Linux Needs More Recognition From The Tech Community

[MEC-777]

I don't think you understand what I am saying. I am not arguing who the "average user" is.

You start out by saying "the "average user" should need to use terminal to fix their issues", then you say the, lets called it the 'power users', will have "an above average working knowledge" and then the "terminal shouldn't be that big of an issue".

Imagine trying to explain how to install Wine to get netflix to work (if thats still the only proper solution, IDK I haven't bothered cause Windows does it soooo much better). Its hopeless.

 

Sorry, I made a typo. I meant to say; "the average user shouldn't need to use the terminal..." My bad. Edited the original post. But thanks for catching that.

 

And no, Netflix works quite well on Linux now. You don't need wine to get it to work. 

[ionbasa]

Or you could try the Dread Pirate Federighi's Tainted operating system, OS X. The UI is consistently great, there is a plethora and even a community around well-designed apps, and you can hack on the UNIX beneath it all day long if you so desire.

Unfortunately for those who cannot afford the cost of hardware, or are not knowledgeable enough to install OSX on non-Apple computers, will have to deal with BSD derivatives  .

Don't get me wrong, I run OSX in a VM on ESXi, and its enough for what I need it for. I can PXE (network) boot an RDP client that automatically connects and lets me select my VMs. This solution does of course have some drawbacks, that being: I have 10Gbps NICs on my servers, on my switch and my pc. The main issue is latence. 10Gbps is probably overkill for most things, 1Gbps is probably adequate for 95% of applications (assuming the connection is saturated).

 

I personally have a neutral stance on BSD, but I have been testing ZFS and RAIDz lately. It seems to be holding up fine so far. I've also tested Solaris, some claim it's an abomination , but then again, it isn't meant to be a daily driver. Its not sexy in any regard, but it gets the work done (especially if you need Oracles Database running).

 

Regarding Unix haters (in general), they must've read this:

(Nothing like a little tongue in cheek humor)

 

OS X isn't as bad as some are made to believe.

[Speedbird]

I'll switch to Linux if more developers start making games for it. Yes, the only reason I'm on Windows is gaming. Linux has a lot of advantages over Windows.

[SSL]

Linux is nice for developing applications that run on a Unix system. Desktop productivity, not so much in my opinion.

[Aryvandaar]

Didn't even mention games, but Windows is the best for gaming because it has a massive install base = $$$$$$$$

^so thats my stand on that...

 

Sorry. I meant to comment another guy about games. 

[MEC-777]

Linux is nice for developing applications that run on a Unix system. Desktop productivity, not so much in my opinion.

 

Depends on what, specifically, you're looking to do. It's far from perfect, but it's constantly and steadily improving.

[Floppy Kant Fish]

Sorry, I made a typo. I meant to say; "the average user shouldn't need to use the terminal..." My bad. Edited the original post. But thanks for catching that.

 

And no, Netflix works quite well on Linux now. You don't need wine to get it to work. 

 

ah okay, yeah but still, the past 3 laptops (inclusive of current) of mine needed some terminal action in-order to install a "virtual audio splitter" so that all of the speakers on the laptop can function instead of just one. Every-once and a while it will stop working and I have to go back into the terminal and add the deselected speakers again. I haven't had this issue on the desktop, its just the laptop which is where I believe most "average" users spend their computing time.

 

oooo aight, ill have to check Netflix out again if I have some time to waste.

[Floppy Kant Fish]

I'll switch to Linux if more developers start making games for it. Yes, the only reason I'm on Windows is gaming. Linux has a lot of advantages over Windows.

 

Majority of AAA developers probably won't because of Windows massive install base which = $$$$$$$$$$

[Metrize]

If there was games on Linux then I would transition right away.

[MEC-777]

If there was games on Linux then I would transition right away.

 

There are. Quite a few, actually. And that number is growing.  

[Dabombinable]

Indeed there is, but I got dizzy so I stopped spinning. I'll continue for you though (if I throw up however, I'd like a nod of appreciation).

Due to a lack of awareness, there's a lack of Linux developers and software being ported to Linux with on the nerdiest sticking around, these 'nix nerds who are used to working in CLI write UIs that work for them but don't translate so well for everyday users, same with the installers but often do a great job of adding nice 'touches' here and there for pro users.

Due to the complexities of using Linux, widespread adoption is slow, therefore adoption in dev circles is slow etc...

But you knew that already

Yeah, to me Windows = Dumbed down (it is if you've used previous right back to DOS and 3.1), Linux = now where's that guide on installing drivers.....

[ekv]

If there was games on Linux then I would transition right away.

 

Steam is working on that. There is lot of games for Linux, but it's still new.

You can allways use PlayOnLinux or Wine. (But it's hard for begginers, that's why gamers dont use Linux (They are just idiots))

[Builder]

Majority of AAA developers probably won't because of Windows massive install base which = $$$$$$$$$$

Yeah but Apple gets their customers to spend far more. I wonder if anyone's done a CBA of making Mac ports of your games. I'd wager that "non-gamers" tend to buy more games on Mac than on PC because of demographic differences and such.

