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mostly games
For the most part, the games are a big show stopper - sure, thanks to John Carmack's sympathy to the Open Source movement, there's some cool shooters for Linux - but I'm a strategy gamer, and there's almost nothing for me. John's shooters and some 2D games are about all you'll be able to play on Linux.

Also, the most ambitious attempt to port games to Linux - Loki - shut down a long time ago in 2001, and there hasn't been a decent replacement since.

So Linux is never really going to gain any big traction with gamers. Not unless another Loki comes along - and that looks like it's never happening.

Also, when Linux fails, it fails big time. Vista automates a lot of troubleshooting tasks, where Linux doesn't. Sure, my grandma could use Linux - until she needs to fix some problem or bug.

Also, let's be honest: People are comfortable with Windows and they know it just works. They're willing to pay a premium for that comfort and not have to deal with the mess of switching OSes.

Also many people may have an occasional application that they like but isn't available for Linux. Even if there's an equivalent for Linux, don't discount the power of brand loyalty.
Posted by: CobraA1   Posted on: 01/25/08 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use
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the question is if they'll keep linux and buy a second one  voyager529 | 01/24/08
Basic users do not typically buy additional software, they just need email,  DonnieBoy | 01/24/08
That is a load of BS.  GuidingLight | 01/24/08
Freepire is a great OS for everyone.  joe.smetona@... | 01/25/08
Basic user? Sure this is  p0figster | 01/25/08
I have both Fedora and Win XP  alaniane@... | 01/25/08
basic user?  agaudet | 01/26/08
To which you add your own  TtfnJohn | 01/26/08
True  Kromaethius | 01/26/08
LOL  e2001@... | 01/29/08
. . . and Tax Software  DarienHawk67 | 01/30/08
Well they should read the box  voska1 | 01/24/08
read the box  aussieblnd@... | 01/25/08
You fail  daengbo | 01/25/08
fail  agaudet | 01/26/08
mostly games  CobraA1 | 01/25/08
Games?  levinson | 01/25/08
Not a gamer target  markdean | 01/27/08
Games!  e2001@... | 01/29/08
Ironically, I find catastrophic Linux failures  alaniane@... | 01/25/08
Any OS has catastrophic user failures  Ole Man | 01/28/08
Exactly.  joe.smetona@... | 01/29/08
catastrophic windows failures  agaudet | 01/26/08
New Software  Update victim | 01/25/08
I've been wanting to switch for many years  ron.cleaver@... | 01/24/08
WINE  galileon | 01/24/08
WINE Example.  joe.smetona@... | 01/25/08
BearShare contacted.  joe.smetona@... | 01/25/08
I imagine that Quicken and Turbo Tax will be available online if they are  DonnieBoy | 01/24/08
They are but IE only  Chad_z | 01/25/08
I've used Turbotax Online in Linux for the last two years.  enduser_z | 01/25/08
Confirm TTax-online Linux/Mozilla  Solid Water | 01/25/08
Huh? Not true....  techboy_z | 01/25/08
Not just IE only anymore.  LonnieRM | 01/25/08
GNU Cash? (NT)  SpikeyMike | 01/24/08
Using this...  Solid Water | 01/25/08
Re. WiFi on Linux  techboy_z | 01/24/08
WiFi does work very well under Linux, the problem is drivers, or rather,  DonnieBoy | 01/24/08
Not for everybody ...  George Mitchell | 01/24/08
I agree that Linux is not for everybody  alaniane@... | 01/25/08
You limit yourself then...  Linux User 147560 | 01/24/08
When in doubt about wireless hardware on Linux  Michael Kelly | 01/24/08
Try taxact.com, mvelopes.com, and damn small linux  pointzerotwo@... | 01/25/08
Linux Wireless  Gerry_z | 01/25/08
Yes, Linux covers al of the basics very well. Pick up a Wii AND a Linux PC  DonnieBoy | 01/24/08
The way things have been lately  Michael Kelly | 01/24/08
I guess I have not tried to buy one, but I saw that the basic system with  DonnieBoy | 01/24/08
manufacturing is maxed... and they're still looking to make more (nt)  shryko | 01/25/08
oh. I almost forgot to mention... cost issues.  shryko | 01/25/08
Cheaper option?  techboy_z | 01/24/08
Printing is still a problem  DarthRidiculous | 01/24/08
Still, I have had better luck with Linux. Case in point, we bought a new HP  DonnieBoy | 01/24/08
Because the driver was included with the distro  DarthRidiculous | 01/24/08
Still, there are a lot of cases where you can have a lot of problems with  DonnieBoy | 01/24/08
Try configuring a printer  alaniane@... | 01/25/08
Bingo!  Ole Man | 01/25/08
2 of my printers was not listed, but my Suse-box found  hkommedal | 01/27/08
RE: Five reasons not to fear a $200 Linux PC  Loverock Davidson | 01/24/08
You obviously didn't even read the article ...  George Mitchell | 01/24/08
