Lindows - What do Linux Users Really Think? 87
Harry asks: "Last week I had a laps in judgement and subscribed to the Lindows Insider program. After playing with Lindows for a few days, I decided that Lindows was not worth my trouble and un-subscribed from the program. When I did so, I mentioned my disappointments and requested that they take a survey on Slashdot to see what Linux users really thought of their product. They stated they did and received 'great results and mostly positive feedback.' After having a chance to play with Lindows, I can not believe this to be true. So, my question is: What do Linux users really think of Lindows and will they support it?"
I'm not aware of any such poll (maybe I missed it) and I don't remember many glowing reviews from our previous stories on Lindows. So maybe it's time to get the answer straight from the horses' mouth. Do you think Lindows is worth it?
Sure... (Score:1)
root (Score:2, Informative)
Lindows will be/is a security nightmare!
IMHO, the only good thing that can come out of Lindows is if they contribute some of their patches to WINE or Rewind...
Re:root (Score:1)
This can be used as a baby-step into the Linux world for many Windows users. If they can get away from using IE and MS-Office, and to start thinking that the program isn't as important as the data, it's a big step forward for Linux.
Re:root (Score:1)
Re:root (Score:2)
Re:root (Score:1)
It's not really hard on *nix either...
Re:root (Score:1)
Re:root (Score:1)
As for blowing away the OS... that's not a big deal. Just reinstall. (It's inconvenient, but not catastrophic.) For systems that haven't been tweaked heavily, it's the user directories that tend to have the really important data.
Re:root (Score:1)
Perhaps that is my only complaint about something like Lycoris. Configuring sych a system is a pain, because a lot of the tools are gone! Stripped from the OS. Lindows may very well be this way too, but there are a lot of people looking for this functionality. Power it up and go. Browse the web or play some solitaire. Check your email or write a report. I don't know how successful Lindows will be, but it is already succeeding at things that no other Linux distribution has accomplished. It is making its way to inexpensive PCs, designed for the consumer looking for a value (despite being obtained through an obscure method, like Wal-Mart's website). I am not sure what it will do for the Linux community, but it doubt that it is negatively going to impact those "geeky" distributions. It doesn't really matter, does it? There will still be a planet full of devoted people trying to make Linux better for the good of all of us. At least Lindows will take another person out of the MS line of fire. People don't need Microsoft, but they do need an easy to use alternative that doesn't have a huge learning curve. Such a soultion is essential, as it provides a flavor of Linux for those people that need something less complex, but just a stable and powerful. And it is possible with today's Linux. Linux is for everyone. We can't keep alienating the rest of the people for not being interested in computer stability and security. Eventually, they will see the benefits of free software, and the drawbacks of being locked into Microsoft's iniative. No doubt, if MS weren't there, someone else would do the same thing, but at least there is an alternative, and it needs to be easily accessible and easy to use.
I personally will stick to Slackware, but I could see myself installing Lindows on my parents' and co-workers' computers.
If they can make money of it - its worth it. (Score:4, Insightful)
If they make money of it, some of those money will get funneled back into the community. If they don't make money of it, well, it'll give the difficult linux crowd some more bad publicity when it comes to 'how difficult we are to make money of' - but that really doesn't bother me..
Re:If they can make money of it - its worth it. (Score:1)
At the price of credibility ? Lindows will not do Linux any favors as far as credibility goes. Windows applications crashing (and they will) will be blamed on the OS, not the distribution, same for security issues. We can see now, even before they release a final product, that Lindows DOES NOT play well in the free software community.
Lindows is a poison pill for Linux as far as public perception goes.
No thanks (Score:2)
Sanctity in Irrelevence? (Score:2)
I'd suggest MacOS, but even they've been comprimised. Most Macs are sold with 101 keyboards these days. And guess who's the leading app software vendor for the platform?
You need an OS that was discontinued before it had a chance to be influenced by the Redmond Horror. I've got an Apple II I'll let you have real cheap!
Re:Sanctity in Irrelevence? (Score:1)
If you had integer basic replaced with AppleSoft, you're tainted.
