Desktop Linux the best it’s ever been—and keeps getting better

Network World ^ | 3/16/17 | Bryan Lunduke

[taxcontrol]

AD is based on LDAP. There are several open source LDAP products. OpenLDAP and ApacheDS are alternatives that I have seen customers use

[SanchoP]

PCLinuxOS

So cool ice cubes are jealous.

[jr3000]

Speaking of wife, my wife and kids all use linux and they don’t even know it. They haven’t complained so far and its been over 10 years. Websites are slowly moving from flash to html5 anyway. Just about everything is done on a web browser including taxes. So, what else is needed? Word processor? Already on the web.

[TheStickman]

Every 2 or 3 years I give Linux a look to see if it’s improved. Linux is better than it used to be for sure. I use my Mac pro for professional audio work. Linux is making progress in this area but it still has a LONG way to go before I would even consider making a switch.

IIRC the audio plugin-in market for Linux is almost nil. I’ve read that Reaper will run on Linux nicely but I am not a fan of Reaper’s stock plugins. When & only when Steven Slate plugins are available for Linux will I be ready to make the switch.

[Rothbards ghost]

yes

[BestPresidentEver]

Its easy to dual boot windows and mac on my iMac and macbook. So I do it and its nice to have when I need it. I’ve tried setting up my puters to dual boot into Linux and its too hard to make work. For one thing, Linux sets up roughly a billion disk partitions. I’m not trying to triple boot three OSes, just dual boot mac and linux. Its just too hard. If they could make this easier I would give it a shot. But I’m not throwing away years of stuff I’ve accumulated on the mac side.

[markomalley]

I bought a Linux laptop (Mint/Cinnamon) last year.

…

I also have tried EVERY browser that will work in Linux to try to run FoxSports, ESPN, cable TV, etc. Some will partially load the graphics, but none will actually play events. My cable company provides TV viewing for subscribers through browsers, but the feature does not work with Linux/Mint.

I don't particularly understand the problem.

I'm running Linux Mint 17.2 MATE.

Follows are screenshots from Chrome Browser (taken just now):

Fox News (Verizon Fios):

Netflix:

Hulu:

Amazon Video:

As to Flash, browsers are transitioning to HTML5. Admittedly, if you want to watch DRM content, you have to use Chrome versus Chromium.

But if you really need Flash content, you need to install the Flash installer plugin (via Synaptic Package Manager) and then use Firefox.

I agree that Wine leaves a lot to be desired; however, I've had success installing both Office 2007 and 2010 with Wine in the past.

(In all candor, I have a Windows 7 VM that I run via Oracle VirtualBox when I have to run Windows software).

I used to have a dual boot system, but when I built my current computer, I didn't bother. I run a VM when I really need to use Windows (which isn't often).

[TomGuy]

I do get some regular youtube videos to run.

As some have posted, the problem is probably due to the DRM between websites like FoxSportsGo and Cox Cable subscription.

[wrench]

Tried mint twice. Though based on Ubuntu, it doesn’t work or install as easily as ubuntu.

People always complain about the ubuntu desktop environment, sounds like much ado about nothing, it does work.

[perfect_rovian_storm]

I install both all the time. It’s literally the same installer, but whatever makes you happy. Glad Unity works for you.

[WhirlwindAttack]

bump to find later.

[Don@VB]

I installed it onto hard drive, but in the past I ran Mint from a CD to see how I liked it. On this last install I dont recall seeing the “run from cd option” but I suspect it’s still available.