Posted by: Anonymous Coward
on October 13, 2005 12:25 PM
I am not sure I understand what you are asking. The major distros make it just too easy to upgrade apps and the whole distro as they improve the availability on their servers, which is constantly (especially easy and well-tested are debian/.deb-based distros because of all the testing debian undergos).
As the other poster said, with Linux you have two important things that you don't have with Windows. One is that the apps are essentially all open source (the exception only applies in some cases and if you are paying for your distro a monthly or yearly membership fee like Linspire's program). Two is that you have the option to know what will be installed and have the option to say no.
Now, can things be made more intuitive? Sure. But things are continuously improving. Also, can things be more cohesive in terms of you being able to get what you want, whenever, from wherever, and have it work? Yes, but that misses the point when you consider that you already have access to a lot more than you would on Windows (at least if you factor in safety, cost, and spiffiness). What will improve as distros compete is to have their system package manager or some filter on their system allow you to get whatever from wherever and have it just work. [There are already some things like this, though they aren't fully developed (what is?) and won't work for *every* case (what will?).]
Also, as the Linux market grows and people cry out louder and for more to proprietary companies, more proprietary apps will be available easily at least on the major paying distros. Also, everyone that goes to Linux is lost for a while, but eventually you learn a trick here or there if it can make a big difference (things like<nobr> <wbr></nobr>./configure && make to get that program you just can't wait any longer for).
In the end, remember this. To guarantee safety, people must test first. If I write a trojan and put it on the net and you download it because you want the latest zigaNuga and your computer blows up and you complain about the<nobr> <wbr></nobr>.deb not working well with your other<nobr> <wbr></nobr>.deb's or<nobr> <wbr></nobr>.rpm's, there will be few tears shed for you. Think of all the trash people accumulate via Windows that they are completely oblivious to. Sure, Windows just works. I guess it's true. Some people want the poisoned apples NOW, before they have been washed and dewormed.<nobr> <wbr></nobr>..they'll always have Windows (well, until Microsoft in forced into early retirement).
There is room for the people that want to play it safe and wait and there is room for those that want to play fast and loose. If you are of the latter type AND want everything delivered Rush Order with all the trimmings, then Linux is probably not ripe yet (is Windows?). Try back in a year or three. And to speed things up, complain to whoever makes your favorite application, game, or virus. Tell them, you want Linux support NOW.
ps: Have you tried linux lately? I don't think many normal linux-using people compile from source anymore. You'd be surprised at how much debian (eg, Xandros or Ubuntu or SimplyMEPIS) has available. Also, just as I don't recomment someone walk into Windows, as a newbie, without help from someone with experience, I don't suggest you go into Linux without help if you are not comfortable with it. Ask someone close (if you don't want to research a bit on the net) so that you can install and save your personal stuff to usb flash. This way you can wreck your system or try a new flavor every other week and still keep your good stuff in tact. If you can play it fast and loose this way, you will enjoy finding all the ways to wreck the system and test out the newest and weirdest apps.. and then just clean your hands of the mess and have a makeover to start again.
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Re:Package management sucks
Posted by: Anonymous Coward on October 13, 2005 12:25 PMAs the other poster said, with Linux you have two important things that you don't have with Windows. One is that the apps are essentially all open source (the exception only applies in some cases and if you are paying for your distro a monthly or yearly membership fee like Linspire's program). Two is that you have the option to know what will be installed and have the option to say no.
Now, can things be made more intuitive? Sure. But things are continuously improving. Also, can things be more cohesive in terms of you being able to get what you want, whenever, from wherever, and have it work? Yes, but that misses the point when you consider that you already have access to a lot more than you would on Windows (at least if you factor in safety, cost, and spiffiness). What will improve as distros compete is to have their system package manager or some filter on their system allow you to get whatever from wherever and have it just work. [There are already some things like this, though they aren't fully developed (what is?) and won't work for *every* case (what will?).]
Also, as the Linux market grows and people cry out louder and for more to proprietary companies, more proprietary apps will be available easily at least on the major paying distros. Also, everyone that goes to Linux is lost for a while, but eventually you learn a trick here or there if it can make a big difference (things like<nobr> <wbr></nobr>./configure && make to get that program you just can't wait any longer for).
In the end, remember this. To guarantee safety, people must test first. If I write a trojan and put it on the net and you download it because you want the latest zigaNuga and your computer blows up and you complain about the<nobr> <wbr></nobr>.deb not working well with your other<nobr> <wbr></nobr>.deb's or<nobr> <wbr></nobr>.rpm's, there will be few tears shed for you. Think of all the trash people accumulate via Windows that they are completely oblivious to. Sure, Windows just works. I guess it's true. Some people want the poisoned apples NOW, before they have been washed and dewormed.<nobr> <wbr></nobr>..they'll always have Windows (well, until Microsoft in forced into early retirement).
There is room for the people that want to play it safe and wait and there is room for those that want to play fast and loose. If you are of the latter type AND want everything delivered Rush Order with all the trimmings, then Linux is probably not ripe yet (is Windows?). Try back in a year or three. And to speed things up, complain to whoever makes your favorite application, game, or virus. Tell them, you want Linux support NOW.
ps: Have you tried linux lately? I don't think many normal linux-using people compile from source anymore. You'd be surprised at how much debian (eg, Xandros or Ubuntu or SimplyMEPIS) has available. Also, just as I don't recomment someone walk into Windows, as a newbie, without help from someone with experience, I don't suggest you go into Linux without help if you are not comfortable with it. Ask someone close (if you don't want to research a bit on the net) so that you can install and save your personal stuff to usb flash. This way you can wreck your system or try a new flavor every other week and still keep your good stuff in tact. If you can play it fast and loose this way, you will enjoy finding all the ways to wreck the system and test out the newest and weirdest apps.. and then just clean your hands of the mess and have a makeover to start again.
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