Ubuntu Linux Claims 12 Million Users and Rising

[randomizer]

Sigh, there needs be a internet rule where saying PC gaming is dying, which is what you are trying to say, just get's shot in the back of the head.

Facebook "games" are just not games period.

I'm saying PC gaming is not dying. It's changing. I thought that was clear since I crossed out "dying" and replaced it with "changing." And yes, Facebook games are games. And they are probably at least as popular as AAA games because they appeal to an audience that doesn't want to develop l33t skillz and isn't interested in clan wars. The casual PC gamer is still a PC gamer. Many of those who want to play "real" games as you would define them are moving to consoles for their simplicity. There are no driver errors and no hardware incompatibilities. You don't need to think, you just put in the disc and play.

EDIT: Typos

 

[mr_nuke_me]

It's "Ubuntu GNU/Linux", not "Ubuntu Linux". A small, but unprofessional mistake from such a well-respected site.

 

[ossie]

[citation][nom]linuxstillfails2[/nom]... I'm much happier with windows and it's innumerable GUIs where I actually get to do the tasks I have to do in minutes without the need to read a forum teaching dozens of non intuitive commands.[/citation]
Windblow$ has just one GUI, with elements defined rigidly by micro$uxx. What you mistakenly name "innumerable GUIs" are just different application windows/interfaces, that use those elements, and arrange them in a different way, to fit the chosen interaction mode with the user.
A GUI is inherently limited in flexibility, as the user can only chose the options/parameters/control elements offered in the applications interface. While it apparently seems to be "intuitive" to a casual user, it will never be able to offer the flexibility, and efficiency of a command line application, where you provide just those switches, and parameters, needed to accomplish the task. Also, in a CLI scripts can easily be written to accomplish even more complicated tasks - actually that's the way *NIXes work: a plethora of simple commands, which can be assembled (RND's LEGO analogy) to do almost everything ever needed.
Even in windoze, some tasks need to use the command line, as there is no available GUI application with similar functionality.
On *NIXes many GUI applications are just a front end for those CLI applications. In the windblow$ world, almost all applications are self sufficient GUI ones, integrating all needed components, static or dynamic (DLLs and/or some RTLs). The biggest drawback is the dreaded DLL hell. In a FOSS environment such limitations/incompatibilities are very rare, as all applications are available is source form, and are compiled with the dynamic elements (LIBs) from the target OS, or even completely static.
Getting back to GUIs - they have their advantage in highly repetitive tasks, where a set of buttons can be provided, for a quick access to desired functions.
[citation][nom]linuxstillfails2[/nom]Funny how linux users love to think they're superior to other users. Just cause I prefer windows it doesn't make me computer illiterate, just makes me want to make a better use of my time instead of learning/typing crazy commands on the terminal.[/citation]
You don't prefer windoze "per se", you just prefer a simple dumbed down applications interface capable of at most elementary tasks that suffices your "computer" needs - and this actually is the definition of computer illiteracy, the mindless button pushing, which favors irresponsibility. This also applies to linux lusers which complain about CLI's "craziness", being just accustomed to some dumbed down distro's GUI.
(More) advanced users hit quickly the limitations of a GUI, and use the more efficient, and flexible CLI to accomplish complex tasks, which also need a more intimate knowledge of the system - that's the reason true linux users are mostly computer literate, their knowledge extends to much more than simple text processing/browsing/e-mailing tasks.
[citation][nom]linuxstillfails2[/nom]My above post is another proof of it, it had -2 points because you linux lovers are so desperate to feel superior, and the post doesn't even lie, it's a fact that linux lacks GUIs for a lot of tasks and doesn't run AAA games.[/citation]
Your -3 is because your comment just shows your computer knowledge limitations, and gamer mentality skew. You don't realize that computers are mostly used for work - gaming is just a side effect.
[citation][nom]linuxstillfails2[/nom]The day people responsible for developing linux learn what users want linux will become more popular but they're so afraid of copying windows in what windows did successfully that this day might never come, just create GUIs for the large number of tasks and name them apropriately so that new users don't have to figure out gimp is a pic viewer, kate is a text editor and so forth (yes I know windows doesn't have perfect software names too, but compare the control panel for windows to the one on linux and see the difference.)[/citation]
What you've come in touch of the linux world is just a tiny fraction... linux is a vast universe of servers, embedded devices, industrial process control units, and so on. Desktop usage is not the primary target of linux, just of a few distros, of which some are dumbed down to cater the computer illiterate crowd - that's the only part of computer usage, where the drm infested games loader (still) shines.
[citation][nom]linuxstillfails2[/nom]Take this post as constructive criticism, if you hate the words here, it's because you don't want or don't care if linux is popular, and don't criticize windows users for their choice of ease to use and simplicity, if linux was at least intuitive to use it would be much better.[/citation]
Most linux developers, and users are not interested in linux getting dumbed down to the "popularity" level that everyone in the world would deem it "intuitive" or fashionable. There are a few distros which target that purpose, but they're not representative for the linux universe.
[citation][nom]linuxstillfails2[/nom]Your toy comparison is interesting, how linux is like lego and windows is a ready toy car, but I think it's not correct, the real comparison is saying that linux users have to buy a car (a real one) and be a motor engineer to make the engine work, while anyone else can drive windows and keep their daily jobs, you know, cause there are a lot of professions out there that don't require people to be computer "experts".[/citation]
Your vision is obviously deformed due to your extremely limited exposure to the linux universe. There is a large palette of distros, from the ones which have to be compiled from scratch, with utmost flexibility for tinkerers, to the dumbed down flavors, for click happy computer illiterates. There is something for almost every imaginable purpose, and knowledge level.

