Comment Re:linux hard to install and use for desktop users (Score 1) 187
This has always been my primary issue. The problem being that developers don't care what I want. I can't fault them for it as Linux is generally given away free, so it's not like I'm paying their salaries. They generally care more about their own personal tastes or that of the corporations that buy their linux support contracts.
I do not care for Gnome, KDE, XFCE, or MATE... I absolutely hate Unity. I do like Cinnamon -- but even with lovely distros like Linux Mint and the Ubuntu derivative Cubuntu, there's still so much of the OS that is impenetrable without a text editor and numerous Google searches to find documentation on what to change and how without corrupting your system. Thankfully, I've found many gui config editors that have been helpful. (I'd still like to know how to organize my own START menu... Windows used to be so easy - drag, drop... slide around... put shortcuts into folders if you needed to, etc. Cinnamon, I'm like... hmm... I see how to view and hide categories, but not create new ones or alter them.)
Hardware support will always be an issue until either Linux gets a large enough user base for general HW manufacturers to care OR a manufacturer takes it upon themselves to distribute Linux-only devices/laptops and ensures the parts are well supported throughout the lifetime of the device.
This is why ChromeOS and Android have a better shot at the consumer market -- Google can use its muscle to give a good user experience with a bit of Linux under the hood.
I figure -- give ChromeOS and Android another decade and Linux will likely just be able to borrow whatever drivers those devices are using - maybe even copy the interfaces as well. Heck, Darwin is mostly open-source -- maybe Apple will release more of their magic pixie dust of software solutions under MIT or BSD license for Linux to borrow as well.