Is Linux still unfrendly?

N

Niskyspy

New Member
Well, I am getting pissed with my laptop again because windows is on its last couple of breaths and about to pass out on me. Last time this happened I just reinstalled windows XP (format>fresh install). These windows problems happen like clock work, windows fails at least once a year for me and thats with use of Firewalls and Anti-Viruses. So I am just tired of all this and surely wont pay for Vista. I remember trying to run Linux a while back but just ended up installing windows because of Linux unfriendliness to the user. I just couldn't figure out how to install programs in Linux it always needed some kind of code change before anything would work. So what I am looking for now is Linux that would be really user friendly and installation of programs would be just a couple of "NEXT clicks" (something like windows but way better).

Thank you
 
Linux is a learning process, it is secure by its design, so learning how to use it may take a bit longer than windows.

I use it, in fact I am typing this on my OpenSuSe 10.2 box as we speak, but I can tell you that running Linux is just like every other OS. Some things work, some things don't. Some things work for a few minutes then crash constantly.

I would recommend you try downloading a few live distros and try them out and see if you like them. KDE environment is a lot like windows so you can probably get a feel for it quicker.

http://www.frozentech.com/content/livecd.php
 
once somebody makes installing software onto a linux machine as straightforward as installing software in windows, i'd consider using it for a HTPC setup.
 
Actually with Ubuntu (which I use 6.10) and a few other distros, it is pretty easy. You can use either an Add/Remove Programs type GUI or the command line (as long as you know what to type, which his easy to find in the forums).

Once you have your repositories file where you want it, it's as simple as:
Code: 
apt-get install <program-name>

Linux isn't harder, it's just different. Once you know how to do something in Linux you know how to do it, same as in windows. It crashes sometimes, but not nearly as often as windows, and usually it is a program that crashes, not the whole OS.

But the only way to know is to give it a try and find out for yourself. Try not to be discouraged, because as you start to get a handle on the Linux ways of doing things, you'll see the power available that isn't available in Windows.
 
i like linux a lot. but it doesn't meet the criteria am looking for.Its got a strong software base yes but it lacks good software such as photoshop or corel and the macromedia suite..while GIMP is powerful it is not enough like photoshop.
Also if all users could switch to linux life would be a whole lot easier
 
Niskyspy said:
Well, I am getting pissed with my laptop again because windows is on its last couple of breaths and about to pass out on me. Last time this happened I just reinstalled windows XP (format>fresh install). These windows problems happen like clock work, windows fails at least once a year for me and thats with use of Firewalls and Anti-Viruses. So I am just tired of all this and surely wont pay for Vista. I remember trying to run Linux a while back but just ended up installing windows because of Linux unfriendliness to the user. I just couldn't figure out how to install programs in Linux it always needed some kind of code change before anything would work. So what I am looking for now is Linux that would be really user friendly and installation of programs would be just a couple of "NEXT clicks" (something like windows but way better).

Thank you
Click to expand...

a linux that that's friendly..well..let me think..urrrmmm...ubuntu is one, so is PclinuxOS.
PClinuxOS ships with nearly everything on it such as mp3,wma, video playback codecs etc..
why not get a spare old pc and install a distro on and try ?
its worth it you know !!
 
Feisty Fawn (Ubuntu 7.04) is good for beginners, in fact I may try to get my dad to have a play, it's very simple and the central download system for programs is really cool, it even downloads all the other bits you need. Updates are easy too.:)
 
munkyeetr said:
Actually with Ubuntu (which I use 6.10) and a few other distros, it is pretty easy. You can use either an Add/Remove Programs type GUI or the command line (as long as you know what to type, which his easy to find in the forums).

Once you have your repositories file where you want it, it's as simple as:
Code: 
apt-get install <program-name>

Linux isn't harder, it's just different. Once you know how to do something in Linux you know how to do it, same as in windows. It crashes sometimes, but not nearly as often as windows, and usually it is a program that crashes, not the whole OS.

But the only way to know is to give it a try and find out for yourself. Try not to be discouraged, because as you start to get a handle on the Linux ways of doing things, you'll see the power available that isn't available in Windows.
Click to expand...

No, Linux is harder there is no doubt about it. Basically the kernel is locked down and users have no access to it, except via shell. The shell can issue commands to the kernel telling it what to do, and of course the shell requires a certain level of access, be it admin or root, whatever. The GUI in linux is really just a GUI that uses the shell to communicate with the kernel in the background. The user never sees this part.

APT is really only for debian distros of linux. Here is the problem, you run into lots of dependency issues. Even though Debian based distros are more strict about their licensing thus things are more compatible, but non debian packages are a HUGE pain to run on debian based distros. Try installing a RPM on debian based, its a pain. Not everyone distributes DEB packages. Also, then you start running into things like running multiple package managers, trust me it can get very annoying.

