Re: Serious Question - Mainstream Use - No Troll
From: andrew (eagle_at_charter.net)
Date: 09/27/04
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Date: Mon, 27 Sep 2004 12:58:35 -0500
Phillip T. Murphy wrote:
> I have given SuSE 9.1 Professional a good run-through over the past couple
> of months and have to say I like the stability, flexability, and available
> free software. However, I can't imagine at this point using Linux as a
> mainstream desktop operating system. Or, more specifically, I can't imagine
> my family using it daily.
>
> For example, a few things I have run into that just don't seem practical for
> the mainstream user...
>
> 1. File and Print Sharing on a mixed network - Samba seems just too
> difficult for the average user to setup and use
>
> 2. DVD Playing - I still can't play a DVD on my system - Kaffeine says it
> can't and the fixes I have tried to apply don't work
>
> 3. Adding Hardware - the whole idea of mounting devices seems too difficult
> and troublesome. USB devices such as memory sticks, external drives, MP3
> Players, etc. just don't work automatically like in Windows XP. If an
> average user (my wife) got an iPod or a Dell DJ, how in the world would they
> get it to work with SuSE (or ANY Linux System).
>
> 4. Software availability - there is a lot of free software, but many (most)
> mainstream applications aren't available in Linux (commercial games, apps,
> etc.)
>
> I see a lot of negative comments toward "Micro$oft" regarding cost and
> security issues, but there still seems to be a lot of usability issues to
> work out before Linux can become mainstream. I am pretty technical and can
> work through all these isses, but my family definitely could not.
>
> Are any of you using Linux as a mainstream desktop OS where "normal" users
> are involved?
>
>
I think the rest of the responses have said it quite well..
I just want to add this one piece.
I have 3 computers in the house.
comp1: windows 98se
comp2: windows xp home
comp3: windows xp pro (dual booted to suse 9.0 linux)
I find this humorous..
If I have all computers booted to windows ..
comp1 can't find anyone (except on a good day then it can find comp3,
but can't transfer any files to comp3)
comp2 on a good day can find the other 2 computers but i have yet to
successfully write a file to either of the other 2 computers.
comp3 (when booted to windows xp pro) can find comp1 and can transfer
files to it,.... but only on a good day (good day = once in a blue moon)
can it find comp2 and on an even more rare occasion can it transfer
files to that computer.
but if i take comp3 and boot it to suse 9.0 and open the local network
icon on the desktop (in kde) it will find the other computers on the
network. I even can click "Bookmarks" and bookmark the comp1 and or
comp2 and that bookmark will work the next time i have either comp1 or
comp2 booted (and obviously having comp3 booted to suse). and at any
time i choose i can sit down in front of the suse computer and get files
from any of the other computers and transfer files to any of the other
computers.
before you think i am ripping on someone for not successfully having
done this. I'm not trying to be mean, just trying to point out that
suse 9.0 is more stable then windows could ever hope to be and is more
secure, and the networking capabilities of it rock.
i'd say if someone can figure out how to use windows xp for normal day
to day stuff, they can use suse 9.0. to me normal day to day stuff is:
checking e-mail, making a web page (nothing fancy just simple html),
reading newsgroups, surfing the web, typing up documents in a word
processor, copying files to or from another computer on the network.
Now Installing programs can be a trick at times(at least to me it is),
but the reality is, once you understand how to install a program on
linux, many times the end user comes to realize that it is better in
linux then it is in windows. Simply because in windows (if you are
running IE you can install spyware in a heartbeat and not realize it, if
you are new to computers). in linux you need to think for a couple of
seconds on how to install this new program and those few moments are
usually enough to make an end user think .. hmmm do i really want to
install this. (i'm thinking in terms of a 7 year old playing on the
computers going click click click not knowing what they are clicking on)
but i've rambled on long enough.
personally i'd say install suse 9.0 or 9.1 onto a computer setup mozilla
or firefox, open office and let the people in the home have a go at it.
be prepared for a learning curve, but in the end i think they will thank
you.
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