Quote:
Originally Posted by ApK
No, as the lackluster sales of Linux boxes to date (especially as compared to Chromebooks) Should make self-evident.
Any full Linux distro imposes needless management complexity for the broadest segment of users. I'm not going to argue the fact. It's true.
Your own message #736 in this thread is sufficient proof for most people to whom it applies.
ChromeOS just works, and maintains itself.
If a particular users sees nothing of concern in #736, then that user is free to install Linux, under sl42's plan.
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Since I was installing Arch Linux, I would definitely not recommend that as a "space-filler OS".
I believe Ubuntu comes with b43 and b43-fwcutter on the install disk. You still need to manually enable them over an internet connection, since the firmware is proprietary. It's dead easy but requires an ethernet cable. And b43-firmware is only ever needed for certain legacy laptops. Although I am sure other packages are needed for other wireless cards, so it really depends on what hardware you have.
In any event, you'd think that the same way Windows ships with any proprietary drivers necessary to use it out-of-the-box,
installed by the manufacturers as necessary, they'd do the same for Ubuntu...
Regarding "needless management complexity", sure, compared to a chromebook. But not compared to Windows, and people seem to manage that just fine. The tradeoff is of course that ChromeOS cannot do a lot of things that many people DO need. So as a space-filler OS, I'd vote for more basic usability, which is also useful out of the box (as Windows is too) but fulfills the criteria of not requiring users shell out for a Windows license they may never need (like ChromeOS).
In other words, I'm not so sure I agree ChromeOS is the perfect and most appropriate choice. I think the main reason for people getting ChromeOS is not that it is so simple it is easy to use, but that it is cheaper and still does everything they need. The simplicity doesn't hurt, and I am sure it is a factor -- but the main one? (And for the people looking to buy more high-end hardware?)
Or they could offer both, and let the consumer choose which configuration. Which would be exactly like the current situation where you need to choose between ChromeOS and Windows instead.