Interesting range of reactions to DraftSight running on Linux:
http://linux.slashdot.org/story/11/03/11/0347221/DraftSight-2D-CAD-For-Linux-Beta-Available
There are 92 comments as I post this. Some readers complain it isn't open source, as Linux users expect. Others complain it isn't fully 3D. But kaka.mala.vachva responds:
You realize stuff like this is the only way Linux may become popular on the desktop? We can't really expect everything to be FOSS [free and open source software]. Support this if it's useful to you, and look past the activation -- more companies may start developing for Linux then. Would hate to see the Loki* story all over again.
*) Loki failed in its attempt to port games from Windows to Linux.
I am not really sure why any serious CAD company would chase Linux users. The few Linux users I know are there because they don't have to spend money. Wait till they see the price tag of a good 3D CAD program ported to Linux and this will be the end of it. Why would a CAD company chase those who will not support it anyway? I don't get it. What am I missing here?
Posted by: Dave Ault | Mar 13, 2011 at 04:15 AM
There are a few reasons that I can think of. Having a linux version gives the CAD vendor a larger potential market, especially when the CAD system is set up for easy porting. It gives the vendor some market differentiation. Linux is a more efficient operating system than Windows.
Posted by: Ralph Grabowski | Mar 13, 2011 at 08:45 AM
The fact that slashdot has generated so much attention for DraftSight seems to answer the question as to why DS did this.
My personal opinion is that Windows is poised to lose significant ground in the market as use of PCs are in decline and MS continues to fail to grab any serious market share in other areas that are introducing millions to the alternatives (smartphones and tablets). Serious application companies need to prepare for the future landscape where MS is not even a consideration for consumers.
Posted by: fcsuper | Mar 13, 2011 at 11:52 AM
Help me understand exactly how Linux is a more efficient os?
Posted by: Kevin | Mar 14, 2011 at 10:05 PM
Here is a simple example of Linux's efficiency:
I have today a recent vintage of Linux running happily on the very first netbook ever made (the original ASUS 701, now nearly three years old). Here are the specs:
OS: JoliCloud (updated from the original Linux shipped with the computer)
CPU: 0.8GHz (max)
RAM: 0.5GB
Disk space: 4GB (SSD)
Boot time: just over a half-minute.
Browser: Google Chrome
Is a recent vintage of Windows going to run on this system? No. Wouldn't even install.
Posted by: Ralph Grabowski | Mar 15, 2011 at 03:26 AM