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Microsoft Linux: Why one free software advocate wants it ... says that Windows 7 is doomed ....
Network World ^ | Wed, 10/28/09 - 3:07pm. | Microsoft Subnet

Posted on 10/30/2009 1:02:46 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach

Ex-Microsoftie says that Windows 7 is doomed and Linux, free software, will ultimately dominate.

A lot of open source advocates like to rage against the machine at Microsoft, but when a former Microsoft Research employee says that Windows 7 won't stop Linux from market domination, that's an opinion to note. Keith Curtis, author of the book After the Software Wars, says just that. But he goes further. He thinks Microsoft and its customers would be better off if the company ditched Windows and instead built its own version of the Linux operating system.

Keith CurtisThese topics came up yesterday during my interview with Curtis for Network World's Panorama Podcast series. It was an interesting conversation with someone who has crossed over worlds, from Microsoft employee to free software advocate. But it raised as many questions in my mind as it answered.

(Excerpt) Read more at networkworld.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Computers/Internet
KEYWORDS: hitech; linux; microsoft; windows7
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To: cizinec

Seriously. Does Windows even have a LiveCD yet, so you can test it with your hardware?

I only keep Windoze in my Netbook these days. Every other computer on my network is running Linux. When I last installed Windows it was much longer and more difficult to get the system running properly. That may have changed with the new version though, so I can’t comment on that.


21 posted on 10/30/2009 1:26:32 PM PDT by perfect_rovian_storm (The worst is behind us. Unfortunately it is really well endowed.)
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To: perfect_rovian_storm
Does Windows even have a LiveCD yet, so you can test it with your hardware?

Windows has what they call a PE environment. It can be ( I think it usually is) a LiveCD.

22 posted on 10/30/2009 1:27:56 PM PDT by ShadowAce (Linux -- The Ultimate Windows Service Pack)
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To: smokingfrog

I don’t know about Flash, but in most of the Debian based distros (like Xandros, Ubuntu, Mint, etc), you can install Firefox 3.5 along side of the default 2.0 version. You should be able to find it in your package manager.

Then, it’s just a matter of changing the default browser on the system and changing whatever shortcuts you’ve created to use the 3.5 and you’re good to go. Shouldn’t take more than 5 minutes.


23 posted on 10/30/2009 1:29:00 PM PDT by perfect_rovian_storm (The worst is behind us. Unfortunately it is really well endowed.)
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To: ShadowAce

Interesting. Good to know. Looks like a bit more of a headache to use than your standard *nix iso that just works as a LiveCD though.


24 posted on 10/30/2009 1:30:47 PM PDT by perfect_rovian_storm (The worst is behind us. Unfortunately it is really well endowed.)
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To: cizinec
Well said about people (including me) are used to it.

Most Windoze installs go OK but the endless updates and "fun" with drivers is annoying on a good day.

The first time I installed SuSE linux a few years back, it was the quickest and most painless installation of any OS I have ever dealt with. It gave zero trouble apart from not working with a Linksys wireless card, there wasn't a compatible driver. Even under Windoze, the card wasn't that great either so I ran a cable.

25 posted on 10/30/2009 1:31:58 PM PDT by wally_bert (It's sheer elegance in its simplicity! - The Middleman)
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To: perfect_rovian_storm

Well, I don’t think it’s meant to be used as an actual OS. It’s more of a prep utility for the disks before you install Windows.


26 posted on 10/30/2009 1:32:34 PM PDT by ShadowAce (Linux -- The Ultimate Windows Service Pack)
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To: perfect_rovian_storm

I’m a Linux Admin. While i think Linux is the best choice for Enterprise app and web servers, its still nowhere ready for the average user. While i haven’t tried Mint, i have loaded up the latest Ubuntu 9x version, and its getting better. But Linux just isn’t quite there yet. I’ll give Mint a try and let you know what i think. Not that you care. But from one geek to another.


27 posted on 10/30/2009 1:33:02 PM PDT by ChinaThreat (3)
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To: cizinec

thats why i run Ubuntu on my laptop, when I need a winblows program (rarely anymore) I have Virtual Box with XP Pro installed. Yes Linux is top notch nowadays. and it always works, unlike winblows. there is still however a steep learning curve for newbies.


