Topic: Five reasons NOT to use Linux

[GillE]

That seems to be a very good guide, Sam.  Thanks .

Unfortunately, it's not the solution.  My father could take his motor car to pieces and reassemble it.  He was from a generation of mostly male drivers who believed it was essential that any car owner should be able to do this.  Nowadays, the vast majority of car owners don't know how to do anything more than refueling and checking the tyres.  Cars are much more sophisticated than they were in my father's day and perform much better.  We wouldn't want to limit ourselves to the vehicles our fathers had (well, ok, Sandra would    ) because modern vehicles are more convenient and allow us more free time.

If people are prepared to get into the mechanics of their computers, then Linux is for them.  However, the vast majority of computer users won't do this and would rather pay to have something served up which obviates the need to go 'under the bonnet'.  There are more Ford Focuses being sold today than Morris Minors and it would ill-behoove a Morris Minor drivers to speak of Ford drivers in the same way as the author of that article speaks of people who don't operate Linux.  He's just an inverted snob.  Frankly, the attitude of people like him seeems quite prevalent in the world of Linux and it deters me from making the effort to learn more about the OS.  It's not a club I'd want to join.

Gill

[sam]

well some of us aren't like that... I can reassure you that many normal people just use linux because it is convenient and given to them. I really think it would be short sighted to just stay with windows (and indeed with linux) as the computing world is developing so fast it is good to keep your eyes open.. also I strongly believe that linux is rapidly becoming as easy as windows for the average user, maybe not there yet.. but soon it will be... if people gave it a chance.

[GillE]

You're certainly a cut above the average Linux exponent, Sam.  I wouldn't have dared express those sentiments anywhere else.

Slightly off-topic, whatever happened to the idea that Dell was going to sell computers with Linux?  That would have introduced it to a lot more people.  Indeed, if I thought that a company like Dell was supporting Linux I'd be much more inclined to delve into it further.

Gill

[davy51]

Dell does come with linux

they also will install windowsxp pro
ive seen both in local stores


ive been using suse10.2 it is as easy to use as windows xp

enough programs come with it that the average user should have no problems at all

on the disc are many more programs that install with one button click

its as close to windows as any ive seen

[sam]

the linux dell's dont seem to have made it to the uk yet.. I've been intrigued to see how much they will charge for one... I was about to post about this in the linux thread as there are some interesting developments, I'll do that in a minute...

oh.. another reason to get linux from dell - it will stop them putting all the crap on they do with windows...

[sam]

You're certainly a cut above the average Linux exponent, Sam.  I wouldn't have dared express those sentiments anywhere else.

and why thank you 

[Simon]

oh.. another reason to get linux from dell - it will stop them putting all the crap on they do with windows...

Will it?  I expect there's plenty of other crap they could put on it. 

[Clive]

Far be it for me to throw in my threepennorth...  

[sam]

wow.. now that is even more patronising, though funny...

My system uptime is now 9 million millenia, 8 parsecs, and sixteen seconds! That?s about as long as the rest of us have had our earplugs in so we can?t hear you. Incidentally, some of us are too busy using our computers to worry about how many milliseconds they?ve been up.

f***ing idiot a parsec is distance.. if you are going to rant about things make sure that some linux geek out there isn't gonna notice that!

[sam]

oh and gill is this the type of unix person..

[GillE]

I wouldn't know, Sam.  I've never met one in real life - I can't help wondering if they only exist in cyber-space.  Perhaps linux might be a huge conspiracy theory and nothing more; a computerized version of "Mornington Crescent".

 

Gill

[Reno]

I remember when i learned, hands on, how to install 98se and setup the drivers and the little applications in my first computer maintance class. I also remember attending a lecture from a linux guru during the same year. His advice for learning linux was R.T.F.M. Now i'm all for reading the manual, BUT every time i dive into a linux manual i find myself having to sift through 50 pages of history, followed by 100 pages of commands, before i can start to get to the part that actually talks about administrating the terminal. Even then most of the time the manuals always assume that you already know all the easy steps to installing simple things like drivers. After all this is linux, if your smart enough to install windows, you should be just fine installing linux.

My biggest gripe with linux is every support manual I've ever come across is bloated with 10000 facts that aren't necessary to installing and configuring the installation. I have yet to find a simple instruction manual on installing drivers. If i can install windows completely in under 30 mins, i should be able to do the same thing with linux without having to RT-2"-FM. Manuals are for reference. When i really needed to find something out in windows I looked at the help or went online to look for others to answer the question. With windows your talking to average people online with similar questions who talk with average terminology who are more than happy to answer a question. Hell, PC-pals is one of those places. But, let the average person trying to attempt a linux conversion go onto a support forum and you find a bunch of smug "patronizing" pricks who nitpick of the question if they decide to answer the question at all. I've been to quite a few linux forums and the one thing they aren't short of are questions. The one thing they are short on are people to answer them. Thats probably why the vast majority of people that do answer what few questions deserve their attention come across like they are gracing the thread with their massively superior computer knowledge.

I know i have an axe to grind. I have installed debian, mandrake/mandriva, and i currently have xubuntu installed on a laptop. During my 4 years of experimenting with linux, I have just been searching for a simple howto or manual that will explain the driver installation. Maybe i'm a slow fool, but if anyone who can install windows and fix win machines for a job for 2 years can't do it what are the chances for the average public.

Things that haven't worked for me.
KDE tends to crash all the time.
Can't play a none decrypted store bought dvd.
Linux doesn't support half the printers on the market.
The man pages raises more questions then it answers.

There are probably more agitations that i have with linux, but its been awhile since my last attempt. Oh yeah, those elderly folks that use linux, are just doing that, using it. They aren't having to install and configure it. Thats that information that normally stumps people. Just double clicking an icon to surf the net is something a chimpanzee can do.

[GillE]

 

Very well said, Bob.

Gill

[sam]

There are probably more agitations that i have with linux, but its been awhile since my last attempt. Oh yeah, those elderly folks that use linux, are just doing that, using it. They aren't having to install and configure it. Thats that information that normally stumps people. Just double clicking an icon to surf the net is something a chimpanzee can do.

... but how many people do exactly the same with windows? which is why people have jobs maintaining windows installs.

Can't play a none decrypted store bought dvd.

I did have this problem in the past, but totem and VLC do this fine... and have for a while now, I think... I normally use winamp or something installed through wine (as I like it).

KDE tends to crash all the time.

I personally hate KDE, but it does depend on what version you have used it on, I am a gnome person btw.

The man pages raises more questions then it answers.

AGREED!!! .. and I have more than a working knowledge of linux, I really think these need to be simplified if linux is going to promote the commandline to general users.

Linux doesn't support half the printers on the market.

Probably correct, though I dont really know about this - I use a laser printer at work which is on a print server and at home my EPSON works fine with Linux, can't say I have come across this problem, but it makes sense.


Oh and I agree about the support forums being crap and useless.. oh and I cant tell you have to install all drivers, there isn't really a one way todo it... and I tend to not to have to do this... I normally find what I need online though