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doug-ramsbottom
6y

Linux or Windows - still a problem for inexperienced computer users.
I was an IT professional for 35 years but haven't looked at a line of code for 10 years. And it certainly looks different today -
I have trouble using my smart Phone. I have always disliked the intimidation tehniques practised by Microsoft over the years. When
I was running OS2 in the 90's I couldn't get any software for it because MS had persuaded the developers not to release any OS2 versions until Chicago (AKA WIN95) was released. I was forced to use Windows for years until I finally decided to try Linux. Linux
is a great answer but unfortunately unless you are a current programmer there seems to be some situations that force you to maintain a version of Windows (setting up devices, Printers and developed software). Now that UEFI has been introduced as the standard in new PCs it is very difficult just to install and run Linux. So as WIN10 (the most invasive and slow running Windows to date) is the only "Valid" OS - MS is still dictating what we can and can't do. I decided to sell my new PC and pick up an old BIOS PC so that I could run linux and Win 7 to accomplish
my needs. How long can this go on? When will Linux be a "valid" Operating System. And when will a non-programmer be easily able to setup his hardware and find necessary software to run on Linux.

rant

linux

uefi

ms
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  • 4
    6y
    It takes time. I think linux is already a proper operating system but it will really shine when normal people start using it. Most will move there because of osx and windows being bad. And gaming and software on linux has gotten much better. Id say give it another 6 years.
  • 3
    6y
    Steam has it in them to pick or create the de-facto UI for Linux on the desktop. Until then, I enjoy the wild west aspect very, very much. Decentralization is inherently better for users.
  • 2
    6y
    @skprog

    A colleague at work once - that was in the early 2000s - had a t-shirt which said: Linux is the operating system of the future - since 25 years.

    It won't be long and another 25 years will have gone by, and it's still the same.

    *nix is a fantastic achievement, and it's great for servers and stuff, but when it comes to users, it's only ok for absolutely clueless users who just want to browse the web and do some office stuff (and have someone else to install/maintain it for them) and for nerds which enjoy all the plumbing involved.

    Linux users like to deny the plumbing is even there, but it's a reality - and that's not even a bad thing, yet something a run of the mill user isn't suited to deal with. The gitgud mentality of the Linux community doesn't help either.
  • 1
    6y
    I don't get it, I've ram Linux for about 8 years now (approaching 9) and I never had a single issue with it, it has always ran stable. Why does everyone keep saying that its not a proper operating system?
  • 0
    6y
    @linuxxx

    People fear change.
  • 0
    6y
    @linuxxx

    Who ever says that? Of course it's a proper OS.

    It's just not that suitable for mainstream users, which means not the top 5% that are super savvy users willing and able to deal with command line stuff linux requently requires and not the bottom 5% that browse and write office documents and never even would install any software on their own accord.

    Btw., if you chose Linux or any variation of the word as your nickname, you're kinda making your objectivity on the matter abundantly clear. ;)
  • 2
    6y
    @sergiolarosa89
    Sure, for win32 API.
    Try to launch an old 16bit windows application on a x64 install, Windows 8 or greater.
    There's no such thing as infinite compatibility. That's what virtualization is for.
  • 0
    6y
    @mksana Whyso? Both my parents and sister use Linux (for the past 8 years) and they still love it over windows after all this time.

    It's not hard to use if you use the right distro.

    And yeah I'm a Linux engineer professionally, that doesn't have anything to do with logical reasoning, which is what I'm doing right now.
  • 1
    6y
    @linuxxx

    I think your family members whose brother/son is a Linux engineer fall firmly into the category I mentioned in my initial reply - those that have someone to fall back to in case they need assistance.

    IF you know what you're doing and where to look for things, Linux is way superior to Windows in many ways, as MS drifts more and more into the direction of trying to hide stuff and do things on behalf of it's users.

    If that's not what you actually want or the automated way runs into any kind of problems ... even on dedicated MS support channels you often end up being advised to reinstall windows.

    So I maintain my position, Linux is still suitable only for those margin users.

    PS: Don't get me started on distro hell :P
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