If Linux isn't "there", then where is it?

One of the most popular posts, comments, questions, is " Is Linux 'there' yet ". or, " When will Linux get 'there'? "

We first need to discover where 'there' is.

Right off the bat, most of these discussions tackle install issues. Can Joe User install Linux on his own? Inevitably. someone will reply, " Can Joe User install Windows from a disk on his own?"

The answer to that is obviously no. Joe User cannot install Windows from a disk onto a computer on his own without help. Windows is no more 'there" than Linux is. ( Neither is Apple, but we already knew that, right? )


But, another question is, why do Linux users expect Joe User to be able to install an OS on their own? Is it some macho geek attitude that says one must be able to install an OS on to a computer?

Joe User is exactly who we expect him to be. Joe User. He is a guy that doesn't have an interest in computer things beyond a little surfing, doing his checkbook and email. Some games maybe even watch a movie on his PC because he likes horror movies and everyone else in his family is a big chicken and he has to watch them somewhere they can't see or hear Micheal Myers ripping someones innards, outwards. I digress.

The point is, Joe User is the reason there is a support market to begin with. Joe User says not everyone in the world is or wants to be a Geek. ( Geek meant in the chummy, computer oriented person way ).

So, this begs the further question, what are the further derivations of Joe User? maybe Joe Geek or Joe Newbie-but-wants-to-be-a-Geek?

Can Joe NbwtbaG install Linux on his own?

Maybe with some docs or a forum to help? Why I bet he sure can. Why? Because he is still not Joe User who doesn't want to be a Geek and therefore has no interest in installing an OS in the first place.

Linux has stretched the boundaries of imagination when it comes to ease of install, especially when it comes to LiveCD's.

Of course, our Geek friends reading this will say " But what about when they have to partition? virtually ALL installers insist on partitioning and even more so on a dual boot machine."

This is true. Almost all ( I think it is all but can't prove it, so I say "virtually" all ) installers enter a partitioning phase at some point.

Much as I hate to bring it into the conversation again, even windows forces partitioning choices onto the person wanting to install it. the difference is, Windows gives no opportunity or option to accommodate for any other OS that may already exist or may end up sharing the hard drive with it.

Yet, for the relatively simple partitioning phase that Windows enters, I have received more than a few calls on "What do I do now?" from the Joe Users of the world installing Windows.

Is ANY OS "there" when it comes to installing then? I have yet to meet it.

In truth, Linux has more important things to worry about in regard to being"there" in terms of usability AFTER the install.

What about UDF CD/ DVD RW. or drag n drop transfers to said UDF cdrw's etc? Nope, still not "there".

What about printing, I know a fella who positively rails at the Linux community o enter the world of "real" printing, wanting some very high 'bits" and not just RBG or KBG or whatever the printing "thingies" are ( I am not a printing oriented person, is it obvious? ) What I do know is that Linux drags behind in that area as well according to printing people in the know.

How about a "serious" PDF editing/creating app for Linux? Still not "There" yet either.

So, if Linux is not "There" yet, where is it?

I will tell you. Even with those things not ready for primetime yet, what Linux does, it does very, very well and I can tell you, without a doubt exactly where it is.

It's on my computers.

Big Bear