I've been thinking a bit about why GNU / Linux, still having all the advantages that we already know, it continues to be a utopia for many users of other Operating Systems.
Of course I am referring to end users, those who only have one computer to share their photos on Facebook, watch videos on YouTube, listen to music and above all things: To play.
And it is that the Entertainment is something fundamental that the human being cannot ignore, and the computers, got to be an important part as a leisure tool. But in GNU / Linux Can't we do the same as the rest of the users in the other Operating Systems? Here is my opinion.
Quality and good performance
If you ask me, I would say: Yes and no. Although a promising future related to video games is looming, it is not only this that certain and certain users need.
We have truly addictive, entertaining, beautiful games in our repositories with varying degrees of difficulty, but there are others that seem to come out of an Atari. Either because of the engine they use, the libraries, or because they do not have an entire development company behind them, most of these applications are not attractive, have crappy graphics and let's be honest, it does not enter through the eyes, it does not enter through nowhere.
En GNU / Linux we did not find games similar to GTA, Need for Speed, Mafia, FIFA… etc. Therefore, for gamers this Operating System is ruled out.
But we also have the problem of quality, let's take for example OS X, an Operating System that is good or bad, has many applications, each with different and specific objectives. The detail is, that it is not having thousands of applications to buy and use, but having quality applications, and that what you have to do, do it well (and most meet this requirement).
Applications available for GNU / Linux They are improving day by day and it is something that cannot be denied. Some of them even surpass many of their proprietary equivalents that we can find in the market, but unfortunately they are not the majority.
Although the applications of GNU / Linux They stand out for their high degree of customization, for being free, for being open source and others, they still lack a bit to have 100% quality. Not in vain the Project KDE It now has a department dedicated exclusively to that, to testing the quality of its product.
Appearance, design, usability.
Audio / Video editors, image viewers, communication applications, video chat, phone calls, text editors, Browsers, just to name a few, we can find them in GNU / Linux, with more or less characteristics than their proprietary counterparts.
Taking the example of OS X Again, we can see that all your applications generally have a similar structure, design and appearance. I mean buttons, color palette ... etc, everything has a place and a well finished design. In GNU / Linux the thing is a bit different, either Qt o gtk, the applications may differ in terms of design and performance, being limited by the possibilities offered by each of these frameworks with their libraries.
The point I want to get to is that we do not have a uniformity in this regard, and of course, this can be bad for some, or good for others. But in the end, it is a fragmentation as you want it to be and this influences a little what is shown in the eyes of the users. It would be a bit silly to promote this idea, but if each app had a slightly similar appearance, the user experience would be vastly better.
In these times, where touch devices are on the rise and where accessibility is necessary, it is imminent that applications such as LibreOffice undergo a facelift, in order to become a more attractive option for the user, leaving behind those interfaces of yesteryear that are becoming unproductive. And if we add to this a kind of unification in terms of appearance, things would improve a lot.
Here in my work most of the machines have installed Ubuntu with Unity. A few days ago, I had to reinstall one of them, and I put Kubuntu. The comment that the user who used it made me was:
I like this Linux better ... it is more beautiful and it looks more like Windows, the other one I don't understand.
You can imagine his amazement when I later put the appearance similar to Windows seven. He was so happy that now he seems to enjoy his computer much more. And it is that for users who do not know, Gnome, KDE, Xfce, they are not Desktop Environments but "Different types of Linux".
Ease of use and commissioning
Say currently GNU / Linux it is difficult to use is a myth. There are distributions that are focused on making using them something really easy for new users, although of course, there are always exceptions (I mean users)..
Unfortunately, as much as the Kernel better, there are still many types of Hardware that offer resistance, whether on purpose or not. Some of them can be configured with some work, others are totally impossible, and since a common user usually does not have the knowledge to choose the hardware to use, this can represent a problem.
We all know that Windows install it, and load a disk full of driver packages for the hardware you are using, and voila. With OS X, the system already comes with everything necessary for it to run on the equipment where it is installed.
But GNU / Linux The thing is not so simple, although if we are fair and according to my personal experience, the incompatibility with the various brands and their models is not very great either. We know that the work to make everything work, using generic drivers is titanic. In fact, it has even had to resort to reverse engineering many times to make a certain device work.
The truth is that the user hopes to turn on the computer, open the browser, the webcam application, the audio or video player and that everything works. And I repeat, it does not mean that in GNU / Linux This may not be possible, but sometimes it gets a bit difficult.
Maybe this is not all causes, but I think they are part of them. Anyway, I think in about 10 years GNU / Linux can become the operating system par excellence, as long as the developers take into account Quality / Appearance / Usability / Accessibility..
The problem is not with GNU / Linux, the problem is in the people, they are closed up, they want everything automatic, they are not open-minded, they are not interested in learning.
