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The Mighty Karmic Koala (Ubuntu 9.10)

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by maclovin 2 views

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The mighty Karmic Koala, Ubuntu 9.10, is set for release today, the 29th of October.

Seeing what this distribution has to offer, and the changes made in this release, in the next few weeks will be MORE than interesting. (I already use 9.04 as my main OS on one box I have running in the office, which also has Fedora 11, which I like as well)

As a long-time Mac user (and secret lover), I have to say that that is where my initial allegiances lie (and I can get rather nasty about this at times, for which I apologize). Hence my profile name.

Moving on....

With the release of this distribution, I can't think of many reasons why I shouldn't put this on my Mac Pro at work to see what I can crank out of her.

I mean, if people seriously (general users) paid more attention to what was going on with Linux distributions, like Ubuntu, Fedora, etc., then they might realize that they could easily switch and be more than comfortable using one of many quality Linux distributions. This also [somewhat] depends on the version of the Window Manager they use. GNOME, even though I used to love KDE back in the "2" days, is a much better interface. KDE 4 has made vast improvements since it's inception, though.

This Ubuntu release, I think, has the POTENTIAL to switch many people.

If you ask: Do I think that people WILL run to switch to the mighty Karmic Koala?

My answer would be NO.

SHOULD they: YES.

Ubuntu (the desktop version) is as easy an interface as any, including Apple's OS X (BLASPHEMY!!!!!!). So, why wouldn't it behoove some of the home users [that want something better (opinion), faster (fact), cheaper (fact), and more stable (fact....OS X aside on the stability....hehe)] to switch?

Like I said earlier: they most likely won't. But, that being said, this is one OS that, if introduced to the general public in the right manner, could easily convert some [more] Windows users over to a better (opinion) OS.

With the new configuration of their package manager GUI, the Software Center, this could help get people switched over. This could really give Linux a leg up in many homes with users uncomfortable with installing/removing software using a Terminal interface (as most are).

Rumors have it that they are also going to sell software through it, in an iPhone/Apple-esque sort of way....I think.

So, any thoughts on how this might play out for the Koala?

8 replies

by charliespencer

Sorry, but I've heard variations on this with every new release. I don't see this spurring the growth rate beyond it's current pace.

Home users don't install operating systems. They run what came on the system. Most of them don't even upgrade Windows versions. For those few that might try, if it won't run their preferred apps (read: GAMES) ...

by maclovin

That's why I said actively MARKETING the OS itself, would be the best way to get anyone interested.

The Linux Community, as a whole, needs to open up to the outside world a bit more. It's not a community that says to new people that have never heard of Linux before, "Hey, come check this out". Not very welcoming either, but hey, that's just our social nature. :D

It would help to get more articles on general News websites, and maybe even a commercial ($$$) (not the South Park one) for it. But, the money is what the sponsor should be helping with.

Sure, IT knows about it, but hey, why can't you mention it to Joe User and offer to download the distro for them, and maybe even install it. Of course, they'll expect support now, whatver :D.

Maybe a cheap infomercial late-night even would help. Kinda like MS' new Windows 7 campaign.

by charliespencer

"The Linux Community, ... It's not a community that says to new people that have never heard of Linux before, "Hey, come check this out"."

I disagree, at least at the individual, one-on-one level. I've found if someone personally invites you, defining 'invite' as providing a Live CD, he or she is usually supportive. On the other hand, if one wanders uninvited into some forums, the anonymity of the web seems to inspire the "RTFB" crowd.

But I don't think a marketing campaign will help. I stand by my position that most users don't install operating systems; they use what the hardware came with. Until a major vendor gets behind Linux as a low-cost alternative for the non-gaming user and pre-installs it a la Windows or OS X, it's going to remain a niche OS as far as the desktop market goes.

by maclovin

I'm not debating that on the personal level, someone will hand out a Live CD.

I may have phrased it wrong. But, for the most part, there's not general discussion about Linux in the news, or a real effort of an outreach to get more people interested.

Yes, there's User Groups, but that's mostly for people that already use it and know it fairly well.... us.

As far as new people, they would notice it if it were, say, on CNN's ticker, and maybe a short little bit about it.

Yeah, that's hefty to get that kind of information put out through that type of medium, but that's really the best way to reach the masses.

It would REALLY help to get some of the manufacturers on board, but that means cancelling their MS deals.

But many people that are handing out distros hand to hand are going to be people giving a disc to someone that already works in IT< but is Windows-based, but they have SOME interest in Linux.

Let's face it, the people that use Linux aren't telling as many people about it as you think. I think everyone feels like that might BIDN them to free support for the life of the Linux usage of that individual.

Shit, here's all that needs to be said.

Don't want viruses? Is the entirety of your online time spent checking your GMail account? Don't want to risk any of your passwords to your websites being hacked? Want to browse pr0n without a trace left on the machine?

"Well, meet Linux, the LiveCD"!

I seriously don't see many techies having the Linux conversation with that many individual home users.
They WILL however talk to "Joe NetAdmin" that doesn't know anything about it, and wants to try it. Because that individual is not a complete idiot and won't expect free support for life.

However, a great way to get people into it, is to have IT switch to it at work, which is a reason that might compel people to install it at home.... to keep a constant. Plus, for IT, image the cost effectiveness of such a move. All these people really do is e-mail and file sharing.

I still for the most part agree that it's a tough battle, and probably won't happen in the next 5 years, maybe 10. At least, some of the numbers of users may go up, but nothing drastic.

by charliespencer

"...the people that use Linux aren't telling as many people about it as you think."

No, the people that use Linux aren't telling as many people about it as THEY think, or as many as they claim they are. To hear some of them, they're standing on the street corner in sack cloth and ashes, handing CDs and flash drives to everyone unwary enough to hesitate as they pass buy.

by maclovin

Just so you know...

There's nothing like a Stage 1 Gentoo Install to get the tarball rolling!

:D

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