Linux - The Great Thorn in Vista’s Side
It seems Microsoft is hitting major speedbumps with it’s Vista release. With so much attention and criticism, Vista is a hot topic of conversation in the technology world (made evident by our last few blog entries). Even if you are not tech saavy, there’s a good chance you’ve heard something about it, and most likely you’ve been hearing all of the chaos that has encompassed it’s launch. With major OEM builders like Dell and HP discussing Linux based platforms, and the growing popularity of Ubuntu Linux as a Desktop Operating System, it sounds like Microsoft finally has some worrying to do.
People are enthralled with the Open Source concept which brings community backed software to a user’s desktop for free. Ubuntu has been making serious waves in light of Microsoft’s fancy new Operating System with it’s easy to use interface and eye-boggling desktop modifications like Beryl and Gdesklets. Universities and major corporations have vowed to ditch Microsoft Operating Systems and switch to a Linux platform due to the high costs associated with licenses and software. How can you go wrong with equal performance with a fraction of the cost? Although the Windows platform still has it’s benefits when it comes to business productivity applications like Adobe Photoshop, QuickBooks, and Office, most desktop users and educational systems dont have a need for such excruciatingly expensive products. Linux offers it’s users comparable free applications like Gimp and OpenOffice, as well as your standard set of desktop applications like web browsers, email clients, instant messengers, and cd/dvd burning software.
So, I believe we are at a technological vicissitude in terms of operating systems and software, and may see the rise of a new household champion, or at least a competitor worth mentioning.
Reference Articles:
- Dell May Offer Linux
- Japanese Schools May Switch to Linux
- California School District Switches to Linux
- Video of Ubuntu + Beryl
- Linux, Half-Truths and Myths
Related Links:
I think you’re right, about us being at a major shift in the technological landscape. Microsoft maxed out, and nowt hey have nowhere to go but down., The negativity in blogosphere — from even well known blogers (i.e. “Cracked Windows”) — makes me think times are changing.
I’m a Mac user, but am all for the rise of Linux. I think variety is good for everyone.
- Alyssa
March 13th, 2007 at 12:02 pmIt is going to take a lot for me to migrate my main machine from a Windows install to a Linux install, mainly because of the gaming part of my life. With DirectX10 games such and Crysis 2 and Unreal Tournament 2007 just around the bend, I am eagerly anticipating a new DX10 graphics card and the DX10 capable Vista to be able to play those games.
So far my impression of Vista has been good, although a bit buggy due to a lack of motherboard drivers for it. Otherwise, I really like the look and feel. Some of the menus are not as intuitive honestly, and I dont really care for the dynamic Programs bar, but these are changes that show that Vista was a complete rewrite.
That being said, I also have two Debian Sarge Linux based machines that I run as game and web servers for RLS in my bedroom, the server that this website runs on which is also Debian Sarge Linux, and a laptop that runs Ubuntu Edgy. I just reconfigured the computer that my sister upgraded to Vista from as an Edubutu Linux machine for my daughter. Albeit old, it should last her a year or more as a web browser, typing tutor and word processor. Linux is far more useful on older systems such as that Celeron 633MHz machine. It was a nice change, because all I had to do was install Edubuntu and that was it. No anti-virus, no firewall, no spyware apps.
I am currently considering a new machine as a media center, and am torn between Vista and a MythTV based media center. MAME will run on both platforms, so really it’s just a matter of preference. The problem is that I cant dual-boot an evaluation copy of Vista to see which I like best before I commit to the platform. This is the greatest part of Open Source applications. Try it, and if you dont like it, stop using it.
March 13th, 2007 at 4:22 pmI tried living in the Linux World and it sucked. It’s so incompatible with mainstream it’s not even funny. And I tried 2 different linux versions. One thing you all seem to be forgetting is this same chaos happened when Windows released Windows 95, and Windows XP. And just like those releases, anybody who installs Vista before they come out with their first Service Pack is an idiot. I am old enough to remember the same chaos and thoughts of mass migration to linux or Mac when XP came out and it all died down after Microsoft’s first Service Pack, and then more people liked XP.
I am not bashing Lnux and I am not praising Microcrap…I am just saying until linux inderstands that not all humans think like a programmer or command-line-enterer, it won’t make it in mainstream America. I have two smartphones, a video ipod, and an HP IPAQ that all sync perfectly with Outlook. That’s where Linux really needs to work…is making it work with other devices.
April 5th, 2007 at 3:30 pmJust installed Ubuntu 7.04 Beta and WOW really nice.Added Beryl….
April 9th, 2007 at 11:04 amSweet.All just worked.Just wished more games where ported to Linux.
If you think that Linux is behind, think again.I running Windows XP
64bit and still have a hard time finding Drivers that will work.
So at time time we are trying Wine with Steam and we’ll see what
happens.
Just my 2 cents