|
|
|
|
|
|
From behind the bifocals: An alternate view of Linux
By Don Custer <ezduzit@NOSPAMalltel.net>
First of all, to briefly identify myself to my audience, I will be 59 years of age very soon. I was first introduced to computers in 1985 while employed by IBM Corporation. I still have a fondness for DOS and I never cared too much for Windows from its beginning. I discovered Linux about the same time the beta release of Windows 95 (Chicago) came out. I couldn't do anything with Linux then, but my dislike of what Microsoft had to offer kept me coming back for another look. Finally, I think, around 1998 I successfully got a distribution of Slackware up and running on a 386 SX25. Oh yes, one last thing, I am neither a programmer nor an expert. Since that first successful installation, Linux has been my sole operating system up until just before Christmas of this past year (2004). I mainly stayed with Slackware, but I have also tried several of the other popular distributions. My main reason for writing this article is to simply offer another view of Linux from the eyes of someone who is fairly computer literate, but definitely not in the category of being a programmer or expert, and I'm not young anymore. The current opinions, statements, and raves about Linux being stable are true. Linux is rock-solid stable, period! However, the claims about ease of installation, ease of use, etc. for new users are totally wrong and, in my opinion, not only border on false advertising, are false advertising. Linux is not friendly to new users, never has been, and has a heck of a long way to go to even become reasonably sociable to those with little or no computer background. If one of the GUI (graphical user interface) programs fails, the new user is basically stranded. Like anything else, after getting used to it, running and maintaining the Linux operating system is fairly easy and straight forward. However, upgrading or adding a new software package can become another story altogether. It has been my experience that normally the software packages included on a CD distribution will, for the most part, work fine with that distribution. It's when you decide to start upgrading some of the packages that the problems begin. The hassle of hunting for software, finding the correct library files to go with the software, and tracking down all the other dependencies that should be included in a software package will very quickly take the glamour away from being a Linux user. Just before Christmas of this past year under the advisement of my son, who is computer literate and earns his living through his knowledge of UNIX, I bought a new computer system and paid the extra for Windows XP Pro. My son was well aware of my growing frustration with getting software to work with Linux and told me he thought I would like XP Pro if I gave it a chance. Well, he was right, and as of the present moment I will tell you that I doubt I will ever run Linux again unless some major changes are made affecting software packaging among the various distributions. So far, I have had absolutely no trouble with XP Pro. In fact, I like it! Microsoft has definitely come a long, long way since Windows 95. Now if I want a program, I find it, load it and it runs, just that simple. I do miss the luxury of being basically immune to loading a virus, but right now that seems a small price to pay for the convenience and enjoyment of owning a system that runs smoothly and doesn't always seem to be needing something that involves hours of frustration. It is my opinion that if Linux is ever to be successful as a desktop operating system for the average PC user, the entire Linux community needs to combine their resources and develop one stable packaging system that will be universal among all the distributions. They should exclude all source code for any purposes other than use by developers. The average person doesn't want it, period! If one packaging system was to be shared by all distributions, with all those distributions chipping in to make it flawless, then I firmly believe Microsoft would have something to worry about. Until that day comes Microsoft has Linux beat, hands down. Again, the only thing I miss about Linux is the fact that I never worried about a virus or worm. I haven't experienced anything like that with XP Pro yet, but I am very well aware that it is a problem and I back my system up more frequently than I did when running Linux. Nothing would make me happier than to see Linux succeed as a Desktop operating system and if the problems I mentioned above are ever properly addressed I will undoubtedly look again. However, until that time I believe Windows XP Pro will serve me very well. Some of the more experience Linux users may flame me for opinions expressed here. However, I have no doubt that just as many, or more, who have experienced exactly what I described above will shake their heads in agreement with me. To all the Linux community..... I love your damned complicated operating system, I just wish you would uncomplicated it some so the rest of us can load it, run it, and be happy! If this gives someone a smile, chuckle, or sense of not being alone, I have been successful! Don Custer (not a guru)
Other articles by Don Custer
Current Rating: [ 8.11 / 10 ]
Number of Times Rated: [ 741 ]
|
|
|
© 1998-2004 FreeOS Technologies (I) Pvt. Ltd. All rights reserved.
[Privacy Policy]
 |
