Linux Set to Challenge Windows on Desktop

Reuters | 1/12/2003 | Reed Stevenson

[new cruelty]

SEATTLE (Reuters) - Bought the latest whiz-bang personal computer, but don't know what to do with your older, fully functional PC?

One option would be to try breathing new life into it with Linux (news - web sites), the software standard that is presenting itself as an alternative to Microsoft Corp.'s (NasdaqNM:MSFT - news) Windows operating system.

With better stability, security and pricing in a desktop operating system with a look-and-feel similar to Windows, Linux advocates say they are getting ready to take on Microsoft, which dominates the desktop market.

Since Linux is free to be copied and modified, unlike proprietary software from Microsoft, it is cheaper to obtain.

For less than $100, most versions of Linux offer a package of software that lets users send and receive e-mail, surf the Web, write documents and use spreadsheets. Microsoft's Windows and its Office productivity program can together cost several hundreds of dollars.

The cost of obtaining Linux software from a variety of distributors, such as Red Hat Inc. (NasdaqNM:RHAT - news), SuSE, Xandros and Mandrake, mainly goes toward service agreements that provide regular updates to the software, manuals and customer support, as well as the software on a CD in a nicely packaged box.

Once confined to the desktops of technically savvy users, Linux is becoming easier to install, operate and maintain for the average user.

Xandros Desktop, one version of Linux, requires only five clicks or less to get the operating system up and running.

Red Hat, the most visible Linux distributor, offers a package of programs that includes instant messaging (news - web sites), programs for managing digital photos, sounds and video, as well as plenty of games.

Many personal files, documents and pictures used with a Windows system can be transferred and used on a Linux system. Some Windows-based software programs, such as older version of Microsoft Office or its rival, Lotus Notes, can even be installed to run on top of a Linux system.

For those who don't want to take the plunge and switch to a Linux-only system, using an older PC is a good way to test the waters, said Xandros co-chairman Frederick Berenstein.

"Everything just works," Berenstein said.

For those who want to start using Linux on their current PC without sacrificing their Windows programs, nearly all of the major Linux versions offer something ingloriously called a boot manager, which lets users choose between Windows and Linux.

Because Linux can be modified so easily, each Linux distributor creates its own version of Linux with different features and designs. Since Linux software developers can all copy from each other in their quest to create a better product, Linux advocates argue that innovation is an inherent part of the Linux operating system.

"Linux will create a renewed climate of competition and innovation for desktop applications," said Mark de Visser, vice president of marketing at Red Hat.

"Today most of the applications for Windows are Microsoft applications -- there just is no level playing field," he said, referring to the advantage Microsoft has over other application developers since it also makes the basic software platform.

LINUX -- NOT JUST FOR GEEKS

Developed just over a decade ago by a Finnish student named Linus Torvalds (news - web sites), Linux was created as an open-source alternative to proprietary Unix (news - web sites)-based operating systems, which lets users see, modify and copy software source code -- the underlying blueprints for programs.

Graphical and icon-based versions of Linux have come a long way from the unfriendly command-line based operating systems that only geeks know how to use. These harken back to the pre-Windows era when Microsoft's MS-DOS was standard on PCs.

Figures are hard to come by, but most experts agree that Microsoft software runs on well above 90 percent of PCs, with Linux making up a minuscule number of the total. Yet Linux already has a 15 to 20 percent share of the market for servers, which manage computer networks.

Now, Linux developers have created a variety of graphics-based desktops that offer a dizzying array of options for users who never want to see a command line.

Users can customize their desktop, screensavers, fonts and devices connected to their PCs by navigating through menus.

Tapping into Linux distribution Web sites allows users to access an ever-growing collection of applications -- for free.

Some versions of Linux can switch between languages nearly instantly, while Microsoft creates different versions of its operating system for different languages.

And for those who want to stick with a Windows-style system, the Xandros desktop is deliberately designed to look like Windows, with a similar file system and a task bar that sports a button that pulls up a menu like the "Start" button.

"What we offer is ease of installation and familiarity," Berenstein said.