Let's see son, why do we ALWAYS have to blame the "problem" on others? Do you become a mechanic in your car? Well, the mechanic who fixes it could tell you the same.
Let's face it, for most people, the computer is just another tool in their life, not the center of it, so let's not pretend that everyone is a computer scientist or a geek ...
I agree, each User has the Operating System he deserves.
This is not good or bad, nor is it to attack anyone, it is what it is.
Something I wrote a little while ago:
»Free Software and Linux ARE NOT FOR EVERYONE ..:
http://cofreedb.blogspot.com/2010/05/el-software-libre-y-linux-no-son-para.html
Charlie is right not all of them are knowledgeable people on how to use a pc, that is the success of win, the games are true, the pc's are not for playing big games or the cells for that are the video consoles, since what is more cheap to use them that will be investing thousands of pesos so that the games look good.
If linux improves the handling and use of the graphical interface that is kde, gnome or xfce, people will get closer to it every day since many are already tired of microsoft's nonsense.
I agree with Charlie-Brown, 90% of users want to sit in front of the PC and use it, not start investigating how this or that thing works, Linux continues to have the same weak points for a long time, for For example, the part of printers, although I advance a lot, it is still very green compared to Windows, if the fault lies with the manufacturers who do not make drivers ... and they will not do them for the 1% (hopefully) who use Linux, applications that from time to time they are discontinued and new projects are born based on them with new names, names that are difficult to remember, they are nonsense but they add to the fact that the common user does not approach Linux, to this we add the typical ones that are thought to be the common user I should know how to configure everything and the typical "before asking, read and investigate 3 or 4 days" when many are not interested in investigating, they just want to use the PC, if the mechanic tells me before bringing the car, start studying mechanics whatI send to shit and buy another car…. In my case I installed Debian to 2 friends, my wife and my parents, I explained to them how to use it and they are happy, if I sent them to study how to configure the webcam, printer or the WiFi they would surely be using windows.
On the other hand, I think that a unique opportunity is being lost, which is to make the Android lessons run natively in Linux, if Windows manages to do this first, it will be another ship that we are missing.
Another who blames the user! The fault IS NOT OF THE PEOPLE! The fault lies with the developers who are VERY FLIPPERS ...
If you like to complicate yourself and go around modifying files manually, as in the days of DOS, there you ...
But ordinary people, that of going around modifying files manually and downloading dependencies here and there, they simply DO NOT LIKE IT ...
MOST people who use a computer want everything easy to use, and IT IS THE DUTY of developers to meet that demand ...
Click and let it work ..
As @ pandev92 said, "users are people of habit." It is the gnu / Linux developer who must adapt and not the other way around.
You are not quite right either, you have part of it because in fact you cannot blame the developers when, for example, the manufacturers do not release the code for their drivers and also make them of poor quality.
Who said Broadcom? Who in the end did not leave an installation thrown away because the wifi was from that manufacturer, or the horrendous catalystic from AMD or those from Nvidia? that does not yet have an official driver with support for Optimus !!, etc, etc.
I've been reading that excuse for more than 15 years, when the best window manager we could aspire to in Linux was fvwm2. That it's all an "open-minded" problem. After so long it does not strain.
For me:
- Simplicity: it is not that it does not have it, updates issue, install software, etc. It is simpler than win ... But for help issues, support, etc.
- Games: IT IS VERY important that there are many games on linux, that is the greatest power of windows for me.
- Office: tools 100% compatible with microsoft office. And also that companies have linux would help a lot.
- Windows alternatives that there are not: Now I do not remember, but there are softs that are in win and there is nothing similar in linux.
- Appearance and design: That it comes by default cute ... for example Ubuntu with unity is looking for that, that it already has icons, fonts, etc. all prettier.
An alternative for windows, I have not found a program in linux that comes close to the capabilities of Multisym, and tried several, but none with the ease and tools that the proprietary one does have
To a large extent the problem is the games, then things like flash, things like not having programs like quark express, we have similarities that do many things, but they are not the same in the sense that they only focus on that. Then also the lack of advertising and finally because the user does not usually change what is already installed, the users are ordinary people.
By the way, programs like pro logic would also be good to have.
PRE-INSTALLATIONS, people use what comes with the computer.
Nobody backs down when they buy an Android or a Chromebook for being Linux, as well as the first Eee PCs with Xandros - which went to the movies compared to their future MS WOS -
A pity about the Eee PCs with MS WOS, it cost MS a lot of money that Linux did not come pre-installed, and it would have been a source of users.
Now Ubuntu within Android has a great opportunity, using the phone as a keyboard computer connected to the TV or a monitor with Ubuntu within Android, or directly on a Smart TV can give Linux wings on the desktop.
But the big sellers should have notebooks with Linux or at least XEN VGA passthorugh with MS WOS as a host.