Just today I installed evolution on my linux box to try to get an open source mail client that will work with LDAP. It doesn't quite work as intended. That is something you must get used to in Linux. Yes, you really should learn the command line, maybe not all of it but some basic things. Is it hard? No, its not hard, but to get the full benefits of using Linux one must learn a bit harder to understand OS. With windows or with OS X you can just jump right into it and use it like any other OS. With Linux you should take the time to understand the basic functions of the OS, thus it is harder to use. I say this in the sense that it takes more time and effort, not saying its impossible.
 
Niskyspy said:
Well, I am getting pissed with my laptop again because windows is on its last couple of breaths and about to pass out on me. Last time this happened I just reinstalled windows XP (format>fresh install). These windows problems happen like clock work, windows fails at least once a year for me and thats with use of Firewalls and Anti-Viruses. So I am just tired of all this and surely wont pay for Vista. I remember trying to run Linux a while back but just ended up installing windows because of Linux unfriendliness to the user. I just couldn't figure out how to install programs in Linux it always needed some kind of code change before anything would work. So what I am looking for now is Linux that would be really user friendly and installation of programs would be just a couple of "NEXT clicks" (something like windows but way better).

Thank you
Click to expand...

It depends on which one you get. As said above by many, there are different versions, different types, and is definitely harder and different that Windows. The KDE or anything similar will mimic the Windows environment so that it appeals to you more, but it still functions differently. Over the past, linux has come a long way and if you want to try it again; I suggest you get one that is well known or has a huge online community so that you can get assistance if you need to.

I am still a novice at Linux also, but I use it regularly and learn everyday. The thing I use it for the most is for my media and for Beryl.
 
Niskyspy said:
These windows problems happen like clock work, windows fails at least once a year for me and thats with use of Firewalls and Anti-Viruses.
Click to expand...
might be a bad hard drive. for AV i use AVG and for fire wall i used zone alarm.

Niskyspy said:
Linux unfriendliness to the user. I just couldn't figure out how to install programs in Linux it always needed some kind of code change before anything would work. So what I am looking for now is Linux that would be really user friendly and installation of programs would be just a couple of "NEXT clicks" (something like windows but way better).
Click to expand...
each distro handles installing software, updates etc differently. For debian based distros like Ubuntu you can use apt-get witch takes are of alot the installation. synaptic is a GUI form of apt-get where you can check box off things you want. There are some install files you can just right click on and select install. There are harder to come by tho. The code you may come acrost for installing things is in the terminal running make files. make files are a list of source code and how to compile code to run on your comp.

Also the new verison of ubuntu is said to have really good wifi support.

@patrickv http://www.mythtv.org/

tlarkin said:
but non debian packages are a HUGE pain to run on debian based distros. Try installing a RPM on debian based, its a pain. Not everyone distributes DEB packages. Also, then you start running into things like running multiple package managers, trust me it can get very annoying.
Click to expand...
I havent had much experiance with trying to install RPM files on debians. I hear alien is soposed to work with that stuff.

tlarkin said:
but to get the full benefits of using Linux one must learn a bit harder to understand OS. With windows or with OS X you can just jump right into it and use it like any other OS. With Linux you should take the time to understand the basic functions of the OS, thus it is harder to use. I say this in the sense that it takes more time and effort, not saying its impossible.
Click to expand...
That is a nice feature of *nix, you actualy learn how an OS works.
 
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If you're going to reinstall anyway then give Ubuntu 7.04 a try.

The worst that could happen is that you don't like it or it's not fully compatible with your setup and you waste a few hours.
 
Running the live CD is in itself a good indicator, yes.

Obviously some things do require that drivers be installed (internet connection if not ethernet through a router)

For the sake of 40 ish mins install time, you may as well install it, rather than spend hours playing with a limited live desktop.

Dual boot is very easy to do, I did it recently for my partners dad on his new pc. All you do is partition the drive and start the install. Ubuntu detects that another OS is installed, so it's not like you have to do anything special.
 
Thanks for all the replies, and help.
I am going to run Linux on my laptop and would like to know if the battery life would be shorter with Linux. Right now I am downloading Knoppix to see if Linux has all the drivers that I need. The thing that I really worry about is the Wireless which shouldn't be a problem because its a mainstream chip and the mouse tab.
Thank you
 
Battery life should not be shorter, I've seen a few posts where people have gotten longer battery life under Ubuntu than under Windows.
 
just make sure you install the portable computer packages (may be called different on different distros) or the laptop package. It will load the power management software designed for a laptop computer.
 
Just ran Knoppix on my Laptop and everything is running fine except for the wireless card. It found the damn thing and I actually did a scan of the networks. Chose the network that I want to connect to connected to it and came up with a problem.
1) When I turned on Wi-Fi software that came with Linux, three programs opened up in the menu
2) First was nothing special, so I used the second program (right click) and selected scan, then found my network and added it.
3) It connected to it but no packets are going through
4) 3rd program (icon) is disconnected and I cannot connect it.

I am pretty sure its some newbi thing going on here so could u either answer my question or give a link to a Linux learning site.
Thank you
 
you may need updated drivers, installing the OS and downloading and updating wifi linux drivers may be needed. What type of wireless card do you own in your laptop do you know?
 
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