My Opinion On The Reality Of Computer Users And Computer Nerds

[livinthailandos]

I figured I'd post this in as I"ve seen various posting and come to seem a lack of actual understanding. Flame wars may happen even on this post but so be it so here goes. I'm a mac user, linux user and windows user so I can actually understand points from all 3 OS.

The main thing I'd bringing about is computer users weither there from Apple, Linux, Windows themselves, they all point to usually 1 or 2 areas

superiority complex

true lack of actual dialog or discussion, or understanding

How so?

Case in point: most times I see windows bashing due to usually these issues

it sucks

prone to many malware, virus, spyware,

blue screen of death

or other various issues

Lets get something in point. If your windows is crashing, or your reformating hard drives all the time or some other problem in which windows is always having problems you must really have no idea how to fix, maintain windows or your computer. Yes I realize windows is not a great OS due to various issues but it can be maintained. I've had almost no problems with windows but only because I realize what windows needs to maintain stability. I've very rarely seen anything online regarding mac users & linux users agreeing much on anything with windows except to say that it sucks. On OS though lets run through

Windows still occupies most of the business use, because most software for business has been written only for windows. Same for games. The main reason WHY most software is made for windows its because its where the money is. On negative points though, architecture of windows I believe should have been redone though. Ballmer is still a goof ball but he tries most times not to successfully. case it points windows vista and windows mobile. windows on servers well can do ok but linux still does it better.

Apple, good place for showing the market how it can and should be done. cases in point IPOD, Itunes, Iphone, ease of use, no break downs. gotta love it. Bad points apple computers, iphone are a niche market meaning If you want a apple computer you better have at least 1000 dollars available. apple doesn't come cheap and thats fine especially if your only after a very small marketshare and people with money. As long as the price of apple stays the same especially only in point for computers. apples marketshare will always remain low and less likely to be hit with the same problems like virus, spyware problems etc that windows shares. Don't expect though to likely show up for business use though especially in the long run

Linux for customizing almost anyway you want, apple, windows will never reach this area. On the bad, any open minded linux user should watch http://lunduke.com/?p=429 on linux sucks there are valid points there and what needs to be done to make a better linux os system. Good points though

Linux always works better on servers

Linux lets you try its OS on a live cd to test out.

Linux is always changing practically ever 6 months

Linux OS has a giant database of applications that you can easily access from the OS

Linux has more choices for distros

I was gonna add more details regarding money on advertising, companies but this post is no to long. Hate this post or feel like adding something more then post it

[thaimite]

Good post.

I'd like to add my 2cents worth as a longtime Windoze and fairly new Linux user.

I do not and probably never will own an apple as I do not fit their user profile of too much money and happy with a few applications. My only experince fo their products was transferiing music to a friends iPod and finding it wanted my entire music collection organised "their way" which put me off all of their products for life

Windoze is OK considering the vast user-base, and wide range of application, but as you rightly state most users do not understand the level of maintenance required to keep anything other than a standard low use system in shape.

In addition the need for antivirus and firewall software. It is not fair to expect the average computer user to be a software engineer to keep their systems up to date and running smoothy, but that is the reality. They are doing a fairly good job given all the different hardware and software on the market. Windows is the automobile industry was 50 years ago.

Unless you are prepared to spend money on maintenance or get your hands dirty doing it yourslef occasionally you will suffer the consequences.

As for Linux, I have to admit it is much superior in many ways , but it is still basically written for Geeks by Geeks. My mother uses Windows to send me emails and chat on Skype, but I would never dare to suggest she should load Ubuntu without some skilled help available for her. When linux breaks it takes a good understanding of the command prompt and various arcane procedures to get it back working. Try installing an incompatable graphics driver and being only left with the command prompt to sort it out.

[OxfordWill]

so? The complaints often come from support persons who deal with people who dont know how to "fix maintain or use" their computers and this is why they dont like windows. It's not idiot proof. People refuse to learn how to use their pcs. People refuse even to read "IMPORTANT: READ THIS FIRST" instructions. People say things like this:

"Hi I cant fit the cable into my computer"

Tech: "What shape is the end of the cable please?"

"Purple."

etc.

The system which can be made the most idiot proof is the best for mass consumption. Windows is definitely not this.