Learning about what Google is doing with Linux, Android and Chrome and Samsung, HTC or Sony customizing them, making custom Linux for these brands, with a little of their own that they give is enough.
There you have given it: pre-installations. I think that's the main key. And what does it take for that? A pasture.
As for the games part, I think Steam will be something interesting.
With regard to hard, today and after a few years in the Linux world, I can say that I have no major difficulty. Ex: both in Arch and in Debian and Ubuntu, the only "headache" I had was with the TV capture board. the rest without problems.
I believe that it is not a 100% free software issue, but rather the implementation that many years made us with respect to Windows and that it is the standard.
Games (good games), a nice office suite and fully compatible with M $ Office, a few effects and that the "Terminal" does not appear so much (because it scares many of them) and padabum, it becomes a success.
From my point of view it is in the hands of us, of those of us who are in love with this Linux world, since if we show the one who does not know, he falls in love, at least 80%, from experience I say. But the trouble is when we cannot install a 100% Linux distro on your machine, because if this or that does not work, they do not hesitate to return to win or mac.
I comment on this because I know several that if their favorite distro does not run, they let it die without testing, and this is not well digested by the "new user". Or else, we manage to convince someone, we install them as the album comes and we don't get it ready, due to laziness or lack of time, and obviously, it is not right for the "initiate" to find a way to move (not all), and they go of retache.
Another point that does not fit me is that among our own community, we add fuel to one distro or another, just because it does not coincide with our ways of thinking, even if this is not seen well by those looking for options (they do not know how many times I They have commented on it), from my point of view, if they are going to enter a new world, do not confuse it, they enter with any distro, whatever it is.
Personally, I use fedora and opensuse, of course and win for programs that I use on the job, but that doesn't stop me from showing other options.
Greetings.
What does Linux need? Smarter users, XD. I'm kidding, but if people were more aware of what they can do with their computer and tried to adapt to their needs, many would use Linux without a problem. Fully compliant, another thing is that for convenience people prefer to stay in their Windows for life.
Regarding the uniformity of the interfaces ... I think Gnome is going that way, and look, I have been testing Gnome Shell full time for a week - I, who am KDEro has died - and I am beginning to "understand" what they want. Maybe they are more successful than we think.
What do you mean when you start to understand what they want? What do they want?
In what aspect are they most successful?
I'm also a KDEero, although I don't "disgust" Gnome, Xfce, Openbox or any other desktop or window manager.
Gnome, in my opinion, seeks to take a step forward in the conception of the classic desktop -and not just touch-, that is not a secret for anyone. To do this, they try to simplify to extreme levels the options of the programs (even giving them obvious names such as Files, Web, etc.) and the environment, and thus achieve a solid, minimalist interface that is accessible even to the most ignorant. Come on, outline a simple and stable environment that tries to be innovative, moving away from classical customs.
Be careful, I do not share those decisions of layer Nautilus -aka Files- or that to change the theme of the environment you have to install extra programs. That is by no means easy or affordable, but I guess it's all a matter of time. In a few months we will surely see many options to return (at least, they should), and those sharp edges that raise blisters will gradually soften.
My initially inflammatory stance against Gnome Shell has changed to "watch and study." It is not yet at the level of KDE, but Gnome is going in a different direction. We'll see if it goes well or not, and if it manages to overcome all that string of forks that threaten its long-term survival.
Agree. Before I get beaten up, I also think that Gnome-Shell is going to unify the interfaces. The one that does not allow changing the theme may sound ugly -and it is- but it guarantees that all applications will maintain a consistent appearance, because it brings theme for GTK 2 and 3, in addition to that Qt is quickly integrated into the appearance of GTK.
KDE is somewhat more difficult in this regard and you have to install a few things to do it.
Excellent entry. I think that research, testing, installation, and everything that may exist within the world of computing, is normal for people who are immersed in it. BUT for accountants, lawyers, doctors, teachers, all those who do not have studies / interest / passion for computer matters, they simply want something that makes life easier, gives them results and that's it! And it is something that I do not see wrong, but I think that GNU / Linux is going with many steps forward in this long way.
I could not agree more with you elav ... but the fact is that many distributions (if not the majority), are not focused on the end user although they proclaim it and many GNU / Linux users would prefer that the situation always remain that way .
I think developers have the ability to give a more professional finish to their projects (visually), but I think there is a fear of rejection by many self-proclaimed "gurus."
I think users are often to blame for the absurd phobia of novelty and attractiveness.
Regarding the quality of the software ... there is a large amount of free software with excellent functionality, but the dilemma returns that if the presentation is not attractive, the end user will not be interested ... (for many software with a crappy interface, its quality leaves much be desired).
