It isn't just marketting schmock. It is millions, if not billions of dollars
spent trying to *ensure* that either you, or friend of yours, can navigate
Windows enough to get you going. Linux has not infiltrated the desktop
market enough to have this status.
I don't think that installation and using of Windows XP or Fedora Linux is that much different. Windows XP might have a better Clear Type technology/fonts but for the basic programs, like office or e-mail client it is basically all the same.
As for the worm/virii comments, this is uninformed anti-Microsoft
hype. The most dangerous exploit in any system, is the user. Microsoft
Windows is a platform designed to be convenient for these sorts of
people.
Isn't it the self-contradictory statement? In other words: Windows XP is the best for a dumb user because it is easy to use, and at the same time it is not OS fault for worms and viruses because a user is too dumb to use it properly. It's like half-hen logic.
Clearly, marketing is not Linux strong side, but is it really so bad for home user? If we consider open ports, or unpatched software, or usability issues I would say that there is not much difference. However, since most home users are using pirated Windows copies anyway, I can see why Microsoft will be most popular for a long time.
But technically speaking the only weakness I see for Linux on the desktop for a home user is a lack of high quality applications. Not just Internet/E-mail/Office suite but hundreds of different small utilities offered for free or small cost by diffrent wendors, be it calory calculator used by my wife, IP telephony to chat with my friend for hours or a driver for a digital camera. And it is exactly because Linux is not very widespread on desktops, catch-22. But once I am in Linux I have no choice but to evangelise Linux right now to make it happen on the desktop tomorrow.
Moreover, being from post-USSR country where income per capita is only 1/10 of European counterparts and software licences cost twice as much because of tax system with the natural outcome that 90% software is pirated I am very interested in Linux solutions. I have even opened my small consulting business (http://www.isolis.lv/it/index_en.htm) to offer small and medium sized companies to legalise their software by using Linux installations wherever it is appropriate. It is the question of cost and exploiting -- the free ride, hmm, but even more it is the question of legitimacy. To become civilized country and join EU, we have to lower piracy rate considerably. Despite all controversy, it seems that Fedora Core is the most balanced (open/quality/reliability) for cheap bastards like me and to some clients of mine. I mean, I can use it for free legally and have some expectations that the development work will continue. And if clients will grow and start to require better reliability then it will be easily to migrate and purchase RHEL. Debian is too geeky for many and Suse have startup costs. The only other considerable option is Mandrake. But I really wish RedHat success.
Kaspars
