Can Linux beat XP in homes yet or NOT?

[Les Mikesell]

GaryCarr wrote:

> However, I don't believe Linux is a viable option as a consumer desktop 
> for most consumers. I have serious doubts that it will ever be a viable 
> consumer desktop option. I have heard numerous people recommend booting 
> a live CD on a friend's windows box to convert them to Linux. If I boot 
> the latest Ubuntu live CD on my HP laptop, it looks great. However, I 
> can't connect to my wireless network, and I can't print on my printer. I 
> have never tried it from a live CD, but I'm pretty sure I could not play 
> music on my external USB disk, nor view videos sent from friends from 
> windows boxes. The Macintosh has taken over the "not windows" consumer 
> desktop niche, and I think it will only expand its position.

The Mac brings up a good point.  You really have to split this issue 
into several questions.

First, do you need MS Windows?   As Mac users will generally attest, the 
only reasons you'd answer yes to that is if you already run some program 
only available for windows, or you've allowed your data to be saved in 
some format that can't be converted, or you've been severely brainwashed 
by some sort of Microsoft training and refuse to do things a different 
way.  Even if you answer yes here, there is still the possibility of 
migrating your existing windows system(s) to VMware or parallels virtual 
machines under Linux or OS X.

Second, do you need programs not easily available on Linux?  Currently I 
think the legal conflict between the GPL and patented codecs needed for 
multimedia makes this a very messy issue.  Realplayer seems to be the 
only free and legal option that will play most media on Linux and it's 
no match for itunes on the Mac or windows (although Apple could easily 
fix this with a Linux version of itunes...).  MS Office might also be 
brought up in this context, but OpenOffice will handle anything you are 
likely to need at home.

Third, will it work on your hardware?  If you are buying a new machine 
the option of getting Linux pre-installed puts it on equal footing with 
windows and macs in this respect.  It doesn't make any more sense to 
dwell on the problems of installing Linux on incompatible hardware any 
more than it would to say OS X isn't suitable for home use because you 
can't install it on your old windows box.  If it does work, great.  If 
it doesn't, you may still consider it for your next purchase or get 
started by running it under VMware on your existing system.

-- 
   Les Mikesell
    lesmikesell at gmail.com