PONG
Very happy with Linux Mint (version 18). I run it on laptop with Windows 10.
Kinda like saying that "the Yugo, right now, is better than it's ever been."
Linux for servers? Sure. On the desktop? Less sure.
I’ve been working in the Linux kernel for 10 years now.
I use Fedora for my desktop, as it provides a developer friendly environment and is close to the environment of the distro I work for.
There are still some windows apps I need, like Studio One and Camtasia. I run those in the seamless desktop provided by Oracle Virtual Box.
I’ve gone to Linux Mint 18 on the main desktop. I see no reason to stop, though I do use a couple of windows virtual boxes on occasion.
It does lock up ocassionaly but since I went back to a spinning disk, nothing is screwed up on reboot.
Our mainframe is a Red Hat box. Some scripting differences and you use gpg instead of pgp.
I’d like to say Linux is a viable Windows alternative.
It isn’t.
On the consumer side, the A-list video game studios do not release their titles for Linux.
On the business side, Linux lacks anything like Active Directory that I’m aware of. Samba doesn’t count. It’s an incomplete implementation.
Tech ping
There, just had to say it. ;-)
Full disclosure, I'm a borderline Linux fanboy. I've been using Linux as my primary OS at home for over a decade. I've used it at work for twice that.
In reality I think "the" year for desktop Linux was probably 6 or 8 years ago. Since that time it has become very easy to use. The dirty little secret is Linux is now easier to install, upgrade, and configure common devices for than Windows. Of course, Windows comes pre-installed so virtually no-one realizes this.
What makes it fun to say, or keep saying this is "the" year of the Linux desktop is that it really depends on what your definition of "the" year is. If it is Linux gobbling up desktop market share from Windows boxes and Macs - sorry, never going to happen. If it is getting to the point where it is entirely usable by a non-techie - that happened years ago.
Is it for everyone? No, but then neither is Windows or Mac. I'd recommend everyone try it as an alternative to feeding the beasts in Redmond and Cupertino. Yes, I'll stipulate the dozen or so people reading this and just itching to reply with their story of how Linux failed miserably for them. Yes, that still happens, less now than before.
Does linux have an android emulator?
I bought a Linux laptop (Mint/Cinnamon) last year.
I have yet to find any Windows program that will run through Wine. Most I tried would not run at all or would only load a portion of the GUI.
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.
Since the web is becoming more, not less, visual with graphics and videos, Linux needs to step up its capabilities. Just saying ‘Linux does not support Adobe Flash’ is not a great selling point, since many websites still use Adobe Flash.
In several areas, Linux still is not ready to be a viable competitor to Windows [7, even].
As long as my Win 7 laptop and desktop hold up, they are still my preferred. I do remember with Win XP that it could not handle the intense graphics/videos on the web. That was the only reason I changed to Win 7.
Since ‘mobile friendly’ has taken over much of the web, that has ruined a lot of websites with over-sized print and graphics and irregular/jumpy scrolling, etc. Newer is not always better.
I’m running a virtualized linux on top of a linux server. I have only one windows 7 virtual machine and some old windows laptops and tablets that I no longer use.
I use a raspberry pi ‘head’ to virtual machines right now.
Since I have a “spare” desktop computer, I ought to give this a try. Only problem is that there are only 24 hours in a day and I’m already doing too many unproductive things. But learning the potential future operating system would, perhaps, be a good use of some time.
I have not run windoze on my home machine for over 10 years now. My wife, who hardly knows how to cut on a computer, is perfectly comfortable with all the stuff your average user needs to do, which is surf the web, listen to music, send and save pix, email, compose and print letters, bulletins, etc. I cannot think of a use that linux will not do, or does not have a native app for, except quickbooks, and there are workarounds for that.
Your average linux basher blabs about how hard it is, and most of the time knows nothing, frankly.
The great thing is that your average malware is completely ineffective. I still have to worry about scriptware running on browser apps, but even that is easier to fix in a nix box.
I am not a professional geek. I am rather an ex insurance guy who is now doing construction/remodeling/repair and doing a small farming op.
It takes a LITTLE time to get on the curve, but the author is right. Linux is the best os out there.
For the record, pull up the covers on Apple’s OS and what do you find? Bash Unix. It is very good and very elegant, and I don’t deny that. It is also proprietary and expensive.
I made the right decision 10 years ago.
So cool ice cubes are jealous.
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.
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.