Re:Sanctity in Irrelevence? (Score:1)
Better than that, why don't you go out and try to find a commadore 64!
Re:Sanctity in Irrelevence? (Score:2)
Re:Sanctity in Irrelevence? (Score:1)
Re:Sanctity in Irrelevence? (Score:2)
That is only true depending on your CHOICE of desktop. There are quite a few desktops available for Linux/Unix that are very unlike Windows. At least you have a choice, it seems that Windows users are stuck with Explore for the most part.
As far as Wine, you don't have to run it. Hell, you don't even have to install it and Linux runs just fine.
The only way I can see that your still too close to "Evil Bill" is the memory of Xenix.
Yeah ... sure.... (Score:5, Insightful)
Nice marketing spin
Does any sane Linux user think that a distribution where the user runs with root priviledges is a good idea? No. When I read this I though it was some kind of joke. Just what we need, users hosing their own system because their distributor not only gave them a loaded gun, but put it in their mouth for them.
Let's have a look at their FAQ Section:
The Lindows.com Insider program is designed to be exclusive to the individual that signs up. As an Insider member, we ask that you not distribute copies of the LindowsOS to other individuals and that you abide by the end user license agreement that comes with our software.
Cluestick - If we wanted crappy licensing agreements, we would be running Windows.
There are two types End User License Agreements:
1. A "Family" End-User
This license if for an individual end-user and he/she agrees to use LindowsOS for personal use and is to be used only by members of the End-User's Family.
2. A "Business" End-User
This type of license is for an agreed upon number of simultaneous users or seats(computer systems), but not both.
You can read the EULA (End User License Agreement) in its entirety here.
Cluestick: Once again, if I get stuck with these contstraints, (let's call this, non-free), then why am I using Lindows? Linux is about freedom (speech, not beer), why am I tying myself down like this? This is Caldera-think. If my enterprise runs Linux, I just want to pay $X a year to Suse/Redhat/IBM for support. Sitting there counting boxes to figure out how many licenses you should pay for is a big reason to avoid close source software in the first place.
Lindows.com respects all applicable licensing and is proud to be a strong supporter of the Open Source community by helping to advance several Open Source initiatives. We are financially supporting several open source organizations.
Cluestick: Wine, anything else? You can't just say 'strong supporter of the Open Source Community.' Hell, I'm sitting here drinking a soda, I think of myself as a strong supporter too. Compare this with, let's say Redhat: Off the top of my head. Gnome, Apache, Mozilla, and gcc. That's a strong supporter of the OSS community.
Anyone else disappointed with the Walmart 'win' this company gained? No thanks, my vote is for "this company does not represent Linux or the Linux community".
Re:Yeah ... sure.... (Score:2)
They're sponsering Debconf in Toronto next week. The irony of this is, erm, interesting.
Re:Yeah ... sure.... (Score:1)
I think promoting Lindows at Debconf is somewhat more severe than "Preaching to the choir." People who run Debian (like me) don't need a simplified version of Linux. Shit I still use dselect.
Re:Yeah ... sure.... (Score:1)
Yes - unfortunately, they tend to melt after a time...
Re:Yeah ... sure.... (Score:2)
I don't see why a pretty good windows emulator is less worthy than a not-very-good bloatware browser (that's Mozilla).
Once again, if I get stuck with these contstraints, (let's call this, non-free), then why am I using Lindows? Linux is about freedom (speech, not beer), why am I tying myself down like this? This is Caldera-think. If my enterprise runs Linux, I just want to pay $X a year to Suse/Redhat/IBM for support. Sitting there counting boxes to figure out how many licenses you should pay for is a big reason to avoid close source software in the first place.
Why are you using Lindows? Because you are a home user who doesn't give a shit about Stallman and Linus and GPL vs BSD, but who does want an easy to use system that lets them run their old windows apps.
And, no, Linux is not about freedom as in speech. It's about freedom as in being able to run Unix without spending money on a sun/ibm/hp/sgi machine. That's what it's always been about.
Just what we need, users hosing their own system because their distributor not only gave them a loaded gun, but put it in their mouth for them.
