Soliciting Input For a Linux Review
by Ryan Smith on February 6, 2008 12:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Ryan's Ramblings
One of the things we have been wanting to do for some time now is to do a proper review of Linux as an end-user operating system. We have done articles on Linux in the past relating to performance, but never a complete OS review.
A Month With a Mac, our article on the Mac experience was very well received and we would like to do this again for a Linux review. I, a Linux novice, will use Ubuntu Linux for a month as my primary OS in order to capture an idea of how the Linux experience stacks up, and how it compares to the Mac and Windows platforms.
Now the reason that we're soliciting advice first is due to a matter of timing. Ubuntu is on a six-month release schedule with the next version due in April. If we were to start our month-long experiment next week, our review would not be ready until the middle of March, only a month or so before the next Ubuntu release. On the other hand if we wait for the next version of Ubuntu, a review would not be done until at least the late-May/early-June time frame.
So we would like to hear back from our readers and Linux users. Would you rather see this kind of a review done sooner, or wait another 2-3 months for a review done with a newer version of Ubuntu? This isn't a straight-up vote, but we'd like to take your opinions under serious consideration, especially since we aren't intimately familiar with Ubuntu and what the next version may bring.
Please add your comments to this blog post, we'll get back to you next week to let you guys know if we're going ahead with our experiment or not.
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FelixO - Monday, February 11, 2008 - link
The Mac review you did was great but it was a long time ago now!
However, since you are a respected tech site it is likely that it will continue to be read for a long time.
The same is likely to be true of your Ubuntu review.
The fact that 8.04 is a LTS release also means that the review will automatically have a longer shelf life.
Therefore, in order that you do not have to pepper your article with caveats such as "of course this may be fixed in the new version arriving next month", I would recommend waiting until 8.04 is a few weeks old.
This will also reduce the thousands of comments that you would otherwise receive from Linux fanboys (such as myself) of the form "Just upgrade, that's fixed in Hardy Heron"
schmunk - Monday, February 11, 2008 - link
A little off subject, but . . .Lets face it, most people don't game with Linux, but as an OS for a HTPC, it has some real positives. I use MythDora (MythTV on the Fedora Core), and would have interest in a review of Linux HTPC solutions. Running Myth has also prompted me to get off my Windows using butt, and find a good text editor, Database GUI tool etc.
ShadowZERO - Monday, February 11, 2008 - link
I've been toying around with Linux in my spare time for the past year, and to summarize what I've experienced, I think you should use openSUSE for a base KDE test platform and Ubuntu for a base Gnome platform.I wouldn't mind seeing KDE/Gnome testing for both, since both actively develop both UIs for their Distros. But to simplify things, I think Ubuntu currently summarizes the best Gnome has to offer as does openSUSE with KDE.
Jedi940 - Monday, February 11, 2008 - link
I agree with an earlier post. I would like to see a review as soon as possible. I have been toying with the idea of switching to linux but have yet to make up my mind. I would very much like to read a professional, in-depth review of the operating system as soon as possible. In addition, when the new version comes out, ammend that review to include a review of the upgrade process. That would be wonderful.chippa - Monday, February 11, 2008 - link
Every once in a while when I visit AT I click on the Linux tab, only to be disappointed. I am kind of excited for this review, and I must admit, hopeful that the OS impresses. I, for one, would not want a review that was a schizophrenic mess or collage of the distro's available, and I know it simply isn't something you guys would do.Ubuntu with Gnome is a good choice (though a brief look at VMWare in a windows world and maybe PCLinuxOS in conclusion wouldn't sink the boat). While Ubuntu and all of the different distro's have improved a lot in the last couple of years, it does require patience with the learning curve and the unfamiliarity of a new OS.
Purely on a time sensitivity gameplan, I think that if you started your analysis a couple weeks before the release with a pre-release, just to study up, you would get a good feel for it. Then when you hit the real thing, the testing would have fewer hick ups. Hardy Heron is in Alpha 4 now, the problems with these releases are usually small and well documented. My experience with the later and more mature Beta releases has not been awful. I have done multiple installs in a short period of time, just being anxious for the release, and with the forum and HOW TO's printed out, it isn't that much of a pain for hardware installs. In my mind, building computers and the linux variants have always gone hand in hand as good and sometimes frustrating fun. I look forward to your review.
Landiepete - Monday, February 11, 2008 - link
Linux distro's have become mature to a point whare installing, maintaining and upgrading one can be achieved with the click of an icon. Anyone with a general knowlege of a PC and Windows should be able to install a distro from the big boys.Equally, I don't think it's very relevant to the average user if a KDE is v.3.1, 3.2 or 4.x, if it works it's OK.
What DOES however interest me (and I think most users) is : how does it perform with stuff you buy in the store ? Can you get the scanner of your multifunctional to work, can you switch that USB printer switch that didn't come with a 'nux driver, how do you get that software that came with your Garmin to work, how do I stream movies to my TV.
Teh OS itself is just a foundation for the apps. No matter how easy it is to install or how good it is, if half of the peripheral stuff you own doesn't work (or you can't get it to work), you'll just end up reinstalling Windoze and ignore 'nux for the next 10 years with a sour grape taste left in your mouth.
Good luck,
Peter
trexpesto - Sunday, February 10, 2008 - link
With the snowballing quality of Linux front ends, awesome apps like OpenOffice and GIMP, ubiquitous webmail and chat, the only thing keeping the upcoming generation on Windows is Games Games Games.If all the great games were released for Linux, it would not be long before the extra 50-100 dollars was just too much to pay. If I was Google, that might be tempting.
bupkus - Sunday, February 10, 2008 - link
Is it possible to contact some of the other distro developers and ask them what criteria they use to test for hardware compatibility?Also, have you asked yourself what it is you can provide the AT forum readers that they can't find elsewhere?
I believe Linux requires a long term commitment so if your goal includes aiding users to ween themselves off Windows as I suppose many do desire then I completely applaud you in this effort. I'll be along for the ride so save me a seat.
Knowname - Sunday, February 10, 2008 - link
I've got a task on the backburner. It seems using a wireless network is pretty near impossible on Linux. I don't know, I hadn't really tried it yet, but, like linux itself to all non-engineering kind, it seems REALLY complicated. I have a supported adapter (I think...), I just can't connect... aah, I'll get to it later. Anyway if you can keep this in mind in your review (setting up wireless networking). Maybe I'm just an idiot and blowing this thing up WAY more than I should, but, just thought I'd bring it up.bupkus - Sunday, February 10, 2008 - link
...maybe you can stop by and wash my car. Jeeshhh!