Before you all go and kill me, what you are about to read is NOT what you think it is. If it was, then I wouldn't be using linux as long as I have.

The Theory:
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In its current implementation, "desktop linux" (the aggregate of all linux distributions designed to run on desktop and laptop hardware) encourages relative system instability in the long-run.


Definitions:
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Long Run -- a period of time one calendar year or longer
System Stability -- the practice of running one configuration of software

Qualifications: (the World of Windows)
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In MS's perfect world there is 1 OS: the current stable release of Windows (today: XP, soon: Vista). The software supplier only supports Windows, and the Consumer is unaware that there is anything more to the world of computing besides Windows. As a result, the consumer will run the 1 configuration of windows for the entire cycle of its life (for XP... 2002 to 2007).

Explanation: (Linux and Open Source)
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In the world of Desktop Linux (from herein: "linux"), a consumer is faced with CHOICES. Just visiting Distrowatch presents one with a mind-boggling array of distributions, each one delivering something unique to the table. Browsing through Debian's repositories (or gentoo's portage tree) yields more software options than one can try in a lifetime. Making a choice is a basic life skill that all animals (except potentially sponges) are capable of doing. Humans however are rather finicky about their choices and like a kid in a candy store will look at everything and try everything before eventually settling on a limited selection of "favorites". As a result, people will NOT be running a stable single configuration of software in the long run because of all these choices presented to them, and their desire to try out the great many of them.

Certainly true... but I don't know.. I think users are quick to try out the latest Windows Media Player or the latest Direct-X, etc. And sometimes with less than perfect results. It's a user thing.

I've had to fix a lot of Windows desktops just because a user tried to fix something that wasn't broken.

If you want general stability, both Red Hat and Novell have desktop solutions with long support paths. Of course, the urge to move away from the "stable" path will always be there... but IF the user stays on the path (assuming your Microsoft model), then they'll be ok. Frankly, I'd argue that the user won't stay on the stable path... regardless of OS.

Ubuntu has entered the long support path recently as well with the Dapper release. Note that it is only one in three releases they will be deeming LTS(Long Term Support) and that it will not be the newest release, which many people always try(Just look at how often the new alphas/betas are discussed here of Ubuntu, or ELive which is still Alpha itself)

Seablade

haha. actually I first installed Mandrake, ran it for about 3 months, and tried out SuSe for about 3 days. Then tried Slackware, and I've stuck with this for a couple of years.

sorry to foil your theory.

Holy crap, right on the money with this post. I actually just mentioned in another thread, but I'm finally getting around to dual-booting my lappy... not so I can run Windoze or anything, but so I can have one stable partition with Ubuntu or something on it, and one testing partition. At the rate it's been lately, I'm re-installing a new distro for fun every week or so (holy crap that makes me a geek, doesn't it).

I just installed Blag last night. Grrr, I need to stop!

-olly

yah i am the same, i finally found a distro i liked enough to put on my laptop. i was a real Fedora fan for a while till i realized how much bloat that it had, it almost took up more space than a windows install. Anyways long story short i finally got Ubuntu installed and configured to actually work on my laptop and now i find myself using more than XP, though i am having trouble getting MS OneNote 2k3 working under wine.... so ill have to find tune that somehow.

spotdog... try installing onenote through cedega or possibly even just run a vm session of windows so you dont have to double boot. remember...there WILL be some lag b/c of running 2 oses @ once..but its duable. to save some bloat make the virtual session an older/lighter windows (there is "XP Lite" floating aruond if you know what i mean)

I have win98 and win2k running in vmware. win98 runs so fast I can actually play a few sports sim games I have. I'm sure onenote would run fine, but I'd honestly try and find an native OSS replacement. Even nautilus supports note taking. I find I use the notes in Opera a ton. Did you ever get a chance to try Tomcat?