The standard edition of Mandrake Linux, a popular Linux platform, costs $33 while a beefed up version with more than 2,000 applications costs $70.

The latest personal edition of Red Hat Linux costs $30, and the personal edition from longtime Linux developer SuSE costs $27. Xandros is available for $99.

"It is early to call this a threat to Microsoft and Windows, as the percentages (of users) are still low. But the numbers are growing, and at some point users will be able to buy computers with preloaded Linux, printers and other devices that come with Linux drivers, and desktop applications that come in both Windows and Linux versions," said Red Hat's de Visser, "Once that happens, the threat to Microsoft Windows will become very real."

[DeFault User]

I tried Linux on an old 486, using Red Hat 6 (as I recall). It was slow with either graphic environment then offered, Gnome or KDE. Some drivers were a problem too.

However, from what I have read since then, the newer releases of Red Hat and Mandrake recognize the installed equipment much better. Don't try it on anything less than a Pentium class machine, though.

[SpaceBar]

"I tried Linux on an old 486, using Red Hat 6 (as I recall). It was slow with either graphic environment then offered, Gnome or KDE."

Well, like uhm, duh. If you had done your homework, you would have been aware that a 386 will hardly handle X with twm. A 486 will handle most of the lightweight window managers, and Gnome and KDE are quite the resource hogs reserved for at least second generation Pentiums with sufficient ram. But you didn't. And now that you had a bad experience, you're gonna make linux look bad because you couldn't run Nautilus on a 486-33 with eight megs of ram. Instead of telling us how you failed, go spend some time reading the official linux README's and FAQ's, install it correctly for the type of machine you intend to run it on, and get back to us.

[irv]

The stuff about how expensive Windows and Office are ignore the fact that when they are pre-loaded they don't cost much, and when you have to get Linux from somebody charging $60-100, there is little or no difference in price.

You don't have to spend that kind of money. I'll mail you the CDs, free. And it's legal. If you have broadband, you can download them yourself. Free. I was disappointed in the article for downplaying that aspect.

[Justa]

"OK, I have a P5 266 or something like that, with probably 128 megs of Ram that is old. Can I put in a Red Hat or Mandrake CD and just fire her up? If so, which brand should I get?"

Yeah, that'll work fine. Get a good Noobie distro like Mandrake and format your partitions with the JFS Reiser file system. You should only need to setup '/' 'usr' 'home' and the swap partitions. Mandrake has a wizard or auto for it. JFS is very fast, secure and stable. Much better than NTFS imo.

Distrowatch.com has a bunch of information, comparisions and links to .iso files. Last time I checked Mandrake is sold in most Wal-Marts.

[unspun]

But I think Microsoft is always going to be ahead in some fashion. They can invest money trying new things. If speech recognition ever gets real, for example, you can bet it will do it on Windows. And .NET will cause more rich client apps to appear, and those will not run on Linux anytime soon. If a killer app comes along in .NET, Linux on the client will suffer a real setback.

Good points. From where I sit, it still looks like the Java family is where more (and more) applications and applet developers are living. The recent court ruling helps there too. Eh?

[Will_Zurmacht]

i just converted a box to RH 8.0, smooth setup even for SWB DSL. Still not MS quality, but better than my RH 6.1, 7.0, and mandrake 7.0. If you cant wait for the download (and I cant blame ya!) look for a "linux for Dummies", or other Linux books, most will sometimes carry a distro in cd's in the back of the book,so you get the book and linux for 19.99 (this is how i got RH7.0) you can also pick up a cheap version at places like Staples, I actually bought the RH 8.0 for 30.00ish. If worst comes to worst send me an email and i'll snail mail you a copy!

If ya wanna get real crazy, and dont have a spare box,get old apples from your local school, theyre throwing them away, and play with Linux on the power pc...yellow dog linux for PowerPC

[Will_Zurmacht]

thats the way to recruit folks to the linux community!...cripes! why don't you just go kick his dog while you're at it?

[Jhoffa_]

Agreed.

