How fanboys see operating systems
How fanboys see operating systems
Well yeah but yet mainstream support does not happen because too small of a userbase (interested in content that companies create) and because there is no mainstream support, the user base remains small as we live in a world where one really kind of has to have a Windows PC at some point (I know it is getting better now, with more support for Linux, Mac and with all the mobile devices).
For talking about this, I’m not convinced it will happen yet. The shift in how the Linux community approaches desktop and laptop versions has been crucial. The challenge lies in making the GUI and user interaction smoother. Android succeeded partly because Google heavily customized Linux for their needs, creating a polished interface. Recently, Android also appeared more appealing and straightforward to use from the start, thanks to significant investment.
Unfortunately, when Linux distributions focus on specific groups—like servers or power users—they often overlook the needs of regular computer users. Many people dismissed it after Windows 7 launched, then moved to Windows. There were also attempts with business laptops like Dell Latitude, which offered Linux but struggled due to low sales despite good hardware and support.
Now Dell is revisiting Linux with their XPS line, targeting developers at a lower price point without the Windows license. However, it seems this effort hasn’t gained much traction yet.
In fact, you've highlighted my argument correctly. Android remains rooted in Linux and has dominated smartphones, with a solid presence on tablets as well. I don't anticipate any of the existing community-based Linux versions rising to the top; instead, I foresee something uniquely designed for that role—something we haven't seen yet.
It's possible. Rivalry can be beneficial. It encourages progress.
I understand the xkcd reference well. I kept switching between different distributions until I settled on Gentoo. My system isn’t functioning properly now without unofficial kernel updates, but I’m satisfied with it. This is just a personal interest.
FreeBSD is often chosen to craft your own kernel... or it was in the past. I still build it myself to enhance stability and performance compared to the standard kernel, which now relies heavily on drivers for modern ISA and VLB systems. You can also compile it specifically for your processor, removing unnecessary components while still achieving functionality—often reaching speeds on a 486 CPU. FreeBSD can also run on older hardware like AMD 486 DX5-133MHz machines with a 2MB PCI card and 128MB RAM, even when other Linux distributions struggle on more powerful systems such as a Pentium 3 1GHz with 512MB RAM and a 16MB AGP card.
Usually I don’t like fanboys, but honestly every single option in the Linux fanboy section got checked for me. Even though I enjoy Linux, Windows, and Mac OS X.