Secondly, power users. Users who need to get shit done and quickly. Unix systems. Windows can't really compete! Also bear in mind power users need to get shit done quickly on other peoples computers too. So if an inexperienced windows user has messed up his PC looking at trojan porn sites or just deleted a bunch of .dll files because he thought it would fix something, an admin is faced with considerable time wasting tasks before he can even begin to fix the actual problem he has turned up to fix.

Edited October 16, 2009 by OxfordWill

[thaimite]

The system which can be made the most idiot proof is the best for mass consumption. Windows is definitely not this.

It is impossible to make a system that's idiot proof because idiots are so inventive

[webfact]

During the years working with Windows I became a mechanic. I can smell the oil if I fire it up....

You need to be a mechanic in some way to deal with that OS

[OxfordWill]

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Urgent-Warni...rs-t306377.html

case in point.

What's really happened in that thread? A few possibilities, none of them make microsoft look good.

[phetaroi]

The complaints often come from support persons who deal with people who dont know how to "fix maintain or use" their computers and this is why they dont like windows. It's not idiot proof. People refuse to learn how to use their pcs. People refuse even to read "IMPORTANT: READ THIS FIRST" instructions.

...

You hit one aspect of this right on the head. I am by far no expert on hardware, and not really an expert of software, although I do okay. Back in the States, once in a blue moon I would have to call in one of the come-to-your-home fixit guys...but rarely...and even then mostly because I didn't want to personally spend the time and frustration. Nevertheless, at work, people would often come to me and ask me to look at their "problem". Sometimes it was waaaaay beyond me, or perhaps I would know what the problem was but not how to fix it. But other times I found myself saying things like, "Well, before you can print anything you have to have an ink cartridge in the printer." The classic situation was my boss who came to me and said, "Vince, could you look at my computer. It's dead." I look at it. "Gail, you have to plug it into the electric plug." "Very funny. But what's really wrong with it." "Gail, you really do have to plug it in."

So computer morons are one problem.

But sometimes I think computer experts are just as bad a problem.

My significant other is one of those people. Spends an inordinate amount of time fixing software glitches and hardware glitches. Of course, had his computer built by scratch and has since personally modified it. Is using illegal software. I could go on. Meanwhile, I spend my time using my HP computer which has legal software.

[endure]

Apple have an innate advantage over both Windows and Linux in that they control both the hardware and the operating system. If you think about the many different combinations of hardware that Windows and Linux are expected to run on it's sometimes a wonder that they work at all.

[sbk]

Not anymore they don't. Apple moved to Intel chips. My sister, who uses Apple exclusively for her business (a graphics heavy business) is seriously considering buying windows laptops for her sales department as Apple computers are, in her rather broad experience, not the machines they once were.

[endure]

They might be using Intel chips but they still have complete control of both the hardware and the operating system. I can go down to my local computer shop and buy a bag of bits and build a machine that will run Windows or Linux. If I want an Apple I have to buy from Apple.

Edit to add that I know it's possible to run OSX on non-Apple machines but that is straying into deep geekdom.

Edited October 16, 2009 by endure

[Gary A]

I'm not a super techie but I do run a good Internet Security system with a firewall. I do defrag, clean my registry and hard drive on a regular basis. I have used XP Pro for a number of years. I suffered through all the service packs until it finally turned into a reliable system. I have had Windows 7 running since the RC came out. I DON'T have any Windows problems. As soon as the Windows 7 family pack is available, I'll install it on my desktop and laptop. So far I am quite impressed with Windows 7. It even installed onto My Lenovo lap top without any problems.

I also have probably 7 or 8 different Linux distros on CD's. I have tried them all and each one was lacking something. I can see no logical reason to turn into a geek to learn all the quirks and tricks to get things to work on Linux. If all the developers would work together rather than each building their own system, they could eventually put a dent in Windows.

As far as Apple, I don't like their proprietary way of doing business. The cost of Apple gadgets is also over the top. If I lived in a western country, I may have tried Apple but here in Thailand, service is very lacking. Taking or sending my computer to Bangkok would be a bummer. Nearly every Somchai who has a computer shop can service my desk top PC although my lap top is another story. The nearest authorized Lenovo/IBM service is 140 kilometers away.

