Future: Linux will replace Microsoft Windows getting 98% desktop market!

[Thomas Stuefe]

Hi,

someone wrote in this thread that linux installation is difficult. I#m not 
referring to the OS here, but to additional software.

Under Windows, it is easy to install software. Games, e.g. Run the (usually 
Installshield) setup.exe, and everything is there, up to the menu entries 
and so on. People expect menu entries and desktop icons to appear after an 
installation.

What I would really like is to run windows-based installations 
(Installshield) out of the box. Like, buy a game which is published for 
Windows, put it in, run setup.exe, then it installs and gives me my menu 
entries, and gives me shortcuts and so on to start the game via wine.

Technically, I think we have everything. we have wine, we have a good 
directX implementation (transgaming.com). Only setup is much more work than 
under windows - I mean, if you want everyone to use Linux, also this part 
should be as easy as Linux.

Also, I'd like to see transgamings directX implementation in the distro's, 
at least as additional pay package. But that is another topic.

--- Thomas






> Choong,
> 
> I'm the director of IS for a medium sized corporation.  We have been
> converting our legacy systems from proprietary platforms to anything that
> is
> open.  What I have learned is Microsoft is one of the poorest operating
> systems for mission critical applications that I have ever encountered in
> my
> 20 years of working with computers.  If the IBM's and the UNISYS's of the
> world had released an O/S like windows (not even worth capitalizing the
> word), they'd be out of business.  We are constantly doing reboots on our
> servers just because we know windows is going to die.  I used to be a
> pro-Microsoft person, but now there isn't a day that goes by where I'd
> like
> to go find Bill Gates and beat the crap out of him.  I've even gone as far
> as writing to my politicians about Microsoft's MONOPOLY.
> 
> We have ported several of our mission critical applications to Linux and
> find that it is a very stable operating system.  Heck, we've even found
> some free applications on sourceforge.net that do a better job than our
> old MS
> based applications.  Although, I find that Linux is a little difficult to
> configure and find drivers for, it is as stable as the old proprietary
> O/S's
> that we used to have on mainframes.  Some of our Linux boxes have been
> running for months without a reboot.  Something that microsoft will never
> be able to do.
> 
> 
> "Choong Kedat Yian" <sunrock na tm.net.my> wrote in message
> news:3CA6ECBC.B222DBF1 na tm.net.my...
>> I started with Mandrake 7 and its only problem is how to configure
>> Netconf
> in order
>> to get the Kppp working . After the 4 attempt , i am already succesfull
> browing the
>> web with MDK7.0 , but now since 8.1 is so easy to install and there is no
> need to
>> configure the PPP dialer , i would say that Mandrake is better than
> Windows .The
>> only thing here is that more manufacturer should join in for more
>> hardware
> drivers
>> althought Mandrake itself is EXCELLENT with many default drivers database
> .
>>
>> I am now ready to buy the 3 CDs of MDK8.2
>> Choong
>>
>> "Anthony W. Youngman" wrote:
>>
>> > >"Ken Morris" <kenmo na hfx.andara.com> wrote in message
>> > >news:fp6j6ucft153fohgadvb9gpukdrk1kgh4n na 4ax.com...
>> > >> I wouldn't bet the farm on it. Although Linux may surpass some
>> > >> versions of Windows, especially Windows 9x, in stability I doubt it
>> > >> will ever get as easy to install and configure as Windows. I'm
>> > >> hoping it does 'cause I want someone to give Microsoft a run for
>> > >> their
> money.
>> > >> And I'm hoping it's Linux now that BeOS is dead.
>> > >>
>> > Linux will never be as easy to install as Windows? I've got news for
>> > you!
>> >
>> > In my experience linux has LONG been EASIER to install than windows.
>> > Installing doze has been an absolute nightmare on far too many
>> > occasions. Take my current attempts with Win2K. I'm trying to install
>> > that on the same disk (different drive letter) to Win98. It stomps all
>> > over the 98 partition, reboots, and blue-screens. Installing 98 on that
>> > machine was a real pain too - it kept on blue-screening, but when I
>> > gave up and came back the next day it was fine...
>> >
>> > On the other hand, linux has been a cinch almost since I first started
>> > trying to install it with a distro called Universe. Even Slack on
>> > floppies was dead easy, just thoroughly boring as I swapped floppy
>> > after floppy (30 in total! :-(
>> >
>> > How people can claim doze is easier to install I don't know (unless by
>> > install they mean "switch on and let the auto-install just run).
>> > --
>> > Anthony W. Youngman - wol at thewolery dot demon dot co dot uk
>> > Witches are curious by definition and inquisitive by nature. She moved
> in. "Let
>> > me through. I'm a nosey person.", she said, employing both elbows.
>> > Maskerade : (c) 1995 Terry Pratchett
>>