Very good article - both Part I and II. I completely understand the feelings of the author and I appreciate his constructive advices after so much pain.
I am using/used Linux since '95. On my family's laptop Ubuntu 10.10 is still running, but I have the feeling it is the last Ubuntu version that we will use until the laptop dies - but I will not update to newer releases unless Ubuntu brings a desktop that improves usability without requiring 3D to work or Linux will get support for my graphics card, so at least I could try Unity. When we have to buy a new laptop it will be with Windows or maybe ChromeOS. I just do not want to go again through all the pains when choosing new hardware.
For my personal/professional laptops I switched to Windows 5 years ago. Sometimes I need Linux to test some development then I install a VM. No hassle any more. As I missed bash as well, I installed Cygwin.
I feel that additionally there are other world changes that drain the Linux desktop users:
1.) Desktops (no matter if it is Unix/Win/MacOS) do NOT matter as much as they used too.
Since the time when I bought a modern phone, I realized that I actually use the laptops only when I need to write longer texts or print out something. Browsing/mailing/chatting/playing/skyping is a better experience on the phone than on the desktop (on the phone however typing is really bad).
2.) Windows became much better (if you skip Vista) since XP.
I am using/used Linux since '95. On my family's laptop Ubuntu 10.10 is still running, but I have the feeling it is the last Ubuntu version that we will use until the laptop dies - but I will not update to newer releases unless Ubuntu brings a desktop that improves usability without requiring 3D to work or Linux will get support for my graphics card, so at least I could try Unity. When we have to buy a new laptop it will be with Windows or maybe ChromeOS. I just do not want to go again through all the pains when choosing new hardware.
For my personal/professional laptops I switched to Windows 5 years ago. Sometimes I need Linux to test some development then I install a VM. No hassle any more. As I missed bash as well, I installed Cygwin.
I feel that additionally there are other world changes that drain the Linux desktop users:
1.) Desktops (no matter if it is Unix/Win/MacOS) do NOT matter as much as they used too. Since the time when I bought a modern phone, I realized that I actually use the laptops only when I need to write longer texts or print out something. Browsing/mailing/chatting/playing/skyping is a better experience on the phone than on the desktop (on the phone however typing is really bad).
2.) Windows became much better (if you skip Vista) since XP.