The Empire Strikes Back

[Redman]

Beside the subject being the title of (in my opinion) the best Star Wars movie, it is also the title of an interesting article about Microsoft / Dell / Ubuntu / etc.

And the author is so right. For I am afraid Linux is too spread out (to many distributions / independent communities) at this moment to be a rock solid slash hammer for any Windows system (but should it be?). Since Linux is no "product" you buy in any general store in general (of there will be exceptions, but not worldwide) and/or sold by a "company" (I don't count Red Hat and SUSE in since they only go for the companies).

Don't get me wrong, I love Linux and would fight for it. But I feel the the diversity we cherish so much, does prevent Linux from being a rock-solid alternative for Windows used by the "average" man. Which won't change soon as long as it doesn't show up in any "supermarket" who sells pc's....

[fingal]

Well to (probably misquote) a certain Mr. Torvalds: 'Linux doesn't exist to destroy Windows. That will just be a side-effect!'

Also, I can't visit that link because it crashes my browser, though I'm on a very old laptop running Windows Explorer today. If I was at home on my Linux box I'd be able to read that article!

[techieMoe]

@Redman

I'm really getting tired of this argument. As I've said before, I personally don't care whether or not Linux is a viable desktop competitor for MS Windows, and I really think the Linux community needs to focus on making Linux better rather than making it more like Windows.

People are always going to gravitate toward what's familiar. Humans are creatures of habit. Some folks will live and die knowing nothing at all about operating systems, and think that the only way to use a computer is to run MS Windows. Is this some sort of biblical abomination about which we should all be concerned? No.

I will live and die not knowing a single damned thing about the inside of my car's engine, why the key makes it go, and why mechanics charge me $300 to replace a hose. I will still die having lived a fulfilled life. There are more important things to worry about than software and cars.

[netstrider]

Well I don't care about the market share really :P I care that my box works as I want it to. Linux does that for me and I don't care if it's the no.1 OS or not.

I think now Canonical + Ubuntu might run in the same Line as Novell and RHEL...

[carlosponti]

about the only time i get disgusted and think it would be good for Linux to take over is when Microsoft's Ballmer starts with the rhetoric about Linux infringing on MS IP And all the warmongering tactics they have tried to use to keep Linux from being a choice for people in general. i don't necessarily want it to compete but it would be nice to have companies, hardware or software recognize it enough so my usage at home will go smoothly. Basically all the software i have for windows i want to work on Linux. for the most part it does there are a few instances where i have windows take up the slack but not much anymore.

[Redman]

... rather than making it more like Windows.

I did not say that.
Not did I suggested that Linux should be ... careful!

My point, and one point only, is that the Linux community is, in my opinion, scattered into many different, communities. And I vented my concern about this. Because any newbie (and I've come across many) who would even consider evaluating Linux hasn't got a clue where to start and where to get the help needed.

And when a big company gives a signal they want to get into the Linux share, it does raise hope that it will be more integrated / available into the IT world, not only on a server level, but perhaps more important on a desktop level. No matter how much % they would get from the complete market (I don't care how much, as long as they are visibly present). But so far, I still can't go to any major store in my country and buy a pre-installed pc

[smolloy]

The scattering of linux into many different communities is a strength and a weakness. A weakness due to the points you raised, however a strength since there are many different directions being explored by those many communities, which leads to a faster improvement rate of the OS.

For me, I am more reassured by the strength, than I am worried by the weakness. As long as I always have a choice of different high quality operating systems, I will be happy -- even if Linux's market share is rubbish.

[oz]

For me, I am more reassured by the strength, than I am worried by the weakness. As long as I always have a choice of different high quality operating systems, I will be happy -- even if Linux's market share is rubbish.

Same here...

[Oxygen]

I want to see Linux used by more people, but not to destroy windows, it's because I want companies to take Linux seriously and support it. There's alot more support for hardware and software on Windows than on Linux. It doesn't stop me from using Linux, it's just that if I could rely on official drivers for things like my network card, webcam... they'd probably be more efficient.

Overall I'm willing to have a slightly slower internet connection than have the entire OS freeze up for no apparent reason...

[jens]

which leads to a faster improvement rate of the OS.

...but what OS will that be?
Normal Linux or MS/Linux (SUSE on a DELL with an optional Ubuntu installation icon)?

The idea of Free Software(call it Open if you prefer that) will never die.
All this absurt MS/Novell/DELL IP crap is just pure FUD.
SUSE MS/Linux and the like will end the same dead as SCO (and Dell will happily keep running preinstalled Windows).

My GNU/Linux desktop keeps getting better every year and I still don't need proprietary software for that (or Microsoft wannabees like Novell/SUSE).

Why would anyone use a Windows clone running a Linux kernel in first place?
I agree with Redman, the current Linux community is indeed very divided.