A lot of the people that I know are afraid of their computers. Many don't know how to cut & paste. A person called me recently to get me to walk them through how to save a file from the internet to a USB drive. I am not bashing all Windows users. I still use XP some. A lot of the reason that people don't know more about how to do things with their computer is that computers don't nterest them.
Linux takes some reading and research but so does Windows. Most people turn on their computer and if it doesn't look like it did the last time they checked their email, got on Facebook or Twitter, then they are lost. I dare say that a great majority of home computers (windows of course) are never defragged, no files are cleaned out, and the command line has never been used. The dust inside just collects until something fries or quits. Then they go get another one.
Linux has become my main OS for the last 5 years. I am retired and check out new distros quite often. My favorite for a long time was Mepis. I still like it but have also been using a Ubuntu derivative for several months. If a person wants to try a Linux distro and they can't get started with either Ubuntu, Mepis, or PCLOS, then they need to stay with Windows.
my 2 cents,
Thanks,
Harold
Hey Harold - Couldn't agree more with your assessment mate....spot on!!
I am by no means a computer 'expert' but I am no beginner either; I've owned a computer of one type or another since around 1980 and am very familiar with operating systems and well versed in the technicalities. However, trying out Linux distros (mainly Ubuntu & Kubuntu) has always been a source of frustration for me. My main issue is with the heavy reliance on command line, even for the simplest of operations. I found myself needing to continually hook up to forums for advice on command line syntax.
There is no doubt in my mind I could master it in time but, quite frankly, I don't have the patience (nor the will, I guess).... plus, of course, good ol' Windows is always there.
I have written much on the reasons Linux has not been more successful, why it has not been accepted by the masses and still retains only a pitifully minor market share..... and what the developers need to do to rectify the situation. Suffice to say; the diversification of distros and fragmented development strategy, the heavy reliance on command line and lack of a more intuitive and comprehensive user interface, plus a poor and fragmented marketing strategy are, in my opinion, the main contributors.
It's a shame really because I do like Linux and believe it has the potential to be a major player.
Much respect and kudos to you for successfully making the transition mate.
Cheers now....Jim
I for one do not believe that Linux is a viable Desktop Operating System at this time. Ubuntu is close, and making strides to getting there, but at this point, I don't see it.
Like Jim, nearly everything I do in Linux requires command line interaction. It's rare that changing a setting allows me to just change the setting without requiring me to go restart a service manually or, worse, reboot entirely. Linux has a long way to go on the desktop before I recommend it to average computer users.
Windows or Mac - the UI is at least polished looking enough to be usable without much training.
On the server side, Linux can't be beat. It suffers a little bit on the Active Directory (domain) integration side of things, but even that has gotten better. As an administrator of both Linux and Windows servers, I much prefer working on the Linux servers. While it takes some specific knowledge, and it requires lots of command line interaction, but that's ok - it provides job security.
I forgot to add to my earlier post....
I am definitely not a computer expert and know very little about networking and servers. I have two computers at home that I dual/multi-boot. They aren't even networked because I don't take the time to try and learn what I need to know to do it. One is an older standby, just in case the main one crashes.
What I didn't put in my earlier post is that I use the command line very little. Of course, because of the above paragraph, I rarely have the need to. I realize the power of the command line but had rather do things in the gui. Usually if I need to do something from the command line, by the time I run down (search the web) the commands I have forgotten what I wanted to do in the first place. I do use the CL sometimes but usually copy and paste the commands someone else has written.
I have some useful CL stuff that I printed out and put on my office wall.
Thanks,
Harold
[quote:3jpikyyj]Usually if I need to do something from the command line, by the time I run down (search the web) the commands I have forgotten what I wanted to do in the first place[/quote:3jpikyyj]
LOL...now that sounds very familiar.
It's one of the aspects of Linux (and Ubuntu in particular) I do not understand Harold; with the use of command line being so integral, why is there not a comprehensive list of the most often used commands available anywhere? If I were trying to garner acceptance for my distro (i.e. Ubuntu) I would make sure such a list was readily available for all and sundry.
Cheers....Jim
[quote="ozbloke":11kpv440] If I were trying to garner acceptance for my distro (i.e. Ubuntu) I would make sure such a list was readily available for all and sundry.
Cheers....Jim[/quote:11kpv440]
Or fix the GUI to completely eliminate the CL?
I do wish the Windows CL was a bit more....robust than it is.