 

[matt_b]

[citation][nom]nebun[/nom]unless they start to develop more software and games for Linux, it will never be used as a primary system[/citation]
Games are a given (DirectX mostly), but those in the OpenGL format are practically a shoe-in for Linux and MAC (Doom, Quake, Unreal, etc.). As for needing more software developed for Linux.....you really have no clue how much crap there is out there. Basically, for every one thing you need a program for, there are most likely at least a dozen choices for you to try. It's more like being far too many choices to pick from than not enough in most instances.

 

[razor512]

popularity is really going up. especially in the educational field. I have gotten probably about 50 students in the college I go to, to switch ubuntu and use windows as a secondary OS. Since for most school work, Ubuntu can handle all of the tasks you will normally use. While doing advanced stuff in linux is harder than in windows due to command line, for common stuff, it works great and from a simple announcement in class when many students complained that windows keeps messing up on them, Other than the mac user, just about every single user that was on windows installed a copy of Ubuntu.Many of these are students that have trouble going a few months with out reinstalling and those who I know from a while back are still using the same install, (even after like 2 years, no reinstalls.

While easily meeting basic needs, the OS does a good job at protecting users from them self with out making it's self feel restricted.

This is something that both apple and microsoft failed at.
Microsoft doesn't do anything to really protect a user from them self and you have cases of people installing things with out even knowing. With the mac OS certain things are simpler but it feels restrictive to a power user.

 

[dif4us]

The rise in Ubuntu's popularity is proportional to it's ease of use and it's working drivers. In the early days only the computer literate would jump through the hoops necessary to get a distro working. Now almost anyone can download and have a fully functional OS up and running within an hour. Ubuntu has been rewarded by figuring out what MS has known along time ago K.I.S.S., keep it simple stupid. Bottom line is if you want a user base then dumb it down baby. CLI's ain't going to cut it, as useful as they are, the majority are going to say screw this sh*t. Personally I don't see the discrepancy. Keep it simple up front yet infinitely expandable and configurable behind the scenes.

 

[Donuts]

Let's keep it real here. Linux will not become mainstream until you remove the geek element. NO home user will accept that they have to use a command line to fix/change/install anything. The world is not filled with computer savvy people. Linux is not friendly and neither is it's community, as much as you wish it was. Just look at the comments. The reason Windows is so successful is that it is run like a business. They have partners, distribution methods, QC, support etc. Currently Linux is a using "community" model and this is hard to control. With projects being forked and all the in-fighting between distro fans, Linux is it's own worst enemy. You cannot ride the "windows monopoly" bus for very much longer. Eventually you will have to fix your internal issues before you implode. If this means copying how MS manages the Windows product so be it. It's clearly a proven and effective model.

The consumer also does not care that Linux is on every webserver and supercomputer. How will that sell the idea of linux to a home user? The idea of expecting consumers to provide fixes for Linux is also pie in the sky. The consumer does not care about the idea of "freedom" and modifying source code. The consumer does not care about FOSS ideology. Much like they do not care about the EULA in Windows.