Very good article, as you have used to us. I think that the analysis you do could not be more objective and dispassionate. I agree with you in what you propose, and in my opinion, what is most needed is "Ease of use and start-up", because what users want is, as you say, turn on the computer and do their tasks and make EVERYTHING work , without having to call anyone.
On the other hand, I think Libre / OpenOffice needs much more than a facelift. I think of the open source tools with Windows equivalents, it is the lowest quality. In the case of browsers, mail managers, IM clients and other applications, open source versions have been able to surpass their Windows equivalents in quality and performance, but this is not yet the case for Libre / OpenOffice, and it is not a problem of structure and / or design; if not that there are things that cannot be done or that to achieve them you have to go around more than an ant on a fan and that really discourages newcomers.
The issue of games, or rather, the lack of versions for GNU / Linux of the most famous, in my opinion responds to a question of interests of the companies that produce them, for them, 80-90% of the market Microsoft dominates, so it is not profitable for them to invest money in producing for the remaining 10-20%, well let's face it: that costs them money and I do not think it is little. When the market share of GNU / Linux in personal computers grows significantly, it will be profitable for these companies to invest in those versions.
Let's look at the example of the success of Android (based on GNU / Linux) and we will see that for the end user it is totally transparent if it is open source, proprietary or super-monopoly: what they care about is that it works without having to ask anyone for help nor need to be a geek.
When we abandon the evangelistic mentality and adopt a vision really focused on the user (although and above all, if it is inexperienced or definitely unfamiliar), then we will begin to change things.
Thanks Charlie-Brown:
I also agree with what you say. In the games section, it has been shown that the user of GNU / Linux is capable of paying to play, and it seems to me that companies are already realizing this, as we have seen in the changes that have occurred with Steam, Valve ... etc. Sure, there is still a long way to go, but luckily we are moving forward 😉
Very true what is said here.
One of the things that I miss the most about win is the issue of uniformity in the graphical interface of the applications, the theme of dialog windows or contextual menus, etc.
Although it is not so catastrophic, there becomes less productive a certain lack of common options between GTK and QT applications. For example Firefox, now it opens folders with Nautilus instead of Dolphin and is screwed with that even if KDE demands otherwise.
Anyway ... you can say roughly that Linux with KDE is "another Linux" and I leave you a couple of screenshots of my "cute Kubuntu", hehe.
http://imageshack.us/a/img341/9649/instantnea1g.png
http://imageshack.us/a/img252/4971/instantnea2f.png
Hello, it may not be the topic at hand. But I would like someone to tell me which program they recommend for someone who wants to start the study of programming under Linux.
There are schools that offer programming courses and X program. some tell you that ACCESS, others visual studio, etc but my question is that if there are some that only work with windows or works to run on windows or if there are others for linux.
When I installed FEDORA 17 I marked "DEVELOPMENT" and I get a list of programs. are these exclusive to run on LINUX? or has nothing to do with it?
I know that is not the way to ask that. But at least I try in case someone kindly answers me
Maybe this will help you.
http://usemoslinux.blogspot.com/2012/09/18-herramientas-para-programar-en.html
Thank you
I completely agree with what was written above since I am one of those who has the Windows 7 partition just to play while in Linux I only have the programs that I use daily ... appearance because I like KDE and how easy it is to setting it up, that is quite tedious at times but the result is rewarding.
Something that I have always criticized about Linux is that on a computer without internet you cannot have linux unless you know how to search the dependencies well but for the common user it is easier windows in which with a single click and next to everything you will install the program completely ... well hehehe
It just takes a great marketing campaign.
Many of the things that Linux is missing you have listed / described in this article and you do not lack reason why I will not go into details about them.
From my point of view, what Linux lacks is unity. Something very difficult to achieve due to the philosophy of this operating system and especially due to the ego of the users and / or developers.
What can be seen as its greatest virtue is also the greatest cancer of this system.
-Incompatible records between them and / or that do not provide anything other than a DE different from the one that comes by default.
-Forks, forks forks everywhere (mate, nemo, etc).
-Stability and update (it is not acceptable that one has to reinstall the operating system every few months if you use distros such as fedora, opensuse or a non-LTS ubuntu, and have to entrust yourself to all the saints you know every time you upgrade to a new version or you download the updates of an RR such as Arch) or you have to suffer applications with a musty smell if you use a stable distro.
The advantage that for me they have OS like Windows / OS X are not only the games or drivers (which tb) but they are dedicated to rowing in one direction which makes homogenization much easier to carry out.
Just stop using the console. In Windows there is a console and almost nobody knows of its existence because they do not need it, everything is through graphical assistants. Yes, yes, graphical assistants have their risks and the console gives you many freedoms and benefits that an assistant does not, but common user doesn't want console, period.