 

Yeah, to me Windows = Dumbed down (it is if you've used previous right back to DOS and 3.1), Linux = now where's that guide on installing drivers.....

Which is why so many developers and power users alike find OS X to be a happy sweet spot in between. Now that it's free the choice is even harder.

[Dabombinable]

Yeah but Apple gets their customers to spend far more. I wonder if anyone's done a CBA of making Mac ports of your games. I'd wager that "non-gamers" tend to buy more games on Mac than on PC because of demographic differences and such.

 

Which is why so many developers and power users alike find OS X to be a happy sweet spot in between. Now that it's free the choice is even harder.

OSX is free?

[Builder]

OSX is free?

Yes. Since 2013. Unlimited downloads, DRM-free.

[Albatross]

Yeah but Apple gets their customers to spend far more. I wonder if anyone's done a CBA of making Mac ports of your games. I'd wager that "non-gamers" tend to buy more games on Mac than on PC because of demographic differences and such.

 

Which is why so many developers and power users alike find OS X to be a happy sweet spot in between. Now that it's free the choice is even harder.

 

Whaaaaat? OSX is free? As in..."free" free? Surely you don't mean the iOS?

[Builder]

Whaaaaat? OSX is free? As in..."free" free?

As Stallman would say...

"Free" as in beer

but not

"Free" as in speech (at least not entirely...opensource.apple.com)

[Albatross]

As Stallman would say...

"Free" as in beer

but not

"Free" as in speech (at least not entirely...opensource.apple.com)

 

This is very surprising news to me. I never would have guessed it would ever become free. :lol:

[Floppy Kant Fish]

Yeah but Apple gets their customers to spend far more. I wonder if anyone's done a CBA of making Mac ports of your games. I'd wager that "non-gamers" tend to buy more games on Mac than on PC because of demographic differences and such.

 

You missed my simple point, Microsoft has almost 60% of the share (with the rest being shared by Mac os and other) of running operating systems. There is what 100 million steam users? and according to the December 2014 survey 95% of users are running a microsoft operating system. SOooooooooooo yeah, lets argue about where the money is again.

[Builder]

You missed my simple point, Microsoft has almost 60% of the share (with the rest being shared by Mac os and other) of running operating systems. There is what 100 million steam users? and according to the December 2014 survey 95% of users are running a microsoft operating system. SOooooooooooo yeah, lets argue about where the money is again.

I'm not trying to argue that Mac has more money, I'm simply suggesting that there's more to it than marketshare. Non-gamers would tend to use the Mac App Store for games rather than Steam.

 

For example, Apple may only have 15% PC marketshare, (if I recall correctly) but they have over 50% of the profit share. That's why they're making oil-company level cash. Their customers are clearly willing to pay more for certain things so why not games?

[Metrize]

Steam is working on that. There is lot of games for Linux, but it's still new.

You can allways use PlayOnLinux or Wine. (But it's hard for begginers, that's why gamers dont use Linux (They are just idiots))

 

I've used Linux for a while actually. I got used to using Wine but that was with my old computer so I'll try it out again in the future

[Floppy Kant Fish]

I'm not trying to argue that Mac has more money, I'm simply suggesting that there's more to it than marketshare. Non-gamers would tend to use the Mac App Store for games rather than Steam.

 

For example, Apple may only have 15% PC marketshare, (if I recall correctly) but they have over 50% of the profit share. That's why they're making oil-company level cash. Their customers are clearly willing to pay more for certain things so why not games?

 

Market share is everything to the developers. Developers don't get a cut of a sale of a laptop or desktop. Steam is by far the best platform to distribute a game, especially with Steam Green light making it "easier" for indy developers. Again, the fact is making a game for Windows = $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$. 

 

I can also only think of two success stories on mac os, which is minecraft and LoL and still those are both available on Windows. I strongly don't think that they pay more for minecraft and LoL just because they are using a mac; that's a bit thick. 

[Builder]

I can also only think of two success stories on mac os, which is minecraft and LoL and still those are both available on Windows. I strongly don't think that they pay more for minecraft and LoL just because they are using a mac; that's a bit thick. 

That's not what I'm saying.

 

I'm saying that Apple customers tend to buy more apps and that could be extended to include games, because you buy them in the same store. Thus while there are more people using Windows PCs period there may be more people willing to pay for games using OS X. Comprendo?

[MEC-777]

That's not what I'm saying.

 

I'm saying that Apple customers tend to buy more apps and that could be extended to include games, because you buy them in the same store. Thus while there are more people using Windows PCs period there may be more people willing to pay for games using OS X. Comprendo?

 

Except the types of people/users that tend to use/need OSX aren't typically gamers. Those few who are either have a separate beastly windows gaming PC and/or dual-boot OSX/windows on one machine.

[Builder]

Except the types of people/users that tend to use/need OSX aren't typically gamers. Those few who are either have a separate beastly windows gaming OC and/or dual-boot OSX/windows on one machine.

Well they may not subscribe to all of the gamer culture that you do but there are plenty of people who game on OS X.