IBM partnering with Canonical, SuSE, RedHat to take on the desktop

As I have said before, the most important thing with getting Linux into the mainstream is the ability to provide top notch manuals and training material.

Average Joe who only uses XP on his office PC and doesn't have one at home will struggle if his company suddenly brings in Linux based machines.

Good to see a major name trying to run alongside microsoft with it :D
 
I still do not believe Linux is quite there for the desktop. Although it is progressing very nicely and quickly (Comparing from Ubuntu 6.06, DD to now.) One thing they must do is get DX applications working natively or OpenGL wide spread.
 
ALso in order to get this kinda O/S into the mainstream so to speak then it needs the support of various developers out there to produce quality games for it and have software available for it. Otherwise there's no mega reason to change, as it's more complicated.
 
Trifid said:
I still do not believe Linux is quite there for the desktop. Although it is progressing very nicely and quickly (Comparing from Ubuntu 6.06, DD to now.) One thing they must do is get DX applications working natively or OpenGL wide spread.
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Microsoft owns a lot of the games studios these days. Even though people like ID software produce quality OpenGL games most will stick to DX for the forseeable future I guess. This is another reason why.
 
sr4470 said:
Actually, a lot of businesses use Linux\Unix already, BA for one...
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IBM was about 50/50 split windows/linux the desktops when I was there. I was surprised the number of people who used windows actually considering their prolinux stance (though visual studio is a great IDE).
 
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Trifid said:
I still do not believe Linux is quite there for the desktop. Although it is progressing very nicely and quickly (Comparing from Ubuntu 6.06, DD to now.) One thing they must do is get DX applications working natively or OpenGL wide spread.
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and once again, from the Linux community as a whole, we don't care that we aren't "there yet" it isn't a race.

We don't want to be "there" we want linux to do what we want it to do. We don't give a monkeys if some secretary is typing up her dictation notes in Word, instead of OpenOffice on an Ubuntu setup. We don't care that accountants are using Excel. We are happy.
 
Dj_Jestar said:
and once again, from the Linux community as a whole, we don't care that we aren't "there yet" it isn't a race.

We don't want to be "there" we want linux to do what we want it to do. We don't give a monkeys if some secretary is typing up her dictation notes in Word, instead of OpenOffice on an Ubuntu setup. We don't care that accountants are using Excel. We are happy.
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But to:

Dj_Jestar said:
bring Linux further into the limelight
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It needs to address these few issues that many users who come from Windows want.

OpenOffice is a good replacement for MS' offering.
 
This is good news as the more competition there is the better our operating systems will become.

For Linux to crack the market they need to business integration tools that Microsoft provide, i.e. group policy, management etc.
 
Trifid said:
But to:



It needs to address these few issues that many users who come from Windows want.

OpenOffice is a good replacement for MS' offering.
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No, to be further in the limelight all they need is a mention in news articles, like the one in the OP.
 
Dj_Jestar said:
No, to be further in the limelight all they need is a mention in news articles, like the one in the OP.
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Linux needs to be able to handle hard drive detection, 5/7.1 sound, all types of internet connection at a pinch before people will think about crossing over.

I'm using Pardus - it detected my SATA drives straight away unlike ubuntu, mint, puppy, gOS. Internet connection is hit and miss, some days it works and others it doesn't. Not figured out the sound yet. I'll stick with it becuase I can see improvements despite all that.
 
almichev said:
Linux needs to be able to handle hard drive detection, 5/7.1 sound, all types of internet connection at a pinch before people will think about crossing over.

I'm using Pardus - it detected my SATA drives straight away unlike ubuntu, mint, puppy, gOS. Internet connection is hit and miss, some days it works and others it doesn't. Not figured out the sound yet. I'll stick with it becuase I can see improvements despite all that.
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This is the problem, no not that Linux doesn't do what windows does, but that a lot of users expect it to.

