Posted on 08/12/2014 8:22:18 AM PDT by ShadowAce
I use Lubuntu on older computers and Zorin on newer ones . I find no difference between Linux and Windows ,but updating Linux is a million times easer ,when Linux updates ,it updates All software installed and Windows just updates itself ,it’s up to you to update all your software
I also find it easier to install software on Linux than I do on Windows.
Yes, it’s the best: you’ve got all the software you need through the official repositories and, since you don’t have to sign up for an account or give credit card information, you get to keep your privacy.
Depending on which distribution you use, there are often plenty of community repositories to supplement what doesn’t make it in the official ones. In OpenSUSE, you can go to software.opensuse.org and it’ll search through the offical repos and all the community repositories in the Open Build Service.
Matt is right that we have to teach and empower users. There are two schools of thought on how to reach the general public: dumb everything down for them or bring them up to our level.
If you try to dumb down Linux, you could lose your base in the process, just as the GOP has lost conservatives by dumbing down its values. I think it’s better to find users who are eager to improve themselves and reach out to them.
Will you reach fewer everyday users this way? Yes, but essentially nobody has the resources to compete with Google, Apple, and Microsoft in the dumbing down, heavily advertised department.
Linux is very user-friendly. It is not, however, stupid-friendly.
This should be your tagline. ;^)
Bump for later read
The Office apps are close to Windows but not exact. But good enough when you consider that they are FREE.
No app for Netflix yet. So that means Apple or Windows if you want to use Netflix.
I second that.
I think I read recently that one of the Ubuntu distros has just released a version/upgrade that allows you to access Netflix.
More people would use Linux, too. For the average user, Linux has everything a person would need... except compatibility with Netflix.
I suspect that people are looking for alternatives to XP since MS discontinued support. Linux would be a perfect replacement. Especially since it tends to be more compatible with older hardware; old hardware that is currently running XP.
If only there was Quicken Home for Linux....perchance to dream....
I’ve been a linux user off and on for a few years now and I always saw great potential in the OS. They’ve come a very long way in just a short time.
My biggest gripe in the beginning was lack of instruction and terminology/definitions. Progress in that department has made a huge difference to me, a home user.
They’ve come a very long way with regard to drivers which was a huge impairment to the home user.
Having options is great with regard to software, but what’s even more important is that the basics work out of the box right away. For example, operating systems that fail to discover internet connections right out of the box are a huge problem in any environment.
There’s nothing like a OS that tells you there is a problem, and that you have to go online to get the remedy, but it can’t find or configure your existing online stuff so that you can do exactly that!
Microsoft is guilty of that, too.
Right now, I’m enjoying Linux mint 16xfce on a spare laptop. I just installed it last week and it works beautifully, right out of the box. Everything works! I didn’t have to download various and sundry software to go to youtube and watch a video. It WORKED! That hasn’t always been the case with some varieties of linux.
Choice of OS is important with regard to linux because some ‘’flavors’’ work better on some computers than others. Some people want eye candy while others simply want the basics. But with linux, you can find pretty much what you want.
One thing I’ve found with linux is that my head is geared to windows so when trying to do something with linux, I tend to over think it. But linux is much more simple and direct. You just have to learn a different ‘language’ or thought process. It’s like the difference between baking cookies or steaming vegetables.
Now that most of what a person needs to know can be found somewhere on line, linux users or users to be can find information and support.
I’ve grown to like linux, and unless you try out the various ones, you’ll never really know which is the best for you. In the case of linux flavors, you have to taste them! It’s a lot like buying icecream or even shoes. Taste it, or try it on..walk around for a bit and see if your feet like the shoes. No? Ok, try the other pair.
Linux is fantastic for variety and good fit.
Thanks, mate! I knew I had read that sometime before, but I peruse so many articles that I normally do not make note of the ones I would not normally find useful; such as since I don’t have Netflix access nor use it in any of the machines I am responsible for, I briefly noted the fact and then moved on.
Appreciate the help. :)
I also do not use Netflix in any way—or Hulu, etc—but saw this article recently and figured it would be useful to someone. :)
The biggest shortcoming of Linux as far as I am concerned is the lack of iTunes or an iTunes clone as a software interface to synchronize an iPhone connected to a Linux computer. Yes, I can offload snapshots from the iPhone camera, but that is about it. I have read that iTunes will not work running in Wine, either.
I would also like to see a professional video editor for Linux. OpenShot seems nice as a beginner’s video editor, but it is not that sophisticated.
Another poster mentioned Quicken - has anyone tried running Quicken in Wine or some emulator?
I guess that I need to upgrade my laptop, now. :)
You can always try GnuCash since you are just looking for a home solution. It is a native application and pretty good, from what I hear.
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