Whereas if we _just_ gave them a loaded gun, that would be fine? Oh I forgot, all users are stupid. That's why windows is such a failure of an OS - the users keep accidentally dragging their c: drive into the wastebin and hosing their system.
A poll? Of course there's a poll (Score:4, Informative)
Lindows (Score:4, Interesting)
I believe this is a Microsoft project actually, to get people going away from linux and back to windows.
I hate it so much, I slam it every chance I get to people who ask me about linux.
Re:Lindows (Score:1)
The only problem with Debian is that it is a little too hard to install and configure, even for some more-than-average users.
Lindow's target is quite different from Debian's one.
Anyway, there are lots of distros who are easyer than Debian, like Mandrake, that can be used by any user, and I'm afraid that they work way better than lindows.
Re:Lindows (Score:1)
Lindows is targeted at, well, I'm not exactly sure, but I read I think last week that Wally-Mart is selling cheap PC's with Lindows. Heck if you're gonna wipe the drive and install Debian or Mandrake anyways might as well save a few bucks.
Re:Lindows (Score:1)
This is why Debian has the well deserved reputation for ease of use and user friendliness by the sort of people that have actually moved on from the first distro they try.
This is also reinforced by the fact that in fact debian installs are less likely to need manual post install configuration due to hardware than rpm based distros.
What's the problem? (Score:4, Insightful)
I have a friend who slots very nicely into that category, and he has just installed Lindows on his PC. He loves it. He loves that it took less effort to install even than Windows did. He loves that it still runs the apps he's used to. He loves that it isn't Windows.
And that's the point: This is not aimed at the Linux crowd; it's aimed at the reluctant Windows crowd, with the aim of turning them into the Linux crowd: once they've found their feet with Lindows, they can start trying out genuine Linux software, and hopefully from there they can get into Linux properly.
Don't begrudge it for what it is - some people (even some pretty smart people) need a little hand-holding when it comes to Linux, and Lindows is doing a good job.
Re:What's the problem? (Score:2)
No, and this distinction is subtle: it's aim is not to turn them into the "Linux" crowd, but the "Lindows" crowd - a crowd of people who will subscribe to download rebranded KDE apps, among other things.
Wrong question... (Score:5, Insightful)
So Lindows Marketeers Are Dishonest.... (Score:3, Interesting)
Lindows has always had a big BS factor to it. Absurd claims of Windows compatibility. Silly gimmicks with licensing and fees. Now they've conned WalMart into thinking it's something they can sell to people who'd otherwise use Windows. Which is actually a good thing, since this will blow up in their faces, they'll go out of busines, and we can talk about something else.
Re:So Lindows Marketeers Are Dishonest.... (Score:2, Interesting)
Uh, no... (Score:2)
Re:Uh, no... (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Uh, no... (Score:2)
Re:Uh, no... (Score:1)
target audience (Score:1)
aside from the novelty factor of running one more os, there is very little need of lindows here. i can be productive in either linux or windows and i don't need a kludge to bring them together.
(for the few times when i need a windows program to run in linux, i can configure wine by myself too.)
What are they thinking... (Score:2, Informative)
They come out with the meraculous feature of installing software in one click. No, not one click in the installer... one click in your web browser and the RPM of your choice is downloaded and installed automagicly. Does that scare the hell out of anyone else?
Great. Now it will be so much simpler to rootkit the machines on demo at Wal-Mart.
\
Re:What are they thinking... (Score:2)
Eh (Score:3, Interesting)
Frankly, I'm not sure what the big deal is. Lindows claims more ease of use than your average GNU/Linux distro and Windows compatibility. Having used a couple truly 'user-friendly' (subjective, yes) Unices, I can safely say the experience KDE and GNOME (to a lesser extent) provides is nice as long as you don't do certain things. When you do these things, the user-friendly-ness and consistency of environment breaks down. Even though Linux is my primary OS, it's something that has bothered me about Linux for a long time. Inconsistency.
So in short, Lindows suffers from many of the same inconsistecnies as any other KDE or GNOME- based distro.
