The server/desktop distinction

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Dillon is right as far as GUI out of the box. I have looked at Dragonfly and PC-Bsd. Any BSD or Linux offer a wide range desktop environments. Many of us use these environments. But there are still a few things lacking. The reality is that Linux or BSD's need to focus on more of what an end user wants in order for the Xwindows desktop to become wide spread.

There are still hardware compatibility issues. Not so much for an experienced Linux user. I am talking out of the box or off a burned disk. Laptops and wifi cards are a pain for new users. In fact the are many issues with some network interface cards. I have a process I follow to do Linux desktop installs. It works great for me but I can't always hand a disk set to even a savy Windows user and expect them to have a clean trouble free install. However, in many cases I do get that phone call.. "Hey thanks! works great!" There are a few Distrebution that focus on a better than MS Windows desktop. This is without a doubt the only way the Linux desktop will go wide spread.

Once the desktop is up and running it's very easy to use. KDE and Gnome are awesome. But.. the next issue is Browser plugins. Do we have them? Yes, but some are not that easy to install. what's more, is the fact that Adobe reader,Flash,Sunjava,RealPlayer and others are not installed (some are now). Most need to be downloaded and installed. It's easy to do but... Also, If Linux is going grab the enduser market it needs the Games. Wine, Xwine, and crossover work but again it's not that easy to install Xwine and not all games work. Why do I say games? Because "Everyone" needs to be using the Linux Desktop. People using it and talking about it will bring it to wide spread use. A Linux is one Distrebution that is working to meet this need. Please check it out.

Now as far as a Desktop workstation goes, it's simple and most of what you would ever need is there.

The Linux/BSD Server is as we know being used everywhere. However, as much as there are server management packages it is still troublesome for a new *nix user. As you have said Murph, A good *nix admin has lots of time on his hands. If the server environment is set up by an experianced hand, it pretty much runs it's self trouble free. Most Windows admin's have no idea of the wealth of applications there are for system management. What's needed is a trouble free turn key environment. That's not to say that there are not but it's one thing to setup your Apache Web server and another to secure the system. How many know how to use Snort,Nessus,TCP dump, or write scripts and cron them for task automation? This is just to name a few. I mean, there is a wealth of Server management and development applications for *nix! Freshmeat is just loaded! This is what makes Open source awesome.

Dragonfly has some awesome goals. But package management,updates,and patching are an issue with all Operating systems. It is very easy to use package management applications. But for third party applications one must use and understand the repositories needed.

All *nix's come with GUI desktops. Some distrebutions focus on Server packages some on enduse desktops. All have the same packages to operate in a network environment. Redhat and SuSe are two that lead in turn key easy to use *nix systems. OpenBSD,Dragonfly,Solaris and the like are super for a *nix head. Ubuntu,Fedora,A Linux,Linspire, Mandriva, and the like are great enduser Distro's. $40 to $60 bucks for tons of multimedia fun and support. (or download for free) Use your webcam in yahoo and MSN, plug in your camera and load your shots! Play some games, watch movies, and listen to music.

I would like to hear more Linux users talking about what *nix's need to meet the needs of everyone?

Posted by: xstep   Posted on: 09/02/05 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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