Dell + Mandriva = Big Steps for the Linux Community

[GT2000]

Just a little interesting blurb, Dell will be shipping Latitude 110L Laptops with Mandriva Linux Limited Edition 2005 installed on them.

http://www.mandriva.com/company/pres...corporate/2564

[johnny]

too bad it's mandrake, heh. well i shouldn't say that, since i the last version of mandrake i used was awfully old. but.. too bad it's mandrake.

[raublekick]

i really can't conclude my thoughts about this. getting more exposure to linux is really great, of course. but doesn't anyone else think that this could really make consumers realize how much of a pain in the ass linux can be? even novice users can fix windows problems, but what if they have to use a command line interface?

and windows is still way ahead in terms of multimedia support. one of the biggest reasons i don't use linux for good is because i have an mp3 player and there isn't a good solid piece of software to put music on an mp3 player in linux. at least not that i know of. someone prove me wrong and i'll make the switch for good pretty soon.

[Mike]

Wait a second ... Mandrake changed their name to ... Mandriva ?

Wtf is this man. MAndrake was my first distro of linux... I am sad

[Mike]

Originally Posted by raublekick

i really can't conclude my thoughts about this. getting more exposure to linux is really great, of course. but doesn't anyone else think that this could really make consumers realize how much of a pain in the ass linux can be? even novice users can fix windows problems, but what if they have to use a command line interface?

and windows is still way ahead in terms of multimedia support. one of the biggest reasons i don't use linux for good is because i have an mp3 player and there isn't a good solid piece of software to put music on an mp3 player in linux. at least not that i know of. someone prove me wrong and i'll make the switch for good pretty soon.

You hit the nail on the head with me. I think a lot of people are like "Ohhh, nice Linux, more people will use linux now and realize how great it is!" Where as, what will actually happen ... is more people will use linux and find out how frustrating it can be if they don't have a thorough understanding of the OS.. even to do rudimentary things. Installing a lot of software still frustrates me. As much as I like to tout that I know my way around linux, there's many reasons why my home PC is Windows ... and why I prefer Windows to the alternative.

[thecreeper]

since HP has been offering Linux on some of their comps, i'm guessing this was Dell keeping up with the competition. but you're right mike and raub, the casual consumer will get really frustrated. linux still pisses me off at times because i really haven't used it much at all.