Linux would be much more widely accepted if...
 

All distros would agree on a single method for installing and uninstalling software and make it as easy as a Mac:

http://guides.macrumors.com/Installing_Applications_in_Mac_OS_X

or at least as easy as Windows.

I changed from Windows to Mac earlier this year and am still impressed with how easy it is. I've dabbled with Linux for about 6 years now and even though it's getting easier to install/uninstall software, the general public will not accept it until it is up to par with Mac and Windows.

That's what I think, tell me what you think.

Been using Linux for a looong time. Happiest I've been has been with Debian or Ubuntu (based on Debian). 95% of what I want is just an apt-get install away. The other 5% is a zip or tar.gz that just needs extracting inthe proper location.

I agree with id10t. apt-get install or for the real brain-dead Synaptics. Even Mac users should be able to handle that. ;)

It's still not as easy as the general public needs it to be. Ask most people to open a terminal and sudo apt-get install brutalchess so they can install chess and watch the look on their faces.

BTW, I still need to pm you about web hosting.

And then what about other distros that don't use apt-get install? So many ways of doing the same thing. Then there is the dependency thing. Ask your mom to figure that one out.

Thats the thing about Apt- no dependency issues. All taken care of. I've had dep problems with pure source code (did a LFS project), gentoo and emerge, rpms and redhat, and even Slackware (no dep checking on slack packages).

And, I've had several non-technical folks using Debian or Ubuntu wtih no issues...

That's what I'm talking about. If they aren't using a Debian based distro it sucks. If everyone would settle on apt, and then heaven forbid, give it a GUI for those who want it (maybe there already is one???) it would make all distros more likely to attract users.

Lindows was the best while it was around. whatever happened to it?

It became Linspire

Ubuntu is getting close to a point where I'd recommend it to people that aren't complete techies.

The one issue I have with Linux is getting help for it when you run into a problem is often pretty difficult (granted it is getting better) cause can you really tell your mom to goto ubuntu's help forums and then search for xxxx hardware and yyyy software issue and then expect them to know what to do with the information?

Heck, I've written custom device drivers for Linux and even I hate having to do all the searching about to get things to work when it goes bad.

Count me in as a frustrated wannabe Linux user. I'm a huge open-source fan, and have found when I've successfully used it, it kicked butt over every over the counter OS. My problem is I can never get it to print properly, or use my wireless Airport system.

I have a couple old laptops - one an IBM, the other a Dell, that I would love to commit to Linux, but I don't want to go through the frustration of not getting it to work with my peripherals.

If anyone knows a techie in L.A. who can set up Linux on either of my two machines to run with an Brother laser printer and the latest Apple Airport wireless, I'd be greatly appreciative.

I like Slackware, but I've been using it since it first was packaged. I also like the challenge.

Yeah. I'm not into the challenge. That's why I'm about to buy a Dell XPS laptop with Vista as soon as I get off PPOT in about 5 minutes.

That's what the other versions are for. :)

If you want help, just ask.

I have asked, and received in many cases no response. I figure it's one of the downfalls of an open-source system like Linux as opposed to Windows or Mac - i.e., no viable customer service.

As is, the XPS system is partly for games. SPORE doesn't, to my knowledge, work with Linux.

I like Gentoo :).