What does Linux need?

Question

I say it just needs more drivers, I have many problems with wireless internet drivers.

Linux is god these days, can't get viruses (Well, can, but they're not scary), EVERYTHING runs on it, and it's all free, the best part if you ask me.

I think it needs things like Wubi for more distros. I think they should stop developing huge distros, like Ubuntu, so quickly. They should develop them more slowly, making sure each one is VERY stable, like Slackware.

I also think it needs to be more known. Maybe commercials...?

Answer 1

I began using Linux whilst still working with XP most of the time. That was back in late 2006 with Ubuntu 6.10

http://www.softwareinreview.com/linux/ubuntu_6.10_edgy_eft_review.html

http://www.howtoforge.com/the_perfect_desktop_ubuntu6.10

http://ubuntuguide.org/wiki/Ubuntu:Edgy



Back then Ubuntu was much less automated than Ubuntu 9.04 and Ubuntu 9.10 which we have today and was a much steeper learning curve with a lot of work still necessary in the Terminal

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/UsingTheTerminal



Yes the latest releases of Ubuntu/Mint etc. are a pleasurable experience indeed but if you want to try out Ubuntu 6.10 it is still possible by modifying the repositories although Ubuntu 6.10 is no longer supported



Ubuntu 6.10 Download

http://old-releases.ubuntu.com/releases/edgy/



Once installed you need to replace the repositories to obtain any updates that were available before support ceased THIS IS IMPORTANT



Open the Terminal and submit the following command



sudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list





Delete all the repositories and replace them with these



deb http://old-releases.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ edgy main restricted

deb-src http://old-releases.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ edgy main restricted

deb http://old-releases.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ edgy-updates main restricted

deb-src http://old-releases.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ edgy-updates main restricted

deb http://old-releases.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ edgy universe

deb-src http://old-releases.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ edgy universe

deb http://old-releases.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ edgy-backports main restricted universe multiverse

deb-src http://old-releases.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ edgy-backports main restricted universe multiverse



Once replaced save then in the Terminal



sudo apt-get update





After you have done this updates will become available. There is no Wubi installer for Ubuntu 6.10 so grab a spare Hard Drive or install it on a virtual machine I recommend VirtualBox

http://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads



Give it a go as it will increase your knowledge because things are not so automated.





LUg.

Answer 2

More drivers? Really? Compile you're own kernel and tell me that :-)



IMHO, the distros like Ubuntu are great, they allow the standard user to do exactly what they want, surf the web, stay (fairly) safe, email, multimedia, for a low low price of free.



Personally, I've used quite a few distros over the years, Debian, Gentoo, CentOS, Ubuntu, RedHat, Fedora, SuSE, you get the point. I've found that on my home PC I prefer either a .deb based system, Debian being #1, Ubuntu if I need a quick setup, or Gentoo (let the fanboy flaming begin!), which I left for a number of years after my PC was just too outdated for it to be reasonable, now on my quad core Gentoo absolutely flies and I love it, it really is total control.



As for slowing down development, absolutely not, I remember 6 or 8 years ago when I was trying to have some friends give linux a try, it was just too difficult, now I've got my Dad running on Ubuntu, it's perfect, offers him what he needs and gives me super easy remote support.



Commercials? Sure let Dell (as they already do) run ads for PCs with Ubuntu pre-installed, but I would be hate to see 10 years down the road with the only options being 7 different "flavors" of Ubuntu.



This brings me to my point, the linux community has something for almost everyone (can't please all the people all the time, right?), you can go with something simple or something as basic as "linux from scratch", it all depends on what the system will be used for. I certainly do not need a network-manager or a GUI running on my servers.

Answer 3

It's very difficult to find a retailer who has a Linux Operating System on display for people to check it out or even play around with it. There are just too many different Ubuntu created Open Source versions available. Almost all Linux use the same common base operating systems files making using Linux easy for every one, not Like Windows always changing all the time. Candy coating Linux is not the answer to making it a Major contender in the Choice of operating systems for users.



I guess instead of complaining, everyone who uses Linux should consider developing commercial grade free software for it. The users make it what it is, not commercial vendors. I don't like being hostage to Microsoft, simply because of the software you can buy for it or get for free.