[jasreeve17]

I worked with Microsoft in regard to broadcasting s/w - they weren't very good compared to other companies we worked with (OpenTV, Liberate, etc...), so I agree that Microsoft are far from perfect, technically.

Having said that, I bought a new computer 18 months ago. It came with full telephone support and McAfee protection. I go all over the internet, download and use various applications without bothering to think too hard, and I've had no problems at all.

Nine months ago, I got the missus a similar setup. She tries hard all day every day to infect her computer, and has managed to find a couple of problems. These were fixed within minutes by the phone support.

Microsoft has a huge number of users, and for many their product works just fine.

I once worked for a company that only used Linux; what a pain in the arse. I was busy trying to do business, I didn't wanna waste time with lower level commands...

All the other companies I worked for used Microsoft, and I found Microsoft products much better for lobbing around the world managing business development in a laptop intensive role. I carried a lot of applications on the laptop and drove it hard, regularly on the internet, connecting into my company servers daily... Never had any problems.

Apple. I'm sure it's pretty good if that's what you need - graphics? So they say (nobody used them when I worked in feature film post-production, one of the most intensive graphics industries...). The reality is that everyone I know who has an apple partitions their drive and spends 90% of the time using Microsoft products... They look nice though....

[Crushdepth]

I like to play with all of them.

[nikster]

Nobody buys Windows - it just comes with your PC. It's not a conscious choice. Whereas to get a Mac, or a Linux machine, you have to really make an effort.

For people who don't know anything about computers, I think the difference is that Windows totally sucks, and OS X only sucks a little bit. Really good? Neither. What's really good for these people is an iPod. You only need to know 2 buttons, and it only really has one function. Easy. Computers can do way too much, so up to now nobody's figured out a way to make them easy to use. I recommend Macs to these people mainly because I think a normal person - by which I mean, my mom - cannot possibly avoid viruses or trojans on their Windows PC. It's too much for them. And also because they will come to me so I fix their machines, and Apple users come less often and are easier to take care of. Less to go wrong.

For power users, I think OS X is way better, and way more efficient, simply because way less time is spent tweaking the innards. Way less time is spent just doing things in order to keep the OS running, rather than getting things done that you might actually want to get done with a computer. Most other programmers I know agree with that - unless they need Windows for work reasons, they keep it in a Virtual Machine (like I do), to be pulled out on those occasions where we need to test our software on it, and use OS X for the real work.

Windows spends more time in the garage, and less on the road, so to speak. I don't mean crashing or actual downtime, its less intelligent and thoughtful design just ends up costing the power user valuable time. It sips up valuable minutes, and occasionally hours, every day.

That hardware is tied to software is not a good situation with OS X, and I can understand people who'd rather be not dependent on a single vendor. Even though Apple is one of the most innovative hardware manufacturers around, innovation must suffer from this. Hence no Apple netbook and no Acer timeline class of computer. Personally I have no use for a netbook so that's no biggie, but the timeline idea of a cheap laptop that lasts forever and is powerful enough for most of what most people do is awesome, that's clearly a big loss, hardware-wise.

To those who think Apples are overpriced: Not if you generate income from your computer. Even at a pretty low hourly rate, the extra cost you pay for a Mac is recovered rather quickly. In my case, within 5 minutes of taking the Mac out of its box, when I switch on the migration assistant. There are a million little things on OS X that all end up saving you lots of time over a comparable Windows experience.

Edited October 17, 2009 by nikster

[Insight]

Don't want to divulge my entire career on here, but lets just say I'm a power user. Waiting for a thread like this to get something off my chest about the non-Windows OS's.

To launch plain ol' calculator in Windows I can do Win+R, "calc" then enter. Word - same but "winword". In fact, it's possible to launch a wide array of applications with a few keystrokes on a simple, out-of-the-box XP setup.

How do I do the same on Linux?

Edited October 17, 2009 by Insight

[shriah]

' Gnome Do' can run application, search files, open websites, search mails, play song, act as a Dock , etc . You can open it using win+ Spacebar . Its far superior to your win+R . If you really need something better than Run in windows you can use 'Launchy' which is same as Gnome Do but for windows. Launchy is also available for linux but its not in the default repository of Ubuntu but Gnome Do is in the repository.