There is also the mentality of the linuxero that the user has to know his system thoroughly, configure practically everything possible and use difficult distros because the easy ones do not leave you anything. Let's see if they are already understanding that not everyone who uses a computer is a computer scientist or is interested in computing, and not everyone buys a computer to understand how it works but to use it for other things.
Imagine that to buy a house, a car or a piece of furniture, the seller forced you to know how each one is built and what each of its parts is for, when you only want them to use them and that's it.
It's that easy. Either they get rid of that hatred they have for graphical assistants, automatic methods and other utilities designed to make life easier (or stun, as they prefer to see it) the Linux user, or we will never pass our famous 1% adoption on PCs nor will we get rid of the label that Linux is difficult and only for geeks.
Although to tell the truth, I do not care if the common user likes Linux or not. I do not want to see the arrival of viruses for Linux or how freedoms begin to be reduced (more or less like what I wrote here.) in order to attract the common user. As long as the number of users is sufficient to not jeopardize the existence of my distro in turn, and I have no problems using it with the hardware and software I need, I don't give a damn about the usage fee and if people think it's difficult.
Hello, as always, very good topic. In my personal experience, I am a hardcore gamer
http://steamcommunity.com/id/ivanbarram
For this reason, I am forced to use Windows on my Desktop, in which I have also invested a lot of money to be able to run all the games that I have in hardcore mode.
On the laptop, I am still in distro-hopping mode, looking for a distro that meets all my needs (I know anyone could, but I have had a lot of problems with bumblebee - Asus N53SV), but I have been more of a Fedora user, although my The first linux was OpenSUSE 10.3, which I remember were 5 CDs and at that time I put it aside because I could not connect my TV capture and a Scanner from a «duckling» brand, although nowadays, the hardware issue is not I consider a "problem" as the community can almost always solve problems.
I work in Linux, I am a system administrator in an airline, where 90% of the teams use Red Hat 5.5, another 7% Solaris 10 and the other 3% are Win-NT servers for exchanges, but still, I know several "GURU's Linuxeros" who use Windows, because it came in the laptop pc and at the end of the day, the only thing you need to manage a Unix system is Putty and an FTP (winscp or filezilla).
I think Ubuntu has brought linux closer to the standard user, due to its ease of use I have installation, but many collide at the moment of finding a simile to programs that they used in windows for linux, which despite having several, differ a lot in the way of use, and come on, for many users relearning to use software is a real drag.
The other, I agree a lot with several here, on the issue that people keep what comes from the factory installed on the computer. What's more, I always remember the case of a grandmother that I knew who had a problem with her notebook charger and when I got home, I realized that she was using Ubuntu with gnome at that time, that her grandson had given it to her with that system, but she handled herself very well, it was totally Facebook, reading the news and using Skype to talk with her grandchildren in the south of the country; I mean, he used what came on the computer and being his first computer, he learned to use linux (ubuntu), like any other that came with linux. Overall, you can do the same with both systems, the difference is that with one, you must pay to use it, in addition to having to use an antivirus as a rule to be "calm" and the other is completely free.
That is my opinion, I am sorry that I have lingered so long, it always happens to me.
Greetings.
100% agree with the Ubuntu theme ...
For something Steam for Linux is designed for Ubuntu
By the way, I'm also on Steam:
http://steamcommunity.com/id/Digital_CHE
And besides all this, that it is independent, that it can be installed on a computer without an internet connection. I comment on it for those (who are many) do not have internet, both in Europe and in Antarctica.
greetings and excellent blog!
Strongly agree with Oscar
I am in Central America and although many of us already have internet in our homes. there are many who visit the so-called cyber cafes to check their emails.
In my case, although I am a novice, I wanted to show some friends about OS Fedora 17 and at the beginning I was suspicious but I told them that they can have two operating systems so that windows 7 was there and in the end they agreed to install them only that then I told them that we need Internet and they do not have since they live something outside the city and they are desktop computers and taking them to my house is something difficult but not impossible, but then updates and all that.
Although I saw something about that it can be updated when one does not have internet but maybe right now I am not practical with that and in the end we decided to wait.
And all because there was no internet. Now surely they have lost interest in seeing what FEDORA is like since I showed them quickly on my computer but they say they have told them that it is difficult and you have to know about programming just as I thought before. my fear is taking away in other words.
I just hope that in a few years, accounting programs can be installed in LINUX like the quickbook. with that I forget about windows
Speaking of Gaming on Gnu / Linux… Amnesia, a game of the genre «Survival Horror» was published for both Windows and Mac, as well as Linux
http://www.amnesiagame.com/#demo
This is proof that EVERYTHING DEPENDS ON THE DEVELOPERS ...
