Does Linux have an Amiga feel?

[Madshib]

I guess my answer to this question would be a resounding no.

I demoed a few systems in college(1998) running System V underneath CDE with motif, as they seemed similar to my dad's 3000 running MUI, but did not "feel" like an Amiga.

I use Linux now, and like it(no stones please) but only because I don't have the hardware for running AOS. It is Linux and not UNIX, but they are really very similar. I actually think that Linux has been made to be much more approachable by the community that develops it.

I hope that the Amiga OS goes to a more Open format and adopts a similar strategy of making it more accessible. I miss it.

[Madshib]

The sales figures do a quite adequate job of showing the decline of the desktop.  Really except for us computer archaeologists the appeal of a desktop at home is very limited.



The personal computer's role changes, becoming one of many contextual devices rather than the central hub connecting them.

That is a really misleading statistic. By volume more video on other devices huh? That simply means that more people are watching netflix, hulu, and other services are being streamed to PS3s, XBoxes, and other media direct devices. That just tells me that people stopped watching movies on their laptops/desktops as streamed from the internet and moved from the office to their living room. They are more so qualifying their place in the market than making a statement to move to a tablet or other device.

[Madshib]

I really prefer my laptop than any tablet that I've used. In fact, I've bought two tablets in twelve months, and they were both for my 9 year old daughter. She spends more time using them to watch One Direction videos or play Minecraft.

I've been using a Dell laptop from 6 years ago which still works fine and I have zero need for upgrade. I suppose that's why my next purchase is an A1200, I have no need to purchase new PC hardware.

And no, Linux still does not feel like an Amiga

[Madshib]

If you don't know what you're doing then I can't imagine there is any difference between finding utorrent online and installing it than finding where a torrent client is pre-installed on Linux.
 
The only difference is that you have to be more careful when installing Windows software so you don't install hidden extras. If Linux had any meaningful user base then people would be bundling crapware on that too.
 
Linux is ok if you like a challenge & want to "be different".

I think that the crapware challenge with Linux is that there is no true conglomerate backing with marketing schemes wrapped into installers. If that was the case, the community would sniff it out and develop an alternative. An example of this is the beta Steam client(when it was briefly beta). It didn't take long to find out that an alternative was found to installing the full featured version with little extra effort at the command line.

Also, I disagree with the wanting to be different but more so to have options. A big sell for me to Linux was the ability to customize the environment, choose my window managers easily, and dispense with the constant need for virus protection. I like the option to use older hardware with a modern OS. Granted there have been some challenges, but not enough so to deter me from continuing on with using it.

Besides, what computer hasn't given anyone a challenge here or there...

[Madshib]

Plenty of systems have given me a challenge. Only Linux has ever made me want to slit my wrists.

That was MS-DOS for me, but I was still a kid fresh off the 64 at the time I attempted to "use" it.

Linux has great online documentation and support, it hasn't brought me to the point of cutting myself...yet.

[Madshib]

I'm not entirely following the Linux bashing that is preceding this post by several comments. It is a multi-purpose OS that has many different flavors giving the end user options. If you don't like what one offers, try another one. It took me six months to find the right distro for me.

I still don't understand where rebuilding the kernel came from either. I have yet to even attempt that, but LFS looks intriguing as a project.

If anyone looks to Linux for that "One" solution, you may be disappointed. Hell, I don't look to any OS to be "One" solution because none of them are perfect.

[Madshib]

I can agree that an OS can be built so it is more suited in a server environment, or for use in specific devices.

And searching for the right apps for us, yes, we all have to do that.

But if you are going to develop and promote an OS as a desktop OS, its not reasonable that a user should be searching to find the right OS flavour to meet their needs.

The fact it took you 6 MONTHS to find the right OS-if that doesn't scream:"Houston, we have a problem", then I don't know what does!

It took me 6 months to find the right distribution because there are many options to choose from. I don't think that choice is a bad thing at all. In fact, I think that it speaks volumes to the the kernel's flexibility of implementation. What is truly a downside, is the large amount of stuff that comes along with the kernel, making it well over 100mg at this point.

[Madshib]

I think that comment regarding the size of the kernel is a bit of an overgeneralisation. Im not sure where you get your figures - it might be useful to back that up!
(Im running raring ringtail and my kernel is 5.2mb [stock])

I also assume you are not referring to the size of the kernel source (which would contain support for a tonne of hardware , GPU , CPU / Architecture - this naturally wouldnt be included in a compiled kernel)

By and large most common distributions may well have kernels that could be considered larger than needs be - the reason behind this as distribution packagers often compile a kernel that includes a broad range of support for hardware. Some of this may be modules that are loaded at runtime and some maybe compiled into the kernel.

In the case of a fixed platform like the amiga a linux kernel compiled only to support known hardware configuration im sure would be pretty f**n tiny.

I just thought i would provide the bigger picture.

N.

I am referring to the kernel source. I double checked, It is approximately 70 meg now(unmodified/non-optimized/not hardened). Sorry for the confusion.

PS I don't back things up because if it's on the internet, it must be true

[Madshib]

What happened here? I tried to catch up on this thread, but decided to do this instead...rip my face off

edit: please make your point without linking to images like that. thanks.

[Madshib]

Smells like 4chan in here now....