Edited October 17, 2009 by shriah

[Dontdisturb]

To launch plain ol' calculator in Windows I can do Win+R, "calc" then enter. Word - same but "winword". In fact, it's possible to launch a wide array of applications with a few keystrokes on a simple, out-of-the-box XP setup.

How do I do the same on Linux?

Alt+F2 launch a dialogbox where you can type the name of the application. Even provide a search and auto completive function.

[Insight]

Thanks for the responses.

shriah - Gnome Do looks interesting. Downside is it's something that needs to be installed separately which therefore brings its own limitations.

Dontdisturb - Yeah, ALT+F2. Now here's the thing - the Windows "Run" prompt is very basic, but is surprisingly useful when you know a few commands. ALT+F2 in Ubuntu, on the other hand, is rubbish compared, even with its "autocomplete" function. When I checked how to launch calculator, it was something like "gnome-calculator" - hardly brief. Other commands are equally long (and many begin with "gnome-" ruining the auto complete function for the first 6 characters). Not really thought through that well.

Another use of Win+R - if I want to quickly launch the page I'm currently viewing in a different browser to my current - copy the URL (ALT+D, CTRL+C), launch Run (WIN+R), then iexplore/chrome/firefox then CTRL+V. Can I do the same with ALT+F2? No chance.

Another use of the Run box is launching a file with a specified application. Win+R then start typing out the path (it's own Autocomplete kicks in to help you browse as you're typing). Once you've got the file you want to open in the box, it home to bring the cursor back to the start, type out the app name (such as notepad/paint/browser name etc), then hit enter.

This might sound like a pedantic rant, but the "Run" box gets used so often by me when launching applications. Navigating through the the Start menu/Windows Explorer is a secondary chore. Figuring it all out again in Ubuntu is a real pain, especially considering this is an OS that prides itself on the flexibility of the command line.

Which brings me on to the last point - launch a command prompt/shell. Win+R, "cmd" then enter in Windows (6 keys). ALT+F2 then what in Ubuntu?

[DONEWITHIT]

What computer and system would everyone recommend just for webcam,skype,email,checking bank accounts and going to trusted sites?

I just want to keep in contact with family and friends.Also keep tabs on the money.

What I don't want is problems where the computer goes wacky and have to get it fixed.

I have an Acer with Avira and just sticking to the things I mentioned above I've had no problems so far using windows vista.I am very computer illiterate and was thinking when I come to Thailand to get a netbook and use it only for my banking sites and use my Acer laptop for communication with family and friends.

Does this sound like a safe way to avoid problems?

Thanks,Mr Dinosaur

[shriah]

What kind of limitations ? Its really easy to install from Synaptic . There is no configuration to make it work , it works out of the box, In windows Run you cannot open all applications . If you are in windows try ' Launchy ' you will never go for the 'Start' button If you are a power user who uses win+R often then you MUST try Launchy . You don't have to be precise with the application name, the system knows what application you are trying to launch in three to four key stroke, to launch 'Firefox' all I have to do is enter 'F' it knows I use firefox often so it will prompt me to open it. It saves a lot of time and things are lot easier than fumbling with Start menu .

[Dontdisturb]

What computer and system would everyone recommend just for webcam,skype,email,checking bank accounts and going to trusted sites?

I just want to keep in contact with family and friends.Also keep tabs on the money.

What I don't want is problems where the computer goes wacky and have to get it fixed.

I have an Acer with Avira and just sticking to the things I mentioned above I've had no problems so far using windows vista.I am very computer illiterate and was thinking when I come to Thailand to get a netbook and use it only for my banking sites and use my Acer laptop for communication with family and friends.

Does this sound like a safe way to avoid problems?

Thanks,Mr Dinosaur

Windows should suffice, but if you consider online banking read this first: avoid-windows-online-banking

[OxfordWill]

shriah - Gnome Do looks interesting. Downside is it's something that needs to be installed separately which therefore brings its own limitations.

This is fundamental misunderstanding of how linux distros work. Everything "needs to be installed separately". The distro (flavour) you choose depends on your needs so many of them install with Gnome out of the box.

