Barrapunto

Althouth I really like Linux and the free software, I think that we have to accept the crushing truth.

In these times it really doesn't matter if is launched KDE 35.0 or Gnome Vista, because while both environments (and others with less weight like IceWM) were worrying in confuse the user with a completely different aspect, Microsoft was consolidating his position as the leader in the field of the operating systems, first with the operating system Windows XP (that have approximately 90% of the market on the client side) and with its advanced successor, the recently Windows Vista, that offers a new form to interact with our PCs. Is faster, friendlier, and secure.

The reality is that Linux has little to offer to the inexperienced user. The same novice that is seen disconcerted by the impossibility to do a simple copy-paste between QT and GTK applications. If you don't believe me, go out and ask to the people how they install a program that does NOT have packages for their distribution (because each one has its own packege system, completely incompatible with the others, and requires the use of complicated commands). Even RPM packages can't be installed equally in Mandriva and SuSE.

Then what we suggest to this user (that is just beginning in the Unix Word) is that he need to download the source code, open the console, decompress it and compile it. How many people get to do it? One of each a million, I have to say. We persist in THAT is the normal thing... nothing more far from reality.

Explain him why in his Ubuntu, Kubuntu or Fedora, he cannot see many web pages: he must download the Flash and the Java plugin, in order to install them with complicated commands. Also make him know that he won't be able to listen his MP3, WMA and WMV files. Tell to the flaming buyer of a new AMD64 how he can play flash games. A shit.

And the gamers? Obviously they'll return to windows, because even God can't use the hardware acceleration of the most modern graphics cards (besides, the drivers don't come included with the distributions... becuase of "freedom"). How many games can be run on Linux?... just a few ones. By each Linux videogame we have 500 that run on Windows. And the few ones that run on Linux...Oh! Surprise!...Just Windows binaries on the CD, and you have to download the Linux version from a website. Finally the user returns to the best option, the most used OS in homes (we know what OS is).

The proof of the free software failure is seen also in the professional world, either in areas like electronic design (doesn't exist anything similar to Protel), architecture (the standard CAD -all we know wich one-only works on Windows), web design (something similar to Dreamweaver? Don't mention me something like NVU, that not only is full of bugs, but just have the 5% of the Dreamweaver features. Neither Bluefish, Quanta or similars... no one would face a complex project with such a primitive tools). DTP? Scribus is a good try (very immature) but Quark or InDesign are far batter. Flash content creation (a standard, and a flash player installed in the 99% of PCs)? It cannot be done on Linux.

In the software development industry there's not a single decent RAD tool. Gambas seems to promise, but for now is shit; Eclipse is a RAM eater (thanks Java) that can only be used with 2GB RAM; Kylix promised to give us the potential of Delphi to Linux, but it was discontinued because the developers hate to pay for licenses and they prefer to use a primitive tool, like KDevelop. And now that we talk about Borland tools, is not rare that programming gurus like Ian Marteens abandoned Delphi and C++ Builder and now prefer the most powerful system for software development: Microsoft Visual Studio.NET.

A computer game developer would not develop free (as in free spech) games, because they have to eat and there's not a business model compatible with free software. The Linux users don't want free (as in free spech) games, they just want commercial quality without pay a single buck.

Accounting software? On Linux? There's not software in this area. The businessman wants to have something standard, something friendly, something mature. He doesn't want to be fighting with a console, compiling sources, and in the end (if he finally get it compile) get a half-finished application.

If Linux is free (in both senses)...Why the high computers-makers don't preinstall it (just a 1% do that)? Or at least dual-boot? Others, in other hand, opt for FreeDOS.

The PC Battle is loss... because it never exist. Linux with it's chaotic development (instead of boost existing applications or create new ones to supply the lacks, we have thousand clones of each one (unfinished, by the way) or that directly just make us laugh) just has dug it's own tomb. The user don't want a degree in Computer Science: He wants to insert the game CD, make a few clicks and have all installed and running. He doesn't want headaches. He wants visit XXX sites and watch the video correctly. He wants to install his webcam without recompiling the kernel.

Keep defending the console. Keep defending LaTeX as if it was something that a secretary or a lawyer have to use with the same simplicity of Microsoft Office. You keep defending Vi as the best tool for software developmnet or for web site design. You keep believing that new users need to get close to Debian or Gentoo, taking days to configure a USB modem. You keep hating distributions like Ubuntu or SuSE because are trying to be friendly. You keep just like this and in the end there will be just three frikis using Linux, while the rest of the world will be using a OS that is already mature and functional: Windows.

And You? Where do you want to go today?

Thanks for you attention.

What the hell does that have to do with Nobel and the Apostasy?

¡Hostia, qué guapo! La hundrednese traducida xD

I think you have a comment on your many failures of concept, and a bit of bias, and I am going to reply.

The first of your blunders is a historical accounts how it is produced when the fight for the desktop. Microsoft is not consolidated as KDE and Gnome "struggling" with each other. It was already fully consolidated much before the advent of KDE (and therefore of the Gnome). Since these desks have gained maturity, the share of Windows has done nothing but fall in favor of these and other non-free (MacOSX).

You say that GNU / Linux has little to offer the novice user, and that installing applications is complicated. The reality I see is just the opposite. Today, the distributions have respositorios software almost infinite, so nothing easier for a novice user to open your package manager, searching for the program and install it. No need to search for internet installers. Exe, which can contain viruses, dialers and things worse.

For developer, also are all advantages. Any exotic language or library you need is available in the package system, with an implementation more efficient and safer than any kind of business. All with the advantage of working in a UNIX environment, universally recognized as the development environment by antonomaisa by the community of programmers.

The list of applications you say you miss lacking in GNU / Linux, I suggest that your skills are not updated since 1997. The main developer of design tools and electronic versions published GNU / Linux for their programs, not to mention the high quality of free tools that already exist. To have Blender 3D design, which is not only a leader in its sector, it is also free. Web development tools are powerful and light, not as Dreamweaver that is slow and heavy. This field is typical in that less is more, as evidenced by Google, who programmed their Web applications with vi. To design vector, no tool better than Inkscape.

What you do not develop games for GNU / Linux, it is also old, because the best games and graphics engines are ported and give a lot better marks than their performance in Windows. In addition, the offer is completed with free high-quality games, as PlaneShift, UFO-AI or Battle for Wesnoth.

For all this, GNU / Linux is not only ready to compete with Windows, but it is the most recommendable.

Because Windows, say what you say, is not stable. Hangs. You never have heard the phrase typical user windowsero "the next time you format," as if it were part normal format of the maintenance work on the computer.

A Windows lacks the features to be called operating system seriously. Not even multiuser system can be called real. The features are minimally runner advanced copies of the work done by other companies.

Not to mention security, which is laughable. The concept of Windows security is to ask the user to 500 times every time you want to do one thing. Meanwhile, viruses, Trojans and dialers slip into the system without anyone doing anything to prevent it.

The new addition of DRM, may be the first lace of the coffin of Windows. The user wants to download movies and music and be able to see them on your computer without strings attached. Not surprisingly, Windows Vista has the worst sales results in history.

Ultimately, GNU / Linux is a system made by professionals for professionals, while Windows is not an application to be finished, without an iota of professionalism, and a disdain for the quality of the finish.

Thank you very much for your attention.