[CS-FSLUG] Why You Might Be Using Linux in 2009

[Jon Glass]

On Mon, Dec 29, 2008 at 12:17 AM, Ed Hurst <ehurst at soulkiln.org> wrote:
> The Linux Desktop is just a big hobby for hobby users only, and there aren't
> very many of them compared to regular users.

Could you define "regular users" for me? I'm having a hard time
visualizing what one would look like. I don't consider myself
irregular or odd or strange or even "hobbyist", and I've had no
problems with Ubuntu's release cycle. Granted, I have settled on
Ubuntu's latest LTS for now, but that's because I don't want to mess
with recompiling my WLAN card's driver again. ;-) I haven't hit any
major, show-stopping bugs for me since I started using Ubuntu in May
of 2007. Granted, it is not my main OS, but I do a lot with it. I work
with my Bible software, OOo, some photography, namely GIMP, and some
other things. Nothing is broken that I can recall. My biggest
complaint is that I must use Firefox, which is not my favorite
browser. But I've been able to get it to behave mostly how I want, so
I'm good.

I suspect that for the "regular" user--if there is such--these rolling
releases would not be a major notice--at least how Ubuntu does it. It
allows them to keep up to date on the latest releases--which seems to
be what many "regular" users like.

The problem with Linux (if one wishes to word it such) is the whole
distro thing with repos. Your average Mac and Windows user comes from
a world where, when he wants to install software, he buys it either
off a retail shelf or online, runs an installer for that single
program, and then runs the program. (or, in the case of the Mac, he
frequently simply copies the application icon to his Applications
folder). Such an install scheme is entirely possible under Linux, but
it runs against the grain for your average repo-based distro. Plus,
due to the fact that there are dozens of major distros, and multiple
forms of distributing and installing the software, it complicates life
for software developers who would wish to market their wares to Linux.
That is a bigger hurdle, IMO, than rolling releases. But who am I to
know..... I'm just a regular user. ;-)

-- 
 -Jon Glass
Krakow, Poland
<jonglass at usa.net>

"I don't believe in philosophies. I believe in fundamentals." --Jack Nicklaus