http://desicritics.org/ Superior South Asian bloggers on Culture, Media, Politics, Sport, Business, and Technology. en Copyright 2006 by the authors Thu, 28 Jun 2007 11:34:36 EDT http://backend.userland.com/rss BC custom software http://desicritics.org/2007/04/16/001741.php#comment-235691 We each have our own Vices and Virtues concerning our personal use of our particular OS. I use OSx, XP, and Feisty Fawn. The fact of the matter is simple... not one distro is right for everyone. If one distro was exactly the same as all others, the entire world would be using Ubuntu, since it is the free one. Or, really, the entire world would use Windows since there would be no reason to comprete. We can sit here all day and /bash one another in the head, /etc, but it doesn't change the fact that our computing needs are as different as the hardware, and software, which supports them. Windows has strength in number of applications. Apple's strength comes in it's easy to use interface, and Top-notch multimedia applications. Ubuntu shows it's strength in not having to configure hardware, plug it in... it works. There are specific weaknesses, too. I love playing the Sims 2, can't on Ubuntu, period. I hate dealing with viruses and Spyware. That's everyday stuff in Windows. Apple is having a lot of hardware issues right now... I know, I support 100 of them at my school. But, that doesn't make one far superior to the other. It's a personal choice. Windows for those who do many different things or play Graphics intensive games, Mac OSX for those who want to excel in video and audio productions, and Ubuntu for those who just want a simple, clean and powerful OS without all of the flash. 235691@desicritics.org Thu, 28 Jun 2007 11:34:36 EDT http://desicritics.org/2007/04/16/001741.php#comment-169145 Yes you said many points, right. But there still is a major problem. THere is no major Linux applications which can replace FLash, Dreamweaver, Flex(UI Designer, not only coding), Avid, 3dsMAX etc. So, the these users will never come towards Linux, Some alternative like Blender is much good, but still it lacks manything which is needed in industry. Gimp is not industry cabaple, though it has much capacity. These things matter, and it needs a larger group of expert developers to build it. OOo has everything, except better response, speed. Also, things are getting better with time. Gnome has much changed for last 3-4 years, but it would have dont better with improvements in UI and usability. OSX is known and loved for its easyness and LOOK, design. Windows is known for its performance, though its not much easy. Linux is easy in some terms, but wholly it comes out to be dificult when setting a system. Anyway, with Vista release, I guess Linux will be in demand, but not instantly, after 3-4 years. 169145@desicritics.org Mon, 23 Apr 2007 05:17:31 EDT http://desicritics.org/2007/04/16/001741.php#comment-168133 Sure, and I used to run Linux for my desktop -- for a few weeks. The retarded Mandrake sync process wasn't syncing my disk updates out of the box, so a panic lost hours of code changes. I reinstalled Windows, and later switched to OS X. It's techie-cool to run OS X. 168133@desicritics.org Thu, 19 Apr 2007 10:39:18 EDT http://desicritics.org/2007/04/16/001741.php#comment-168125 It's techie-cool, perhaps, to be on Linux 168125@desicritics.org Thu, 19 Apr 2007 09:17:55 EDT http://desicritics.org/2007/04/16/001741.php#comment-168124 I'm sorry, but Linux seems to me to provide nothing really useful to me, especially since it sounds like many of you are having to use Windows anyway for certain things. I mean, Ubuntu being "good enough" or "almost as good as Windows" or even "just as good as Windows" doesn't do a thing for me. Until it's *better*, why bother? For that matter, until it's better than Mac OS X, why wouldn't I just use that? Cheaper? "Free?" So? Like I said, many people are talking about buying a Windows license anyway for some things. Right? You *are* talking about *paying* for those Windows licenses, right? 168124@desicritics.org Thu, 19 Apr 2007 09:00:37 EDT http://desicritics.org/2007/04/16/001741.php#comment-168119 @Bill - I use VMware but unfortunately it is not able to use 3D accelleration. For this reason I use XP as a gaming platform only and use Ubuntu Ultimate Edition for everythign else. As Onkar mentioned, for running Windows apps under Linux, Wine can be used to run SOME but not ALL. I think VMware can't be beaten to fulfil this role, since you're then running a virtual computer which has Windows running on it, 'independant' of the Linux o/s. 168119@desicritics.org Wed, 18 Apr 2007 11:11:11 EDT http://desicritics.org/2007/04/16/001741.php#comment-167674 I've been using the beta for a couple of weeks and I am so looking forward to the stable release. bring it on, Ubuntu is going to rule. 167674@desicritics.org Tue, 17 Apr 2007 22:53:45 EDT http://desicritics.org/2007/04/16/001741.php#comment-167058 @AnArch. It's a Windows world and going off on a lateral tangent from what people are comfortable using is difficult. Unless of course, you ban Windows for this is the first OS that most of the people come across. As for the "also ran" and "coy cat"0 can you provide a direct proof where it has copied Windows? 