Is Linux ready for prime time?

[Murph]

Is Linux ready for Prime Time? I am posting this from Ubuntu Linux and currently upgrading it from 8.04 to 10.04 and it seems to have matured quite a bit. Opinions?

[Flea77]

I agree that Linux has gotten much better over the years but to me 'primetime' would require a unified add/remove interface, abundant mainstream software ( think quickbooks, Starcraft, Microsoft Office, Autocad) on walmart shelves, in the box hardware drivers, and substantially more new user training available. So while they have made great strides in that direction (and destroyed what they were famous for in the process) I would have to say no, it is not ready.

Allan

[Brains]

I disagree with a lot of Allan's comments. You don't need boxes on the shelf at Wal Mart to be "mainstream" at all, and the software world is largely shifting the distribution model to over the wire anyway. There is a unified software install/uninstall in each distro as well, which works incredibly well. There's no MICROSOFT office, but there are other choices. Drivers? Seriously? Install windows and see how much of your hardware works out of the box, compared to Linux.

Frankly, the OPERATING SYSTEM is already "there". The only bits needed to push it into wider adoption, is wider adoption. People typically stick with Windows because of the familiarity and ignorance factor, not because it is technically better in any regard. If the PC market were to start today with zero users and zero third party software, Windows would not enjoy the lead it has today. That is a given.

So the real question isn't whether it is ready, but more of does it suit your needs? If you can't live without a certain software package that isn't available for your chosen OS, then obviously that particular OS may not be the PROPER choice. But it doesn't make it any less suitable.

[divenut1]

Linux is in the mainstream....it is used in datacenters every day..on large servers..both virtual and standalone.

There are companies that utilize linux to generate millions of dollars in revenue every day.

Now specifically regarding ubuntu, it has come a long way for an opensource distro...

It boils down to what you are wanting to do and what hardware you want to do it on.

[dmcantrell]

Linux has been "primetime" since the 80s when it was called "unix". 100% of the tasks I do at work are done in Linux. Probably 90% or more of the silicon used to transmit this message from my iPhone, through the Internet, and to your computer was designed on a Linux machine.

Also, PrimeTime (capitalized) has been running on Linux for years. :)

[JohnT]

I think Allan is speaking from a consumer standpoint of which I agree.

[Bob_S]

Developers aren't writing a lot of the popular titles for it, but Open Office is a great Microsoft Office replacement. Runs on Windows and Linux and you can exchange files with all of your friends that spent money for MS Office. :)

[JohnT]

Originally Posted by Bob_S

Developers aren't writing a lot of the popular titles for it, but Open Office is a great Microsoft Office replacement. Runs on Windows and Linux and you can exchange files with all of your friends that spent money for MS Office. :)

I'm running it on my MB Pro. It's a fine program.

[Flea77]

Originally Posted by Brains

I disagree with a lot of Allan's comments. You don't need boxes on the shelf at Wal Mart to be "mainstream" at all, and the software world is largely shifting the distribution model to over the wire anyway. There is a unified software install/uninstall in each distro as well, which works incredibly well. There's no MICROSOFT office, but there are other choices. Drivers? Seriously? Install windows and see how much of your hardware works out of the box, compared to Linux.

I understand what you are saying, but I think you are looking at it from a techie point of view. For grandma at home, she doesn't understand too much about downloaded software (I know, I deal with them every day), I had one lady ask me if Digital River was trustworthy or not when she was trying to download MS Office. Digital River? Really?

Being on Wal-Mart shelves is almost mandatory for the typical user. That is where they buy a lot of their computers, their movies, their software and their peripherals.

Like it or not certain products are required for some things. Sure, I can get an accounting package that is Linux native and not use Quickbooks. Do they have online credit card processing and the swipers for it? Do they offer the automated payroll deductions from the state? Will my accountant be able to use it to do the corporate taxes at the end of the year (I can tell you now, the answer is no). MS Office can be replaced in function for the most part, but 99% of the users I deal with use MS Office because they are used to it, help is readily available because all their friends and fellow workers use it. I have to have it too even though I could do most of what I want in OpenOffice because I have to be able to walk customers through tasks over the phone and they are all using.....care to take a guess?.... MS Office. All the schools are using MS Office, the state is using MS Office, and the university teaches MS Office use in their basic computer classes (no mention of OpenOffice there).

