On CBS.com: Play Survivor Video Trivia Now
BNET Business Network:
BNET
TechRepublic
ZDNet
TalkBack 12 of 222:
Next »
« Previous
Linux on the Desktop
Hi, Loverock.

You said:

Face facts, Linsux just isn't any good on the desktop. Its applications are limited. The open source apps that run on Linsux work better on Windows. There is no incentive to use Linsux on the desktop. Need I get into multimedia and Linsux's lack of it? Still no streaming video plugin for Mozilla on Linsux.

Well, I'm not sure about this mythical Linsux OS, but let's talk about Linux for a minute here.

1) Linux does, indeed have fewer desktop applications than Windows. That doesn't necessarily impact on whether or not it's a good "desktop" OS, because different desktop users have different needs. If I wanted an Internet machine, I'd much rather have Linux on it than Windows, because the Internet apps and security features are more robust (the only caveat being to avoid ISPs like AOL that require proprietary software). If I was a game player (and to some extent, I am) I'd want Windows on my machine, because that's what the most, best games are written for. If I was going to do graphic design, I'd want a Mac. Saying that Linux isn't a good desktop OS because it doesn't have enough applications doesn't tell the whole story.

2) If you're going to criticize Linux, you should at least take a look at modern distros. Linux has been able to do streaming video for quite some time now. As for multimedia, there are apps for videoconferencing, movie capture, burning dvds, recording audio, etc. I guess I'm not sure how you're defining "multimedia".
Posted by: bhartman24   Posted on: 04/26/04 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