167058@desicritics.org Tue, 17 Apr 2007 15:17:21 EDT http://desicritics.org/2007/04/16/001741.php#comment-167057 Linux will be an also-ran and a copy-cat until it overtakes Windows or takes off in an orthogonal direction that is still eminently user-friendly - until then, why bother, as an average user? Why suffer? 167057@desicritics.org Tue, 17 Apr 2007 15:13:04 EDT http://desicritics.org/2007/04/16/001741.php#comment-167056 @Ron, Could you mail to Ubuntu India mailing list (https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-in)? May be someone would like to take up such project. If you don't find anyone and you don't mind a slow paced development then even myself will take it up. I am not very good at C so I will probably make it a JSP/Servlet based web-app. @Ian GNU/Linux also has games specifically made for it. Action - Nexuiz, Trtemulous. Strategy - Battle of Wesnoth. City planning -Lincity-NG. Total fun - Penguin racer and super tux (like super mario but with tux as central character). @Mr.Cytizen No one is forcing you to use only Ubuntu. You yourself will find that your Windows usage will degrade over time. By the way, I dumped Windows 3 years ago and I don't miss it. The 'liberating feeling' has certainly not faded away. And of course Ubuntu keeps getting better every six months and you can run it on 4 year old hardware. Good luck with upgrade to Windows Vista. ;-) @Bakhtiar That is where WINE comes in picture. Just google for WINE (all capital) 167056@desicritics.org Tue, 17 Apr 2007 15:06:38 EDT http://desicritics.org/2007/04/16/001741.php#comment-167021 What about the application's most of the application developed these days are for Windows only. Is there any way that Ubuntu makes sure that the windows applications also run on its operating system 167021@desicritics.org Tue, 17 Apr 2007 13:21:51 EDT http://desicritics.org/2007/04/16/001741.php#comment-166981 If you need Windoze apps, why not use VMWare's free Player to run a virutal machine with Windows. I do that at work (Actually, I made them purchase VMWare Workstation but that was before Player was available). I run my Windows specific apps on the VM, and live the rest of my life in Linux. 166981@desicritics.org Tue, 17 Apr 2007 11:51:56 EDT http://desicritics.org/2007/04/16/001741.php#comment-166937 It was about 9 months ago that I first tried out a Linux distro and it was Ubuntu. It was missing the sophistication of a powerful O/S that I needed (or so I thought) and so I moved on - Mandriva, Fedora Core (that was good until a kernel update killed it), OpenSuse and then last week I downloaded Ubuntu Ultimate Edition. Wow, I'm in love. It looks beautiful, installs and runs like a dream and closes the gap on Vista considerably. XP is now my gaming platform. Everything else comes through Ubuntu. 166937@desicritics.org Tue, 17 Apr 2007 11:01:12 EDT http://desicritics.org/2007/04/16/001741.php#comment-166846 @john1940 Ubuntu "blew up" your computer? Hmm, that's one hell of a bug! Are you sure there wasn't something (errm) else wrong with your computer first? Jests aside, I too am a fan of Ubuntu. A Debian user of many years I am finally seeing complete non-geeks fly with Linux and not switch back out of sheer terror. Don't forget also it runs well on Apple PowerPC machines: I know of several Apple OS X users that have reported great success running Ubuntu on such machines. While it is certainly very easy to install on common hardware don't forget there is the option to buy a new machine with Ubuntu preinstalled. Companies like http://system76.com are worth a look to these ends. 166846@desicritics.org Tue, 17 Apr 2007 08:14:03 EDT http://desicritics.org/2007/04/16/001741.php#comment-166826 I have built home made computers (Windows) and agree Redmond is not the place that creates operating systems. I don't think Ubuntu or Linux is there yet, either. I tried Ubuntu and the disk provided only booted from the disk, there was no installation of the Linux on a hard drive. After partitioning for Linux, Swap file, and data (a geek only activity) and adding a boot loader, I then tried to install Linux. It blew up. I have now lost my original windows and don't have linux either. Linux is not ready for prime time. 166826@desicritics.org Tue, 17 Apr 2007 06:28:10 EDT http://desicritics.org/2007/04/16/001741.php#comment-166808 Well spoken Mr.Cytizen. I am going to do a dual boot for the time being. 