Dontdisturb - Yeah, ALT+F2. Now here's the thing - the Windows "Run" prompt is very basic, but is surprisingly useful when you know a few commands. ALT+F2 in Ubuntu, on the other hand, is rubbish compared, even with its "autocomplete" function. When I checked how to launch calculator, it was something like "gnome-calculator" - hardly brief. Other commands are equally long (and many begin with "gnome-" ruining the auto complete function for the first 6 characters). Not really thought through that well.

A simple text file in your home directory can make gnome-calculator respond to "calc" or "lazy" or "extra fries please" or whatever you like. Why dont they just make it calc? Well, because there are so many choices of free calculator software available to linux users that you need a unique name to differentiate them. It takes two seconds once in your life to decide you want to always use gnome-calculator and change the alias "calc" to replace it.

Another use of Win+R - if I want to quickly launch the page I'm currently viewing in a different browser to my current - copy the URL (ALT+D, CTRL+C), launch Run (WIN+R), then iexplore/chrome/firefox then CTRL+V. Can I do the same with ALT+F2? No chance.

You can do it much quicker- copy url, then type "browsername (pasted url)" Windows: minimum 12 keys, linux: minimum 4. If you do this alot and wrote a simple bash script you could even make it happen with the press of one single key. If your staff did this alot for work purposes you could enable such a feature on all workstations and save time and money.

Another use of the Run box is launching a file with a specified application. Win+R then start typing out the path (it's own Autocomplete kicks in to help you browse as you're typing). Once you've got the file you want to open in the box, it home to bring the cursor back to the start, type out the app name (such as notepad/paint/browser name etc), then hit enter.

And in linux one does exactly the same thing, except quicker- you type the app name followed by the file and no need for clicking anything at all.

This might sound like a pedantic rant, but the "Run" box gets used so often by me when launching applications. Navigating through the the Start menu/Windows Explorer is a secondary chore. Figuring it all out again in Ubuntu is a real pain, especially considering this is an OS that prides itself on the flexibility of the command line.

Honestly I think youve just found out how to use the run box and you think its magic, which is great, but whereas in windows it is a godsend and finally you can shortcut regular tasks, in linux it is a fundamental and you begin your learning experience using it (linux), not finish your learning experience using it (windows).

"Which brings me on to the last point - launch a command prompt/shell. Win+R, "cmd" then enter in Windows (6 keys). ALT+F2 then what in Ubuntu?"

You just click the terminal icon on your taskbar, or if you havent bothered to set one, you can type "terminal" or "xterm" or whatever you have as your terminal choice, depending on your distro and setup.

There are some good arguments for windows over linux but trying to argue that the command prompt/run prompt is one will quickly show most of windows' flaws and make linux look very good. very quickly.

Edited October 17, 2009 by OxfordWill

[Dontdisturb]

^ Agree, I just doesn't bothered to answer the last insight's post.

It just took me 30 sec to create a symbolic link to gnome-calculator and then use "ALT+F2 clc" to launch it.

ln -s /usr/bin/gnome-calculator /usr/bin/clc

BTW I use spotlight in Mac and the Linux old laptop is only a P2P and media machine now.

Edited October 18, 2009 by Dontdisturb

[OxfordWill]

Yea, he's just so wrong its painful, but someone had to point it out or someone might think he had a point.

[Insight]

OxfordWill - that sounds borderline condescending. Really hoping we could avoid such tone...

First two points (using italics also as I'll quicky run out of allowed quotes)

This is fundamental misunderstanding of how linux distros work. Everything "needs to be installed separately". The distro (flavour) you choose depends on your needs so many of them install with Gnome out of the box.

What if I don't know what distro a customer has? What if I'm hoping for a standard behaviour across all the whole range of OS's? I could install another app using apt-get, but what if there's no net access? What if I don't have the relevant permission required on the machine I'm using/supporting? Two very real headaches frequently encountered when supporting users in the real world. I'm simply looking for an easy way to access most applications on an out-the-box install of an OS.

A simple text file in your home directory can make gnome-calculator respond to "calc" or "lazy" or "extra fries please" or whatever you like. Why dont they just make it calc? Well, because there are so many choices of free calculator software available to linux users that you need a unique name to differentiate them. It takes two seconds once in your life to decide you want to always use gnome-calculator and change the alias "calc" to replace it.

So I'm required to do this on every install I encounter?