Wrong wrong and WRONG  Loverock Davidson | 01/24/08
Ther is not one fact in your post.....  linux for me | 01/24/08
A Real Brain?  JLHenry | 01/26/08
3.5 sad  Mike Hunt | 01/25/08
8.5  pointzerotwo@... | 01/25/08
Facts??? Where, Lovey?  TtfnJohn | 01/26/08
You don't seem to be on friendly terms with facts.  hkommedal | 01/28/08
Try using version of linux from this decade  voska1 | 01/24/08
I have  Loverock Davidson | 01/24/08
Well post truth not made up stuff  voska1 | 01/24/08
what's wrong  sjaaxken | 01/25/08
RE: What's wrong  bfilipiak@... | 01/25/08
7.4 . . . but did you check with your MS rep first?  Basic Logic | 01/24/08
Oh Rockhead ...  Henaway | 01/24/08
The Big Lie from Loverock  BanjoPaterson | 01/25/08
Thank you!!!  burkhartmic | 01/25/08
Loverock Will Not Reply To This  itanalyst | 01/25/08
I fear you guys have hurt his poor little feelings  Ole Man | 01/25/08
not my experience  viztor | 01/25/08
Hhhmmm...  DNSB | 01/25/08
Okey, I should know better, but I just can't resist.  swoopee | 01/25/08
Calm down, you're hysterical  schmandel@... | 01/25/08
IDIOT ALERT  itanalyst | 01/25/08
That was quite a lot of nonsense in one go.  hkommedal | 01/28/08
I love this guy, he's a blast!  Sabz5150 | 01/29/08
You really just have to advertise that the commodity exists  Boot_Agnostic | 01/24/08
Software and hardware vendors are holding back on supporting Linux ...  George Mitchell | 01/24/08
Price is a very important aspect.  Update victim | 01/25/08
Bullseye!  Ole Man | 01/25/08
10% not true  whatever22 | 01/24/08
Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt  hulse_kevin | 01/25/08
Correction.  joe.smetona@... | 01/25/08
PS:  Ole Man | 01/25/08
That should be 100% not true(nt)  whatever22 | 01/24/08
Been there, done that.  hulse_kevin | 01/25/08
Bing bing bing bing bing bing bing!  Ole Man | 01/25/08
I'm thinking Asus eeePC  Boxarox | 01/24/08
Nice choice.  DNSB | 01/25/08
You are clueless  bmobile40 | 01/24/08
RE: Five reasons not to fear a $200 Linux PC  nigelg | 01/24/08
You musta been smokin' somethin'.  Henaway | 01/24/08
Huh?  fromthehip | 01/28/08
The Year of Linux  nigelg | 01/24/08
The corners cut on that PC's power supply,  HypnoToad72 | 01/24/08
Yet more evidence that Windows's supposed "monopoly" is no monopoly  PB_z | 01/24/08
Alternatives existed at time of trials  Boot_Agnostic | 01/26/08
I beg to differ with the author  GuidingLight | 01/24/08
logic?  CobraA1 | 01/25/08
Yes  voska1 | 01/25/08
how about  agaudet | 01/26/08
Web for Office applications? Yuck.  CobraA1 | 01/25/08
Maybe for businesses  alaniane@... | 01/25/08
Office apps on the Web: Good idea  billfranke@... | 01/25/08
Five reason not to fear - PART II  cramthat | 01/25/08
That sword cuts both ways  alaniane@... | 01/25/08
Now you're getting to the point, but...  cheesyone | 01/28/08
So say that Wine will handle those games  Boot_Agnostic | 01/30/08
open-source versions of Microsoft Office  cburkitt2 | 01/25/08
OpenOffice.org really is worth looking at  graywave | 01/25/08
Yawn.........  Heatlesssun1 | 01/25/08
Yes & No......  LazLong | 01/25/08
What percentage of Windows PCs still have Windows on them?  MarkHarrison | 01/25/08
I didn't delete XP,  steverush | 01/25/08
Freespire rocks!  Narg | 01/25/08
yes but...  rsiler | 01/25/08
the main reason i don't move to linux is lack of dvd-video burning software  wessonjoe | 01/25/08
main reason for this is lack of codec not encumbered by DMCA.  wessonjoe | 01/25/08
Have you ever.......  LazLong | 01/25/08
what do you mean  agaudet | 01/26/08
K3b does it.  TtfnJohn | 01/26/08
Try this...  cheesyone | 01/28/08
you got that right  cwhull | 01/25/08
I fail to see  Crestview | 01/25/08
i fail to see your logic  agaudet | 01/26/08
May not be the "Year for the Linux Desktop"  Ole Man | 01/25/08
RE: Five reasons not to fear a $200 Linux PC  Philbert_2k | 01/25/08
WOW! Got a Dell/Ubuntu ...now...  mikifinaz1@... | 01/25/08
Cute little computer to load Windows on  Crestview | 01/25/08
RE: Five reasons not to fear a $200 Linux PC  etaoinbe@... | 01/26/08
RE: Five reasons not to fear a $200 Linux PC  scottpm@... | 01/26/08
Are you kidding me?  just^me | 01/27/08
You can try Linux for free  stan@... | 01/27/08
No Fear, but NO FIND  NoPro | 01/28/08
RE: Five reasons not to fear a $200 Linux PC  drobinow | 01/28/08
Yes, easy, Firefox is already there.  joe.smetona@... | 01/28/08
It takes more than Firfox.  drobinow | 01/28/08
Ya Know it is really rather easy......  LazLong | 01/28/08
I hope you're right  drobinow | 01/28/08
About Linux and hardware  joe.smetona@... | 01/29/08

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