Comments

You guys (leaving the comments complaining that this is inaccurate) are COMPLETELY MISSING THE POINT OF THIS ARTICLE. The point is that Linux is too widespread version-wise (i.e. even if you use the package manager, you still need to know what you're looking for, and HOW to use the package manager in the first place - this is completely unnecessary on Joe Sixpack's Windows-based machine) and this incompatibility makes it hard for an inexperienced user to know what to use. Most end-users who want to use their PC to download music, video, etc and use it as a media/internet machine are simply best off with Windows or OSX. THERE IS NO POINT IN USING LINUX IF THIS IS YOUR SOLE PC USE. What I don't get is why there's such a devotion to Linux in the first place. This article may blow it out of proportion, but its not far off: Linux is a pain in the ass to use even if you know what you are doing. Why? Because some of the fundamental functions of an operating system are still controlled using ancient methods or methods that are NOT user-friendly. Linux fan boys say: "so what, you obviously know nothing about computers...blah blah blah"....well, that's the point, you PC-geniuses: the OS has to be user-friendly for the MASSES. Not for computer geeks. Linux will never become as popular or widely used as Windows or OSX until 3 things happen: 1) Standardization of a Linux version; no red, yellow, blue and purple hats. JUST ONE. or maybe 2: PC vs MAC. whatever. 2) User support that doesn't require that you already know how to use the product, thus circumventing the "help" aspect. (assume the end user has never used a PC before - could they use linux? no. who can't use HP's touchscreen interface on Vista? only people without fingers or similar appendages. 'nuff said.) 3) User-friendly interface. The package manager is NOT a solution to install issues. It does NOT work for every program. It doesn't tell Joe Sixpack which products to buy @ Best Buy that are compatible with his all-too-customized Purple Hat Linux Ver. 8.10.5.2.1 beta 8 Rev 2...blah blah... Lastly, Linux is just unnecessary for most people. If you don't know WHY you'd ever need Linux, you probably don't.