Since where on the topic I offer an opposing view from the windows side
of the fence:
I’m already aware of most of what kombatant has said here. I do believe
Linux deserves some level of support. Meaning they should at lest have
Drivers available for their use. As many of you know already ATI has made
efforts to improve thier linux support.In this regard they have gotten better
but don’t think Linux users are really seeing the kind of movement they wanted.
Beyond that the debate begins. But as bitter as this may sound, we have
to face facts windows is and for the foreseeable future continue to be the
dominate OS. Taking this into account the user base of Linux is usually
the advanced or specific user. Where is their setting up severs, corporate
environments, system critical systems. So the mass majority of this minority
is doing nothing much to do with video, gaming, and graphics lest from what
I’ve seen. I don’t pretend to be any sort of expert on this topic but having
tried Linux in the past it not for the faint of heart. Nothing like going from
feeling you could tackle anything an old an OS can throw at and “old hand”
to Linux where you feel like a new user born just yesterday.
Until there’s more software support by game makers, developers etc.. I don’t
see Linux moving too much. Until we see a “windows like” levels of Linux
flavored OSes. With as simple ease of use and installation I don’t see the every
day user going “I’, switching to Linux”. I’m not the every day user and self
learned windows back in the days of windows for work groups 3.11. and
learned as I went along all the way up to the current OSes. I’ve tried Linux
several times along the way. Thought it’s come leaps and bounds I still can’t
get it down. I usually end up with an unbootable OS and some sort of kernel
panic. It almost like it needs someone to teach you how to use it. Cause when
you start learning it like you already need to know so many things.
Not to mention in that market share % this isn’t “one OS” where are talking
about either there are many distributions they are quite different. There is no
ones take all. Though we have all herds of the big players there are hundreds
of deferent distributions (well over 400) some being general so being purpose
specific. I’m sure these different distributions many are based off other but these
changes. Could mean trouble and massive challenges in way of providing driver
support. I’d like to see one distribution raise to power among the Linux crowd
and it get all the Linux support. As windows has in the desktop world.
As you said you self windows have gaming which is the primary thing
a good 95%Are shelling out the big bucks for. Also find it interesting
that so many linux users seem to run a dual boot configuration with
windows. Which is primarily used for video and gaming etc. So many
of those “Linux users” also count as “windows users” regardless of which
is their primary OS.
I do see why windows steals the line light and I’, sure you do to. Also Like
Any company when you look at the numbers and windows is where it’s at.
Do you think that people would be willing to pay even more money for their
shiny new hardware so that they can have extra money to spend on Linux
support? No! Do you think the windows users would like receive less support
in exchange for Linux getting more support? No! So this is a preverbal “catch 22”
where you can’t win for losing. There is only so much time, money, and
resources available. So their by the numbers, approach to where resources
are dedicated makes since. I think a big part of it may come down to what
their competitors doing as well.Windows is going to be the one who get the
most attention it just the way things work. Since after all the mass majority
of their user base is using a flavor of windows. Don’t get me wrong Like
I said before I do believe Linux deserves some level of support. But other
then that is clearly debatable.
Well that my two bits, (be gental)
