxOS. If you want control over your pc with little to no virus worries , no spyware worries etc then use linux. It has been said that ignorance is bliss. If this is true then some of you are extremely happy. There are tons and tons of outstanding software applications available to linux users through synaptic and other package managers. These apps are just a couple clicks away. The 3d effects capabilities are stunning and make what vista offers look lame. If you want the same old same old then use windows. I decided lomg ago that I was not giving microsoft another dime. Linux has let this happen for me and I thank them for it. Why don’t some of you actually give today’s linux a try. Use one of the live cd distro’s. If you will be fair and use a open mind I think you will be very surprised at what you find.

I have to agree…. Linux is not ready out of the box (speaking of Ubuntu here), for most users you have to request a cd or learn to burn an iso file. Then you have to install the disk in the cdrom (for windows users that is the thing you open and sit your coffee cup on). Then you have to choose install… but that only brings you to the livecd part (this brings you to an area lets you try it before you er um buy it). From there you can choose to install it and wait … well not really, you can choose to be productive while you doing this as in search the internet or play your favorite game like freecell solitaire. Once it is installed you have to restart your computer but when you click on it you have to wait for a message to remove the cd and hit enter (most window users would leave the disk in and do it again, and then complain that it did not work). Once you take the disk out you can put your coffee cup back and hit enter. The computer reboots and soon a bubble pops up telling you you have some 200 updates. This really sucks…don’t tell me that I am using an operating system that actually has updates why can’t I stick with the other one that gives me occasional service packs that causes my puter to crash! Now of course you have to learn some new stuff…. lets start with firefox web browser, open it and it takes you to the internet hmmm that was tough. Now of course you have to install that pop up blocker… uh wait firefox already has that oh well I’m sure it won’t work. Now the anti-virus software… where is it, okay I’ll install google and find one… oh google is already there. Search Ubuntu, Anti-virus.. hmm good article on this.. appears that I really don’t need one as Ubuntu only downloads from trusted sources. BUT avg does offer one for free for the paranoid.

Now comes the big problem….. my video sucks, there is a pop up regarding some restricted video drivers…. I knew I would run into trouble… click the button and heck it worked. Something is surely wrong as I have not crashed yet.

As you can see…. Ubuntu is a pain to install but the end is worth it…. ;-)

It’s interesting reading all these comments from nerds and hackers who are obviously completely out of touch with the mainstream world. Sure, Ubuntu is great (I use it and love it) but it’s still far too complicated for the mass of secretaries and telemarketers who can barely read, much less operate a computer, but are forced to use one on their daily jobs. And further, even if people can demonstrate that Linux is “as good as” Windows, that alone isn’t enough reason for all these thousands of corporations to switch their millions of desktops to Linux. Linux might be great for us nerds to have at home, but all these corporations have a huge investment in their current systems, and Windows *works* for them and it works well enough. The enormous number of manhours and work to switch all the desktops over isn’t a good enough return-on-investment, and THAT is all that matters to the corporations. Does Linux offer them MORE than what they currently have, so much more that it justifies the cost of switching? No. Is Windows not cutting it for them? No. It does what they need. So they won’t switch. (And even though Linux is free, it’ll still cost money in terms of paying the IT people to switch over the computers.) So first, the Linux fans need to demonstrate to the world why Windows isn’t cutting it. But unfortunately for them, Windows *is* working for the masses, even if Linux is better.

Comments like what I’m seeing show just how painfully out of touch with reality my peers in the computer world are.

DOWNLOAD linux + install on old computer = LOTS of configuration?
wow, what a shocker. fresh install of any OS on any computer is going to require drivers and setup, AND the download and install of all the software you want. if that windows box crashes, you still have to download and reinstall your stuff.

most people are happy with what they have, and that’s great. noone should have to re-learn their computer just to continue doing the things they do every day. but here’s the thing…

THEY DO HAVE TO RE-LEARN!!! every time MAC and MICROSOFT upgrades their OS, the users get SCREWED. lots of my friends can tell you how to configure win98, winXP, and even the older MAC OS’s. VISTA has us stumped. all the menus and configs have changed. every few years, they decided to change things for APPEARANCE. oh, wait, they also drop your software, too. there’s tons of software that worked fine on my old XP box that won’t run in VISTA. can someone explain this?

i use windows, and would use it on EVERY computer i own, if it were free, or at least cheaper. (around $20 per pc would be fine). but it isn’t. windows xp is the best OS i’ve yet found, but i’m not going to buy it for every computer i build. so i use linux, and it’s great for my normal stuff, and makes most menial tasks even EASIER than using windows. truth be told, i’ve used many versions of linux, and i love linux, but windows XP really runs better on most hardware, faster booting, and way more software for the average joe. compatibility is better, too..

what it comes down to is that every OS, hell, even every VERSION of every OS is different. there’s re-learning required every two years. it’s a fact. i chose to learn and love linux for what it CAN do, and for what it can’t, i still use windows for (games and recording studio)

computers and their software are just tools, and all of them need to be learned to be used properly. i say, stick with what you like and you’ll be fine. probably. i mean, unless windows forces us to upgrade again. LOL

one other thing - when windows crashes, and needs a rebuild, it takes a whole night to fix, s