The great enemy of Linux has not been Windows as OS but the OFFICE package. That free software has not left its mark on SMEs (small and medium enterprises) where cost reduction is always in force is inconceivable. Libreoffice is growing, Gimp is a good alternative for designers but none is up to par with the packages offered by Microsoft / Adobe, for spectacular sums, yes. The Linux interface is a dilemma, I think that building the system to suit you is something unique, QT for KDE is not bad, I prefer GTK but there is always some application that may not look good. In my case, do you know what was one of the reasons for switching to Linux? That Chrome, Firefox and Opera are multiplatform and as most of the users use the pc to navigate the OS it becomes indifferent. The 3.7 kernel comes with many improvements for ARM, a very interesting platform for costs, space, noise, etc. and that Linux does not have to miss.
What I don't understand is why Linux is required to do things that are not asked of the rest of the sos. For example the uniformity, windows is not uniform at all and nobody seems to care.
What I think is missing is a universal method of installing applications, that it is possible to install applications for linux in any distro that we want (only applications, not xorg or desktops), to me this would seem like a great incentive for developers of commercial applications.
It is also important that there are standards and that they are respected and that stability is given more importance.
Something that gives me a lot of hope is cloud technology, I think there are many companies that are trying to make everything possible from the browser and through web services (already today there are many people who open their documents with google docs ) this is not good for our privacy but i think it will help linux in the long run.
+1 About getting primed with linux and treating Window $ kindly shows that you are still a windolero 🙂
Dreaming is beautiful, but the world is dominated by the market and marketing. On the other hand, we are "animals" of habit and comfort.
A complex issue ...
Greetings.
I have seen many people, who use the computer only to surf the Internet and work with office tools, the vast majority are not interested in whether their system is up to date or not or in the programs they use, all they want is the software does what they need and one of the main reasons why they don't like gnu-linux is because when pasting text next to IMAGES from the network, closing the document and reopening it (in Writer) the images are not ( much worse when there is no internet connection) so they prefer to go back to the private option. And for something that may seem so simple they leave ...
Good topic, I would start by asking: Does it matter that Gnu / Linux has a higher market share? Is it desirable that the situation be turned around and Gnu / Linux has the number of users that Window $ has? Is the question just adding more users, by any means? Isn't it important that the "end user" understands the importance of free software and its beneficial consequences for societies?
I answer some points:
"Not having programs like quark express"
- We are talking about end users, those who do not know what the "address bar" of a browser is, I do not think that the arrival of quark express will make a massive return to Gnu / Linux.
"Nice office suite fully compatible with M $ Office"
"Tools 100% compatible with microsoft office"
- Chicken or egg problem, I think every effort is made to be compatible with the aforementioned.
«That the" Terminal "does not appear so much (because it scares many of them)»
Just stop using the console.
- An end user does not even change the wallpaper, I think that the "friendly" distros have their sufficient dose of graphic configuration.
"What is most needed is" Ease of use and start-up ", because what users want is, as you say, turn on the computer and do their tasks and that EVERYTHING works, without having to call anyone."
- Previous answer: an «end user» doesn't even install Window $, that's what the technicians are for. Problem: lack of technicians dedicated to Gnu / Linux.
"Distros incompatible between them and / or that do not contribute anything other than a DE different from the one that comes by default."
"Forks, forks forks everywhere (mate, nemo, etc)."
- Solution: Focus on a single distribution, if you use Ubuntu think that only Ubuntu exists, Ubuntu is not Linux, Ubuntu is Ubuntu. I think it was understood 🙂
Sorry for the bump. Greetings and do not be bitter 🙂
Is that with that of the ease we are demanding a lot from Linux, more than we exempt Windows, for example, I went to a friend's house, this girl was trying desperately to open a pdf, but she couldn't because she had no reader installed. Another friend, it took like five minutes to turn on the computer because of all the crap that it had at the beginning and thus dozens of other cases. It is that as much as you make things easy, sometimes people sin of laziness, and ignorance.
I think it is necessary to reach a critical mass of users, surely your friends get solutions to these "difficulties" because they know someone who handles better with window $. The day each person meets someone (friend, brother, neighbor, etc), at least one, who knows how to handle Gnu / Linux that resistance to change will give way. Ignorance in this area is immeasurable in most people. Regards.
Every x time this debate comes out in which the "why" linux has not just caught on are updated. The nature of free software is not very compatible with the business idea and if it has to gain space from a hegemonic commercial product it is very difficult since they do not compete on equal terms. Windows marks the way forward with its monopoly and Linux tries to follow but is always at a disadvantage, not only because of the development model but because it does not own its destiny. Linux cannot pay for laptops not to have windows pre-installed, but Microsoft can do the opposite.
There are significant cases such as cross-platform free software programs work better on windows than on linux like firefox.
Linux is a bit overpriced by misinformation and competition like Microsoft, who make people believe that Linux is a fourth category OS.
That he has to improve some aspects, we all know that, as in games. but that is part of the evolution of our distinguished Linux.
