I've been Linux-only on the desktop for 4 years now. And now, I'm considering adding Windows back to my daily life. Linux provides an excellent environment to do many of the things I do:

  • web - Web Browse
  • remote administration - Use a terminal
  • services - Run servers
  • video - Transcode, edit, convert, and Backup DVD's
  • music - Listen to music

A few things Linux hasn't done well and why I'm considering adding a second OS to my desk here (alongside Linux):

  • Money Management - GNUCash is the closest thing here, but doesn't hold a candle to the financial institution integration MS Money and Quicken can offer
  • audible.com - my audible.com content forces me to boot into Windows every few months to add new audio books to my iPod mini
  • Music - I've made limited use and I'd like to make more use of services like Rhapsody.com, Napster.com, or Yahoo Music to have a wider variety of music to listen to.

There are a few ancillary things that don't necessitate daily Windows usage, but I do need them occasionally:

  • Harmony Remote - make my Harmony remote do new things
  • Some multimedia stuff, CNN Video - most of this is going to Flash anyway

Wow, that's a pretty short list. I had in my head that there were more things I wanted from Windows. Maybe I'll suck it up and work with GNUCash!

On that note, recently solved things that used to suck about Linux on the desktop:

  • Flash 9 - Like it or not, Linux is all about choice, now you have the option of running Flash 9 on Linux.
  • DVD Backups: This has gotten easier and easier on Windows; I just tried an amazing piece of Linux software called Thoggen which backs up DVD's to my hard-drive-based media server with a surprisingly few number of clicks.
  • Music Management - Rhythmbox and the new player Banshee have made music management and playback much more manageable on Linux. Keep up the great work!
  • Network Manager - the network manager makes wireless/wired connection management a cinch. I highly recommend it!