Next, I have yet to see a unified add/remove program in Linux, and I have been using it since Slackware came on a few low density floppies. For Windows, in any version, go to control panel, double click Add/Remove Programs, there you are. In Linux every distro is a little different. Even then, does it put an icon in my programs list? Usually not (at least not as current as Ubuntu 9.0.4 it did not).

Yes, drivers. Does it have support for my bluetooth digitizer? How about my brand new printer? Until manufacturer's put drivers in the box with new products it will never be mainstream.

Now for the people who say it is already mainstream, I have to disagree. My company services an area about 100 miles in diameter, it includes multi-million dollar corporations and home users, two complete school districts, some work for the State University, some for the local State Prison, several county and city governments, etc. In the past 25+ years I have been here I have had exactly two Linux based machines, both of which were replaced years ago with Windows boxes. There are some Unix machines (old AS400s) still running because they have not ported stuff over yet, but that is it. YMMV.

Now I am not bashing Linux. It has it's place. Funny thing is that the people who talk about it being all over the internet, used for hosting, routing, servers, etc fail to mention that the "mainstream" users do not use the same thing as those uses. The machines on the internet are stripped down, no GUI, command line only, all the hardware support ripped out except what is essential versions. Not the same thing at all. The old versions of Linux where you had no GUI or Xwindows at all unless you installed and configured it yourself were the real versions of Linux. Fast. Reliable. Low footprint. The versions they have now are just wannabe Windows versions with virtually the same penalties as Windows.

Allan

[adirty1]

The correct question would be is Linux ready for the desktop for the general population. I had this talk awhile back with a bunch of admin friends of mine both windows and linux. The conclusion is yes with Ubuntu on the desktop. There just needs to me more support for the main business applications as I believe was stated above. If MS keeps going like they are going pretty soon you will be charge a .01 or .001 every time you use office or what have you. Open office and linux are starting to look good for a cheaper solution.

[brad]

I was very impressed with the last Ubuntu I installed.. put it on my daughter's desktop machine because she kept getting viruses on her Windows box (she was not very careful).

The two things that made it less than useful for her:

No iTunes, therefore no iPod sync.
Flash install never worked 100%, so most online games were unavailable.

For me, the only real image editor is GIMP and its pretty bad, from my little bit of playing with it... and there aren't versions of the RAW conversion software I like available... so on those two alone, its completely useless as a primary box.

[texkam]

Yes. Next question.

As stated above, it depends on your needs. A lot of people CAN do all they want/need to do with it. A huge number of people could use it without really knowing the difference. They could save a lot of bucks and get a fast safe stable OS and thousands of software programs for free (feel free to throw them a donation),plus never worry about your system and software being out of date again. Free automatic updates so you are always current. Oh, and everything just keeps getting better. If you NEED Adobe, Autocad etc. then no, it's not for you, but why pay big bucks for something that does the same thing or for functionality you never use? I know so many people who barely know how to use MSOffice let alone any of the Adobe products. Linux would certainly do all they want/need.

Main Page - Linux Mint is basically Ubuntu with all the proprietary stuff already installed. As their website says "There is a strong focus on making things work out of the box (WiFi cards drivers in the file system, multimedia support, screen resolution, etc)."

Peppermint | Linux OS is basically mint optimized to be faster (as little as 192 MB of RAM required) with a few other twists thrown in. It's very nice. both are simple to install.

no iPod sync.

Replacing iTunes on Ubuntu

[brad]

Originally Posted by texkam

Replacing iTunes on Ubuntu

Awesome.. will keep that in mind for the future. (Did I fail to mention this was several years ago? I couldn't find any of those solutions then.)

[Concisus Cognatus]

Just completed the same myself, 8.04 to 10.04

Originally Posted by Murph

Is Linux ready for Prime Time? I am posting this from Ubuntu Linux and currently upgrading it from 8.04 to 10.04 and it seems to have matured quite a bit. Opinions?

[texkam]

Awesome.. will keep that in mind for the future. (Did I fail to mention this was several years ago? I couldn't find any of those solutions then.)

Just keeps getting better and better.