I'm proof that even an idiot can run Linux

[Random Variable]

I thought setting up openSUSE would be difficult, but it turned out to be quite easy. All of my computer's hardware was instantly recognized (video card, sound card, modem, etc.). This is the first time I've used an operating system other than DOS or Windows in about 15 years. It's almost exciting.

 

[OVerLoRDI]

It really depends on your hardware. I have a P4 laptop with an intel chipset and it works perfectly. But my gaming machine on the other hand.... Wow what a pain in the ass to get all the drivers installed and configured.

 

[halik]

Great,
let me know when you actually wanna use it and realize you can't change the resolution, get firewire hdd to work or enable multimonitor setup.

Linux is great for screwing around with, but hardly useful when your productivity matters.

 

[0roo0roo]

now break it, and try to repair your install.

 

[dighn]

yeah linux is getting pretty easy to install now. I just installed fedora core 6 a few days ago. it's a far cry from my first encounter with linux a few years ago with slackware. but I did encounter a problem which I think would stump a beginner. it wouldn't switch to the x86 environment on bootup. I have to alt-f7 every boot confused.

 

[Platypus]

Yeah it's really easy these days, easier and quicker than an XP install even. There's nothing wrong with more people using it because of this, but how many of those people are going to know how to fix something when it breaks? It's fun to mess around with like that, but if you want to get serious with it, you owe it to yourself to learn it properly.

 

[Kaervak]

OpenSuse is one of the easier distro's (speaking from experience). There's quite a few nice things about it and a few things that make me want to strangle people. All in all, pretty good for learning Linux though.

 

[us3rnotfound]

You'll be back

 

[yhelothar]

Originally posted by: halik
Great,
let me know when you actually wanna use it and realize you can't change the resolution, get firewire hdd to work or enable multimonitor setup.

Linux is great for screwing around with, but hardly useful when your productivity matters.

QFT.
Not to mention you have to look up the console command just to mount your CDROM to get linux to recognize it.
ohhhh but it makes you look so l337 typing in those commands!!
:roll:

 

[Random Variable]

Originally posted by: us3rnotfound
You'll be back

I haven't stopped using Windows. It's still installed on my newer computer.

 

[mwmorph]

Going along the theme of this thread, what is the easiest distro for a windows user to get used to?

 

[EmperorIQ]

Originally posted by: mwmorph
Going along the theme of this thread, what is the easiest distro for a windows user to get used to?

suse or ubuntu

 

[Random Variable]

Originally posted by: EmperorIQ

Originally posted by: mwmorph
Going along the theme of this thread, what is the easiest distro for a windows user to get used to?

suse or ubuntu

or linspire/freespire

 

[Hyperblaze]

Originally posted by: astroidea

Originally posted by: halik
Great,
let me know when you actually wanna use it and realize you can't change the resolution, get firewire hdd to work or enable multimonitor setup.

Linux is great for screwing around with, but hardly useful when your productivity matters.

QFT.
Not to mention you have to look up the console command just to mount your CDROM to get linux to recognize it.
ohhhh but it makes you look so l337 typing in those commands!!
:roll:

Different people have different needs. I learned how to use Linux a while back. Learning Linux has actually taught me good habits. I downright refuse to give up. It's just not part of my vocabulary. Oh....looking
so l337 typing all those commands. Are you envious or jealous of people who actually KNOW how to use an operating system efficiently? Are you one of those people who don't want to learn anything more then they have to and are just content with click, click, click (gosh, how boring a life that is).

I'll stick with the exciting adventurous life. Thanks. Life is all about learning and applying yourself to be better. Those who don't care to learn disgust me.

 

[mwmorph]

Anyone heard of the Symphony OS? The MEzzo desktop enviroment seems very innovatibe and friendly at first glace.

 

[0roo0roo]

Originally posted by: Hyperblaze

Originally posted by: astroidea

Originally posted by: halik
Great,
let me know when you actually wanna use it and realize you can't change the resolution, get firewire hdd to work or enable multimonitor setup.

Linux is great for screwing around with, but hardly useful when your productivity matters.

