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by RickJWagner·8y ago·view on hn ↗
Deeply disappointing. My primary machines are Linux and this is a step backward.

I really think Linux will finally win the desktop (someday. Clearly not today.)

2 comments
> I really think Linux will finally win the desktop (someday. Clearly not today.)

Not to get too off topic, but why do you think this? (Genuine question, no snark). I love linux, but from my perspective, Linux desktop seems only marginally more mainstream than 5 years ago.

ChromeOS is doing ok I guess, but if that is how linux wins the desktop, it’s a very pyrrhic victory. ChromeOS is Linux, but not any of the parts I like about it.

The Dell XPS laptop comes with ubuntu and is the best laptop I've ever had.
Agreed, the Dell is amazing. First laptop that I thought legitimately beat the look, feel, and build quality of a Macbook. Pricey tho.
Pricey? Maybe in comparison to a budget laptop but as you're comparing it to a Macbook, it's not even close to the price of a similar configuration there. My local Costco has Dell XPS 13s and Lenovo X1s for ~$1400.
Pricey compared to an equivalent Lenovo, for example. But yes, compared to a Macbook it's quite cheap.

The base models don't have a lot in the way of RAM, CPU, and disk space. Bumping those specs up to acceptable levels adds quite a bit to the cost, sometimes $1,000 or more.

> ChromeOS is doing ok I guess, but if that is how linux wins the desktop, it’s a very pyrrhic victory. ChromeOS is Linux, but not any of the parts I like about it.

Partially agree, although using Crouton it's been very easy to run Ubuntu on a Chromebook for years. Also Debian is about to get first class support. That and the ability to run Android apps is becoming really compelling to me.

I gave Linux a try, over 2 years as my work desktop, but over half of the applications that I need to use for my work would end up crashing regularly. Linux is great for terminal windows but Mac and Windows are now on par with that.