166808@desicritics.org Tue, 17 Apr 2007 05:31:36 EDT http://desicritics.org/2007/04/16/001741.php#comment-166791 I don't see why it always has to be one or the other. Dual booting is the most sensible solution for those that depend too heavily on Windows based applications. Others, who may have an extra PC or laptop to spare, can run one machine with Linux and the other with their favorite version of Windows. Either way should be the reasonable way to go. Unless you have some kind of personal grudge against Bill Gates because he smashed your sand castle, "shifting" or "switching" to Linux entirely makes little sense. Yes, Ubuntu has done great things and has come a far way as an OS. I am running Ubuntu 7.04 Beta on my IBM Thinkpad and its wonderful. Fact is, however, that it still isn't entirely cross platform capable just yet. You will have issues. You will have to configure and fine-tune just like with any other OS. You will encounter incompatibility issues and not all of your software solutions will be provided efficiently by the open source community. Don't have a one-track mind. Consider Linux as a wonderful alternative in -addition- to your current proprietary OS of choice. I know it sounds appealing to abandon Windows and move over to the wonderful world of non-restricted and free operating systems. This liberating feeling will fade with time when you notice that your Linux distro has to be maintained and taken care of just like any other OS. Ubuntu isn't Harry Potter's magic wand. It's pretty damn close, but for now don't turn your back entirely on Windows. Do the sensible thing. Don't steal, love your neighbor, cherish your parents, have kids, eat healthy and dual boot. 166791@desicritics.org Tue, 17 Apr 2007 03:57:22 EDT http://desicritics.org/2007/04/16/001741.php#comment-166781 My opinion: KDevelop is the best IDE ever for C/C++, NetBeans for Java and Quanta for Web...any serious programmer should look and try these alternatives...I use all of these from SuSE Linux 8.2 times, but now, with Ubuntu, it's another story...the best Linux OS for me. 166781@desicritics.org Tue, 17 Apr 2007 03:10:10 EDT http://desicritics.org/2007/04/16/001741.php#comment-166769 I would love to make the switch but I am a gamer...Linux and gaming don't mix unfortuantely but I guess if enough serious gamers switch to Linux, the developers would also make the games for Linux. DirectX is crap. OpenGL does just as well but nobody uses it. I am sick to death of Microsoft's stranglehold on the market. When Feisty Fawn emerges, I am definitely going to install it! I love using Beryl on Linux. Its makes the GUI so fun to use. 166769@desicritics.org Tue, 17 Apr 2007 02:32:42 EDT http://desicritics.org/2007/04/16/001741.php#comment-166754 Hardy - Try KDevelop, it's the best IDE I've used! 166754@desicritics.org Tue, 17 Apr 2007 01:44:22 EDT http://desicritics.org/2007/04/16/001741.php#comment-166736 Would love to move to Linux, but until there is a decent accounting system for small business that supports manufacturing and inventory management in a multi-user environment (for example, a Linux version of QuickBooks), we just can't make the switch. The lack of a robust and feature complete accounting package is now the only thing holding us back -- and I suspect a lot of other small and medium sized businesses as well. 166736@desicritics.org Tue, 17 Apr 2007 00:52:47 EDT http://desicritics.org/2007/04/16/001741.php#comment-166732 I've been using Linux for the past 8 months and love it. In fact, I started with SUSE Linux to run a web server, then installed Fedore Core 6 on my 2nd desktop and now I have Ubuntu on my laptop. can't wait for the new distro to come out! 166732@desicritics.org Tue, 17 Apr 2007 00:27:21 EDT http://desicritics.org/2007/04/16/001741.php#comment-166712 Abhishek, Are you talking about using Kubuntu as Ubuntu only comes with GNOME and there is a separate package for KDE, KUBUNTU. 166712@desicritics.org Mon, 16 Apr 2007 23:25:43 EDT http://desicritics.org/2007/04/16/001741.php#comment-166710 Thanks for a nice article on Feisty Fawn. I'm running the Feisty beta on an AsusTek notebook with an Intel 2200 wireless card. Great support for wireless and encryption as well. I have plug and play support for my Kodak digital camera and I can't say enough positive about Ubuntu. It's really a viable alternative to Windows. 166710@desicritics.org Mon, 16 Apr 2007 23:02:56 EDT http://desicritics.org/2007/04/16/001741.php#comment-166709 I am myself in the process of using Ubuntu Linux on an older machine.I like the spirit of free software - through cooperative development - for everybody! 166709@desicritics.org Mon, 16 Apr 2007 23:02:10 EDT