Top 10 Reasons Why Desktop Linux Failed

Datamation ^ | 11 July 2018 | Matt Hartley

[fireman15]

You chose a combination that does not work, much like choosing a Matrox card to run modern high-end video editing and gaming.

I agree with just about everything that you have said in this thread and others. I chose the little Nextbook because it was $79 which was incredibly cheap considering the features that it came with. I assumed that I would be able to get some version of Linux to run on it to get better performance... but definitely no joy on that.

My latest Laptop was also seems to have been designed around Windows 10. It has the latest Intel Core I5 with along with a discreet Radeon graphics card. It has major driver issues with the graphics card, the touch screen, sound and wireless that have yet to be resolved by those who would like to run a version of Linux as the primary OS. But I do have virtual Mint and Ubuntu machines installed that run fabulously on it using VMware.

[buffaloguy]

1984 dollars. Probably 2 to 3 grand in 2018 dollars. Way off target.

[taxcontrol]

The OS was installed at the factory prior to shipping. IOW, it was installed FOR you. It is that convenience that the Linux market place lacks, though it is possible with some vendors to have Linux installed instead of Windows. But that is a special request.

[taxcontrol]

I LOVED my OS2 Warp based BBS. It would run rings around any MS distribution available.

[cuban leaf]

I liked mine except for the hardware compatibility issues. I had to dump it because using it was always a hassle. Loved the idea and how it worked when it DID work.

I felt like IBM literally didn’t want it to work.

[who_would_fardels_bear]

There is only one Windows OS. There is only one Mac OS.

There are evidently now dozens of Linux OSes.

I think this is one of the problems.

[Kartographer]

Very good post excellent breakdown.

[Durus]

7 should be number 1, and 6 could actually be removed. Otherwise ya.

[Kartographer]

I would like to add one more thing that is there are a core group that personally HATE Microsoft more than they will ever hate any short fall or problem with/in Linux. Many would if they could go back to using a abacus rather then use Microsoft.

Face it there are more than a few Linux supporters who suffer a bit of MDS!

[AustinBill]

The article misses the most important factor of all: There's no such thing as Linux. That is, Linux is not an OS, it's a kernel. The kernel is the central part of an OS, but is not by itself in any sense complete or usable.

To create a usable Linux system you need a Linux distribution, which assembles the kernel along with other various "part kits" into something that can actually run and do useful work. The problem is there are literally hundreds of such distributions around, and several dozen that are considered "major" distributions (see Distrowatch for details).

How to choose one vs another? How are they supported? The answer is all over the map and this fragmentation is the primary reason why Linux never gained any real traction as a mainstream desktop OS. That's not a critique as it was originally a hobbyist system that "got away from itself" and went mainstream.

Even once you settle on a distribution you still have to customize it and find and install applications on it, which again tend to be quirky and with a few notable exceptions (e.g., web browsers) are at best irregularly supported.

Linux is the standard server OS because it is free and nearly infinitely customizable, which suits the needs of data centers who have a dedicated IT staff. For the home user, unless you yourself are a hobbyist it's simply not worth the bother as most people just want to use their computer and not tinker with it.

I'm not aware of any IT pro who would recommend their non-technical relatives try running Linux at home. I don't expect that to change.

[AppyPappy]

Actually it is. If you don’t believe it, don’t do it and just use the OS

[ConservativeMind]

Retail packages don’t work on it.

However, I do use Linux Mint in hopes it will be a good enough substitute for family, in the future.

[JamesP81]

If there was a flavor of Linux that worked as well as macOS or even OS X, had professional audio apps, plugins & virtual instruments written for it by 3rd party vendors who specialize in pro-audio applications—I’d use it 24/7.>br>
Big software makers won't write software for an architecture that changes on a frequent basis with no standards.

[JamesP81]

Under the covers AD is BIND.

And how much do I go through to make AD and all its workstation management tools work with a OS it was not designed to work with from the outset?

That's the problem. Not everyone works in large IT shops with staff to spare for a project like that. AD + Windows is basically a turn key solution that a smaller outfit or in house IT department can actually muster the time and resources to implement. You pay something for that privilege, no doubt, but it seems a whole lot of businesses, not all of them small, are calculating that it's worth the cost.

Linux based solutions tend to require significant specialization on the part of your staff. That is frequently not an option in a smaller outfit or in house IT department.

[catnipman]

“Actually it is. If you don’t believe it, don’t do it and just use the OS”

ROTFLOL!

Dude. I’ve purchased and installed 100’s of Dell PCs with factory-installed Windows, not to mention installed Windows on bare metal machines countless times. I know the difference. It’s what i do for a living ...

[JamesP81]

My latest Laptop was also seems to have been designed around Windows 10. It has the latest Intel Core I5 with along with a discreet Radeon graphics card. It has major driver issues with the graphics card, the touch screen, sound and wireless that have yet to be resolved by those who would like to run a version of Linux as the primary OS.

Your problem is highlighted in bold. The problem with this laptop is not Windows. It's Radeon's well established reputation for piss poor driver support and second rate hardware.

My last computer I built I went with an R9 380X. That will be the last time a Radeon video card graces anything I own. Complete garbage. Go nVidia or go home.

[AppyPappy]

I just installed a Windows 10 machine. It made me configure the settings for the install. To a non-technical person, that is an install because they have to answer “technical” questions.

Congratulations on all your installs. You’ve made us proud!

[JamesP81]

“There is only one Windows OS. There is only one Mac OS.

There are evidently now dozens of Linux OSes.

I think this is one of the problems. “

It’s a huge problem. If you’re a big developer, are you going to sink a few million dollars and a development cycle on a top shelf commercial software product only to have it incompatible with your target platform in 3 months because the open source mafia decided to change something?

Here’s a hint: Apple’s desktop OS and Android phones are both based on POSIX OSes and are both popular products (Apple is based on BSD, Android on Linux). The reason it works is because Apple and Google created standards and then ***enforced them***. A dev can write software for Android and be reasonably assured his product will run on most Android platform devices. Same for Apple OS. This cannot be said for Linux. This will never be true of Linux in general until a similar set of standards are made and enforced, and the open source guys aren’t going to allow that.

[JamesP81]

Face it there are more than a few Linux supporters who suffer a bit of MDS!

The MDS is not totally unjustified. They are better than they have been in the past few years, but don't kid yourself either. A lot of what the open source guys say about MS is true.

There are two devils to pick from, and which one is better for you often rests on your circumstances.

[tenger]

Fear and Ignorance are the primary issues here.

Ah, the old "blame the customer" trick.