28 posted on 10/30/2009 1:33:59 PM PDT by eyeamok
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To: perfect_rovian_storm
Oops. I was wrong. It's not for prepping disks--It's more for utility/maintenance tasks.

Here's a link to the bulider.

29 posted on 10/30/2009 1:34:17 PM PDT by ShadowAce (Linux -- The Ultimate Windows Service Pack)
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To: ShadowAce

I love linux live discs, they have saved the day for me quite a few times over the years when people bring me their crashed windoze boxes and need data lifted. I have a flaked out Vista box to tend to this evening for Friday night fun. I hate Vista. It doesn’t run here.


30 posted on 10/30/2009 1:34:21 PM PDT by wally_bert (It's sheer elegance in its simplicity! - The Middleman)
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To: ChinaThreat
But Linux just isn’t quite there yet.

Why do you say that? Details?

31 posted on 10/30/2009 1:36:42 PM PDT by ShadowAce (Linux -- The Ultimate Windows Service Pack)
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

Apple has it right by having its core based on unix/linix. MSFT should have done the same LONG ago.


32 posted on 10/30/2009 1:39:42 PM PDT by devane617 (VOTE THEM OUT! ALL OF THEM!)
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To: ChinaThreat

Apple’s OS based on *nix works excellent. I do not, at all, understand the comment about linix not being ready. I am a unix admin from many, many, many years ago and it has been ready for ages.


33 posted on 10/30/2009 1:41:21 PM PDT by devane617 (VOTE THEM OUT! ALL OF THEM!)
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To: ChinaThreat

I’m a Linux admin as well. I’ve worked with Linux web servers for going on 10 years now. :)

I didn’t use Linux at home until about a year and a half ago, when I switched to Ubuntu 8x. It was good, but not perfect. I switched to Mint this year. Mint is as close to perfect as I could ask for. It looks good, sets up easy, and it’s an offshoot of Ubuntu, so info found on their forums is 99% relevant to Mint.

There’s only one thing I really would like to see from Linux that just isn’t there: better support for multiple monitors. My 3 monitor setup is a little buggy with X. Nothing that’s a dealbreaker, but annoying sometimes.


34 posted on 10/30/2009 1:44:15 PM PDT by perfect_rovian_storm (The worst is behind us. Unfortunately it is really well endowed.)
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To: ShadowAce; devane617

The distributions just aren’t ‘user-friendly’ enough for installing some apps. Its just a hell of a lot easier to install software, not to mention, the availability of software. Remember, i am only referring to desktop users.


35 posted on 10/30/2009 1:45:28 PM PDT by ChinaThreat (3)
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

Isn’t there a problem with System 7? I read where during an install the PC keeps booting over and over and there’s no way to get back to Vista ...


36 posted on 10/30/2009 1:47:23 PM PDT by SkyDancer ('Those who hammer their guns into plows will plow for those who do not..' ~ Thomas Jefferson)
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To: cizinec

Know anything about easy peasy?
Is that just a stripped down version of Ubuntu?

http://www.geteasypeasy.com/?menu=download


37 posted on 10/30/2009 1:47:28 PM PDT by smokingfrog (No man's life, liberty or property is safe while the legislature is in session. I AM JIM THOMPSON)
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To: smokingfrog
Well,...Xandros is based on Linux...so should be easy...need to save your data of course...specific applications wired to Xandros could be a problem.

From Wikipedia:

Xandros Desktop is a Linux distribution.

38 posted on 10/30/2009 1:47:58 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach (Support Geert Wilders)
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To: fremont_steve

Re: GNU Linux

I was just going by what the EeePC website says.


39 posted on 10/30/2009 1:51:08 PM PDT by smokingfrog (No man's life, liberty or property is safe while the legislature is in session. I AM JIM THOMPSON)
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To: perfect_rovian_storm

I think there is a problem with the 64 bit version....which is what I run...mint seems to have fixed it though...not sure how.


40 posted on 10/30/2009 1:52:11 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach (Support Geert Wilders)
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