New Mac VS PC VS LINUX add

WakeCarver · Sep 24, 2007

Check out the ads at the bottom of this page. I know they are for linux but still kind of funny.

http://reverendted.wordpress.com/2007/03/19/mac-vs-pc-how-would-linux-fit/

EDIT: I just noticed I misspelled ad.

giulio · Sep 24, 2007

Hey those aren't too shabby - thanks for sharing!

DonkeyKong · Sep 24, 2007

Haha always good for a laugh ^_^

I like the second vid from the top

PapaNoHair · Sep 24, 2007

Funny - thanks for sharing!

mac57 · Sep 24, 2007

Excellent, really nice! I quite enjoyed those.

As someone who uses Linux regularly though, I have to take exception to the implied (and pretty much directly stated) message that Linux is "ready for prime time". My personal view is that it is not. There may be exceptions - Ubuntu, Kubuntu and Xubuntu come darn close to just working all the time (like a Mac), but some things just remain ridiculously difficult to accomplish on Linux, whereas they are "dead easy" on Macs and even PCs.

Try adding a new external ext2/3 or reiserfs USB2.0 or Firewire hard drive to your system and get the file permissions and ownerships right so that you (the ordinary user vs. the super user) can create and delete directories, add and subtract files, etc. Try getting a Zip 250 drive to work so that you can access it properly, or even at all, when you plug it in - "special device hdb4 doesn't exist", anybody? Or how about my favorite - lord forbid that the original setup doesn't detect and configure your sound card correctly. You end up Alsa-h e l l, trying to get the thing going. On at least one occassion, even I gave up and went out and got a more "vanilla" sound card, even though my existing card was fully supported. And of course I haven't even mentioned having to mess with things like xorg.conf just to get your display working the way it should.

NONE of these things are killers - if you know what you are doing they are all eventually easy to overcome (for the most part). But NONE of them is "dead easy" or even close, and ALL of them are things the average user will likely do in their time with the OS. Linux needs to get easier to use before mass adoption becomes a real option IMHO.

Last but not least, Linux needs to get some real marketing power behind it. How often have you heard that Linux is not a real option because there isn't the same software base available for it that there is for Windows or Mac? This is baloney. The absolute INVERSE is true. The average Linux distro comes with anywhere from 1000 to 5000 software apps, all available, integrated and COMPLETELY free. I would argue that Linux is BETTER in this regard than Windows/Mac. Free is good!!

So, in summary, too difficult for the average non technical user yet, and very poorly marketed. These challenges can be overcome, but Linux is not there yet.

D3v1L80Y · Sep 24, 2007

I believe this picture has a more accurate depiction of who Linux would be:

mac57 · Sep 24, 2007

Much as I hate to agree, I have to agree!! Just missing the tape on the glasses!

Nabooly · Sep 24, 2007

Interesting, i had no idea Linux was pronounced like that, lol!

PapaNoHair · Sep 24, 2007

mac57 said:
Excellent, really nice! I quite enjoyed those.

As someone who uses Linux regularly though, I have to take exception to the implied (and pretty much directly stated) message that Linux is "ready for prime time".............

Don't you feel that depends upon the needs of the user? If the person does not have a lot of hardware to attach and basically uses their computer for light word processing, surfing the net, email, etc, some linux is perfect for this. A distro like Linspire for example installs in less then 10 minutes and will meet all your basic needs. I feel if I would go into to any "old" persons house, replace their windoze system with a user-friendly linux they would not even know the difference. Let's face it - how many people even install Windoze?? Most don't it comes with their system. I do agree though: Mac is the ultimate - which is why I am here and not still with Linux.

WakeCarver · Sep 24, 2007

mac57 said:
Excellent, really nice! I quite enjoyed those.

As someone who uses Linux regularly though, I have to take exception to the implied (and pretty much directly stated) message that Linux is "ready for prime time". My personal view is that it is not. There may be exceptions - Ubuntu, Kubuntu and Xubuntu come darn close to just working all the time (like a Mac), but some things just remain ridiculously difficult to accomplish on Linux, whereas they are "dead easy" on Macs and even PCs.

Try adding a new external ext2/3 or reiserfs USB2.0 or Firewire hard drive to your system and get the file permissions and ownerships right so that you (the ordinary user vs. the super user) can create and delete directories, add and subtract files, etc. Try getting a Zip 250 drive to work so that you can access it properly, or even at all, when you plug it in - "special device hdb4 doesn't exist", anybody? Or how about my favorite - lord forbid that the original setup doesn't detect and configure your sound card correctly. You end up Alsa-h e l l, trying to get the thing going. On at least one occassion, even I gave up and went out and got a more "vanilla" sound card, even though my existing card was fully supported. And of course I haven't even mentioned having to mess with things like xorg.conf just to get your display working the way it should.

NONE of these things are killers - if you know what you are doing they are all eventually easy to overcome (for the most part). But NONE of them is "dead easy" or even close, and ALL of them are things the average user will likely do in their time with the OS. Linux needs to get easier to use before mass adoption becomes a real option IMHO.

Last but not least, Linux needs to get some real marketing power behind it. How often have you heard that Linux is not a real option because there isn't the same software base available for it that there is for Windows or Mac? This is baloney. The absolute INVERSE is true. The average Linux distro comes with anywhere from 1000 to 5000 software apps, all available, integrated and COMPLETELY free. I would argue that Linux is BETTER in this regard than Windows/Mac. Free is good!!

So, in summary, too difficult for the average non technical user yet, and very poorly marketed. These challenges can be overcome, but Linux is not there yet.

Linux definitely fails the "could my Grandma do it" test.

mac57 · Sep 24, 2007

PapaNoHair said:
Don't you feel that depends upon the needs of the user? If the person does not have a lot of hardware to attach and basically uses their computer for light word processing, surfing the net, email, etc, some linux is perfect for this. A distro like Linspire for example installs in less then 10 minutes and will meet all your basic needs. I feel if I would go into to any "old" persons house, replace their windoze system with a user-friendly linux they would not even know the difference. Let's face it - how many people even install Windoze?? Most don't it comes with their system. I do agree though: Mac is the ultimate - which is why I am here and not still with Linux.

You are right of course PapaNoHair. A *preconfigured*, *preinstalled* Linux system will meet many people's basic needs, and the pre-install/configure part takes care of many of the issues I brought up. As for the rest, if basic use is all folks want, then Linux will do fine.

In addition, Linux will also do fine in any managed environment, where there is a Linux knowledgeable person or two around. For example, it is perfect for a corporate environment that has a full IT support staff people can ask questions to. However, unlike Windows, you can't just leave the average home user to themselves and expect things to work as automatically as they do on Windows or Mac. The first time the user steps outside of the preconfigured "sandbox", they will likely run into trouble. If they have a guru around, there will be no issues. If they are on their own however, they may have a real problem!