I can't imagine it being as "easy" as Windows. Even if it were on the level with WinDOS, that isn't saying much.
But I'm pragmatic. So I don't hate Lindows for Licensing issues.
Re:Eh (Score:2)
Look from Another Point of View (Score:1)
I think there is a fundamental problem here. It does not matter what
I've read many comments and articles here on Lindows and, while a few actually catch this, most people on
The first criticism I usually see in any Lindows discussion here is the comment that it's stupid to run any system as root. That is true for a Linux system, but this comment itself shows the prejudice many of us have that is so ingrained we don't see it -- we are looking at it only from one point of view -- that of the techinically oriented. This comment in itself shows we are fogetting Lindows is emulating a system where most people don't even log in -- where anybody who turns on the computer has the equivalent of root access.
It doesn't matter what we think. Lindows is not aimed at us. On the other hand, Lindows just may be the thing that breaks the monopoly open and makes it easier for other operating systems to find a larger piece of the market share.
And more market share is a good thing (unless you're a Linux user who is a bit of a snob and wants to be using an OS not many people overall use because it allows you to be a techie snob/snot and look down your nose at others who may be very intelligent, but not knowledgable in the same areas you are).
what do you call wine? (Score:2)
Now will I go out and buy a Lindows machine? Probably not, but if they say that they can run Word and Office and Powerpoint and serveral other programs like that then I may recommend it to a friend as an alternative to windows.
..at least Lindows is looking at the desktops (Score:2, Informative)
But, at least they are trying very hard to put linux on the desktop. Most other linux distros only pay it lip service (if that).
RedHat has pretty much said it is just not interested. And, their product shows it. Lindows on the other hand is focused upon the desktop and if you want a server OS they are glad to refer you to RedHat or others.
Xandros is another company that is focused upon linux for the desktop. (Actually, Lindows is based upon Xandros but it is not clear just how much of the Xandros distribution will be included in Lindows.)
Xandros, taken from the Corel Linux 3rd distro (not publicly released) at least tries very hard to make networking with windows systems easy. RedHat ignores the problem. Even Mandrake only offers a rather sickly ability to network. Oh sure, they all use Samba. But, Samba is similar to the old DOS based server/redirector crap that is all but impossible for regular people to use.
Xandros offers networking equivilent to Windows Explorer. Just right-click and pick "sharing". Mandrake hides how to accomplish the same.
How will Lindows do it?
Not sure. The version currently being included with some Wal-mart systems (SPX) is a bit of a pre-release. Even so it is better than many versions sold in the millions by Microsoft only a few years ago. And, for many it is easier to install than the Micorosoft crap is today.
The ability to run applications written for the Microsoft systems is important for many users. At least for those who already have such applications but may want to try out linux. And, getting consumers into thinking of alternatives can do wonders. Why don't they just pick up Mandrake or RedHat and grap OpenOffice, etc.? Some will.
And, when Xandros can release their distro a very easy to use distro will also network right along side the Microsoft boxes. Sorry, but Corel Linux 1st was easier to network than any other linux distro since then. And, that is 3-4 years ago.
Linux on the desktop will take off once the distro companies actually focus upon the desktop user instead of the back room. And, that requires that it is easier than Microsoft. Focusing upon servers is not going to do it.
Re:..at least Lindows is looking at the desktops (Score:2)
Its freee as well. Lindows was a troll from the start but it has done a great job of covering up the work of companies like Lyrcoris
PS Xandros is a very intreresting company - you might find that a lot of the stuff they are developing at the moment is not open source if you do a bit of research..
Re:..at least Lindows is looking at the desktops (Score:1)
But, I think you have to be careful about rejecting software simply on the basis that it is not open source software. And, same is true about rejecting software because it is open source.
Since the industry began software took both forms. Initially operating systems were closed. All of them. But, any software you needed had to be developed in-house and that is open source to at least the development and support staff. So, from day one the industry has worked in a mixed invironment regardless of what some people want to think.
Now, if you want to be a purist that is fine.