[quote="houndhen":3q4wo5r9]I hesitate to even mention this but...
I have almost never gotten anything useful from a man page. To me and a lot of people they were written by geeks for geeks. Just saying. No offense intended.[/quote:3q4wo5r9]
I agree with you too. The 'uber geeks' who tell you to go RTFM (read the fantastic manual) assume you speak geek already.
There is a school of thought that says if you can't program a computer you shouldn't use one. Of course, that's like saying if you can't build a car you shouldn't drive one....
[quote="Mindblower":j059cqrj]You've joking right? I'm no lame duck, but Linux is NOT a walk in the park. It's more old school (helps when you know a programming language) and NOT what the modern mouse click generation is used too, Mindblower![/quote:j059cqrj]
Spoken like a person who has never used Linux.
Didn't check the date on the post, It isn't like I had to search the forums hard to find it, it was right on the first page of topics in the Linux forum.
Nor was I bashing anything, I was merely making a statement, that I thought was pretty obvious.
Perhaps I should rephrase.
A person need not know how to program to use Linux. In fact a person need not know anything about computers to use Linux.
That said I will likely start a new topic, with information I have from "personal experience" that shows just how friendly a Linux distribution can be.
[quote="ozbloke":2u3iz78p]Again.....agree 100% Harold.
So please tell us:
I see you are running a dual boot system with Linux and XP. What do you specifically use Linux for (to do)? And what do you use XP for? How would you describe your usage on each OS, as a percentage (e.g. 50/50)?
Cheers....Jim[/quote:2u3iz78p]Sorry to have taken so long to reply. Sometimes I don't get the email that someone has replied to a post of mine.
I use Linux for a large percentage of my computer work. Over 90%, I would guess. I use it to keep up with my finances; email; forums about Linux; word processing and spreadsheets using either Open office or Libre Office; and searching the web for computer answers. Why do I not use it all the time? I am involved in bookkeeping for more than one entity and I use Quickbooks for that because I have used QB for years before entering the Linux world. That is the only thing that I use Windows for. Another reason to keep Windows around it that most other people have Windows and ask me questions about how to do things. I understand that Windows 7 is a good OS but I have no plans to purchase and use it. People that ask for help sometimes have Windows 7 on their computer and I can get around some in it but I don't spend a lot of time trying to learn the intricacies of it. Usually when you ask someone what their operating system is they have no idea. They don't know what a browser is either. I am by far not a computer guru and there is a lot that I don't understand and know how to do but I try. I will soon be 68 years old. If someone has the desire to break away from Windows then they can if I can. It will take some time. I won't say that all Linux is friendlier than Windows but some are, but different. It will take some time for a person to learn how to get around in Linux. A lot of people don't have the time or desire to learn LInux. Actually, they have never learned any version of Windows either; other than memorizing how to do what they want to do. When they have a problem, they either ignore it if possible or they get someone that knows more than they do.
I keep several distros updated and replace some of them from time to time. I keep one distro for my daily work but keep another or two ready just in case. I like to look at different distros to see what is being turned out. Not everything that I look at is for me. I use both Gnome and KDE. I don't care for Gnome 3 and Unity but then I don't even have a smart phone or a tablet. I never have really like using a laptop. I just prefer a desktop. I have no desire to know how to program or compile packages for Linux; I just want it to work. I am mostly a gui person but I can use the command line when I have to. Usually, by the time that search, find the commands, and understand them, I have about forgotten what I was wanting to do. Gui is just easier for me. Someone else has done the command line work for me if a gui exists to do what I want to do.
Presently I am using a Ubuntu remix (superos 10.10). I find it quick and it works. I am really partial to Mepis, and PCLOS, too. I have two versions of Mepis on my HD and the latest PCLOS. I have used Crunchbang for a while, liked it, and still keep it updated. PCLOS was my first endevour into Linux. I have always like Mint but have never used it on a daily basis. KDE4 takes some getting used to. I prefer Grub legacy over Grub2. My boot menu is Grub legacy kept on Mepis 8.5. The menu has some distros that use Grub2. Sometimes it is a challenge for me to get them to boot from the menu but I work it out.
Didn't mean for this to be so long. Hope it helps someone wanting to make the move to Linux.
Thanks,
Harold
Jim Hillier
Richard Pedersen
David Hartsock
Carol Bratt
dandl
Jason Shuffield
Jim Canfield
Terry Hollett
Stuart Berg
John Durso
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