If you want, say Ubuntu to succeed, toss out the FOSSology, remove 90% of the duplicated apps, standardize on the required few, remove the geekiness and SELL the damned OS for less than 50% of Windows and offer proper consumer/enterprise support. This community idea is a failure and is slowing Linux's progress. Otherwise stop complaining and contradicting yourselves. Either accept that consumers aren't all computer literate and live with "the retards" or be happy that Linux is not the dominant OS and continue to praise the supercomputer/webserver/geek slant. You cannot have both.

 

[randomizer]

Let's keep it real here. Linux will not become mainstream until you remove the geek element.

I agree, but not everyone wants it mainstream. In fact, most of the hardcore Linux users don't want it mainstream for exactly this reason. If you remove the geek element then you remove what makes Linux what it is.

They have partners, distribution methods, QC, support etc. Currently Linux is a using "community" model and this is hard to control.

You could have at least done 2 minutes of research on Wikipedia and proved this statement wrong. I guess oyu've never really read about this Linux thingy.

This community idea is a failure and is slowing Linux's progress.

I disagree. It's progressing alot faster than Windows is. It's just not "progressing" how you want it to. You want it to slow down for you.

offer proper consumer/enterprise support.

You mean like what the companies behind Ubuntu, RHEL, SLES and Mandriva provide?

 

[Donuts]

Here we go again. Shooting at the target and missing entirely. You did realise through my post I was discussing consumer usage? I used the word "consumer" 6 times. Why quote enterprise versions of Linux? And how exacly is it "progressing faster"? The Linux promoters keep saying that yet every year it's "The Year of the Linux Desktop". You were extremely choosy of what to argue and in typical fashion failed to see the point.

This made me laugh, "You could have at least done 2 minutes of research on Wikipedia and proved this statement wrong. I guess oyu've never really read about this Linux thingy." For one, why would I prove myself wrong? Secondly, you provide no citations. Again, just more "because I say so".

The first quote is the gem. I said at the end of my post that Linux can't have all consumers being computer literate as well as implying that Linux is only for geeks. BAM, here you come saying it's for geeks. If, as you say, that the geekiness is what makes Linux what it is, well then accept that consumers will never take a liking to Linux.

Let me raise another point here. Enterprise usage of Linux. No doubt that it runs most of the supercomputers and webservers. It's the perfect supercomputer OS due to its open source nature. This makes it highly customisable for the job. Yet, the OS version is most likely closed source and you will never see it. This makes the point of FOSS useless. For webservers, you claim market dominance. Undeniably this is true but LAMP is also the most penetrated . This is what market dominance gets you. I suppose you want proof of this so mosey on over to Zone-H if you want stats of attacks. Either you can agree or you will choose the whole "zone-h is wrong for whatever reason" approach.

SME's and global companies would rather fork out cash to MS for proper support and decent products. This is how business works. You want assurance of your products, you pay the cash. This is how economies work.
Hell, even the small company I work for (2500+) staff have a MS Premier agreement. Why? Because when our SharePoint went wonky, MS sent us a PFE who dealt with the whole issue, dealt with the product group, got a specially created QFE and bam. Problem solved. Try solving a corporate outage by posting a ticket on Launchpad. Oh, and please, dont even begin to assume the nature of our outage, which you inevitably will.

 

[SAL-e]

[citation][nom]Donuts[/nom]Here we go again. Shooting at the target and missing entirely. You did realise through my post I was discussing consumer usage? I used the word "consumer" 6 times. Why quote enterprise versions of Linux? And how exacly is it "progressing faster"? The Linux promoters keep saying that yet every year it's "The Year of the Linux Desktop". You were extremely choosy of what to argue and in typical fashion failed to see the point.[/citation]
Actually you fail to make your argument. First you are changing definition of the 'consumer'. Some of your argumets are addressing what home user needs and some times what business user needs. Pick one and argue that, but don't change it in order to spred FUD. Here is the example:

[citation][nom]Donuts[/nom]SME's and global companies would rather fork out cash to MS for proper support and decent products. This is how business works. You want assurance of your products, you pay the cash. This is how economies work.Hell, even the small company I work for (2500+) staff have a MS Premier agreement. Why? Because when our SharePoint went wonky, MS sent us a PFE who dealt with the whole issue, dealt with the product group, got a specially created QFE and bam. Problem solved. Try solving a corporate outage by posting a ticket on Launchpad. Oh, and please, dont even begin to assume the nature of our outage, which you inevitably will.[/citation]
How many home users have 'MS Premier agreement'? If your company can afford 'MS Premier agreement' it can buy RedHat Enterprice Linux and could save money in most cases.