Many (if not all) hardware problems with Linux are directly attributed to the vendors not releasing so much as a tech sheet/API, let alone drivers, so the linux community is left guessing.

The other issue with the users is that it's Open Source software.. too many sit back and complain, instead of contribute.
 
JonRohan said:
This is good news as the more competition there is the better our operating systems will become.

For Linux to crack the market they need to business integration tools that Microsoft provide, i.e. group policy, management etc.
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Agreed, there is nothing that can match Active Directory and Office in the terms of usability and integration. (Well there is but you need to know what your doing)

In terms of usability Gnome and KDE are already there, its just a lot of software vendors dont give a hoot about anything other than windows.

Getting linux onto business desktops is the key, get people using it at work and it will filter down to the home market.
 
Dj_Jestar said:
This is the problem, no not that Linux doesn't do what windows does, but that a lot of users expect it to.

Many (if not all) hardware problems with Linux are directly attributed to the vendors not releasing so much as a tech sheet/API, let alone drivers, so the linux community is left guessing.
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Completely agree... a lot of people complain about the apparent lack of compatibility for certain pieces of hardware under Linux, but blame Linux instead of venting their anger at the hardware manufacturer in question (who chose to release drivers for Windows but not other OSes).
 
GarethDW said:
Completely agree... a lot of people complain about the apparent lack of compatibility for certain pieces of hardware under Linux, but blame Linux instead of venting their anger at the hardware manufacturer in question (who chose to release drivers for Windows but not other OSes).
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Dj_Jestar said:
This is the problem, no not that Linux doesn't do what windows does, but that a lot of users expect it to.

Many (if not all) hardware problems with Linux are directly attributed to the vendors not releasing so much as a tech sheet/API, let alone drivers, so the linux community is left guessing.

The other issue with the users is that it's Open Source software.. too many sit back and complain, instead of contribute.
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People want a computer that works with the basics. Most don't have the time let alone the interest to go looking for fixes on forums etc. Hopefully IBM etc can solve it.

I use my pc for digital art - it'll be a living one day. Looking for fixes to problems like hard drive detection, internet connection is frustrating, timewasting and loses money. Until Linux can do the basic things to setup a pc then people won't switch to it. So good on IBM, i hope they make a good job of it.
 
almichev said:
People want a computer that works with the basics. Most don't have the time let alone the interest to go looking for fixes on forums etc. Hopefully IBM etc can solve it.

I use my pc for digital art - it'll be a living one day. Looking for fixes to problems like hard drive detection, internet connection is frustrating, timewasting and loses money. Until Linux can do the basic things to setup a pc then people won't switch to it. So good on IBM, i hope they make a good job of it.
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Most users, yes. Not necessarily Linux developers. I'm happy to have to manually configure my hard drives, it gives *me* the control, not my machine/OS.

Digital Art? Get a Mac.
 
almichev said:
Linux needs to be able to handle hard drive detection, 5/7.1 sound, all types of internet connection at a pinch before people will think about crossing over.

I'm using Pardus - it detected my SATA drives straight away unlike ubuntu, mint, puppy, gOS. Internet connection is hit and miss, some days it works and others it doesn't. Not figured out the sound yet. I'll stick with it becuase I can see improvements despite all that.
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Its VERY nearly there IMO. Ubuntu 8.0.4 detected all of my PATA and SATA drives from day 1. Both wireless and wired networks have worked from day 1, and I also have 5.1 sound working 100% via pulseaudio (that needed a quick google to sort out though).

try this for the sound...

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=759147

.. all worked straight away using that utility for me.

ONTOPIC - I hope IBM make a better job of this than their last attempt at x86 desktop. OS2 was woefully supported (although a great product when at debut). Hopefully this is more than just marketing babble and they actually commit some serious resources to it. IBM have hampered some excellent products in the past through lack on ongoing support and development. Just look at Lotus. I'm an ex-IBMer by the way do I sounds bitter haha :-)
 
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