Linux is an open source operating system - members of the community distribution can contribute and make changes or add shit they think should be changed. This is very difficult for Linux to be marketed. It's taken the whole Linux community YEARS to get their act together to come up with something that is user-friendly. Ubuntu has been very successful with bringing the power of Linux to the masses, and perhaps has a chance of taking off. The community has to conform together and stop having disagreements with the Ubuntu distribution and standardize it!! I don't see this happening. Think of the average user...very familiar with Windows/OSX and then you throw a completely different environment at them...it's not going to work since the majority of people do not like to what they use everyday in a drastic manner.
I believe the best way for people to jump into the world of Linux without having to touch their hard drive would be to boot up a live cd of the Ubuntu distribution. All you have to do is put it in your CD drive, reboot, Linux will load up into memory and BAM! live client of Linux; and of course reboot, take out the cd and nothing was changed. Another way to go at this would be to create a virtual machine (more for advanced users) and boot your Linux distribution from there. I have done this and had much success with VMWARE Workstation, but I used it to boot the BackTrack distribution that's full of network utilities.
Here are some tips that can help you decide if Linux is right for you:
1. Make sure you can live in a non-windows world. The easiest way to see if you can is like I said before: download a distribution of linux (ubuntu) and burn it to a cd and boot up a live client of it.
2. Limited Commercial Support - learn to love your neighbors. Even though the Ubuntu community is very large and helpful, the type of response is very wide and inconsistent based on the problems you might have if any at all. FORUMS
3. Find the right distribution for you. Most like UBUNTU - compiz fancy 3D effects and very user-friendly.
4. Do your Homework - make sure all your hardware is supported by the distribution. Personally I haven't had any issues with Linux supporting my hardware, Ubuntu does everything automatically and don't have to worry about your drivers, especially with the latest version of (10.04).
5. JUMP IN - the biggest thing that impedes anyone's ability to try new things is that they don't try; just try it! - you like it, then you like it - if you don't, then you don't - try something else and move on. Just don't stick with one operating system the rest of your live completely obvious to what else is out there.
Possibilities are endless with Linux:
I think Linux's Ubuntu distribution has a chance at hitting mainstream, but they still have a long way to go.
linux is still too complicated for everyday user, thats what i think.
ReplyDeleteI had a dual boot system on my laptop, one OS was Windows 7 and the other one was Ubuntu, but I stopped using Ubuntu because I noticed that once I run it, the processor overheats in like 10 minutes, and the laptop turns itself off :/
ReplyDeletei switched from win 7 to ubuntu, but switched again becaus of the lack of gaming possibilities
ReplyDeleteubuntu is very nice, but i couldnt get into it , its cool tho , maybe in awhile ill try it again , was hard to find programs for it (maybe i didnt know how to do it lol?) like mediamonkey kmplayer ect, tho there was alot of cool things i liked about it + plus its FREE!!!!!
ReplyDeleteLinux, honestly, is ready. The average home user can sit down, boot up ubuntu, and use it.
ReplyDeleteThe issue is the fact that the major software developers won't publish on it. You can't get Microsoft office...and yes, open office works. But if you need data management or spread sheets, it does NOT cut the mustard. It's got a good word processor, and the rest is second rate at best.
And for a good number of people, they can't or won't switch because you can't get most commercial games.
And for a fair number of people, the lack of adobe products gets in the way.
It's not the linux community. The commercial community refuses to adapt to the open standard...and the open source alternatives for software just aren't good enough.
2011 will be the year of the linux desktop
ReplyDeletehm, interesting linux can never go mainstream cause it has no advantages to the average computer user imo. Making my daily rounds- cheers.
ReplyDeletehttp://dailyaww.blogspot.com/
http://blowyourmind01.blogspot.com/
Agree with first poster, most people can't even work their way around very simple problems, let alone linux.. maybe in 10 years?
ReplyDeletethere are different OS because there are differences between users likes, needs and capabilities
ReplyDeletewell if ppl will ever understand it (:
ReplyDeletelooks great!
ReplyDeletei like it .
Well Linux and Ubuntu looks great, but could you give us a list of advantages over Windows?
ReplyDeleteThanks for checking out my site. I like your site keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteCheers
Linus is a powerful, incredibly capable tool. Their policy on freedom of information, and community based growth... Thats the sort of thing I will support all day long. I hope they don't go too mainstream, but I suppose I couldn't hold it against them.
ReplyDeleteWe all want to change the world, but would you when you have the power?
-JKane
i don't think it'll go mainstream any time soon.
