Analyst: It's Game Over for Linux

[mr_nuke_me]

[citation][nom]pcwlai[/nom]User experience is very bad in Linux for desktops.My recent experience with Ubuntu 11.04:1. Auto update removed my UEFI packages and makes the system not bootable after automatic updates.2. nVidia official drivers requires console mode.3. No virtual console for nVidia except third party drivers which does not work in conjunction with nVidia official drivers for X window.4. Creative SoundBlaster X-Fi Titanium HD not working.5. Realtek official audio drivers not working properly even compiled successfully.6. GNU compilers suite latest version can be installed but not suitable for compiling applications (at least without messy system setup) for Ubuntu desktop.7. Shutdown is fine but reboot will give you crashes or black screen of death.8. Proper shutdown but still crashes the file system and requires fixes.9. UEFI boot record in UEFI ROM get erased after firmware update (no such problems in Windows).10. Booting to safe mode or memory test crashes immediately.Conclusion is:1. Not suitable with latest hardware even it is open source2. Not stable when you need a GUI for desktop.No matter how good Linux is or how fast is can be updated from the source code level, if it does not work in the latest hardware or even some popular configurations, hardcore users will leave it without a choice. Not to mention normal users.The quote, "It just works", is really the only way to go if you want the market. 99% are normal, even not all geeks want works done and not messes all the time.[/citation]

You sound like someone who has a very slight idea, but doesn't really know what he is talking about.

Read up, ask in communities, and you will see that what you describe as problems are really not problems of GNU/Linux.

+ stop blaming all the faults of Ubuntu on Linux in general. Ubuntu tries to do too much thinking for the user, and occasionally gets it wrong. The same is true of all other OSes.

 

[jgiron]

I personally think Linux made a popular splash into the desktop work for many tech savvy techs like my self. I not only run Windows but also Unbuntu. Linux is not dead nor is it dying, Linux is thriving and growing

 

[julianbautista87]

I don't think so, captain troll. Right now, the only reason I still use Windows is the games. but if Onlive gets better and if the internet ping and speed get better here where I live, I will only use Ubuntu. I mean, for my needs, I only need office (libreoffice) matlab (it has a linux version) internet and games. nothing else.

 

[wiyosaya]

This guy was probably paid by M$ to say all that he said.

 

[tical2399]

[citation][nom]jdwii[/nom]they have 60% of the server market WoW! How is Linux dead again?[/citation]

Because servers are not the only segment of computing. and i'm sure its more regular home users than entities that would need to use servers

 

[Guest]

The analyst has missed a crucial point...
Android is not Linux, but neither is, say, Ubuntu.
Android is a linux-distribution for mobile devices.

Android is the Linux-kernels breakthrough for the mass-market.

 

[smeacham]

Whatever. Linux works for me (5 computers) and even my dad (1 computer). That's all I care about.

 

[ginnai]

I would contend that Linux's purpose was never to dominate the market. Its market share is less important than its persistence in the market. A failure to innovate doesn't seem like the strongest argument to make against Linux. Legacy seems like a clearer weakness to me. I grew up on Windows and in virtue of that have had a tough time transitioning fully to Linux. After 16 years of Windows, sitting down to re-learn so much is daunting... its the same reason that so few octogenarians are at tech shows. In addition to the time requirement, rarely does the master retain enough humility to bear the stumbling blocks of learning something new (we all stick to what we know/feel comfortable with). Linux may remain an esoteric niche market, but so much of computing is....ie: $300+ graphics cards, OCing, case-modding, etc.

After rooting my droid... I will say, Droid is pretty darn similar to Linux.

The most important point - the Linux penguin is way cuter than any of the other's mascots.

 

[DjEaZy]

BS!!!

 

[rodney_ws]

I've always felt like the myriad of distros was the problem. I'm just a casual end-user so what do I know?

 

[zulutech]

This analyst deserves to never be taken seriously.

 

[jn77]

In the early stages OSX was stolen from NeXT

 

[pcito]

Open source has its limits, and the success of Linux as a server OS and the dramatic failure of Linux as a desktop OS are very telling.

I like linux fine. We use it for more than half of of our servers at work, and I have 2 linux boxes at home. I, however, absolutely refuse to use it as a desktop operating system. It simply doesn't "feel right." as a desktop operating system and this is a symptom of the way it is developed.

As I see it, some of the key issues with Linux are these:

1. While it has some superior technology in its kernel, the article is correct that open source is almost never the driver of (major) new ideas. Money is a powerful motivator for innovation. Can't change that. People are people and they tend to like to get paid for hard work and brilliant ideas. Open source is great, but it isn't a replacement for markets and the profit motive now, nor will it ever be.
2. It's desktop experience sucks. This is largely a product of 2 things. First, the lack of well-coordinated and well planned development of a coherent experience like can be seen in most all commercial products, and second, the mentality of the linux community, which for years actually liked the idea that linux was unintuitive for the average user, because it (as stupid as it sounds) made them feel superior because they knew the system but all those dummies out there didn't. That kind of thinking doesn't drive the market expansion of a product.
3. Many of those in the "linux community" see it as some kind of a left wing political movement against business and property rights and what not, instead of simply considering it simply a free software operating system and doing what is in the best technical and market interests of a software operating system. They insist on trying to use it to sabotage the software industry instead of just honestly providing a "free as in free beer" operating system. In reality linux isn't free... it comes with puppet strings attached! It won't cost you any money up front, but it will cost you tons in learning curve, support, etc, and GPL will cost you your soul if you ever want to sell some software of your own. You trade in your own right to produce your own software and protect your intellectual rights to that software (which is a perfectly legitimate business, by the way), in order to use their software. Not that great of a deal when you really think about it. FreeBSD is free as in free beer. Linux is free as in "don't give us your money... your soul and your adherence to our anti-capitalist political movement will do." That's a turn off for businesses and developers who like to protect their own legitimate property and intellectual rights... which is quite a few of them.

