On Thu, 2006-12-21 at 08:25 -0600, Dave Ihnat wrote: > On Thu, Dec 21, 2006 at 02:38:03AM -0800, Les wrote: > > This will displace windows quite easily especially due to the hassels > > of getting windows, the support costs, and the licensing fees and so > > forth that cause windows to be one of the most hated OS's ever produced. > > Advocatus Diaboli time. I really don't think Fedora is a Windows- > displacement option either at home or in business; and it's not any > of the technical issues. Simply put, neither home nor business users > can deal with a six-month replacement cycle that obsoletes their base > software in a year or so. > > We're not just talking about "there's something newer"; we're talking > about "you stop getting updates and patches." Fedora Legacy mitigated > that; without legacy updates that at least offer the option of not having > to do forced updates every year, I think you're optimistic to see Fedora > as a Windows-killer. > > I had no problems with my last upgrade--but that was one laptop. > Look at the problems reported on the list with every new release > of Fedora--and imagine you're in IT, and have to support maybe 4-5 > variants of workstations, not to mention servers (if you decide to try > Fedora there); and not just one of each, but maybe dozens, hundreds, > or even thousands. > > Or you're a home user, with one to several machines--but you're NOT > a tech, just want the computer to balance the checkbook and browse > the Internet, with one for your spouse and a kid's homework machine. > Face it-- most such users get the OS with the computer, and throw out the > computer and OS when it's time to change. Few home users who were stuck > with Windows ME or Windows XP Home ever have upgraded (and they usually > find-- especially the former--that the hardware can't hack the upgrade.) > So if the OS isn't going to remain patched and stable for the 2-3 years > or more these people keep their machine, it ain't gonna fly. > > So Fedora isn't the Linux Windows Killer. And maybe that's not bad. > It is a place for the avant-garde to test the edge; problems are accepted > as part of the process, and there is community support and individual > efforts to resolve issues. > > $0.02, YMMV. > -- I would love Fedora to become a Windows Killer but that won't happen with less than a years support for a distro. I put FC4 on my machines just over a year ago and now I am toast. Most of those around work here have just done a yum upgrade to FC6 with no issues. I am going to try it next week but expect issues as I have many extra applications installed. Hopefully most have been ported to FC6 or the FC4 ones work. It would be nice if Fedora is going this route to change the upgrade policy and work as an upgrade instead of suggesting a full install. Now I did read an article today that because of the changes, there is going to be a team to look at how "rpm" can be made better. Better clean up or working with dependencies would be my first suggestion. Again this is an issue for the SPEC writers from what I have learned to make sure they put the correct info into the file. I would also like the Fedora team to not mangle the original programs so much. I would like to be able to download the official Fedora application or the real official application without many changes. I look at OpenOffice as an example. Lets hope that the support for FC5 goes longer than a year.