And in linux one does exactly the same thing, except quicker- you type the app name followed by the file and no need for clicking anything at all.

Okay, Ubuntu box fired up, connected to it from my Win machine using NX Client. NX configured to capture all keys so it's pretty much as if I'm sat in front of it. Also got a Bash prompt over SSH via PuTTy. Attempting "/etc/network/interfaces" file using various apps seems to work quite well, but TBH I miss not having the files appear below the textbox where I type.

Interesting quirk - you can't use "~/somedirectory" to a sub-directory/file in your home dir, but you can drop the "~/" to access...

Honestly I think youve just found out how to use the run box and you think its magic, which is great, but whereas in windows it is a godsend and finally you can shortcut regular tasks, in linux it is a fundamental and you begin your learning experience using it (linux), not finish your learning experience using it (windows).

I've been accessing most files and apps using the Run prompt since I started developing professionally around 1998.

You just click the terminal icon on your taskbar, or if you havent bothered to set one, you can type "terminal" or "xterm" or whatever you have as your terminal choice, depending on your distro and setup.

Clicking the button on the task bar is an option, but one that involves using the mouse - I'm hoping to avoid that. I'll go with ALT+F2 and "xterm" as that's shortest. Works great (that appears to be a bash shell), but why the change of colour scheme fonts? Run "htop" in it and it appears in monochrome. Nevermind - try "terminal". Great - "Gnome Terminal" appears as I type in "term". Force of habit, press down to highlight it and the textbox jumps back to "xterm" which I entered previously. GUI 101 gents.

There are some good arguments for windows over linux but trying to argue that the command prompt/run prompt is one will quickly show most of windows' flaws and make linux look very good. very quickly.

Disagree so far. The "Run" prompt in Windows may not be as wonderful as its Linux counterpart, but it I've found it pretty practical for my requirements. Not having as much fun trying to achieve the same with Linux and I've tried repeatedly.

Dontdisturb - Okay, perfect example. To get that command from Chrome into a Windows command prompt took me about 10 seconds after it was in the clipboard (Win-R, "cmd", right click over the window and paste).

Trying the same with my new found "xterm" knowledge. ALT+F2, "xterm", right click over the window and... it's just gone and selected a load of text. Can't see any paste option in the window's control menu, so bugger it - Gnome terminal. ALT+F2, "term", tab tab tab down (not falling for that one again), enter, right click, "paste"... it's gone from my <deleted> clipboard. Probably related to right clicking in the other terminal window.

Okay, it's back in the clipboard. Take 2, click Edit this time, then Paste (shortcut SHIFT+CTRL+V - noted for later), enter then - permission denied (yes we could all see it coming )

Okay, I could run it again using "sudo", but I'm just creating a linked file (<deleted>) - I'll specify it to go in the home dir, as it's just been established files and folders in the home dir can be specified directly via ALT+F2...

ln -s /usr/bin/gnome-calculator ~/calc

ALT+F2, "calc" then enter and... Nope... Fail.

Okay, what's this completely clueless undeserving newbie doing wrong...?

[Dontdisturb]

You should keep using Windows, the link should work. Even a clic on the symbolic link icon should lauch the program.

In Ubuntu as well as in Fedora, Mint, Arch Mandriva or any other else.

Edited October 18, 2009 by Dontdisturb

[MJo]

Good post OP, somehow i was not surprised to see the thread turning to "how to" for linux in half a page

For majority of normal users there is no issues with windows. Been using it since the dos/win3.1 days and it all works fine in normal business use which i mean email, internet and office applications. I think i've gotten the blue screen maybe twice or so so far. Sometimes there used to be crash but nowadays it's much more stable. Over the years your pc collects all kind of crap so defrag and registry cleaning will improve performance but there is simple tools to take care of it so i don't have to be expert on it to get it done.

My netbook came with xp and with all the stories how superior linux is i decided to install it. Took me two full working days to get wifi and lan working and to install necessary basic applications. Managed to use it for a day and 4th day it wanted to update everything and i just lost all connectivity again. Took me one full working day to get everything running again.

The due to the fact that it would not support screen resolution my netbook is capable of and not to mention that battery lasts only like 6-7 hrs compared to 8-11 hours in windows i reverted back to XP.

