Out the Window (WSJ)

Posted May 21, 2006 7:28 UTC (Sun) by h2 (guest, #27965)
Parent article: Out the Window (WSJ)

I agree that claims that anyone can easily switch from windows are oversold by linux fans.

I know my level of computing ability, programmer, sys admin etc, and there's no way an average user could have gotten their box to the condition I got mine in, sorry.

It's harder. It's harder to keep the desktop stable using debian sid, if longterm desktop life span is a consideration.

This doesn't mean linux on the desktop is bad, it just means it's harder for average users once something does not work. If everything installs and is recognized, it's far easier to setup than windows, but as soon as you hit a real glitch, forget it if you're an average user.

I don't try to misrepresent linux to anyone, I know how long it took me to get to the point where I could start feeling comfortable with it, and I know where average users are in relation to me in terms of computer skills.

I can easily see setting up someone with broadband a second box with linux as a guest pc, that would work flawlessly, but I can't see changing people who work on their pcs to linux easily, mostly due to software issues.

Wine is at best erratic, and is not an option. I have not installed one single application in wine that works flawlessly. Some work quite well, but none are flawless, and I would not recommend wine as a solution to anyone at its current state, although it's a lot better than it used to be.

I really like debian linux, it's what I use, in kanotix distro form, but I don't see this as being ready for average working computer users yet. Casual users. Takes too much skill, guys, give yourselves some credit, I think you forget how much you know about this stuff relative to most people out there.