Why Linux will not take over Microsoft anytime soon
 

I just recently moved my Zip100 drive from my newer machine running Windows ME to a (slightly) older one using RH8.

Before, when I installed the drive in Windows, all I had to do was stick the CD in the drive and follow a few on-screen prompts.

Now, with Linux, I have searched the Internet for help with my ATAPI ZIP drive and have gotten complicated instructions for me to recompile my kernel, use SCSI emulation, or insert different modules into the kernel.

I am admittedly a computer geek, so I at least understand what those things mean, if not how to do them. BUT... I have no doubt that if either my parents or perhaps all but one or two of my classmates out of 100 tried to add this fairly common device on Linux they would be overwhelmed with geek-speak and give up. If they did this on Windows they would pop the CD in and go. No problem.

This is why Linux in it's current state won't take over the PC world. It's too tecnical, which I don't mind, but the fact is that most of the people who use computers are not geeks, but normal people who want to do something with their computer instead of spending quality time with their computer figuring out how to do something. And issues such as PnP and lack of extensive popular programs will continue to keep Linux from growing as it should. Because God knows we don't want Microsoft to own the world.

IMO, it's good for people to realize that not all of the world is "point and click" :p

Why bother with a driver CD in Windows? If you get a USB zip drive, it should show up as a removable drive in (a recent version of) Windows. And guess what - it should show up as a removable drive in (a recent distro/kernel version) Linux. So, where's the problem? :D

Commonly, the problem areas for new users are proprietary driven devices, such as Winmodems, parallel scanners, etc. Some devices are supported but need some work to get them to work due to the inability (as far as I can see) to probe for the device sufficiently - am I right in thinking that the parallel Zip drives do not show up as removable devices in Windows before you use the drivers?

Dear TexasDex, who provide the driver for the windows? If the person who provides the driver is nice enough to include the drivers for linux, your 100 friends won't have to go through the hassel of compiling stuff.

Re: Why Linux will not take over Microsoft anytime soon
 

not only that, but microsoft business strategy wouldnt allow it


microsoft controls the home os industry, all OEM pc's use microsoft, without even the option of linux

or freebsd or what have you

honestly, if m$ didnt control the industry, other user friendly versions of linux or off-shoots of linux would emerge

well, as someone said, "if you build a system that a fool can use, then only a fool will want to use it". Another point is, that both Linux and Microsoft have their own places. Admittedly, Linux may be slow to conquer the world in the personal desktop market, but in other areas, Linux rocks!

Why Linux "will" kick Microsoft's Rear.
 

Because they already did.

That is why Microsoft lost over 16k+ lisences in Germany.

That is why that same company in Germany moved to Linux.

That is why Microsoft is going to lose all there server lisencing and client based OS lisencing with Dell (#1 PC and strong server distributer in the US at the present time).

That is why Dell is intergrating there servers with Red Hat Linux, and there client PC's with Lindows (Linux).

That is why Microsft create a lawsuit against Lindows and lost it horribly.

That is why Microsoft, after years of advisement and years of trying to do it alone, has finally decided to conduct a contract agreement with "ScoUnix" (Unix OS) This contract allows Microsoft to research developement so they can create a new kernal that works like Linux.

That is why more companies are making drivers for Linux and not leaving Linux Engineers to do them.

That is why Microsoft is going to start charging .net domains (windows servers) monthly, instead of yearly (which in turn is causing more people to move to Linux)

In a nut shell, because Linux is free and far more reliable then Windows, Microsoft has done everything in it's power to ensure you experience every problem possible with Linux. This way you can feel the way you are now and spend that extra dollar you saved up on Microsoft. That way, Microsoft can buy your soul by charging you twice as much tomorrow.

But do not fear, there is a version of Linux for you out there.

Try out Lindows or Lycoris. Both are user friendly and can be installed on a FAT16/32 filing system. In short, they are very user friendly and even more so, compatible with Windows programs. This includes plug'n'play support and driver install.

Good luck to ya, Microsoft victom. <smiles>

...and more or less the reason why people come out and say that linux will never take over microsoft, all comes down to the reasoning that you were brought up using microsoft, you got "spoiled" by the ease of just double clicking something and your done, and not all times is it going to be this dummy-proof in linux, but it can still be done....people think this way cause of little things like when you pop something in windows you click an icon and its installed, and sometimes when they give linux a try and they see that they have to issue a command like modprobe or what have you to do something they are like omg this is pathetic, i didn't have to take these one or two extra steps to do this in windows.....
anyways, thats my personal take on it..

Why do people try to say that everything always works great in Windows?

he he he :rolleyes:

By the way, SuSE recognized my zip and even put an icon on the desktop. Maybe you should rephrase your post to read "redHat will never replace microsoft"

When do you think the Linux XP will be available and the windowers will all move and say love to LINUX !

I need to say I love Linux and not much for M$ !

Although, we've been knocking at the very same thing "Linux Vs Windows" here infinitly times, 2damncommon post with "Why do people try to say that everything always works great in Windows?" rocks. Kinda a nice forum signature IMHO ;). ghehe.

My comment is also not so much a dig at Windows as it is a statement that all software may present problems to some people.
I had ment to do a google search for people having problems on Windows with Zip drives and post the page. It contained too many references to problems with Zip files, so I did not. I like the Microsoft knowledgebase articles as a close second.
If someone feels that Windows is easier for them in some ways I am not going to argue much as that is their opinion. However when one attempts to state that Windows "one clicks everything perfectly" I can only say that there are an awful lot of Windows forums and newsgroups that would show this is not completely true.
If someone has better luck than that I say great.
:)