So my take on it is that i (as majority of users) just want a computer that we can turn the power on and start working and that's where windows is good. I take your word for it and do believe linux is superior system and you can do what ever you want with it but it's not for average joe whos not interested tweaking around all the time and is not capable nor willing to study and learn how the os really works. Until there is linux that can be pre-installed in computers at the factory and that works out of the box with all different hw configs it will stay as the preferred os for geeks.

[Dontdisturb]

Good post OP, somehow i was not surprised to see the thread turning to "how to" for linux in half a page :

Thanks to Insight.

For majority of normal users there is no issues with windows. Been using it since the dos/win3.1 days and it all works fine in normal business use which i mean email, internet and office applications. I think i've gotten the blue screen maybe twice or so so far. Sometimes there used to be crash but nowadays it's much more stable. Over the years your pc collects all kind of crap so defrag and registry cleaning will improve performance but there is simple tools to take care of it so i don't have to be expert on it to get it done.

Now I have to say you were a very lucky Windows user.

My netbook came with xp and with all the stories how superior linux is i decided to install it. Took me two full working days to get wifi and lan working and to install necessary basic applications. Managed to use it for a day and 4th day it wanted to update everything and i just lost all connectivity again. Took me one full working day to get everything running again.

The due to the fact that it would not support screen resolution my netbook is capable of and not to mention that battery lasts only like 6-7 hrs compared to 8-11 hours in windows i reverted back to XP.

Gnu/linux is very stable, secure and easy to use only if you take time to learn how it works, and the first steps could be very disappointing for people accostumed to Windows.

I don't know which distribution you installed but most are coming with a wide range of included applications for internet, multimedia, image - music - web editing, office etc. Maybe not the netbook specific distributions.

I have to admit that the Wifi support for some recent chipsets is poor, but eth card should not be a problem.

Same for the battery power management on Linux, not as well optimized than on Windows. OTOH a Windows OS installed on a Mac via Bootcamp has a poor autonomy compared to Mac OS X.

So my take on it is that i (as majority of users) just want a computer that we can turn the power on and start working and that's where windows is good. I take your word for it and do believe linux is superior system and you can do what ever you want with it but it's not for average joe whos not interested tweaking around all the time and is not capable nor willing to study and learn how the os really works. Until there is linux that can be pre-installed in computers at the factory and that works out of the box with all different hw configs it will stay as the preferred os for geeks.

turn the power on and start working ... after installing an anti-virus, anti-malware, firewall and some other apps.

Everyone to his own as long as it doesn't turn into a nightmare. I have used GNU/linux for more than 10 years and switched to Mac last year and I like it. BTW I had installed Windows somewhere if I was a gamer.

[Insight]

You should keep using Windows, the link should work. Even a clic on the symbolic link icon should lauch the program.

In Ubuntu as well as in Fedora, Mint, Arch Mandriva or any other else.

Brilliant! With this attitude people won't need to be told twice

My post was simply detailing the headaches involved with switching to Linux. Yeah, one of my longest posts in TV for a while and has already got me asking "why bother?".

Figured it out tho - The reason the link won't work from the home dir is because the home path isn't part of the PATH var and therefore requires a dot slash prefix. Thanks for your help.

[Dontdisturb]

Brilliant! With this attitude people won't need to be told twice

My post was simply detailing the headaches involved with switching to Linux. Yeah, one of my longest posts in TV for a while and has already got me asking "why bother?".

Figured it out tho - The reason the link won't work from the home dir is because the home path isn't part of the PATH var and therefore requires a dot slash prefix. Thanks for your help.

You're right, /home/toto is not in the PATH, but if you read the command I wrote in my previous post I, created the "clc" link in /usr/bin and not in the /home directory. And surely not at root of the home directory, because /home/toto/bin is in the PATH. And if the folder doesn't exist, just create it.

And ... it's your attitude. You were trying to convince me that Windows is better. Maybe for you but not for me as I don't use it and it's not on my agenda.

If I was interesting to learn the rope of another OS or Linux distro I wouldn't come on an expat forum, but going straight reading the WIKI of the distribution I would figure to install. Look at Distrowatch.com so you can choose the distro you need. Links to websites, report and anything you need.

Edited October 18, 2009 by Dontdisturb