Linux or Windows

Linux has come a long way. There are so many good distros available. Do you feel Linux is ready to take on Windows? Can a normal user think of Linux as an alternative to Windows?

I think that there's a place for Linux in desktop market. It will only appeal to a select few people (PC hobbyists and such). People are habitual creatures and it would take a lot for them to migrate away from what they're already familiar with (Windows). If people were willing to open up more to OS alternatives, Apple would have a much larger piece of the market. I think they have a much better OS than Windows. I think that Apple's small size is a direct reflection of the attitudes people have towards changing which operating system they use.

I think linux is good for everyone except gamers, only because companies don't support it. IF linux got a foothold on the consumer PC market (it is perfect for checking email, chatting, browsing, etc), than companies would port their games to linux.

But personally, until game support comes along, Im sticking with windows.

Linux has been better than windows for a long time, and since LATEST ~ubuntu/breezy or so the gap is large enough for people to notice. But then, people are habitual creatures and it would take a lot for them to migrate away from what they're already familiar with, to quote Propellerhead.

Introducing DirectX was a better move for MS than they could ever have anticipated. Without the long passed DX migration, it would be way easier for game makers to offer multi-platform games, not to say they would.

dexaroni nicely summed up the chicken-and-egg problem in adoption.

I think it's starting to go that way. Linux is a good, stable system, not prone to many of the same pitfalls Windows is.

DirectX is the perfect vendor lock in.

I'm surprised that more companies aren't looking to OpenGL+OpenAL instead of DirectX.

I agree totally with PropellerHed. There are options available and people have to just look around and try it. As pointed out by Aron I am also surprised about OpenGL. I think the reason is many vendors are still not aware people are using Linux and the no. is growing.

From what I was told be a tech who works in Linux is that they are trying to get the feel more maintstream and step up on capturing the home user.

Distributions such as Ubuntu are helping to make that a reality. The problem I have in Linux is driver support (which is a hardware company problem) and stable installation support ACROSS distributions and kernels.

software installation support across distros: there is the LSB - and you can install LSB RPMs on pretty much any distro.

drivers - they belong in the kernel. If they're not, then it's not too difficult for distros to get rid of that problem: look at NVIDIA drivers in ubuntu.

driver binary compatibility might be implementable, but can't be held in the long run. Not even MS can do that. (I'm referring to the WinNT driver breakage at version 5.0 - I expect Vista (6.0?) is similar)

Do you think they will move more into gaming?

They will move more into serious gaming once they are settled in the home segment. With the introduction of user friendly distros like Ubuntu and even distros like OpenSuse 10.2, Fedora 6 are helping the cause. What I understand, Linux is being developed as per the requirement of the user base. So as more and more basic users start using Linux I think it will get fine-tuned.

If you think Linux can't take on Vista you should check out Linux's Beryl! It's been arounda lot longer and is a whole lot (visually) like Vista. Very nice and manageable.

Thanks for the information. I feel even the other distros like Ubuntu, Fedora, OpenSuse are simply great. You can really have a great look with the helps of applets like KBFX and Superkaramba in KDE environment.