Linux Community Magazine

I am fairly new to Linux, specifically Ubuntu, and so far I am loving the "freedom". I decided that since I work on, and with Windows on a daily basis, it would be a great idea to experiment with something new and expand my technical skills. Unfortunately, I was quickly reminded of why I did not continue using a Linux-based operating system a couple of years ago when I first gave it a try. Although I will continue using Ubuntu for learning purposes, here are 5 reasons why Linux will continue to fail for the general, every day user.

1. Open Source - The very reason why I love Linux is the same reason why it never seems to get ahead. Keeping in mind that I have used Windows for over 15 years, I am simply used to certain applications looking and behaving a certain way, and I believe that most people are very opposed to change. Although there are many Linux alternatives to almost any Windows (or Mac) application, the actual problem is that they are not duplicates. A perfect example in my situation was my relying on Microsoft Money for so many years that every time I would attempt to use a different application I was very disappointed. Eventually, I found that KMyMoney is a very suitable alternative with every feature that I was seeking. Although it took me over a week to get used to the new software, it works well.

2. Technical Support - If there is one thing about Linux that there is plenty of, aside from the many distributions, it is technical support. The majority of it is even free. Unfortunately, it is either impossible to find an easy answer to a specific issue, or you have to spend 5 hours finding out that the solution was a simple command that needed to be typed into the terminal. Although the major distributions, such as Red Hat, provide paid support, which I am sure is excellent and will speed up the process of getting an issue resolved, I do not believe in paid Open Source. Technically, the definition of Open Source is not necessarily free because it allows anyone to customize and sell a product, however, the free part is what attracts most switchers to Linux and it can be very disappointing when there is no organized help readily available.

3. Software Installation - For the most part, in Windows (or Mac) you (1) purchase software from your preferred retailer or download it from a website, (2) run the installer, (3) it places a shortcut on your desktop and Start menu, (4) you double click the shortcut, and (5) your program is running. At least in a perfect world that's how it works. I am a technician so I know it is not always that straight forward, however, things get VERY confusing in Linux. Does my distribution use.rpm or.deb packages? Am I using Gnome, KDE, another of the available GUI (Graphical User Interface) or no GUI? Do I need to install via the terminal? Does the software require any dependencies? Will the installation method used be able to install the dependencies? Need I say more? These are just a few of the questions that I forced myself to learn the answers to in order to be a satisfied Linux user.

4. Internet Browsing - I do not feel that this one is as important, but worth mentioning. I am not one who enjoys testing new browsers, so the ones that I have spent a significant amount of time with are limited to Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome, and Opera. My favorite was always Internet Explorer, until I started using Ubuntu. Being that browsers have never been that important to me I started using Firefox and I am now a very big fan due to its many extensions. However, my point is that if most people are like me, they do not have the choice of using Internet Explorer or Safari, and have to settle for whichever browser is available based on the Linux distribution and GUI that they have selected.

5. Your Family - As I previously mentioned I am computer technician. That being said, I love testing new technologies; in this case Ubuntu. This was the perfect real world test as to why Linux will have a difficult time accomplishing its goal. To this day, both my wife and young son (plus my sister) have not stopped complaining expressing their opinion about my Ubuntu installation(s). There is such a great learning curve for the average user that I had to install a VirtualBox with Windows in order to keep them from bad mouthing me. Luckily, we have multiple laptops in our household, including a couple with Windows, so at the end of the day everyone is happy. The Linux way of doing things is so different that it truly requires dedication in order for non-technical users to stick around.

In summary, I honestly understand and appreciate what the Linux community is attempting to accomplish. Unfortunately, I believe that things got a bit out of hand and now there are too many options. The Open Source(ness) has allowed too many hands in the cookie jar that are not allowing overall progress, because once an individual decides that they are interested in this "Linux thing" they immediately become confused and turned away due to the many complications.

Should there be some type of restriction or test regarding who can work on open source software? What do you think? Feel free to post your comments on this topic.