Criticism of Linux
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The Criticism of Linux focuses on issues concerning use of the Linux operating system as a desktop workstation.
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[edit] Viability for use as a desktop system
Linux has been criticized in the past for being inadequate for desktop use, notably because of the perceived lack of viable versions of widely used applications (especially office suites) and hardware support issues,[1]. Further, Linux has been accused of being "not ideal" for intermediate power users.[2][3][4]
In September 2007, Walter S. Mossberg, writing in the The Wall Street Journal said of Linux desktop systems in general at that time:
| “ | ...I have steered away from recommending Linux, the free computer operating system that is the darling of many techies and IT managers, and a challenger to Microsoft’s dominant Windows and Apple’s resurgent Macintosh operating system, OS X. Linux, which runs on the same hardware as Windows, has always required much more technical expertise and a yen for tinkering than average users possess.[5] | ” |
In assessing the most popular desktop distribution version in September 2007, Ubuntu 7.04 Feisty Fawn Mossberg concluded:
| “ | My verdict: Even in the relatively slick Ubuntu variation, Linux is still too rough around the edges for the vast majority of computer users. While Ubuntu looks a lot like Windows or Mac OS X, it is full of little complications and hassles that will quickly frustrate most people who just want to use their computers, not maintain or tweak them.
Before every passionate Linux fan attacks that conclusion, let me note that even the folks who make and sell Ubuntu agree with it. Mark Shuttleworth, the South African-born founder of the Ubuntu project, told me this week that "it would be reasonable to say that this is not ready for the mass market." And Dell’s Web site for its Ubuntu computers warns that these machines are for "for advanced users and tech enthusiasts". ...for now, I still advise mainstream, nontechnical users to avoid Linux.[5] |
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More recent Linux distributions have directly addressed these concerns and have greatly improved Linux as a desktop operating system.[6]
A report in The Economist in December 2007 concluded:
| “ | Linux has swiftly become popular in small businesses and the home. That’s largely the doing of Gutsy Gibbon, the code-name for the Ubuntu 7.10 from Canonical. Along with distributions such as Linspire, Mint, Xandros, OpenSUSE and gOS, Ubuntu (and its siblings Kubuntu, Edubuntu and Xubuntu) has smoothed most of Linux’s geeky edges while polishing it for the desktop. No question, Gutsy Gibbon is the sleekest, best integrated and most user-friendly Linux distribution yet. It’s now simpler to set up and configure than Windows.[6] | ” |
Some Linux critics have indicated that they do not believe Linux will ever be numerically important in the desktop environment. In May 2009 Preston Gralla, contributing editor to Computerworld.com, stated:
| “ | you simply shouldn't care about Linux on the desktop...Linux will never become an important desktop or notebook operating system...There's also some evidence that Linux market share won't likely ever get much higher than 1%, and certainly not more than 5%...Desktop Linux will simply never be popular enough for most people to care about. One big reason is the difficulty of upgrading and installing software. It's true that using the operating system itself is simple and straightforward -- much easier than it was in the days when you had to be a command-line junkie to get anything done with Linux...As a desktop operating system, Linux isn't important enough to think about. For servers, it's top-notch, but you likely won't use it on your desktop -- even though it did finally manage to crack the 1% barrier after 18 years.[7] | ” |
[edit] Customer support
Linux has been criticized for its general lack of paid support available. While support is available for some distributions from companies such as Red Hat and Novell, most users rely on community based support, such as from forums or mailing lists. Due to Linux's maturity most questions and problems have been well documented and these free sources of support often produce answers more quickly than paid support will.[8]
[edit] Hardware support
Linux had been broadly criticized in the past for its lack of support for hardware devices. This had meant that a Linux user had to carefully hand pick the hardware that made up his/her system to ensure functionality and compatibility. These problems have largely been addressed.[9]
| “ | Years ago, if you wanted to install Linux on a machine you had to make sure you hand-picked each piece of hardware or your installation would not work 100 percent... This is not so much the case now. You can grab a PC (or laptop) and most likely get one or more Linux distributions to install and work nearly 100 percent. But there are still some exceptions; for instance, hibernate/suspend remains a problem with many laptops, although it has come a long way.[9] | ” |
At one time Linux systems required removable media, such as floppy discs and CD-ROMs to be manually mounted before thay could be accessed. Mounting media is now automatic in nearly all distributions with the development of the HAL daemon.[10]
[edit] Criticism by Microsoft
Microsoft has criticised Linux extensively through their Get the Facts campaign.[11] In particular, they claim that the vulnerabilities of Windows are fewer in number than those of Linux distributions,[12] that Windows is more reliable and secure than Linux,[13][14] that the total cost of ownership of Linux is higher (due to complexity, acquisition costs, and support costs),[15] that use of Linux places a burden of liability on businesses, and that “Linux vendors provide little, if any indemnification coverage.”[16] In addition, the corporation published various studies in an attempt to prove this — the factuality of which has been heavily disputed[17][18] by different authors who claim that Microsoft’s comparisons are flawed.
