Top 10 Linux Desktop Hurdles (Intranet Journal)

Someone send this article to Microsoft quickly, we might get a few bucks for it.

I think the article has some good points. I think most of the 10 "hurdles" can be described as
"user control problems". I define control as the ability to fix software problems when they
arise, add hardware to the machine (such as a usb drive or camera), install programs, and
being able to move around and sort personal files. Regular people want control over their
systems just has much as I do. The control that they have over their Windows systems is far
greater than the control they will have if they suddenly switch to GNU/Linux. I had a roommate
who was extremely smart. He was tech-savy, could program, but preferred partying to investing
time in learning how to gain control of GNU/Linux. It took me around a year to get to the
point where I had more control over GNU/Linux system than I had with Windows. It would taken
him 1/2 a year, but still too much of an investment of time for him. Most people are not
tech-savy and would take more than a year to "get up to speed" with GNU/Linux.

Windows has roughly one way of doing tasks that users want to do. With the exception of Vista
(if you thought the old ways of doing things was bad, the new Vista is worse), the "one way"
has been kept the same. Users become satisfied when they can get their games working, office
applications working, etc. by following the same --- although inefficient --- procedure.  For
them to switch to Linux, they would have to get used to the idea that you should "stay in
line" with the package management system and learn a new procedure for installing programs.
The vast majority of people have immense difficulty understanding what a package management
system is (I have tried to explain to smarter college peers and they don't fail to see the
importance or advantages --- I'm probably a crappy salesman :)). 

The main selling point of GNU/Linux --- at least for me --- is that you can get FAR more
control over your system after investing some research and "playing around" time. A major
selling point of GNU/Linux is security. I think that once people, i.e. the masses, start to
worry about whether Microsoft can potentially be spying on them, they will switch to GNU/Linux
is droves. Hardware and software makers will only then flock to our side by opening code and
providing documentation.

Just my 2 cents...I don't think I really make a strong point as problems with user control
probably get fixed with better GUIs and tools for users. Users shouldn't have to invest time
gaining the same type skills needed to control system the way I do. An good OS should provide
that choice: "control" for the masses as well as "control" for hackers.

Does this guy even use LINUX?  I so often wonder about that when ever I bother to read these
kind of articles.  And the article isn't specific if we are talking about enterprise users,
home users, etc...  these are quite different problem domains.

Hurdle 1: Consistency and perception

Use a distro like openSUSE that takes care about consistency.  You skip distributions like
Fedora and openSUSE and go straight to mentioning fringe distro's like Freespire?

Hurdle 2: Mobile device support is a joke

There is some truth to this.  But as far as sync-over-the-air goes setting up Funambol
shouldn't take any decent admin more than an hour.  And syncing over-the-air with any
groupware server that supports GroupDAV (OpenGroupware, Citadel, etc...) works very well.

Hurdle 3: Finding compatible software when switching OSes is difficult

The answer to this depends on how one defines "compatible".  Of course the Photoshop vs. GIMP
arguement is trotted out, yet again.  Please, someone tell me,  what percentage of desktop
users use Photoshop?  2%  I doubt even that.

Hurdle 4: Wireless is a mess

There is some truth to this.  But really this is no different than #5.  So this is a list of 7
hurdles, not ten.

Hurdle 5: Hardware compatibility lists

This one, IMO, has the most credence.  But I never want to see a driver model like what is
available under Windows - where every device comes with a CD - ported to LINUX.  Never!

Hurdle 6: When a new driver module is needed, it means compiling

This is a dup of #5, again.

Hurdle 7: Serious commercial interest

I honestly don't understand what this one is about.  openSUSE plays MP3s just fine,  I didn't
have to do any magick.  And I, and I imagine 99.99% of the rest of desktop users, realize MP3s
are what we've got and just don't care about Ogg-Vorbis or other formats that don't have a
chance.

Hurdle 8: Off-the-shelf software

This one I completely reject.  LINUX uses a different delivery channel.  Use package
repositories.  Does anyone at all still buy off-the-shelf software at the "local big box"
store?  Has he looked at what a big box store sells these days?

Hurdle 9: Workarounds vs. fixing the bugs

Eh?  Again I don't really get what he is talking about and he provides no specific examples.

"Again, mature, slower-moving distros may not have this issue. Too bad, however, that no one
outside of the local Linux User Group happens to be using it. Fedora, Debian, OpenSuSE,
Mandriva, among others, are not making headlines."

What does making headlines have to do with anything at all?

"It is Ubuntu and PCLinuxOS that is making the waves today."

PCLinuxOS???  Does this guy live on planet Earth?   Either openSUSE or Fedora have
dramatically larger communities than PCLinuxOS.

Hurdle 10: Apologists and purists

This one just isn't a hurdle - making this a list of 7 not 10 [supposed] hurdles.   This one
is just a cheap tactical move:  if anyone disagrees with his points it is because they are a
"purist".  But I don't think this article is FUD.  I think this article is vague,  poorly
structured, and misrepresents the facts.  That isn't FUD, it's just a bad article.

"why most people you park in front of it are not jumping onto the Linux bandwagon"

Simple reason - because most people don't care a whit about Operating Systems, platforms, or
what not.  They'll just use what is parked in front of them.

I have my *TWO* hurdles to desktop adoption of LINUX:
1 - Compatibility with Microsoft Office formats.  OpenOffice is good but not good enough for
many users.  And unlike Photoshop most user's do use Microsoft Office.  These people need to
read deal to collaberate with other users and if your are going to run Microsoft Office you
need a platform that can run Microsoft Office.
2 - Sites that require Internet Explorer / Active-X.  Among vertical webapps for the
enterprise space this is still very common.

Hurdle #1
There are no games for linux in the "big box store".

People (where I live anyway, I live in Sweden) use computers for a couple of things... (don't
know if the order is correct)

1. play games
2. download stuff from the net 
3. surf the net (reading email, websites, paying bills)
4. chat, blog, exchange info with other people

The other hurdles are all valid in a way but my mom would have difficulties installing a
driver in windows. But most people don't do that...

I do believe that we need to help the developers by using FOSS software and provide feedback
or help fix the problems/new features we want.

So if Ubuntu is not working right, pitch in if you can... If you can't fill in the bugreport
if it pops up.

Or even point out (specifically) what is wrong so that we can try to fix it...

My 2 cents...

//jonas