Alert moderator to an offensive message

Subscribe to this discussion via Email or RSS

Those Spaniards...  k4_pacific | 04/22/04
I agree  el1jones | 04/23/04
Linux backers foresee desktop gains  Loverock Davidson | 04/22/04
Wow!!!  Martin Marvinski | 04/22/04
Heh  hi and stuff | 04/22/04
App installation  toadlife | 04/22/04
Your use of "Linsux" takes away from your  Laff | 04/23/04
Why not use Windows and....  mgc0588 | 04/26/04
i'll have you know...  ryusen | 04/23/04
Ok, I'll let you go back to your parent's basement now.  Spam-ZD | 04/25/04
Linux as a desktop OS...  wonderbored | 04/26/04
Linux on the Desktop  bhartman24 | 04/26/04
ho hum  toadlife | 04/22/04
note..  toadlife | 04/22/04
Apple has been mainstream for many years  escoles@... | 04/23/04
You saw it in Business Week?  IT_User | 04/22/04
ho hum'r  toadlife | 04/22/04
Kinda my point  IT_User | 04/23/04
Apple passed by Linux  uno@... | 04/24/04
Outrageous claims...  Mike Cox | 04/22/04
You go Mikie  IT_User | 04/22/04
Keep on clickin' Mike! (NT)  toadlife | 04/22/04
Mike is always a hoot  CobraA1 | 04/22/04
he loves XP  t8 | 04/23/04
Love...  Martin Marvinski | 04/26/04
6.3  Michael Kelly | 04/23/04
You love XP...but will it love you back?  escoles@... | 04/23/04
8.5  nucrash | 04/23/04
Who's your rep?  doctormoriarty | 04/26/04
Don't See It Happening  webproclaim | 04/22/04
At home? Have to agree  IT_User | 04/22/04
The problem with that...  toadlife | 04/22/04
Challenges, not show-stoppers  IT_User | 04/23/04
Things change  j.m.galvin | 04/23/04
What failed with  Linux User 147560 | 04/23/04
My wireless lan card  IT_User | 04/23/04
You are a LIAR!  j.m.galvin | 04/23/04
Okay, ya got me  IT_User | 04/23/04
SuSE easy, Mandrake easier  Still Lynn | 04/24/04
And this proves what?  Spam-ZD | 04/25/04
Already Happening  Letophoro | 04/23/04
It'll happen  CobraA1 | 04/22/04
It'll happen  seosamh_z | 04/23/04
not always the case though  Monkey_MCSE | 04/23/04
Hence why we need Wine  CobraA1 | 04/24/04
Windows 2000/XP Professional are the DESKTOP OS  Enterprise Analyst | 04/23/04
DAEMON...So good to see my big fat fish  Laff | 04/23/04
Linux cut and paste  Joe Blow_z | 04/23/04
Well Joe...youre response and post is  Laff | 04/23/04
I agree with Joe.  Brasonte | 04/23/04
Funny thing...  Linux_Developer | 04/23/04
Friendly is in the eye of the beholder  in-DUH-vidual | 04/24/04
Friendliness  Brasonte | 04/26/04
OK/CANCEL  Joe Blow_z | 04/23/04
Oh I see.....  Laff | 04/23/04
There should be no OK/CANCEL  uno@... | 04/24/04
You mean they're actually consistent about something?  Immanuel Tranz-Mischen | 04/25/04
Who clicks the buttons anyway?  Immanuel Tranz-Mischen | 04/25/04
gripe?  dwest_z | 04/23/04
Registry edits  Joe Blow_z | 04/23/04
GUI  dwest_z | 04/23/04
Cheapskate!  amicus_curious | 04/23/04
Nope!  bchesmer | 04/23/04
Windows is great...  jstead1 | 04/23/04
I agree  NemesisNL | 04/24/04
Cut and paste is happening in Mandrake9.2!  Peter Komisar | 04/26/04
Hmm....  bchesmer | 04/23/04
Stupid thinking and no sense of history  amicus_curious | 04/23/04
Actually...  bchesmer | 04/23/04
Obviously  amicus_curious | 04/23/04
Yes, quite  Linux_Developer | 04/23/04
Your points prove the strength of Linux....  Laff | 04/23/04
But they haven't CHANGED.  Immanuel Tranz-Mischen | 04/25/04
i don't know of anyone who uses office 2003 or office XP for that matter  Monkey_MCSE | 04/23/04
Re: you don't have any clients  Enterprise Analyst | 04/23/04
rinky-dink operations.....  bchesmer | 04/23/04
A dose of reality  mikeybrass | 04/23/04
You don't know anything about business  IT_User | 04/23/04
troll (nt)  toadlife | 04/23/04
Perhaps you should try Linux some time  uno@... | 04/24/04
D A E M O N, you are funny  CobraA1 | 04/24/04
This guy's Mike Cox without the irony  Expatriate US Geek | 04/25/04
I get really sick when I have to boot into Win2k  Xunil_Sierutuf | 04/23/04
The office first  Chad_z | 04/23/04