But, I would not suggest turning away an easy to network Xandros simply because the software is not completely open source or not under the GPL. Xandros does use Samba of course. But, they have added a front end to it to make it easy to use. Other companies such as Mandrake have not. As a result, Xandros (Corel 1 and Corel 2) are much easier to use. The Xandros (Corel) File Manager is a clone of Windows Exporer. And, you may or may not like Windows Explorer. But, it is easy to share a directory with others or map a network directory and go to work. Mandrake is simply too foreign and difficult for non-techies. And, that is still true regardless of their effort to be easy to install, etc. I have used Mandrake 8.2 for months. I also removed it because I know I do not need to learn the difficult process to use it effectively. And, neither will I ever train anyone else to do so. I'll just install Xandros for them and take the day off.
Lindows is taking a different route. Lindows is focusing upon other efforts with their Clink_n_Run stuff.
Well. One of the real advantages that Linux has now and will retain oveer time is the ability to fully develop multiple ideas to enhance user access, functionaly, security, flexibility and ease of use. Remember the "BOb" thing? Disaster right? Sure was. And, during that time Microsoft only offered that one solution to see if it sticks. The same is true with
Lindows may or may not be successful in their effort. But, even if they fail Xandros can be. And, Mandrake can be. And, RedHat can be. And, many others can be as well. That is the real power of having an open source OS. It permits value added features to be exposed to the market without the extremely high barriers that a strickly proprietary or closed OS would require. BE failed for several reasons. Extremely high barriers to entry and Microsoft's illegal acts could easily combine to cause that failure. And, did.
Microsoft can engage in many illegal acts (and already has) to make it difficult for linux. They use FUD and everything else at their disposal. But, in the end, true innovation is likely to surface from the linux platform and be unable to survive on a closed system. And, that is likely to be the case even though today Microsoft enjoys a monopoly position.
In the hearings for the antitrust case, AOL presented evidence of the Lego project. That project took the Microsoft OS and put up a custom frontend best suited for kids. Well. Microsoft wants to block it. And, maybe they can keep variety off of their products. But, that leaves linux open for those markets. The only question is whether having an open OS is sufficent. The only real problem that linux faces now for many customers is the lack of a full range of end-user applications that can be bought down at the corner. Sure, you can get a lot over the internet. And, Lindows is working hard to make that even easier (as are others). But, the mass shops Best-Buy and Circuit-City and other retail outlets. And, linux is at a disadvange in the retail markets.
I know this is /. (Score:4, Interesting)
While I realize that this forum is a great place to spout rhetoric on whether or not the ideology behind Lindows is true in spirit to the Linux community, it does not offer any real insight into the usability of the product.
Many users such as myself would be interested in using this product if people could tell me that Lindows ran my software. If I were to ask my friends who installed Windows XP on their machines if I should upgrade from Win 2k, I don't expect them to tell me "Don't, because Microsoft doesn't contribute to other closed source projects." I expect to hear whether or not it runs the apps and whether or not it runs quickly.
So please, can anybody tell us whether or not Lindows achieves its intended purpose of an alternative operating system that allows you to run Windows and Linux apps? I'll decide the politics of my operating system for myself.
Re:I know this is /. (Score:1)
mIRC 6.0X wouldn't run
mIRC 3~5.X ran just fine
LeechFTP ran just fine
BitBeamer ran just fine
FileMaker Pro ran, but had some major stability issues.
Microsoft Money 2002 wouldn't even open.
Trillian ran, but had some major stability issues.
SecureCRT wouldn't even open up
Solitare worked flawlessly (go figure)
FreeCell also worked flawlessly (again, go figure)
All in all, my experience wasn't too bad with Lindows. However, I am capable of installing a 'real' linux distribution and, I am even capable of compiling my own kernel. I guess all those years of cutting class in highschool were worth it.
I forsee it being marketable to your average kid who wants to convert from windows to lindows, then eventually to a 'real' linux distribution. I don't see too many businesses running it. I am a business, and I only ran it for a few days. I couldn't trust it to run what I needed flawlessly.