QFT.
Not to mention you have to look up the console command just to mount your CDROM to get linux to recognize it.
ohhhh but it makes you look so l337 typing in those commands!!
:roll:

Different people have different needs. I learned how to use Linux a while back. Learning Linux has actually taught me good habits. I downright refuse to give up. It's just not part of my vocabulary. Oh....looking
so l337 typing all those commands. Are you envious or jealous of people who actually KNOW how to use an operating system efficiently? Are you one of those people who don't want to learn anything more then they have to and are just content with click, click, click (gosh, how boring a life that is).

I'll stick with the exciting adventurous life. Thanks. Life is all about learning and applying yourself to be better. Those who don't care to learn disgust me.

well many of us geeks have learned to put up with nonsense, whether out of need, part of education/work, or curiosity, but it doesn't make it a good thing to put up with user unfriendly software.

just sayin.. if you had to pay for these linux installs most of the fiddlers wouldn't bother.

 

[sandorski]

install is easy, using it is where it gets difficult.

 

[Hyperblaze]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo

Originally posted by: Hyperblaze

Originally posted by: astroidea

Originally posted by: halik
Great,
let me know when you actually wanna use it and realize you can't change the resolution, get firewire hdd to work or enable multimonitor setup.

Linux is great for screwing around with, but hardly useful when your productivity matters.

QFT.
Not to mention you have to look up the console command just to mount your CDROM to get linux to recognize it.
ohhhh but it makes you look so l337 typing in those commands!!
:roll:

Different people have different needs. I learned how to use Linux a while back. Learning Linux has actually taught me good habits. I downright refuse to give up. It's just not part of my vocabulary. Oh....looking
so l337 typing all those commands. Are you envious or jealous of people who actually KNOW how to use an operating system efficiently? Are you one of those people who don't want to learn anything more then they have to and are just content with click, click, click (gosh, how boring a life that is).

I'll stick with the exciting adventurous life. Thanks. Life is all about learning and applying yourself to be better. Those who don't care to learn disgust me.

well many of us geeks have learned to put up with nonsense, whether out of need, part of education/work, or curiosity, but it doesn't make it a good thing to put up with user unfriendly software.

just sayin.. if you had to pay for these linux installs most of the fiddlers wouldn't bother.

user unfriendly software? the only user unfriendly software I can think of is actually sendmail. It still gives me nightmares.

Please define "user unfriendly software". For myself it's software I don't have absolute control over my actions. Also something not easy to configure. I don't like something? I modify the config text files. Simple and easy.

And don't tell me Windows apps are easy to configure. The registry is still a nightmare to me.

FYI, at the very beginning, (at least for me), had to pay for the linux installs. No way would I download an entire distro of slackware on my 28.8 baud rate modem. I bought the cds.

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: Hyperblaze
And don't tell me Windows apps are easy to configure. The registry is still a nightmare to me.

I can't even remember the last time I had to go into the Windows registry because a program wasn't working like I wanted it to.

 

[fireandicefuel]

I just wish finding good alternatives to windows progs would be easier to find and install as well

 

[xtknight]

Meh...run Linux on current hardware and you'll have (usually remediable) problems. Run it on hardware that's at least a year old and it should run great.

For general usage you don't need to stoop to the command line too much (one exception to this is installing drivers if they aren't detected, or binary blob video drivers). I just find it more convenient a lot of the time. If you're doing more advanced stuff you'll pretty much always need the command line.

It's just something new to learn and put my mind to, which I like. I can still run all my Windows stuff in VMware (free) with no fuss and without using Windows "emulator" programs like wine.

 

[Hyperblaze]

Originally posted by: Howard

Originally posted by: Hyperblaze
And don't tell me Windows apps are easy to configure. The registry is still a nightmare to me.

I can't even remember the last time I had to go into the Windows registry because a program wasn't working like I wanted it to.

Then you might have lower standards on how much control you'll accept on a given application.

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: Hyperblaze

Originally posted by: Howard

Originally posted by: Hyperblaze
And don't tell me Windows apps are easy to configure. The registry is still a nightmare to me.

I can't even remember the last time I had to go into the Windows registry because a program wasn't working like I wanted it to.

Then you might have lower standards on how much control you'll accept on a given application.

I care not for control as long as I can do what I want. What is it that you need to do with your software?

 

[Random Variable]

Originally posted by: fireandicefuel
I just wish finding good alternatives to windows progs would be easier to find and install as well

Which Windows programs are you referring to?

 

[fireandicefuel]

getting counterstrike:source to work flawlessly