I see it too. It looks like Win3.1  No_Ax_to_Grind | 04/23/04
I'm sure it's possible...  Linux_Developer | 04/23/04
STOP errors  PA-ITGuy | 04/23/04
Defenitely  toadlife | 04/23/04
Interesting. But anyway...  Linux_Developer | 04/23/04
Re: STOP errors  Linux_Developer | 04/23/04
(NT)Windows is less tolerant of driver errors  toadlife | 04/23/04
I get a lot too.  doe_z | 04/23/04
Re: STOP errors  Linux_Developer | 04/23/04
oops  Linux_Developer | 04/23/04
so you switched to Linux  V Sanders | 04/24/04
Interesting philosophy  amicus_curious | 04/23/04
innovative spirit....  bchesmer | 04/23/04
Good one !!!  mabricen | 04/23/04
Dumb and dumber  amicus_curious | 04/23/04
Who the **** cares?  IT_User | 04/23/04
Looking in the mirror again I see...  bchesmer | 04/23/04
This is simple really....  Laff | 04/23/04
I agree...  Linux_Developer | 04/24/04
It's incredible  jstead1 | 04/23/04
Um, nice try.  Linux_Developer | 04/23/04
Yes and no...  Linux_Developer | 04/23/04
You can't be serious  mabricen | 04/23/04
Corporation I work for is 5,000 +  Enterprise Analyst | 04/23/04
Corporation I work for is 3500+  Mack DaNife | 04/23/04
Active Directory  Enterprise Analyst | 04/23/04
What's CO's stock symbol  bchesmer | 04/23/04
Return on investment  Yagotta B. Kidding | 04/23/04
Working for privately held company big diff....  Enterprise Analyst | 04/23/04
Spot on Yagotta, Less corporate waste allows IT jobs to stay in the USA.  Plain Logic | 04/25/04
What's the point of  Linux User 147560 | 04/23/04
Each to his own  toadlife | 04/23/04
Why switch?  Linux_Developer | 04/23/04
Corp. I work for is 100,000+  Yagotta B. Kidding | 04/23/04
can't argue with ignorance  Monkey_MCSE | 04/23/04
most people are dual booting...  +-Chris-+ | 04/23/04
Terminal server  uno@... | 04/24/04
Good luck (i.e.: The Luxury of Ignorance: An Open-Source Horror Story)  AxleMunshine | 04/23/04
Fsck your cat  Spin_Masterz | 04/24/04
Get it right before insult people  mabricen | 04/23/04
correction  toadlife | 04/23/04
Single click in  Linux User 147560 | 04/23/04
right click  PA-ITGuy | 04/23/04
True  Linux User 147560 | 04/23/04
Preferences  PA-ITGuy | 04/23/04
Bad usability  uno@... | 04/24/04
Some of what you say  Linux User 147560 | 04/24/04
They are still hidden behavior  uno@... | 04/24/04
Human nature  Anton Philidor | 04/25/04
Disagree w/ the Link.  doe_z | 04/24/04
Click in, cut and paste don't even work ha ha  Enterprise Analyst | 04/24/04
Ugh, I'm sick of the "cut-and-paste" argument  Linux_Developer | 04/24/04
Ugh, I'm sick of you saying linux is perfect  Enterprise Analyst | 04/25/04
Great news, but get the lead out!  FederalistPaperBoy | 04/23/04
Good!  KOS-MOS | 04/23/04
Linux caught in a quagmire  Enterprise Analyst. | 04/24/04
Linux caught in a quagmire  Linux_Developer | 04/24/04
Re: Problem summed up  Enterprise Analyst. | 04/24/04
Problems dismissed  Linux_Developer | 04/24/04
RE: Problems dismissed  Enterprise Analyst. | 04/24/04
A little clarification...  Linux_Developer | 04/24/04
Good service  uno@... | 04/24/04
Why Linux will never be my desktop choice.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 04/24/04
Hmmm  Linux User 147560 | 04/24/04
As I said...  No_Ax_to_Grind | 04/24/04
Glad we agree on the critical point.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 04/24/04
Amazing wisdom  Enterprise Analyst | 04/24/04
At least I am proactive  Linux User 147560 | 04/24/04
so they didn't pay?  V Sanders | 04/24/04
RE: so they didn't pay  Enterprise Analyst | 04/24/04
They paid but there is a difference and a  Linux User 147560 | 04/24/04
Re: they paid a price  Enterprise Analyst | 04/25/04
Re: hmmm  Enterprise Analyst | 04/24/04
Moneydance costs money it is NOT free  Enterprise Analyst | 04/24/04
It's cheaper than Quicken  toadlife | 04/24/04
Cheaper is NOT better!  Enterprise Analyst | 04/24/04
don't put words in peoples mouths  toadlife | 04/24/04
You said [cheaper is better]  Enterprise Analyst | 04/25/04