Games
Linux problems:
- "Professional finish" applications and games are missing.
-It is not installed by default on computers that ordinary people buy. If a computer does not come with GNU / Linux, it may have incompatible components due to a lack of appropriate drivers. If something goes wrong, the ordinary user will not know how to fix it. The end user does not install operating systems, they resort to another.
-In the Linux community there is a high percentage of advanced users who provide free support to newcomers. It is a problem because they usually help with recipes full of codes. Few of the windousera community offer solutions from the command line. This reality gives a "nerdy" image to the GNU / Linux system and its users.
-There should be an application like Alien (but much more efficient) or a functional Listaller that saves us work on packaging. If someone bothers to package a deb from source code, that effort should be enough to instantly have different packages (rpm, pisi,…). Another solution would be to promote a universal companion install system (for all distros) that is used in games and applications that do not need constant updates.
Sorry @BenyBarba ???
"PCs are not for playing big games or cells for that are video consoles,"
Where did you get that a console is better than a PC?
The hardware of a Play3 or any console will NEVER surpass a PC in power ...
THE PC is the console par excellence ...
The best games, with the most realistic graphics and physics, are played on PC .. Not to mention that some are Moddable….
The problem is that many games are castrated for console, and then ported to PC ... When the process should be the reverse.
Speaking of end users do I by far prefer a console, just insert and play, more realistic graphics? of course, the pc is more brute force and even more so on Windows, now imagine that the game you like had the same optimization as a console ...
but hey, if only one looks at that, what is the case for the game? for that of the history of the game and others etc.
by the way the ports are from console to pc because consoles are where the real market is.
That "Insert and play" thing was before ... At the time of the Sega Genesis and SuperNintendo and Playstation 1 ... When you put a cartridge or a rented CD on the console and enjoyed ...
It's not like that anymore ... They put a game on the market (either PC or console), and a few days later they are releasing "very heavy" update patches to eliminate the tremendous amount of bugs they have ...
Like a good Fishman, I build my PC ... The consoles cannot be updated, that's why games like Crysis 2 come very well ...
And don't forget an important detail: PC games are much cheaper than console games. At least, here in Argentina ..
Not to mention the price of consoles ...
The PC is the Queen of VideoGame ..
I could go on, but we are straying quite a bit from the main topic of this post ...
People want a team that does the trick, and because of the existing segregation people don't trust Linux. What is missing, and I hope that some company with a financial back is launched). is to develop a line of computers for advanced technical users. With an exclusive design and with a linux distribution adapted exclusively for that hardware. It is emulating mac but with Linux. Establish this linkage of Hardware with Software and logically with style.
What is missing is going to do it or did it (?) Dell
https://ubuntulife.wordpress.com/2012/05/14/dell-prepara-un-nuevo-portatil-con-ubuntu-12-04-destinado-a-desarrolladores/
That such.
This is an issue, as already mentioned, which is taboo for some, declaration of war for others, etc, etc, etc. Much has been said and said why Linux this or why Linux the other. Unlike Microsoft or Apple (to mention the best known) these companies have been characterized by "working" (not to say otherwise) to have the advantage from the beginning. Now we must not forget the story of how Microsoft managed to dominate for some time and how now Apple is the one in control.
Whose fault is it? It is easy to point a finger and say "the user", "the distro", "the manufacturers", "Microsoft", "Apple". From my personal point of view it belongs to everyone. Many will not agree with me but 20 years of experience and IT Consultant know what I am talking about and why I say so.
Linux is an economically viable environment and you can do business with it, there is plenty of evidence (Red Hat and Novell Linux [Owner of Suse and sponsor of openSUSE]). Not for something Steam flirts with this platform.
Wolf makes an observation that I have been commenting on in this space for a few weeks. STANDARDIZATION and GNOME is the one that took the first step, Android for PC later and BE: Shell now. The trends and migration of the PC to mobile devices make it very important that there are similar or similar interfaces that allow a minimum learning curve and maximum market penetration capacity. Simplicity and interactivity will be the guidelines to follow and given that Apple and Microsoft are closing the circle of their environment, it is necessary to have a similar and open alternative to counterbalance and this may be the impulse that is required to be able to satisfy all the expectations and turn Linux into a major player and why not, direct the trends.
NOTE: Regarding the experience, an apology made a mistake:
I use PC'c (if you can call it that) from Radio Shack TRS 80 (a true archaeological piece approx. 1980) but professionally since 1985, if we do the math well then I am talking about 32 years personally and 27 years occupationally speaking.
Excellent post. I love this blog. But I pose the question backwards: What does the end user need to finally get to Linux?