[citation][nom]Donuts[/nom]This made me laugh, "You could have at least done 2 minutes of research on Wikipedia and proved this statement wrong. I guess oyu've never really read about this Linux thingy." For one, why would I prove myself wrong? Secondly, you provide no citations. Again, just more "because I say so".[/citation]
How about you furst take look of Dan Pink's talk at TED conference. You can watch it here: http://www.ted.com/talks/dan_pink_on_motivation.html
It is about 20min long. It is good to see it its entirety, but if you don't have time jump strait to 14:00 min mark. And I hope have strong character to start laughing again at yourself.

[citation][nom]Donuts[/nom]The first quote is the gem. I said at the end of my post that Linux can't have all consumers being computer literate as well as implying that Linux is only for geeks. BAM, here you come saying it's for geeks. If, as you say, that the geekiness is what makes Linux what it is, well then accept that consumers will never take a liking to Linux.Let me raise another point here. Enterprise usage of Linux. No doubt that it runs most of the supercomputers and webservers. It's the perfect supercomputer OS due to its open source nature. This makes it highly customisable for the job. [/citation]
Not only for supercomputers and servers. Practicly all e-readers, NAS drives, and countless number of small devices are running Linux. That is what makes Linux. Geeks are the first to adopt it because they are first to adopt everything. The article was about the Ubuntu Linux, not just any Linux. There are distros for geeks like Gentoo, or Arch, ultimate geek distro like LFS (Linux from scrach) and there are distros for non-geeks like Mint. Yes, the non-geek linux distributions are new and they need time to mature. But dismissing Ubuntu potentials because the geek factor found in Gentoo is disingenuet at best.
And if you want to talk about Linux in general. Well Linux is winning on all fronts except on the Desktop, but with current trends the Desktop is on decline any way. The real 'battle' would be the mobile devices like tablets and smart phones where currently MS is losing big time. But they have all the talent and money to be back in the game and I am not going to dismiss them at all. The new MS Phone 7 looks good. It will be interesting three way 'battle'!

EDIT: Fix spelling mistakes. Sorry.

 

[Guest]

I may have at some point replaced XP or Vista with Ubuntu, but really now that Win7 is out for the average user there is NO reason to, just because you can do basically the exact same things with Win7 and Ubuntu, but Win7 just looks better. Ubuntu is an amazing platform with apps to just about everything you can think of to do, but Win7 can do those exact same things for almost always the same cost: free.

I can't remember the last time I actually payed for a Win7 application. In fact there are really only a few things that have no good competition in windows where you have to buy a professional version. A couple examples are Visual Studios and Photoshop. But there is no good competition for these tools for ANY platform. The exact same tools that you can use for free instead of the better professional ones are available for both Linux AND Windows. So you get absolutely nothing from using Linux in this respect.

Now let me specify that I am ONLY talking about the desktop distro. I regularly use the Ubuntu server which I prefer over Windows Server a hundred times over. In the server space the customability of the OS and the applications actually matters. And the help online for anything you would want to do with a Ubuntu server is amazing.

But none of this matters for the average Desktop user. You really think I or just about anyone else (and don't counter by saying well I do, because I specifically did not say everyone) cares about how easy it is to set file permissions in a Desktop environment? Hell no. You want to be able to just use your applications and work or play without having to worry about anything. Because that's what makes working or playing on a Desktop fun. Yes screwing around on Linux is fun to some (myself included), but when you are using apps your not using them to screw around. You are using them to do something specific, which while your using them all you care about is how they look and how well they work. And in both cases Win7 has Ubuntu beaten hands down.

 

[user 18]

[citation][nom]kingnoobe[/nom]If you could only alt tab different OS then I'd probably have linux installed to lol.[/citation]


You can. Just get some kind of virtual machine software - I use VMware.