@mrprogguy said:
Linux is great for people, as it has been said, who think vi is a good configuration tool.
I have no complaints with the under-the-hood part of Linux, but when it comes to consumer-facing aspects, it's just not ready for prime-time. Certainly it's better than it was two years ago, but it's still not ready, and I've got a long-term perspective, having been into computers as a professional and a hobbyist for nearly 35 years now.
Some bullet points:
* Linux (and indeed, Unix, Solaris, and all the other variants) are OSes for people who like to get their hands dirty. That wouldn't include my senior-citizen parents or in-laws. That doesn't include most people.
* I know the GUIs are there, but there's more than one, if I remember correctly, and that can be confusing to average users, who like to have the same thing at home and at work. (Unless they're Mac users, in which case they've learned to deal with the difference.)
* Having so many different distributions of Linux simply confuses the marketplace. Having 25 brands of clothes-washing detergent is okay because all the brands operate the same; pour detergent into washer, add clothes, close lid. Unfortunately, all those Linux distros are not quite so interchangeable. This causes low adoption among the potential consumer base. (It ain't all about the code, kiddies. The world of commerce is larger than that.)
* The drivers still aren't where they need to be.
* The business applications aren't really there. Open Office and Star Office are darned good, but they lack performance. (Java is good, but native code is still best.) Running the usual Win Office stuff under WINE is reasonably good, but in the long run, still second-best.
I read the blog posting, and it's interesting to see how the Linux crowd reacts. Unfortunately, Linux remains an underdog in the consumer arena, and teaching kids to use Windows apps is the best training for now. I know the Linuxians don't like that. I don't see them trying to do much about it, though.
To be fair, though, not knowing that Linux is free--or at least not checking--is downright sloppy.
Linux would be both boring and useless if it tried to emulate Windows and OS X. I'm rather fond of the route Linux has taken to find its users. I use it myself because I think the quality and usefulness of Linux applications are second-to-none. I installed Linux on my mother's notebook because as a first-time computer user she needs a system that won't break and won't become infected with malware and viruses.
Overall I'm very happy with how Linux has grown over the past decade, but I think I have a different definition of "ready" than do many people who criticize Linux. It's ready for me and it's probably ready for nearly anybody who buys a system with Linux preinstalled. I think the biggest problem is Windows power users who aren't ready for Linux. They've grown accustomed to the way they work and it's not easy going from being a power user to a beginner. Many of these people spend hours looking for Linux equivalents to things they did in Windows, which I think is a primary reason why a lot of people don't enjoy Linux. When you upgrade to a new version of Windows you need to find where a few things have moved... you are looking for equivalents to how you worked in the previous version. This is like when you buy a new car and you need to find the headlights and wiper switches. Running Linux is more like buying a boat and then trying to find all the items equivalent to your car.
I happen to think that switching from Linux to Windows or OS X has the same problems. Half the stuff I do in Linux just doesn't work in Windows or is different enough that I have a hard time adjusting. I have to learn how to do basic tasks in Windows that I can do blindfolded in Linux. Even something as simple as moving a window around seems laborous in Windows when compared to Linux. Then again, I do understand that a lot of people are productive in Windows so the problems I experience are my own and not everybody's. I think a few Windows power users should learn that the reverse is also true: there are many productive Linux users who don't think twice about drivers, installing programs, multiple GUIs, etc.
Linux is ready for everybody, but not everybody is ready for Linux.