Re:I know this is /. (Score:2)
Re:I know this is /. (Score:1)
Re:I know this is /. (Score:1)
How will an easiliy accessible, easy to use, and easy to install Linux distribution factor into things with younger people trying that are eager to learn? It will probably bode well, aside from the lack of cash to pay for the "click and load" service. But hey... It's a start.
Re:I know this is /. (Score:1)
Re:I know this is /. (Score:1)
Still, I have to say the whole idea of it running root all the time does disturb me. I can just see people thinking because they're running a linux distro they'll never have to worry about viruses again, even though they're running outlook express and as root. I'm sure the popular press would have a field day reporting about how virus prone "linux" is, instead of the important note that it's lindows that's so easy to infect, not Linux.
Blowback (Score:2)
In the long run I fear that consummer rage at being mislead by the hype of Lindows will only underscore the myth that Linux is arcane and difficult to use.
Re:Blowback (Score:2)
I'd like to see a Windows compatible version of Windows, just for the novelty factor.
Honestly? (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Honestly? (Score:2)
Re:Honestly? (Score:1)
Lindows Could Work (Score:3, Interesting)
Now, that is a bunch of stuff I would like done, but realistically if they got 1 and 2 done, they would be WELL ahead in the game.
Re:Lindows Could Work (Score:2)
That's easy... there's one user, called "root".
Setup quotes
Quotas? You must be talking about some other OS.
Setup apache
And immediately get hacked because everything runs as root.
These are worthy features for a Linux distribution... but Lindows is not really a Linux distribution.
Re:Lindows Could Work (Score:1)
I'm sorry, but that is just stupid.
Re:Lindows Could Work (Score:1)
Lindows installs apache from debian packages, which automatically setup a sandbox user to run apache from. Services do not run as root, they run as their own user like they do in debian.
Resolution/Color Depth switching in Corel (Score:1)
Re:Resolution/Color Depth switching in Corel (Score:1)
What is included in some of these distributions looks to be a mix of third party stuff and hacked KDE tools. Lycoris build 55 is looking like it is going to do a very good job of simulation a Windows control panel. Take a look-see: http://www.lycoris.org/sections.php?op=viewarticl
Looks like HTML through Konqueror to me, and uses scripts to run programs a certain way. That's not a bad idea, if you ask me.
But really. I am fairly experienced in Linux stuff, and I used to find running xvidtune to be rediculously dumb. Good thing those days are long gone.
Yawn. I bet most people just don't care... (Score:1)
Re:Yawn. I bet most people just don't care... (Score:1)
Bad idea... (Score:1)
Resistance is futile? (Score:1)
> I don't think it's a bad idea to be able to emulate windows programs, but we shouldn't make a distribution of linux with the sole purpose of doing it... do ya see what I mean?
Couldn't agree more. We don't need a mutilated Linux that tries to be Windows. We need an application like Wine, packaged to provide access to Windows on top of Linux. Lindows users should feel like: hey, I'm running Linux, but I don't need to get rid of my Windows legacy all at once. They shouldn't feel: damn, I glad I bought a cheap computer but it runs my old apps crappy. Have Linux adjust to Windows and it will end up like OS/2 [slashdot.org].
And never underestimate the need for applications like Wine. The major part of the networked world is not Free (as in speech). Therefore, to communicate in a Free manner with the rest of the world we ("the Linux community") need to be able read their crappy propriatry formats. I'm sorry to say that: resistance is brave, but in the end futile. Open source conversion tools and cloned applications like StarOffice, AbiWord, Gnumeric and OpenOffice are one way to read eg. MS Word formatted email (who invented that) or Excel files. Another way is to simply emulate those evil binaries. The same goes for games. Sooner or later you will need to collaborate, face it.
Isn't Linux's main problem with desktops the lack of added value on top of it being free (beer/speech)? Where's the desktop killer app? Where's the apache for the end-user/consumer masses?
Geek Duty (Score:1)
> the "killer app" for me was "all of the above" windows gives me the buckwheats
To a desktop user, the killer app is probably wordprocessing, multimedia and games. Though these are all available on Linux, the do not have an added value (in terms of "ease of use", hardware support or "coolness"), but merely emulate what's available in Windows. And since - as you've mentioned - Apple has a pricetag, 90% of the users will stick with M$.
