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Not everyone owns a computer with a Linux desktop, but those who do love what they have. Linux has a reputation for better performance... Is Linux No More?

Not everyone owns a computer with a Linux desktop, but those who do love what they have. Linux has a reputation for better performance and since their operating system is smaller, things seem to move at a better pace. Linux applications are always controlled and most errors associated with the traditional Windows operating system are non-existent with Linux. So why is Linux not very popular?

Linux

 Lack of “Friendly Applications”

In order for a user to get the most out of their computer (whether personal or professional in nature), they need a variety of applications. Unfortunately, Linux doesn’t play nice with all applications. For example, the office suite from Microsoft is not something Linux provides. Apple, who is already compatible with Microsoft Office Suite has figured it out, which is why Apple is preferred second to Windows. As the market continues to evolve and Apple and Windows offer compatible software, Linux appears to be left behind.

The only option for users to access Windows-based applications on a Linux operating system is through the use of a virtual machine or VM. Most users who do this will run a Red Hat on their workstation. By running a virtual machine, users can run the applications they need such as Microsoft Word, Excel, Skype and even Netflix.

Using Alternatives
Users who are dedicated Linux owners can still get access to Microsoft-like applications that are compatible with Linux operating systems. For spreadsheets, presentations and documents, Google Docs, OpenOffice and LibreOffice all work well with Linux systems.

Some users have reported errors when trying to make presentations using these three alternatives, especially when it comes to creating project plans and diagrams.

So will Linux eventually phase itself out? As long as Linux refuses to create a compatibility bridge between popular, user-needed applications, it seems Linux operating systems will remain unpopular and potentially, non-existent in the future.

 

[Image via linuxers]