There are some impressive things about Linux particularly and open source in general. However it isn't a replacement for the profit motive and commercial software, which is often cheaper when you consider all the costs.

 

[waikano]

[citation][nom]jn77[/nom]In the early stages OSX was stolen from NeXT[/citation]

Stolen from NeXT? Well didn't Jobs start that company and they bought NeXT in 1997. Either way NeXT was based on UNIX BSD flavors not Linux. I know there are similarities, but they are still different in some ways as well.

 

[seno]

I guess someone was desperate to drum up a bit of traffic for his blog.

I've read a few of his comments he's either clueless or trolling (or both) when some explained to him the difference between Linux and a Linux based OS and he accused them of wordsmithing.

Still even for a troll the logic fail that the success of a linux based mobile O/S has killed linux based based mobile O/Ses is staggering.

 

[notsleep]

i can't play any of my games on linux so it's of no interest to me.

 

[Guest]

"Isn't OsX currently based on a unix/linux kernel? If so, then the "Linux" desktop will continue to live precariously through Apple's OsX."

OS X is not based on Linux, they're more like cousins; both bastard sons of the UNIX family tree. Linux is an implementation of an UNIX-like operating system, inspired by an educational UNIX-like called Minix (Minix in turn was designed to mimic UNIX for educational purposes).

OS X is more of a Frankenstein's monster as far as it's kernel goes. Unlike UNIX and Linux, it uses a hybrid kernel (like Windows), with the kernel processing being handled by a Mach microkernel and the daemons based on code from FreeBSD; which is another UNIX decendent, and probably the most direct.

 

[maestintaolius]

Hahahahaha, this analyst should go back to covering pork belly futures and stay out of tech. He clearly has no clue what the hell he's talking about. Linux is everywhere, it's just it doesn't have a big "Linux Inside" label on everything it's running. The whole "innovation never comes out of the open-source community" comment is just ignorant and/or trolling for website hits (I suspect the later).

 

[molo9000]

[citation][nom]smelly_feet[/nom]Isn't OsX currently based on a unix/linux kernel? If so, then the "Linux" desktop will continue to live precariously through Apple's OsX.[/citation]

The Mac OS X kernel dates back to NeXTSTEP and is a hybrid of the Mach and BSD kernel and not related to Linux. It even predates the first release of Linux by 2 years.

[citation][nom]jn77[/nom]In the early stages OSX was stolen from NeXT[/citation]
It wasn't stolen. It's a direct descendant. That's why Apple bought NeXT in the first place.

 

[Raid3r]

Linux being dead(let alone saying it's dead.) is not something I see happening. But as for my adventures into linux, yeah those are dead. When you get a distro that finally tries to encapsulate what a user (not a techie want's) it just gives out. Or as some have mentioned it can't really multitask, it just does not work.

 

[zanny]

Heh, how trollicious.

I guess the main failing of troll OPs rant is that Linux is never trying to be anything. Its an open source project. It cost no one any money to make (unless they chose to throw money at it) and costs no one to use. It is good will. So take it as you will, if you want the goodwill or not.

The other failing is the same reason consumers dont care about freedom zero. They want a device for a singular purpose and they want it to work, and to that extent an OS is just a means to an end, so they dont care where it comes from, as long as the tools on top of it work. If they were at Best Buy and had to chose between a linux pc for $500 and a windows machine for $600 since its around $100 per OEM Windows Copy without batch ordering, I would expect the M$ segment to decline quite rapidly.

 

[K2N hater]

I'm also an analyst and I say that Linux dominates the server market.

Windows still dominates the desktop market for 4 reasons:
1. Games are developed to run on Microsoft DirectX;
2. Most hardware manufacturers only write drivers for Windows and it takes time for the Linux community to write and test their own;
3. Most PCs and notebooks ship with Windows preinstalled being buyers charged for it - they either comply or buy a low end PC without OS;
4. Ubuntu is far from being perfect in terms of stability whilst the most stable distributions aren't friendly to dummies.

 

[drenyx]

Windows server line will never dominate the desktop market either...should I become an analyst and state that?

I used to run linux on desktop stuffs as there are MANY things you can do in linux natively that is hard to do on windows. I have currently scaled back to dual-boot on my laptop and using vmware player on the desktop if I need linux toys.

My Western Digital Live Plus in the living room (love/hate relationship) appears to be linux, as someone has released 3rd party firmware after hacking one, as well as a router (DD-WRT) both my NAS units and I can still boot linux on my dreamcast (for fun).

I still love the concept of open-source software, but as always, it can't keep up with people paid the big $$ to do things like netflix or software compatibility.

 

[Guest]

Like my mama used to say, Stupid is as stupid does

 

[baublitz]

The article you are referring to was poorly written by a man who misunderstands entirely what Linux is. Linux is a Kernel used in many operating systems, Including Android and Mac OSX, Linux is not an operating system itself. Mike was trying to state that Linux distributions hadn't conquered the desktop market and weren't doing so hot in the mobile market either but, sadly he doesn't understand that Android is in fact a Linux based operating system. He does try to save face and give credit to Linux in the server department, however he still generalizes and uses Linux as a term for Linux-based operating systems. This man is no expert on Linux, nor would I call him an expert on mobile devices, or operating systems at that.