I know! What is with _the_ thing, I've seen several refrances to it. Sorry to go off topic.

Well I started getting us off topic, but I really want to know.

Sorry, in this context I meant a long time. I had to pass the screen resolution options to kernel and I could not figure out how to tell the kerel how to set the resolution to 800x600. Took me more than a week to find out how to pass the kernel parameters .
And yes '_' is something that comes from reading a lot of source code. I love the way Linus uses it.

The _ before a word and after is a way to underline or give an emphasis of a something in plain text. Plain text is a _great_ for emails before HTML came and _screwed_ emails up.

Anyone have thoughts on Gentoo.

Gentoo is a lot of fun. I only stopped using it because of its unconventional system configuration, particularly in the system startup. If it used the normal system configuration I'd be using it to this day.

Gentoo is very well developed. The documentation is the best available. I often miss using it.

I'm currently stuck using Windows only on my desktop system after getting internet access from a company that offer wimax wifi and proprietary drivers. I do normally setup a dual boot system on most of my systems and use Linux as my main OS. I also have two G4 Mac machines but only have OSX Tiger on those. My netbook dual boot with mandriva & XP, I need windows for work purposes. For all the OSes have their own issues, I would rather use a free version with problems then buy a version and have constant problems. You make the call which would you prefer!

There is no need to argue. Your points are well taken.

It's true: desktop Linux is (mostly) geared toward computer "enthusiasts."

I'm a long time computer hobbiest. I built my first 386 system when I was 11. I have never purchased a computer "in a box," they've all been built out of hand-selected, well-researched components. I'm a "control freak" . . . back in the days of DOS I was always tweaking my AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS files. When I run a 'ps' command on my desktop and see a process that I don't recognize, I investigate.

I am not just any user. I would imagine that lots of desktop Linux users are like me. Even if they aren't, I don't care at all.

I run the right desktop operating system for me. Many of the things which you describe as "advantages" of commercial operating systems on the desktop seem like big turn-offs to me. The idea of being force-fed updates or needing to run anti-virus software because the underlying operating system is so shoddy that it is fundamentally unsound makes my skin crawl.

But that's just me. In my opinion (and that's all it is), Linux is not for "the masses." They should all keep running Windows and Mac OS, shopping at Walmart, and drinking Budweiser. That's what makes them happy, and there's nothing wrong with that, for them. It is not for me, however.

Then again, I'm an American and I believe in freedom.

Of course, many enthusiasts believe that desktop Linux is "the answer" to the computer woes of everyone. Maybe they're right; who am I to say? I've encountered many "casual" users here on LQ, way more than I ever thought that I would. For them, Linux is an easy, free, alternative OS, that they are able to use quite happily and easily. Good for them.

I must admit, though, that some of what you say strikes me as odd, and makes me wonder what year you are living in. "No centralized updates," and "having to manage bugs yourself?" That sounds neat, but I haven't had to do any of that since like 199x, unless I've chosen to.

Also, the thing about inferior hardware support smacks a bit of stretching the truth. I'll grant you that, since I started running Linux, I've made sure that the Linux kernel supports any components I buy before I buy them, so my experience might not be typical. Nonetheless, I've been shocked at just how many hardware vendors are offering Linux drivers these days. It's almost creepy.

But, yes, based on what you say, and the perceptions that you share, a commercial desktop OS is almost definitely the right choice for you. There's nothing wrong with that. I don't want to drive around in a 1960s muscle car like my friend Marty does. For him, keeping the carburetor clean and tweaking the timing are a joy. For me, those things would simply be a pain in the ass.

If I might ask, though, why do you feel like discussing this on a Linux discussion board? Is there some closure that you need on this topic? Is it perhaps a reaction to the much-maligned (and unfortunately real) "Linux user's superiority complex?" If so, please stop worrying. I can't strip down and rebuild an engine in less than a day, but guys who can aren't "better" than me; we're just different. The same applies here.

For all we know, you're a professional UNIX system administrator who is just trying to make the point that Linux on the desktop is overly complicated for its application. For most, this is undoubtedly true. For me, it's awesomely true. I wouldn't have it any other way.

Cheers!

First, Foodown that was deep.

Do you hate centralized updates?

Your using slackware.(vanilla everything)

I love slackware in the way that it doesn't brand anything. Gentoo is very fast, but very slow to compile things. Slackware didn't catch my eye as much as Gentoo. Sure Gentoo is fast when everything works, but when it doesn't, is when I learn more about Linux.

Ok I got into an argument on one of my forums about Linux embedded devices not being compatible to Linux systems.(MP3's,etc.) They in there argument stated there argument they stated that just because a device is running a striped down version of the Linux kernel doesn't mean it's Linux.

Personally I think what defines a Linux operating system is the kernel.

Got no idea why this poll was started. We all use linux/unix dont we? But then I would go with linux anyday. At the risk of being called crazy I would say that I even dream of linux. Even if someone has a computer that has a different OS I carry a boot cd (knoppix or even bt3) to do anything. I consider linux to be _far_ superior to anything that can be ever produced for computing. I am waiting for thee day when we would have linux (not android) based phones and that will give me one more reason to boast about linux .
I am happy with the linux principle of 'do it yourself' because it teaches me to dig a bit deeper and understand or ask around for more information.
Linux can be compared to the Mir space station where people all around the world contributed to make somethinf worthwhile. Well the thing here is the Mir space station (IMHO) came down while linux will stay forever. Someone please say amen to that.

You can put stripped down OS's on some android phones.

Agreed,i work for a hollywood based VFX studio and everything here is done on linux workstations.From animation to rendering e.t.c.

No.

Strictly speaking, I agree with you. I suppose that any kernel could get "bastardized," though, if the rest of the OS had been changed enough.

Now this is interesting. I was under the impression that the film industry was almost 100% Mac.

What pieces of software are you guys using?

Mostly in house softwares running on a custom made linux distribution.The renderfarms runs linux too