It is that time of the year again. Somebody in the technology press needed something to write about. So what do they do? They recycle the old predictions about how Linux will finally make inroads into the PC market this year. They find some IT guy in an obscure distant country, which nobody has ever heard of, who recently bought a few laptops with Linux pre-installed. This guy, let’s call him Stan, tells us that this year it’s not all about Linux servers. Stan tells us that Dell Laptops (and the “no child left behind laptop program”) has finally made laptops so cheap that the only obvious thing is that everybody will soon want Linux on their laptops. And it’s not just kids living in poverty. It’s college students, and single mothers, and socialist governments. Stan knows. Stan is all of
them wrapped up in a penguin costume.
My biggest complaint(S) about these annual predictions is that they have to happen in the first place. Really, how often can you cry wolf about this. Why should we have to endure your silliness every year? I bet that the writers who generate this stuff don’t even use Linux.
Let me give you a tip about Linux. Linux will never, never, never, never make any inroads into the Windows desktop market…. not any… none… zilcho….until they have seamless integration between the Linux operating system and iPods and iTunes. You can cry all you want about how it’s not fair that Linux isn’t more popular than Windows, but until Linux can support an iPod, please stop threatening us with how Linux is going to be shipped on every Dell laptop in the near future.
If you are thinking of writing an article about how this will be a break out year for Linux, please go back and read what I said LAST YEAR about Linux. It’s not going to happen this year, or the next, or the one after that……..
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Linux what is the problem with linux well its a public domain operating system modled after unix. All in all it kicks ass compared to windows or dos if you get a good well written version of it. As for it taking over the windows market I agree with you Mr. Sqeaky it will never take over the windows market for the average user. However it has a lot of useful places in the server market.
mark on April 8th, 2008 at 2:44 pm | Link
“And it’s not just kids living in poverty. It’s college students, and single mothers, and socialist governments.”
How do you figure Left Wing politicians favor Linux?
The Logos on April 11th, 2008 at 2:23 pm | Link
Its a free bee that programmers can latch onto for profit Go figure.
mark on April 11th, 2008 at 7:36 pm | Link
“………“And it’s not just kids living in poverty. It’s college students, and single mothers, and socialist governments.”
How do you figure Left Wing politicians favor Linux?”
For the record, I didn’t say that Left Wing politicians favor Linux. I threw in “and socialist governments” in reference to Hugo Chavez and his recent push towards using Linux on all government computers and shipping it on his new line of “Bolivarian Computers.”
With all do respect, Linux has had iPod support for a very long time (It also has limited iTunes support under Wine)…
Linux will take over as its popularity increases, which has been growing a lot with the support of Ubuntu.
Grant Harper on November 15th, 2008 at 8:34 pm | Link
um… well, that’s not true at all, right now i have my ipod mini connected to my ubuntu desktop and right when i plug it in it recognizes it, mounts it, and opens songbird so that i can sync it all, and im only 13 and im a tech as well as a music fanatic, i can even run itunes(kinda) under wine! i think that Microsoft paid you to say this !
ubuntu user on December 18th, 2008 at 11:47 am | Link
I have only been using linux based OS’s for a year but I know linux will never be a windows monster for 2 major reasons it is free and was pretty much created to not be turned into a controlled product like Windows..you will never have to go to the store and pay a 100 dollars for the basic program and 200 dollars for a version a little better then that linux is for people who are smarter then the average user or people who want to better them selves and not be screwed everytime they turn on their computer.
Ha that is pretty much it
Brandon on February 3rd, 2009 at 7:08 pm | Link
Hmmmm interesting conversations here.
I am not against any particular OS or DISTROS but just thought I’d comment on my opinion.
I have different views, as I am bit techy than the average user.
Firstly, focusing on the popular IPOD, why do people buy an ipod when you can get a mp3 player which does the job? and without having to buy itunes? I dont see the point of buying an ipod, and then having to purchase itunes files. its just a rip off. You can buy mp3 files and achieve the same result!
Secondly, I see the future differently…. I can see small phones, with browsers alike, and fast internet broadbands, like fibre optic with virgin being the future…. with such devices, you will have access to youtube.com to access all the videos you like, and music, on your tiny gadgets… so ipod will flop. Its matter of time. To be honest, I dont even remember the last time i listened to a song which wasnt you youtube.com or something….
Now about windows and linux… Developers have done a good job with linux so far, and more and more vendors are supporting linux and freebsd drivers for their products. Windows might flop, especially if they dont solve the problems they get with viruses.
Personally, I found desktopbsd.net which is FreeBSD with kde on the top, which does exactly what I need, openoffice, firefox, mplayer, flash, java, CUPS printer drivers, MOUNT_MSDOSFS USB STICKS, wireless internet etc… I dont really need windows…. and for the last 4 years ive been using the bsd system.
However, as i mentioned before, I am little techy than the average user, therefore, linux or freebsd might not be suitable if your totally locked onto windows wizards. You need a little bit of technical know how or even time, to fully set up linux box or freebsd box. its not all double click and run.
My last point, windows viruses are bad. They will make u want to throw away your computer, and buy a new one. The time you spend removing viruses is plenty for you to learn a little *unix if you can. Windows might always rule the desktop market, but it will also always be a target for viruses. and Personally, i dont have time to keep dealing with viruses.
If my unix box does what I need, why should i risk getting viruses?
my last point, im not saying you cant getr a virus on unix, im just saying, you just get alot less viruses, if any at all.
thank you and goodnight.
immy on February 7th, 2009 at 9:05 pm | Link
1. Linux can use iPod’s just fine. iTunes will come in a matter of time, I’m sure, or have a satisfiable replacement for the newer iPods (iPod Touch 2.0 and below work seamlessly).
2. Linux users usually could care less if anyone else uses it. It just makes us happy, so we wanna’ spread the love. I don’t find it necessary, or even appealing to have Linux on more than 50 percent of desktop PCs in the first place, except perhaps as a quick-boot in the BIOS.
3. You use Windows, don’t you? X3 (jk, jk)
Jack on June 27th, 2009 at 1:00 am | Link
Another buffoon who doesn’t know what he’s talking about.
Yawn on July 4th, 2009 at 1:11 pm | Link
The first install usually has a few snafu’s that make you want to give up.
For me it was Nvidia drivers.
But the wonders of multi-desktops make me more productive than ever.
Andrew Medina on October 5th, 2009 at 6:35 am | Link
Yup Jack, another dumass who just doesn’t know what he’s talking bout .. I bet this guy has never used linux and that Microsoft has paid him to write this
kde-4.3 rocks on January 6th, 2010 at 10:31 am | Link
Looks like the writer got his wish. Ubuntu 10.04 now supporting all “i” devices. In fact, to the extent where I am finally able to see ALL of the devices files. No more being locked down by Winblows and Itunes! hahahahahahahahaaa
Posted on a Ubuntu 10.04 laptop using Opera! Check your webstats if you Windows server has them!
Brixton on June 4th, 2010 at 2:12 am | Link