1. Well, duh, it’d be a huge waste to write a gui for something that takes about 10 seconds to edit. And how often do you have to edit xorg?

2. So learn C/C++ and write some games.

3. So learn C/C++ and write some drivers.

4. Do you live under a rock? If there isn’t a computer store near you that sells bare bones PC’s., I know there are online stores that do.

Linux is open source, if you don’t like something, simply change it. You have access to the entire world via the internet. Learn a programming language, grab the sources and start fixing the things you’re complaining about.

My biggest complaint is people like you who sit around and complain instead of solving problems.

jS

You want lots of cool music? Without those problems? No prob, just head on over to The Pirate Bay with your BitTorrent client and get busy. All the music there is in either MP3 or Ogg Vorbis format. Yeah, yeah, I know, but you break the speed limit, too, don’t you? 5-10 miles over (or more of you’re in Cali)?

So, since you don’t need iTunes to get good music, what do you need Apple’s (iTunes-only) iPod for? I sold my iPod on eBay a while back and got a *real* media player, one that can handle both MP3 and Ogg Vorbis. Works great, goes w/ me wherever I go jogging or cycling. And works great w/ Linux, too (I use Ubuntu). I just plug it into my USB port, drag ‘n’ drop whatever tunes I want over to it, and boom, done. No fuss, no muss.

Linux rocks so much. It lets me do whatever I want and doesn’t get in my way. I can’t imagine ever going back.

[...]Notice that three of them are interrelated? Graphics, graphics, graphics. This is the major blockade that?s keeping Linux from moving more swiftly on to the desktop. Thankfully with the new X.org (7.3) which will begin to make appearances in Gutsy…

For #5, Mandriva’s configuration tools – including XFdrake, the X.org configuration tool – have _always_ been GPL and available for anyone else who wanted to use them. SUSE’s config tools have been GPL for a while now too, at least a year IIRC.

The modesetting Intel driver is available as an experimental option in Mandriva Linux 2007 Spring, released back in April. Details on installing and enabling it are at http://wiki.mandriva.com/en/Releases/Mandriva/2007.1/Experimental_Intel_driver . So, welcome to the party Ubuntu, but you sure ain’t the host. =)
–
Adam Williamson, Mandriva

Oh yeah… WIFI !!!

I’ve seen lots of my Windows savvy friends just give up when they are faced with the ndiswrapper game.

Wifi should be at the top of your list with video cards.

Im sorry but lack of games is NOT a Linux problem.
It is a problem for Linux users but not a problem with the OS.

WiFi IS A HUGE problem.

WiFi, WiFi, WiFi, WiFi, WiFi, WiFi, WiFi, WiFi, WiFi, WiFi, WiFi, WiFi, WiFi, WiFi.

On the actual subject of the debate, I’ve tried a whole bunch of Linuxes on a range of platforms and I like Ubuntu best. I can’t wait for 7.10

what about Rhythmbox? what about AmaroK? IMO they are much more functional and i _do not_ like advertisements for the iTunes store underneath my library!!

And all respect to you – discussions like this are great, IMHO.

I didn’t buy my last computer from Best Buy, but I did buy my last computer game, which is what I was talking about.

My neighbors are not hardcore gamers. Mom’s a nurse, and Dad works for a WiFi company. They will only, ever buy Windows PCs. Why? Because they have an 11 year old son who enjoys gaming, and it’s rubbed off on Mom and Dad as well.

I agree that the more apps adopted, the more likely an Ubuntu box purchase is – but I think if tomorrow, if 75% of the games available on Windows suddenly rain natively on Ubuntu (and I was a billionaire with a better body while we’re wishing) you’d see sales shoot up. Why pay the Windows tax, or pay for OSX when you could game on a free system?

I’m not basing my opinion on me or my geeky friends, but on the large number of folks I know through family or friends, whom I end up doing consulting work for. They’ve all go Windows machines (with a scattering of Macs) and anyone even remotely into gaming wouldn’t consider a platform that doesn’t have the ability to run their favorites.

Having said that, I’d put iTunes 2nd on my list, right after “All Games”.

AG

“The ability to go to Best Buy, purchase a new game, go home and play it is what drives the majority of home use PC sales.”

But gaming is far from the greatest driver of PC purchases. Did you buy your last computer at Best Buy? I built my own with gaming in mind. Those of us who are hardcore gamers are a minority (despite our seeming prevalence on this thread). The vast majority of COMPUTERS that roll out of Best Buy and its competitors go to moms and dads who could care less about games, but they AND their kids all have their own iPods. These sorts of people buy consoles for their kids to play games on, not PCs.

I’m not denying that the expansion of capabilities associated with gaming will benefit the entire linux platform, but it isn’t gaming that keeps those millions of crappy Compaqs rolling out of Best Buy. Until people can get ALL their important apps on the desktop (and you try to tell any iPod owner iTunes isn’t important), mom and dad won’t be buying an Ubuntu box from anyone.

The ability to go to Best Buy, purchase a new game, go home and play it is what drives the majority of home use PC sales.

Other apps (like iTunes mentioned above) certainly may have an effect as well, but it won’t be as great as gaming.