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Hurdle 8: Off-the-shelf software

With efforts coming from sources like Linspire's CNR project, seeing software for sale on the Linux platform is slowly becoming more accessible. Despite this, many people are going to find that even though many of the freely available open source applications are pretty good, they may not outwardly replace proprietary alternatives. Hence a trip the local big box store.

It is of small consequence to power users, but to the average computer owner, access to software from the store does indeed matter.

Hurdle 9: Workarounds vs. fixing the bugs

Again, unlike proprietary operating systems, the Linux method is going to go one of two ways. Use the older, working version or consider a lame workaround as a solution. Coming back full circle and in some instances, this is just an extension to hurdle #1, the workaround has become the Band-Aid for select distributions while bug reports remain seen as "non-critical."

Again, mature, slower-moving distros may not have this issue. Too bad, however, that no one outside of the local Linux User Group happens to be using it. Fedora, Debian, OpenSuSE, Mandriva, among others, are not making headlines. These distros while fine, are not even in the same loop of new users. It is Ubuntu and PCLinuxOS that is making the waves today. Unfortunately, Ubuntu keeps falling on its face and PCLinuxOS, while good, is not getting the same kind of third part support goodies as Ubuntu does. Between the two, you end up with a real Catch-22. And with both, workarounds are widely accepted as "good enough."

Hurdle 10: Apologists and purists

Generally speaking, I have found one to be a lot like the other. Because Linux overall has 100 benefits to the 10 hurdles I have presented here, this article will be flamed by various Linux groups under the apologist's favorite crutch -- the term FUD. Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt continue to be overused, and thus, they lose their sting when purists attack anything written that those users happen to disagree with.

I have been using one distro or another longer than many of the "purists" out there, yet somehow I managed to spend my time finding real solutions to problems I see listed above, while others work really hard at making sure that the new Linux populous is being fed a continuous tablespoon of hot air.

Newsflash -- desktop Linux, like Windows and OS X, has some real flaws. This does not mean people should not use it, but it would indicate the reasons why most people you park in front of it are not jumping onto the Linux bandwagon.

I love the fact that I am not bound by Microsoft's OS any longer. Not out of some mission to destroy the man or turn the software industry into some FOSS based crusade, rather because it is stable with an educated hand running the OS and allows me to use my PC as I see fit. This does not mean however, that I grow tired of marketing spin and purist hot air about how new users need to become "better educated" to further overcome challenges with making the Windows switch. I say nonsense! There's nothing wrong with someone wanting Linux to better meet their needs, just so long as it does not destroy the freedoms of purist users. And to be fair, more purists today are becoming more comfortable with this.

From about 2005 thru this year, I have seen real improvement as to how new users are received when presenting questions or feedback that advanced users might deem as archaic or unnecessary. But there remains one last "bug" that needs to be stamped out and it is the very tired term FUD. It is the automatic weapon on the apologist for any OS, and it allows them to create negative feelings without even needing to bother with a discernible point.

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