The biggest problem with Linux is the people who promote it..

They consistantly either:

1) Confuse the prospective user with "over their head" fight's about which distribution is "best"

2) They belittle new users and make them feel stupid. 9Not the way to make a sale)

3) They make it needlessly complicated, big words.. confusing, propritary terms, nonsensical little nuances that are blown way out of proportion.

It's really very easy to install Linux, and even a hardware hurdle is a pretty small thing to overcome if it's explained in detail. But I bet allot of people give up before they ever find this out because of the "help" they receive from other Linux users.

They throw their hands in the air, say: "Too much for me!" and that's it..

[PAR35]

Thanks for the info. I'll leave the 386 in the bottom of the closet. I may get a used box and try it on that. I don't want to play with it with any of the machines that are working fine.

[krb]

Just go to a website like CheapBytes.

They've got the 9.0 release of Mandrake Linux for like 7 bucks. And that comes on 3 real CDs (not CD-R).

[krb]

Is it possible/practical to run Linux on an old 386SX

I don't think so. For some reason I am thinking that you now need a 486 or even a pentium to run it; something about the protected mode or MMU changes from the 386 architecture to the 486. But I could be wrong...

[PAR35]

Thanks.

[A CA Guy]

Question:
I just picked up a computer for fun to back up my system at FRYS. 800MHZ with Linux already on board.
Can that operating system handle most windows programs and devices?
Could I run Office 2000 and add my cd-rw hardware and run it's software? In general.

[A CA Guy]

Please read my #33 and see what you think. I know nothing about Linux.

[krb]

You mean you want to install windows on it and run those things, or you want to know if those windows programs will run under the Linux you got pre-installed?

[shadowman99]

OK, spacebar acts like a troll, and as a member of the Omaha Linux User Group, I'd like to try again.

Yes, you could install Linux on your 486. Linux is by nature a command line interface operating system that scales to run on large or small systems. What type of GUI you put on top is entirely up to you. The current Gnome and KDE desktops are going to be resource hogs, but something like Afterstep or Window Maker would work very well.

I would guess you have not worked with Linux before, or you would not have posted your question. Step 1 is to get in touch with your local Linux User Group (LUG). Your local community college or University with a Computer Science program is likely to have one. Also check the internet. If that doesn't work, write to me. I'll help.

Your LUG has "Installfests" and can help you put Linux on a computer for the first time. In your case, they can help tailor the install for a 486.

[SpaceBar]

thats the way to recruit folks to the linux community!...cripes! why don't you just go kick his dog while you're at it?

Perhaps you are right. I was a bit harsh on DeFault User. My apologies to him/her.

My main beef however is that having been down the linux road and earned my bars, I feel that anyone seriously considering using it should take the time to research it thoroughly before buying a shrink-wrapped Mandrake package at Best-Buy. It is a defacto clone of ATT Unix for all intents and purposes, and that OS was never intended for a mainstream audience. It was written by scientists for scientists, and it will always have that aspect as its heritage. All the hype about it "replacing" Windows is a red herring. Linux was made by geeks for geeks. And that is the way it should remain.

[A CA Guy]

Wanted to know if Linux can operate a windows program? Like office 2000, Coral Draw and so forth.

I haven't a clue. The Linux came with the computer and though I bought it because of a great sale, I won't be using it soon because I am having the home carpeted soon.

[SpaceBar]

With all due respect to shadowman99 and the linux "install fests", you will never gain a full appreciation for linux without a few difficult installs under your belt, muddling through ascii help files, and spending days googling for a compilable kernel module for your five year old Mustek flat bed scanner. That is the fun. You don't need no stinkin' help. Just quit scanning the threads on FreeRepublic and visit linux.org or a similarly veined website.

[krb]

I don't really have any idea. I am not yet a linux-on-the-desktop guy (I am an embedded engineer with a Linux design under my belt). I know there is a Wine (Windows Emulator) package that runs a lot of windows apps, but I can't say for sure that it'll run the ones you want.

Do a http://www.google.com search on "Wine" and "Linux" and see what you get...