Internal Microsoft reports from the Halloween documents leak have presented conflicting views. Particularly documents from 1998 and 1999 ceded that "Linux...is trusted in mission critical applications, and - due to its open source code - has a long term credibility which exceeds many other competitive OS's.", "An advanced Win32 GUI user would have a short learning cycle to become productive [under Linux].", "Long term, my simple experiments do indicate that Linux has a chance at the desktop market ... "[19], and "Overall respondents felt the most compelling reason to support OSS was that it ‘Offers a low total cost of ownership (TCO)’."[20]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Andy McCue (9 September 2005). "Gartner sounds desktop Linux warning". ZNet.co.uk. http://news.zdnet.co.uk/software/0,1000000121,39217113,00.htm. Retrieved on 2007-04-15.
- ^ Sharon Machlis (22 March 2007). "Living (and dying) with Linux in the workplace - A brief foray into Linux for the enterprise". Computerworld (Australia). http://www.computerworld.com.au/index.php/id;1462899608;fp;4194304;fpid;1. Retrieved on 2007-04-15.
- ^ Ron Miller (20 May 2004). "Linux criticism revs up - backlash against success". Linux Planet. http://www.linuxplanet.com/linuxplanet/reports/5401/1/. Retrieved on 2007-04-08.
- ^ Alexander Wolfe (9 April 2004). "Green Hills calls Linux 'insecure' for defense". EE Times. http://www.eetimes.com/article/showArticle.jhtml?articleId=18900949. Retrieved on 2007-04-18.
- ^ a b Mossberg, Walter S. (September 2007). "Linux’s Free System Is Now Easier to Use, But Not for Everyone". http://ptech.allthingsd.com/20070913/linuxs-free-system-is-now-easier-to-use-but-not-for-everyone/. Retrieved on 2009-05-07.
- ^ a b The Economist (December 2007). "Technology in 2008". http://www.economist.com/science/displaystory.cfm?story_id=10410912. Retrieved on 2008-04-01.
- ^ Gralla, Preston (May 2009). "Opinion: Why you shouldn't care about Linux on the desktop". http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=338839. Retrieved on 2009-05-20.
- ^ Wallen, Jack (September 2008). "Ten key differences between Linux and Windows, page one". http://resources.zdnet.co.uk/articles/features/0,1000002000,39483863-1,00.htm. Retrieved on 2009-02-20.
- ^ a b Wallen, Jack (September 2008). "Ten key differences between Linux and Windows, page two". http://resources.zdnet.co.uk/articles/features/0,1000002000,39483863-2,00.htm. Retrieved on 2009-02-20.
- ^ Wallen, Jack (September 2008). "Ten key differences between Linux and Windows, page three". http://resources.zdnet.co.uk/articles/features/0,1000002000,39483863-3,00.htm. Retrieved on 2009-02-20.
- ^ "Get the Facts Home". Microsoft website. http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver/facts/default.mspx. Retrieved on 2007-04-14.
- ^ "Get the Facts on Linux and Windows: Security". Microsoft website. http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver/facts/topics/security.mspx. Retrieved on 2007-04-14.
- ^ "Get the Facts on Linux and Windows: Reliability". Microsoft website. http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver/facts/topics/reliability.mspx. Retrieved on 2007-04-14.
- ^ "Windows v Linux security: the real facts". The Register. 22 October 2004. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/10/22/linux_v_windows_security/.
- ^ "Get the Facts on Linux and Windows: Total Cost of Ownership". Microsoft website. http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver/facts/topics/tco.mspx. Retrieved on 2007-04-14.
- ^ "Get the Facts on Linux and Windows: Intellectual Property Indemnification". Microsoft website. http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver/facts/topics/ipi.mspx. Retrieved on 2007-04-14.
- ^ Joe Barr (24 June 2005). "The facts behind the "Get the Facts" ad campaign". Newsforge. http://os.newsforge.com/article.pl?sid=05/06/23/2027229&from=rss. Retrieved on 2007-04-14.
- ^ Nicholas Petreley (22 October 2004). "Security Report: Windows vs Linux". http://www.theregister.co.uk/security/security_report_windows_vs_linux/. Retrieved on 2007-05-12.
- ^ http://www.catb.org/~esr/halloween/halloween2.html
- ^ http://www.catb.org/~esr/halloween/halloween7.html
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