Good question! I would write down the following: curiosity, understand the benefits of free software, ease of learning and a Linux friend 😉
oooo great idea O_O
It seems to me much more important and in depth, the initial question of the article posed by Elav. GNU / Linux has already reached the user, with all its power and quality, What Linux needs is more publicity, and that is the reason for this type of blog, that the message reaches many Windows users clearly and strongly that there is a better OS, which is Linux.
Greetings to the community.
This seems like a very "controversial" issue and it seems difficult to come up with a concrete answer but we know that win2 is what it is because I copy the interface from mac os and adapt it in its own way, but above all because to date it is a system pre installed on a pc, etc.
But it is precisely win2 that has "spoiled" the user (so to speak) so that when changing systems they feel intimidated, especially if the interface is not handled, looks or feels the same.
Let's face it, any change can be scary and insecure.
That Ubuntu has taken the first step facilitating the ability to test Linux without installing it is a plus. That the installation process has been improved, but it is another point that could still be polished especially in the section corresponding to partitioning in case of coexisting with win2.
But as I can read in the comments, everyone comments on their points of view, which are many and some coincide.
For now, I would say that more communication is needed between users and programmers, perhaps including a section in the applications for sending feedback in order to improve the product.
Linux IS NOT EASY and Windows IS NOT EASY.
Lunux is SAME as EASY or SAME as DIFFICULT as Windows.
It depends on how deep the user wants to go.
The difference is that while in Windows the "how far do you want to go today" is a FALSE and marketing phrase, because you can only go as far as they leave you; in Linux it is a clear and verifiable reality of the daily computational task.
If Windows were easy, those who are dedicated to the Technical Service of Windows Machines for people who consider Windows VERY DIFFICULT, would not have a job.
For a long time I dedicated myself to that.
Today I am more afraid to use the new versions of Windows, the last one I used was XP.
Today, dedicating myself to the Technical Service for Windows Machines would be like selling drugs, especially if it is for users who have all their software in an unauthorized or illegitimate way, being able to do their usual things with Linux and with Free Software 100 % Legitimate and without paying a peso in Licenses.
Today I feel a "strange pleasure", when they ask me something about Windows and I say that I don't know, that I don't know the new versions, that I have no idea because I use Linux and Free Software, that I no longer know how to get viruses and malware and I'm not interested in relearning.
It is good "to scare flies", especially heavy flies and abusers of other people's knowledge, of the "hours / ass / machine".
http://cofreedb.blogspot.com/2010/12/que-te-puedo-contar.html
Hello everyone!! At the beginning of my entry into the Gnu / linux world, less than 2 years ago I began to ask many people about this software and discuss it and I knew something, that most of the people were missing something fundamental "KNOWLEDGE" and I think Although I had been hearing about Linux for about two years, I didn't really know what it was and they told me that it was an operating system for people who were very computer savvy (something that I wasn't), that the programs I used didn't work and ect.
I also lacked something was knowledge and that feeling of wanting to know beyond what they give me. something we have had since we were children and we lose over time. There is this saint google and aunt Wikipedia and I never ask him deeply. That attitude I had and that thank God that I have changed and that many people suffer.
Let us remember that there is a human attitude and it is resistance to change and apart from that we add a great part of ignorance by the people around you and what good publicity adds to more software and distorted free software information.
but .. free software is evolving and with the passage of time more people will know how it is happening now and as they say: whoever does not use free software is because they still do not deserve it.
Weather. For now it seems that linux has been trailed by others. Gnome seems to have taken the initiative to break away from the dropdown menu. Linux starts with the advantage of what seem like weaknesses: its variety. There are distributions for almost all tastes, or niches, or activities, or markets. And there will be more. Unification, homogenization, is not a good way forward. Changes generate changes.
I will always say the same thing TO GNU, OR GNU / LINUX IS MISSING ADVERTISING AND DESIGNERS FUCK!
Nothing less than that, damn we are in the information age, we precisely need publicity, that the world knows, and if the world knows and asks, then the seller sells
marketing rules
Why do you think Ubuntu has become strong? because the company behind its back has known how to do good publicity, put a lot of money in advertising
IT IS THE SAME THAT MICROSOFT HAS DONE AT THE DIVINE LEVEL AND APPLE AT THE PHARAONIC LEVEL
Fragmentation I sincerely consider that it makes us strong, being decentralized seems to me something positive, it generates more creativity, I prefer 50 people creating 50 different things (or modifying 50 different things) than 50 people creating a single thing
The advertising thing is impossible speaking of GNU / Linux in "general", there is no center here, only the distributions can do it (as in the case of Ubuntu) or some organization like the Linux Foundation or the FSF and of course we users . The good thing is that there is plenty of information on the internet and there is very good quality for those who want to change.
A big leap would be to make executables compatible with all GNU / Linux distributions, in any case we are much more surrounded by G / L than we think, although not on the desktop.
Excellent article brother, successes!