Answer 4

Well, it can't quite run everything. If you could get people to write their games using OpenGL (which would run on Windows, Mac, Linux, Playstation 3, and Wii) as opposed to DirectX (running on Windows and Xbox), then adoption would probably increase. Also, there's always that specialized software that you need that's Windows-only. there's a reason IE 6 still has 20% of the market share- all these businesses are stuck using legacy apps that won't work right if you run them in a standards-compliant environment. Hundreds of thousands of batch scripts and gigantic Win32 programs won't run properly (yet) in Wine, or won't run well. And it would probably take them another 15 years to get Wine to the point of good, solid compatibility.



Then there's the fact that most people can't tell the difference between "easy to use" and "familiar". Even though in some ways, Linux is now easier to use than Windows (categorizing apps for instance instead of the big giant "all programs"), people would rather put up with all of Windows' warts because they've known how to work around it for 20 years.



Plus, you have Microsoft's Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt campaigns to thank for a lot of hesitancy toward Linux. As far as most people know, Linux can't run any modern programs (let alone games) and everything must be done in the command line.



Personally, I agree with you- those wireless drivers are the one big thing holding it back from widespread adoption. But it isn't enough just to catch up to Windows or even beat it. Linux would have to completely blow Windows out of the water in order to get adopted widely.

Answer 5

Here is my list of things Linux needs to become the best OS for the desktop (in no particular order):

* One unified multimedia layer that is standard to all distros (basically ONE open source equivalent to Direct X so that companies have ONE standard to program to).

* One unified package manager format that is standard to all distros (basically ONE open source format (package managers can be different to maintain customer choice) so that a Linux program will install on ANY Linux distro no matter what).

* At least one of the Linux distros needs to create an "App Store" that commercial developers can sell their programs directly to Linux users via a network connection. This would work exactly like any package manager except you pay for any app in this "App Store".

* The Linux community as a whole (especially the companies that are developing Linux (red hat, Novell, IBM, Canonical) need to pressure hardware producers to have every PC on the market to be produced as either a Windows or Linux machine (let the customers have a choice). Stop the production of Microsoft exclusive deals in stores like Best Buy, Future Shop, Radio Shack, etc.

* The Linux community as a whole (especially the companies that are developing Linux) need to pressure hardware producers to Open Source all the drivers for their hardware so that hardware isn't unnecessarily handicapped on Linux because the hardware producer couldn't be bothered to make a Linux driver.

* Commercial software companies should be praised (not criticised) for making their software for Linux (even if that software is closed source). More praise should be given to companies that produce open source software for Linux, but all companies should be praised for making Linux software (especially in areas where software is usually hard to find like tax software).

* More marketing to the average consumer needs to be done. Part of this would be giving people the option to buy a Linux PC in big box stores, but advertisement, hype building, and PR is also needed.

Answer 6

The Core has to be standardized.



Like the Linux Kernel, APIs and Xorg.



You can't use old linux binaries in modern linux. Like an old Legacy Video Card Driver. Now, the average Computer user expects everything to work forever.

Answer 7

i'd say Ubuntu, that's quite trouble-free to apply for a newbie, in spite of the undeniable fact that it nonetheless has the skill to do very advanced issues also GNOME is a operating laptop or computer surroundings, like KDE. Ubuntu comes with GNOME. in case you desire a more beneficial domicile windows-like surroundings you should use Kubuntu it truly is Ubuntu with the KDE surroundings truly than GNOME. a sturdy component with Ubuntu is that you could replace between the variations very actual, in simple terms utilising synaptic kit manager (a software you'll use lots in case you get Ubuntu or Debian) you could replace computer environments and upload the positive aspects of each and every version with very few clicks. also Ubuntu is depending off debian, so that they are similar yet ubuntu is designed to be more beneficial elementary.

Answer 8

Linux needs to be supported by hardware manufactures, and major software makers like Adobe and Autodesk.

Answer 9

If it had better DirectX conversion/support I'd switch in a heartbeat.



I don't like losing 100 FPS in CSS...

Answer 10

Ubuntu is pretty stable

Answer 11

Well, how do you get commercials? You pay for them.



Whats the number one reason (well, for some people) to get linux? Its free.



Contradiction? i think so.