There is one area where Linux could well gain traction in 2008, and that’s at the cheap end of the spectrum. As prices fall and $200 PCs become a reality, neither Microsoft nor Mac will be able to provide an OS cheap enough to offer value for money. $200 PCs don’t have huge appeal and are going to have to sell themselves (because two hundred bucks won’t allow for a lavish advertising budget) but they are likely to sell well nonetheless – after all, every geek could do with a cheap PC.
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To: Halfmanhalfamazing
Yep. Apple has a “high-gloss” polish to it that I doubt Linus will ever have, but you pay through the nose for it.
2 posted on
12/15/2007 7:43:47 PM PST by
rockrr
(Global warming is to science what Islam is to religion)
To: Halfmanhalfamazing
Both Mac and Widows have the ability to recognize new software and automatically configure … is there a version of Linux that will do the same?
The last time I tried to install Linux, I had to spend hours configuring all my drivers to work … gave up and installed Windows.
4 posted on
12/15/2007 7:52:28 PM PST by
doc1019
(Fred Thompson '08)
To: Halfmanhalfamazing
It’s about quality first, price second.
OS X is head and shoulders above Linux and Windows right now. That will likely change in the future, but OS X is only gaining momentum right now.
6 posted on
12/15/2007 7:54:30 PM PST by
Terpfen
(It's your fault, not Pelosi's.)
To: Halfmanhalfamazing
I'd go with a Mac over a Linux-based computer for a couple of reasons:
1) A lot more hardware support, especially for USB external devices.
2) No need to constantly tweak the OS to get best performance.
To: rdb3; Calvinist_Dark_Lord; GodGunsandGuts; CyberCowboy777; Salo; Bobsat; JosephW; ...
8 posted on
12/15/2007 7:57:28 PM PST by
ShadowAce
(Linux -- The Ultimate Windows Service Pack)
To: Halfmanhalfamazing
Linux wins for me. I still use Microsoft, but for fun I will use Linux. Apple is expensive and Linux is free!
9 posted on
12/15/2007 8:03:10 PM PST by
gridlock
(Recycling is the new Religion.)
To: Halfmanhalfamazing
Running Ubuntu Gusty on an ollllld AMD K7 system.
It seems to run a little slower than Edgy Eft, but you can't beat the price.
To: Halfmanhalfamazing
it’s not war, it’s more like two overly optimistic ants fighting on the back of an elephant. The Big Three auto makers said something similar when that pesty pissant Datsun came to the US in the 1960s...
So, why exactly am I disgruntled with Windows??
14 posted on
12/15/2007 8:12:20 PM PST by
evad
To: Halfmanhalfamazing
Apples are well-supported, gorgeous, beautifully built, high-performance, reliable and competitively priced.
But if you already have PC hardware, some of the better Linux choices will give you a fresh machine that’s easy to use and far more secure than Windows. (I’m using and recommending http://www.PCLinuxOS.com in particular— pretty, full-featured, smooth-running and more hardware-compatible than other alternatives like Ubuntu.)
For new machines, my top recommendation is definitely a Mac.
To: Halfmanhalfamazing
"As prices fall and $200 PCs become a reality, neither Microsoft nor Mac will be able to provide an OS cheap enough to offer value for money."
False. Think about what you get when you buy an iPod. If Apple chooses to compete in the cheap-PC market, they have proven they can make the hardware profitably. It's a question of market economics. They are, after all, in the business to make money. It's not clear that the cheap-PC market will do so for anyone.
To: Halfmanhalfamazing
The day that Apple comes out with a version of OS X that will install and run easily on a standard PC is the day that will mark the beginning of the death of Microsoft. Yes, I know that hacked versions run. I'm talking about a well-hyped commercial release timed just right. Microsoft would never recover from that and Apple would quickly grab a huge share of the OS market, especially if they bundle Parallels so that PC users can run their most indispensible Windows applications until they can find a Mac compatible equivalent.
Linux is cool, but still kind of a hobby OS. PCLinuxOS and Ubuntu go a long way to making Linux easy enough to configure and use that I can see Linux making more headway in the home OS market. But without major companies supporting it and promoting it with widespread advertising, Linux isn't going to take over any time soon.
23 posted on
12/15/2007 8:47:19 PM PST by
Spiff
(“Dear Wayne, My desire is that you be released from prison." - Gov. Mike Huckabee to Wayne DuMond)
To: Halfmanhalfamazing
Who’s disgruntled? I’m not and don’t know anyone who is either.
24 posted on
12/15/2007 8:48:26 PM PST by
mtbopfuyn
(I think the border is kind of an artificial barrier - San Antonio councilwoman Patti Radle)
To: uptoolate
25 posted on
12/15/2007 9:06:33 PM PST by
uptoolate
(Two words: Duncan Hunter.)
To: Halfmanhalfamazing
Apple vs. Linux: Which Will Win Disgruntled Windows Users? Windows XP gets my vote.
To: Halfmanhalfamazing
It's true that Linux distributions are, for the most part, free of charge. That, alone, will net some new customers.
Very few of those bottom dollar PC's will stay on Linux though. Most will find a copy of WinXP or Win2000, legal or not, installed in a few months or so.
On the other hand, Linux is likely the choice of the disgruntled high end "power" users and tech savvy consumers.
Sporting features that surpass MS and Mac, such as Compiz Fusion special effects, multi "cube" workspaces, 3 click upgrades and updates, and 4 click software downloading and installations, the ability to run less processes doing the same work, better out of the box security, Linux has come of age.
Care to run your own web server or mail server, side by side with your desktop and not notice it? Easy and free on Linux. How about a complete, and free, Multimedia PC operating system? Linux, again.
How about a Linux distribution pre-configured for Education, Christians, Mobile devices, Tablet PC's, Thin Clients? Yes, Linux...again. And it's FREE. Don't like the Gnome desktop? Cool, switch it to KDE. Or Xfce, or a multitude of other free offerings.
Give Ubuntu Linux a Spin...
The fastest way for most people to get Ubuntu is by downloading the CD Installer. The CD Installer is nearly 700MB. If you don't have a fast internet connection you may want to consider requesting a CD.
Which release do you want?
Desktop Edition Ubuntu 7.10 - Supported to 2009 Ubuntu 6.06 LTS - Supported to 2009Server Edition Ubuntu 7.10 - Supported to 2009 Ubuntu 6.06 LTS - Supported to 2011
The "LTS" version of Ubuntu receives long-term support. 3 years for desktop versions and 5 years for server versions.
Recognized Derivatives
These are derivatives that use Ubuntu as their foundation and contribute signficantly towards the project.
27 posted on
12/15/2007 9:08:26 PM PST by
papasmurf
(FRed Thompson is head and shoulders above the rest. Vote for America, vote for FRed!)
To: Halfmanhalfamazing
Linux today is user friendly. You can even run a small number of Windows programs on it with Wine. The two top distros are PCLinuxOS and Ubuntu and its KDE derivative KUBUNTU. At the low end of the spectrum, ASUS has a customized version of KDE Xandros on its eeePC and Everex has GOS on its desktop and forthcoming laptop PCs.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
28 posted on
12/15/2007 9:31:40 PM PST by
goldstategop
(In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever)
To: Halfmanhalfamazing
Macs are up a little, but Linux still flat at under 1%. (Net Applications Browser Stats)
To: Halfmanhalfamazing
Chalk up one disgruntled Windows user to Linux. Kubuntu, to be specific.
41 posted on
12/16/2007 5:46:41 AM PST by
Clara Lou
(Thompson '08)
To: Halfmanhalfamazing
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