> With linux, I have a fleet of machines that cost me high end 125$ down to low end of 10$ that all run FAST, and I can multi task with them.
Let's suppose your figures are realistic. Isn't the problem that people expect to spend the same amount of money on a computer as they would on a TV set of videorecorder if they intend to use it as frequently. $500-$1000 is a "reasonable price" to many users; the problem is that at least $200 bucks thereof are MS's pure profit while the rest - the hardware - has a very slim margin.
> As to "lindows", I think it's silly.
So do I. But wine - or more generally - Windows interaction isn't silly.
I've had potential employers insist on "worddoc". for resume, I told them to GET STUFFED, I refuse, they get ascii.
Maybe that stuborn attitude works for you. Personally, I've never sent a Word formatted resume either and I used to rant about M$ product all the time. Still, I have never been able to convince my employers to stop developing software in Visual Studio - probably due to their "screw you, we insist on being stupid" mindset. But it's a fact that my ranting is futile, and I wish you luck in doing a better job at that.
Since Windows is a de facto standard and Linuxes - on the desktop - are outnumbered by far, doesn't it sound dubious to claim that "everybody is crazy and we're not"? Let's just assume modestly that there must be some advantages in MS's software that we - clueless - haven't jet discovered. And while waiting for that discovery, we should continue to extend Linux with features that give access to the real world where the big bucks are made.
Worst that can come of that is 1) geeks won't use these access features and others will stick with Windows 2) the Lindows beast will replace the Windows monster 3) Windows and Linux will coexist but won't be completely separated 4) the access features will ease the transition from Windows to Linux, not Lindows.
Look, what's the point anyway (Score:2)
If you DO want to run that shit, there is a new distribution of a very popular operating system which has been winning more acclaim among diehard geeks: Windows XP.
Holy shit, I see the Stallmanist lynching party approaching me now. Hear me out.
I've been using linux for a pretty long time now, since slackware 2, kernel 1.1.47. I installed it from a few floppies, on a 386DX25 with 8mb of ram (DIP DRAM on the MB... very odd) and a 120mb maxtor ide disk. I had a 1mb trident vga card, too. I ran X, netscape... you get the idea. BTW, fvwm rocks your socks. My computing experience goes back farther than that; for a long time my primary machine was a IBM PC-1 with 448kb ram and the updated roms to support hard disks. You get the idea. I'm pretty 'core about this shit.
Now get ready for the pain; I run windows XP now. This is mostly because I'm a gamer and gamers must run windows. But when Win2k came out I was sold on this whole NT thing. I still use Unix in various forms (right now I'm hyped on gentoo linux) for servers and such; I don't trust NT to be up as long, remote administration requires too much machine... I think they have a way to go before they reach the same level as Unix in serverland. But the XP user experience is unparalleled. You can quote me on that, fanboy.
No, XP is not the perfect OS. But it is an order of magnitude better even than 2k (Growing pains, you know... 2k might be this good now, but it's old) and of course it makes Win9x look like a whore. Did I mention that compatibility mode is really quite good now? Anyway, I can't stand the agony of KDE or Gnome, or more to the point, the combination of X and Qt or GTK. It's slow as fuck.
May be a good thing if... (Score:1)
Re:May be a good thing if... (Score:1)
"AAAARGH!!! Strangle! Kick! Fold, spindle, mutilate!"
every time.
Sure its a good thing! (Score:1)
Walmart now sells machins with Lindows on them! Wholy cow, LINUX IS NOW MAIN STREAM! GREAT!
Does Lindows need OUR support? Heck no, they are not targeting US they are targeting WINDOWS users, not Windows Power users, not Linux hackers not Mac users. They are going after Jow/Jane windows user.
Security issue, sure, but so what.. 9x has been just as bad. It may not be the whole answer but it is one thing if nothing more...
A Choice for the average user!
If you want to getmax config, go GenToo!