General discussion
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Topic
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Actually using Linux for everyday use, using Windows 3.1 apps!
LockedWhy do we have to write articles using a Windows 3.1 looking office app? The desktop in Linux looks cool, why can’t all the applications look just as cool?
Linux Installs are easy
So I have been a Linux installer for about 4yrs, I cut my teeth on Suse 9.2 and have tried several distros ever since. I also installed Linux Ubuntu, Mandriva, and PCLinux on several different platforms, laptops, desktops and VM machines.I have never really spent much time in Linux until now, recently I installed OpenSuse 11.1 on a work PC and my home PC. I found that I have more time available to tweak my work PC, and rush home to tweak the same settings on my home PC.
Linux up and running – Cool
I now have 3d effects, wallpaper rotating through once an hour, loaded MS Office 2007 fonts, loaded more wallpaper, reading a daily devotion using BibleTime, loading Adobe Flash player, and Picasa photo manager. I even have the Desktop Cube, and snow falling on demand.Problems I have seen after the installation
Sometimes the Desktop Cube stops working
Have not been able to get Desktop Cylinder working
Update package manager stopped updating
Had problems getting Amarok 2.0 working, uninstalled yaup gstreamer, installed amarok-xine to get radio streamer working
Also I don’t really care for the 2.0 interface, they really messed it up, 1.4 really works great, why mess with something that worksOverall Linux seems to be running pretty stable, I am not worried about viruses, and malware. I trust Suse default configuration is keeping me safe. Boot up time is awesome, the KDE 4.1 desktop with all the eye candy is great, transparency moving windows is cool.
Apps looking like Windows 3.1
So if we can have a cool 3d looking desktop with all the cool 3d graphics, the best installation of programs ever built, why do we still have to use Linux applications that are so Windows 3.1 looking?
I am talking about Open Office 3.0 (Heard 3.1 does something with anti-aliasing, so there maybe promise), bibletime, gimp, konqueror. All the linux based applications have this cartoon 2d looking interface. Where is the eyecandy! Can we also get the applications to work like they do in the commercial versions from M$?Linux for users
If we are ever going to win the war on converting computer users to Linux we have to deliver better looking and working apps. The OS is solid, it is cool, secure and easy to use it is by far better than Vista, and XP. It just works out of the box, however we need to work on getting teams together and just work on the popular apps and spruce them up, instead of 5 versions of office, lets get the developers working on open office only, and several versions of imaging software, work on Gimp, Amarok, so forth and so on.Tell me what you think, is Linux ready for Prime Time use in the everyday world?