| The Best Free Desktop Linux . . . and how to make it better |
(Conclusion)
Conclusion
Almost three years ago, I wrote for the first time that the existing crop of Linux distributions could not compete with Microsoft Windows XP but many of them were superior to Windows 98. I received a lot of negative e-mail from Linux users. Most of the people who wrote talked about reliability and security, the two hallmarks of Linux over Microsoft Windows. These users had taken the time to learn how to master Linux and for them, Linux offered an opportunity to do more with their PCs than they could do or afford to do legally with Microsoft Windows.
During my last look at desktop Linux distributions. I was more discouraged than encouraged. The problem is that the companies selling commercial Linux distributions were locking users into subscriptions in order to upgrade applications.
If I buy Microsoft Windows XP, I might pay a higher price. However, I am free to load any software that I want. I can upgrade software and despite what is often written, I do not have to go to Microsoft to buy my applications if I choose not to.
I have given some desktop Linux distributions bad reviews because the default installations were too sparse. I have received harsh e-mails from the distributors of these distributions explaining that their target customer is the novice user and not the Linux Geek like myself.
These companies don't get it. The typical desktop user doesn't want to become a computer expert to do their work. They do not want to learn a new operating system to get their work done. They want an easy way to access the tools they need to get their job done and they need a robust and reliable environment to run their applications.
SimplyMEPIS is the absolute masterpiece of desktop Linux distributions. SimplyMEPIS is usable immediately. It is easier to install than Microsoft Windows. This article shows how to add applications mastering a couple of commands. Using these commands, it is easy to keep SimplyMEPIS up-to-date.
SimplyMEPIS is ready for prime time. Consider the value proposition for organizations. If a user's disk crashes, so long as the data in the home directory is backed up, the users can be up and running again on a new disk in less than 20 minutes. This is simply not possible with Microsoft Windows. Even in the case of a catastrophic hard disk failure, the user should be able to access and edit their data by booting directly off the SimplyMEPIS CD.
A person who has a good knowledge of how Linux works can build a usable system from Slackware, Debian, Fedora, Gentoo or Linux from scratch. The resulting distribution will be fine tuned and specifically tailored to that person's needs. For that individual, their personalized distribution will always be the best for them. However, most people who use computers do so with some trepidation and some reluctance. These are the users who will find SimplyMEPIS the ideal desktop Linux distribution.
I believe that SimplyMEPIS rates an 8.5 against a 9.0 for Microsoft XP without any modifications. However, after modification, I believe that SimplyMEPIS rates 9.5. Some readers who use Debian might say that I am over rating SimplyMEPIS because they can build the exact same configurations as I did using generic Debian. It isn't that SimplyMEPIS is superior to other Linux distributions but rather it puts the right tools in the right places and makes no assumptions about the users' knowledge of Linux.
Also by Michael C. Barnes:
 About the author: Michael C. Barnes is currently president of NorhTec. Mr. Barnes has over 20 years experience with computers and another 10 years experience with more primitive networks, to include paper tape and morse code. Mr. Barnes has 18 years of experience with various Unix systems and spent 13 years with Sun Microsystems.
Mr. Barnes became fascinated with GNU/Linux turned the common PC into a Unix like workstation. By 1998, GNU/Linux surpassed the desktop environments offered on traditional Unix workstations.
When GNU/Linux is combined with low-cost x86 platforms, organizations now have the power to create enterprise computing for the small organization.
Mr. Barnes, born in Kentucky, now lives in Bangkok, Thailand with his wife, Linda Kubota-Barnes and his daughter Karen Barnes.
Copyright (c) 2004 by Michael C. Barnes. Reproduced by DesktopLinux.com with permission.
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