4 ms·
For existing Linux users, the situation is indeed fantastic. We have lots of choices and we're aware of this. But if you think of "Year of the Linux Desktop" a
by kungtotte 8y ago
For existing Linux users, the situation is indeed fantastic. We have lots of choices and we're aware of this.
But if you think of "Year of the Linux Desktop" as the point in time where you can get the Windows-using masses to switch, diversity is a big problem. People don't want to be told that they have to make umpteen choices about what software to use if they want to use a different OS, they want a cookie cutter experience.
This is why "Windows like" is a selling point for many DEs/distros. It's the McDonald's principle: everywhere you go a Big Mac is a Big Mac. You don't have to worry about figuring out what appeals to you in the local cuisine.
- _emacsomancer_ 8y ago> People don't want to be told that they have to make umpteen choices about what software to use if they want to use a different OS, they want a cookie cutter So they install Ubuntu. How is that any different from Windows or Mac (where one still can go onto the internet and download a multitude of choices of software). The real answer is that ordinary users don't install OSes. 'Fragmentation' (real or imagined) is a red herring.
- pjmlp 8y agoOrdinary users install software, and then their beloved software only works in Ubuntu, but they got XYZ distribution with their computer, which just happens to have other package format, additional paths, .so versions, startup scripts and then everything falls apart without technical help.
- _emacsomancer_ 8y agoBut why would they have XYZ distro? Whoever sells machines with Linux pre-installed sells them with Ubuntu. Ok, so you turn the argument around and say, "Fine, but their beloved software only works on Fedora. So what then?" Then someone packages up that software in a Snap, an Appimage, or a Flatpak and they install that software (in a not dissimilar fashion to what they might be used to from other OSes).
- pjmlp 8y agoThe large majority of the time that someone doesn't exist for anything outside distribution repos.
- qwerty456127 8y agoIIRC it only takes a click to add a PPA (a 3rd-party repo) in Ubuntu.
- pjmlp 8y agoThe theme is about ordinary users, not power users. And even then, the software needs to be available from such PPA source and the specific user is required to be running Ubuntu.
- _emacsomancer_ 8y agoWhat do you mean? All sorts of things get packaged into Snaps etc.
- pjmlp 8y agoNot by someone doing it for all major distributions in a consistent way for all major commercial Linux desktop software offerings.
- qwerty456127 8y ago> But if you think of "Year of the Linux Desktop" as the point in time where you can get the Windows-using masses to switch The last years of Unity were the best point I can remember. Final Unity versions looked and felt like a perfect cross between Windows 7 and macOS so I had no problem just giving a person with no Linux experience an Ubuntu laptop and seeing them using it happily with no questions or complains. The only problem with Linux desktop to come into my mind were lack of Adobe Photoshop (GIMP is not a perfect match) and limited selection of games.
- kungtotte 8y agoThese days I tend to recommend Linux Mint for the same reasons, and yeah GIMP is not Photoshop. But if people had bought legit copies of Photoshop to the extent that this is a valid complaint for most people then Adobe would have beat Apple to the trillion dollar mark years ago...
- qwerty456127 8y ago> These days I tend to recommend Linux Mint for the same reasons AFAIK Mint's Cinnamon was more close to Windows Vista during the days, it has only gotten Win7/Unity-style taskbar in its recent versions.
- pjmlp 8y agoApparently they aren't complaining enough to Adobe directly, as they recently stated there isn't enough commercial demand to warrant development costs.
- deleted 8y ago[deleted]