Comments on: Linux, the value in finding it’s own identity http://meanderingpassage.com/2007/05/09/linux-the-value-in-finding-its-own-identity/ Experiencing and photographing the twist and turns of life Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:34:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc By: Earl Moore http://meanderingpassage.com/2007/05/09/linux-the-value-in-finding-its-own-identity/comment-page-1/#comment-16767 Earl Moore Wed, 09 May 2007 18:54:08 +0000 http://meanderingpassage.com/2007/05/09/linux-the-value-in-finding-its-own-identity/#comment-16767 Hi Richard, Good points. I do feel that Linux has yet to really establish it's identify in the public eye, at least with the mass of non-tech users. That may be due in part to their being so many flavors of Linux available. When I say Windows Vista or Mac OS X 10.4 I'm talking of one specific version of operating system. When I say Linux...Ubuntu, Kubuntu, OpenSUSE, Fedora, SimpleMEPIS, KNOPPIX, Engarde, Gentoo, Trixbox, Parsix, Scientific and so on. Each with a slightly different look, feel, configuration and application set. Last I counted there was 100 distrobutions listed on "DistroWatch.com". Speeds not an advantage if everyones going off in a slightly different direction. I guess I'm trying to say that it makes marketing Linux difficult! As a tech guy I know that these distrobution have common core components...but they are still each different and my grandma likes common standard things. In part Ubuntu has become popular by promoting itself as the "common" Linux. Hi Richard,

Good points.

I do feel that Linux has yet to really establish it’s identify in the public eye, at least with the mass of non-tech users.

That may be due in part to their being so many flavors of Linux available. When I say Windows Vista or Mac OS X 10.4 I’m talking of one specific version of operating system. When I say Linux…Ubuntu, Kubuntu, OpenSUSE, Fedora, SimpleMEPIS, KNOPPIX, Engarde, Gentoo, Trixbox, Parsix, Scientific and so on. Each with a slightly different look, feel, configuration and application set. Last I counted there was 100 distrobutions listed on “DistroWatch.com”. Speeds not an advantage if everyones going off in a slightly different direction.

I guess I’m trying to say that it makes marketing Linux difficult!

As a tech guy I know that these distrobution have common core components…but they are still each different and my grandma likes common standard things.

In part Ubuntu has become popular by promoting itself as the “common” Linux.

]]> By: Richard Querin http://meanderingpassage.com/2007/05/09/linux-the-value-in-finding-its-own-identity/comment-page-1/#comment-16764 Richard Querin Wed, 09 May 2007 16:57:39 +0000 http://meanderingpassage.com/2007/05/09/linux-the-value-in-finding-its-own-identity/#comment-16764 Hi Earl, No I don't think the goal of desktop Linux should be to become 'Windows' (or Mac for that matter). Rather, it's the functionality that is the critical thing. All three OS's let you do the basic things equally well (productivity, communication, creative pursuits etc.)But beyond that, they each have their strengths and weaknesses. Windows excels at gaming for instance, the Mac at polish and UI. I think the strength of Linux lies in the FOSS development model. I think it's faster at changing course, adapting to new things, and providing more than one feasible choice - which I think will be critical as the pace of technological development increases. I've said many times before that Linux is not for everybody. In a lot of cases it makes a better machine for 'grandma' or 'aunty ida' who aren't gamers and need a solid, economical and secure solution. But in the end, it also might be that Linux's FOSS background allows it to always be on the cutting edge. It might always be the OS of choice for power users and geeks. That in itself is not a bad thing. Personally, I think homogenizing Linux and forcing it to be like Windows is like Porsche building an SUV. It'll sell, but what's the point? You don't see Ferrari going down that route do you. :) Hi Earl,

No I don’t think the goal of desktop Linux should be to become ‘Windows’ (or Mac for that matter). Rather, it’s the functionality that is the critical thing. All three OS’s let you do the basic things equally well (productivity, communication, creative pursuits etc.)But beyond that, they each have their strengths and weaknesses. Windows excels at gaming for instance, the Mac at polish and UI. I think the strength of Linux lies in the FOSS development model. I think it’s faster at changing course, adapting to new things, and providing more than one feasible choice – which I think will be critical as the pace of technological development increases.

I’ve said many times before that Linux is not for everybody. In a lot of cases it makes a better machine for ‘grandma’ or ‘aunty ida’ who aren’t gamers and need a solid, economical and secure solution. But in the end, it also might be that Linux’s FOSS background allows it to always be on the cutting edge. It might always be the OS of choice for power users and geeks. That in itself is not a bad thing.

Personally, I think homogenizing Linux and forcing it to be like Windows is like Porsche building an SUV. It’ll sell, but what’s the point? You don’t see Ferrari going down that route do you. :)

]]>