RE: Why Linux will never be my desktop OS  Enterprise Analyst | 04/24/04
I have to disagree.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 04/24/04
Try BSD  toadlife | 04/24/04
RE: Try BSD [What on earth for]  Enterprise Analyst | 04/24/04
why  toadlife | 04/24/04
.  toadlife | 04/24/04
Yes and no.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 04/24/04
MACs are good  Enterprise Analyst | 04/24/04
No need for junk operating systems  Enterprise Analyst | 04/24/04
You mean Deamon?  toadlife | 04/24/04
Re:  Enterprise Analyst | 04/24/04
Is there a point?  toadlife | 04/24/04
Demon  Enterprise Analyst | 04/24/04
the real reason is  V Sanders | 04/24/04
You may well be right.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 04/24/04
Linux has a pretty good legal department  toadlife | 04/24/04
Not a chance.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 04/24/04
Linux has a legal department?  Enterprise Analyst | 04/24/04
Eventually things will be settled  toadlife | 04/24/04
Pipe dreams and counting sheep  Enterprise Analyst | 04/24/04
If you are happy with the WIndows desktop...  B.O.F.H. | 04/24/04
Re: happy with Windows ect...  Enterprise Analyst | 04/24/04
Use what you are comfortable with!  B.O.F.H. | 04/24/04
Now hang on just a minute.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 04/24/04
trolls/zealots  Iain_Peters | 04/25/04
Now there is a great excuse.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 04/26/04
Pot calling the kettle black  toadlife | 04/24/04
RE: Pot and the kettle  Enterprise Analyst | 04/25/04
Re: DOS attacks on SCO Group  B.O.F.H. | 04/25/04
I can't believe it!  No_Ax_to_Grind | 04/24/04
No problem with Windows  Enterprise Analyst | 04/24/04
Yes! Goodbye! Forever, I hope...  Linux_Developer | 04/24/04
Dude,  Linux User 147560 | 04/24/04
Re: you are against America  Enterprise Analyst | 04/25/04
I can't believe I am doing this...  Linux User 147560 | 04/25/04
A closer look at your claims  Linux_Developer | 04/25/04
Read this your CLOSE MINDED FOOl  DAEMONwhatadumbfuck | 04/28/04
You must work as a janitor in a theme park?  Enterprise Analyst | 04/26/04
Ahhh what is the matter?  Linux User 147560 | 04/26/04
Apps... yes, but overall no.  doe_z | 04/24/04
You may be right, someday.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 04/24/04
Here is some answers...  StarTux_z | 04/24/04
No, those are *your* answers.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 04/25/04
Oh puh-lease  CobraA1 | 04/24/04
Cobra, it's guys like you I just shake my head at.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 04/25/04
Twisting words  CobraA1 | 04/26/04
Linux is NOT free as in Freedom  Enterprise Analyst | 04/24/04
I can't think why...  Linux_Developer | 04/24/04
You are NO developer  Enterprise Analyst | 04/25/04
Excuse me...  Linux_Developer | 04/26/04
What Linux really needs...  No_Ax_to_Grind | 04/24/04
Linux needs to be deleted  Enterprise Analyst | 04/24/04
You are worse than the Linux fanatics.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 04/24/04
I am the BEST  Enterprise Analyst | 04/24/04
Linux fanatics  Linux_Developer | 04/24/04
The fact you ask such a question..  No_Ax_to_Grind | 04/25/04
No, it doesn't.  Linux_Developer | 04/26/04
Just going by your posts...  No_Ax_to_Grind | 04/26/04
Linux needs to be thrown out and re-written!  Enterprise Analyst | 04/24/04
Daemon - stick to your day job  Iain_Peters | 04/25/04

What do you think?

SponsoredWhite Papers, Webcasts, and Downloads

advertisement
advertisement

Enterprise Applications

  • Check out some of the easiest and most powerful ways to boost productivity while saving money on your application infrastructure. See ZDNet's comprehensive Enterprise Application resource center, now!
  • New Online Dashboard
  • Read about top issues IT decision-makers face every day, plus get cost effective solutions to real life IT problems. Oracle Topline