ReplyDeleteHaving to use the console is just miles ahead of the average computer user. Mac and PC both have a tendency to "dumb down" everything to a GUI interface to accommodate them, it basically trains them to do the opposite of Linux :(
ReplyDeleteSee below link for a prime example...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkLtXfsPqVQ
It'd be nice to have one more mainstream than just Windows! I'd like to pick up Linux sometime.
ReplyDeleteLOVE ubuntu and Damn Small Linux on my super old laptop.
ReplyDeleteLinux was always ready. It's faster and better for doing ANYTHING, also relatively easy, but software developers (especially games) are still being released only on Window platform and this is the ONLY and ONLY reason I had to get rid of my 4 year old Debian. Shame.
ReplyDeleteLinux will always be tool of the pro-computer jockey and nothing more. I'm sorry but when people can barely figure out internet explorer, things like linux are just going to go over their heads, which is a shame because it really is impressive when you understand how it works
ReplyDeleteI doubt linux will take off any time soon, maybe in 5+ years, and if it does it'll start with ubuntu, but as you said, they do have a long way to go
ReplyDeleteit kind of has a bad reputation of being for nerds...
ReplyDeleteI think linux has taken off in the mainstream quite a while ago, and people still acknowledge it, but i think its just the fact that no one wants to buy it, due to some complicated software configurations. But i gave it a trial and tryed it for a while, and personally i think its absolutely amazing, much smoother than windows and mac, its just the lack of content they miss. i eventually moved back to leopard osx since ive been using macs for few years
ReplyDeleteIf linux is ever going to go mainstream, they need to reduce the dependency on the terminal.
ReplyDeletehmm very interesting post. I've been linux guy but now mac. I still use linux on my netbooks though.
ReplyDeleteAlways wanted to try it, but am too intimidated. If I ever run a server I'm sure as hell not using Windows, though.
ReplyDeleteI don't really think so Linux seems like it will never really care about the money following
ReplyDeleteNice post, I never used Linux but I think I might try it out sometime
ReplyDeleteit has. android is the number 2 smartphone OS i believe
ReplyDeleteShort answer: No.
ReplyDeleteLong answer: Nope.
imo, no.
ReplyDeleteI'm an avid reader of yours so I'd appreciate it if you headed over to my blog and voted in my poll and stuff =)
man i love using linux. I use windows on the main pc just for gaming and other stuff but for my laptop and everything else, the choice is easy and its linux.
ReplyDeleteNo need for the compiz 3d stuff the basic karmic koala has some nice effects imo.
I think the main reason that Linux is hard is because you have so many options. Its like total freedom and sometimes that IS hard. Imagine having total control. Its like going from a automatic car to a f1 race car. Its just more difficult.
I think once people learn that the live cd is fun and just tinkering around isnt hard, they'd get into linux much more. nice post overall!
I know several people that have switched to linux that are in no way computer geeks. I think as linux continues to get more and more user friendly it will take off
ReplyDeleteIt can never go mainstream if its free
ReplyDeletejust sayin
i think I will stick with osx
ReplyDeleteI really hope it takes off I really dig linux
ReplyDeleteA friend showed me his Linux, so change is difficult
ReplyDeleteEh, to be honest, with the direction the current generation is going, I could see it happening.
ReplyDeleteSure, your 50+'rs have trouble with the coding, but in 5-10 more years, the kind of computer knowledge required to operate the lesser known os will start to become more and more mainstream among the youth.
I've never tried linux, now i feel abit tempted :D great blog btw! looking forward to your next post
ReplyDeleteMy friend actually prefers Fedora so I'd probably try that before Ubuntu.
ReplyDeletepersonally i use kubuntu and it's really buggy.
ReplyDeletewith time people will see how crap windows is.
also, the new windows 7 has a huge hole in the digital certificate .dll that allows buffer and integer overflows.
gg
Hopefully one day they'll get the masses on board, then we can all stop with this windows shit.
ReplyDeleteit is not for the everyday user
ReplyDeletefor me linux is just too complicated to use.. it takes too much time for doing same job on win or mac
ReplyDeleteLinux is the way!
ReplyDeleteIf Linux would change the design.....WOULD BE NO.1
BY FAR!
May The FORCE Be With You!
linux will never be mainstream.
ReplyDeleteits just to fukin complicated for endusers
Linux is... Too complicated
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of free software but it just isn't as user friendly as Windows
ReplyDeleteI guess if you had someone with tons of money to fund and develop it more it might have a shot
thanks for commenting on my blog man.
ReplyDeletehere to return the favor.
also, following you.