Everytime I try Linux, I don't last a day.

[CuriousMike]

I really gave it a shot. I used some of you to help me get further.
I used Google. A lot.

At the end of it, I was getting agitated. It wasn't enjoyable.

So I stopped.

I might pick it up again - at some point ChromeOS will limit me and I'll want to go back.

Thanks for everyones help.

 

[accguy9009]

You know why you dont last a day OP? Because linux sucks

Its harsh but true and it remains a disjointed shambles in some areas. The problem is nobody is working on making it any easier, people are creating new distros and new pretty desktop environments with the same problems every other distro has.

Basically if you want to do anything semi technical that was easy on windows you're in for a tough time! When people say linux isnt windows what they mean is linux isnt easy. The guides ive looked at are all either far too simple (this is the mouse, this is the keyboard durrrr) or far too complex or extremely outdated. If there were one big linux wiki with all the important linux programs and wtf they do it would help. Archwiki is okay, bit complex but so is arch so makes sense I guess.

With that said it is getting better all the time... slowly. Ive stuck with it on my server the past 4-5 months. Im hoping the extra interest in gaming on linux from valve and cryteks cryengine running on linux gives it a much needed boost in the user experience department. It installs easily, internet works easily (on most distros), installing essentials like browsers/office software is easy enough. But if you want to share files, auto mount drives, sort out remote access, semi technical stuff like that is a PITA.

You hate Windows 8.1 and Linux, long live XP!

 

[Maximilian]

You hate Windows 8.1 and Linux, long live XP!

Lol

I dont hate linux its just a real PITA to get everything working. Its all fine and dandy installing it visiting google then proclaiming "works great! epic/10!, would install again!" but that's a far cry from using it as a daily driver. Like I said I hope it improves in time.

 

[accguy9009]

Lol

I dont hate linux its just a real PITA to get everything working. Its all fine and dandy installing it visiting google then proclaiming "works great! epic/10!, would install again!" but that's a far cry from using it as a daily driver. Like I said I hope it improves in time.

Was just joking with you bro. I laughed a bit reading some of your thoughts and observations on Windows 8.1 in other threads.

 

[poofyhairguy]

I dont hate linux its just a real PITA to get everything working.

It depends on what you are used to and what you are doing. For example, after building a few Windows HTPCs my Linux ones were a pieces of cake in comparison. I just set it all up exactly how I wanted on my first machine, then cloned that install to my other ones. They just booted and worked, no re-entering a licence key or fighting drivers or activation on the different hardware.


I think when it comes to Chrome OS machines, something like Ubuntu provides little utility over just Chrome OS for your average Windows user. If all you use a computer for is playing Windows games, a little Photoshop, and browsing the internet then quite honestly Chrome OS can't do two of those things just as good as Ubuntu can't easily do them (since configuring WINE is one of the harder Linuxy things a desktop user can do).

But for someone like myself Ubuntu would have HUGE utility over Chrome OS. I would use it to install console emulators, download stuff via Usenet, configure my other systems via SSH, play back different media files, etc. "Gaming" wouldn't go further than those emulators and what I could get from Steam, and "productivity" wouldn't go past LibreOffice and GIMP.

Suffice to say, if Ubuntu on your Chromebook is really going to make or break the device for you then you probably know enough about Linux to get it on there.

 

[Red Squirrel]

I find there are some things in Linux that are annoyances and makes me want to go back to windows, but then when I'm using Windows I find there is so much missing, it's a love hate relationship. I've managed to stick to Linux for over a year now. The beauty of it is that it's open source so really if there's something I don't like I can go change it.

Been wanting to learn more about Linux coding so I can do just that. With Windows if there's something you don't like, it's too bad. (*cough* metro)

To transition to Linux, what I did is I tried my best to use apps in Windows that also have a Linux version. At least for the main every day apps like browser and email client. So when I switched I had the basic stuff working pretty much out of the box.

I find my biggest challenge now is the lack of photoshop. Photoshop just has an ease of use feel to it, that no other app seems to be able to replicate, not even Gimp.

 

[videogames101]

Idk, linux makes sense as a productivity platform because of how powerful the tools are, but as a consumer device it makes absolutely no sense because of how powerful the tools are.

 

[HOSED]

Here is my latest rant, I like trying out new distos in a VM. I have tried may recently with win 7 host. I installed U 14.04 with no issues but I tried to map a shared drive from Win 7, using VBox shared folders (as I have done many times in Virtual box) but get a cryptic error. So I was advised to use connect to server in Nautilus. It seemed very straight forward till it asked for credentials. 14.04 filled in my user it but would not take my password.

 

[theevilsharpie]

Idk, linux makes sense as a productivity platform because of how powerful the tools are, but as a consumer device it makes absolutely no sense because of how powerful the tools are.

This doesn't even make sense.

 

[ninaholic37]

edit: Nevermind. Have fun on your Linux Chromebook.

 

[Mem]

Lol

I dont hate linux its just a real PITA to get everything working. Its all fine and dandy installing it visiting google then proclaiming "works great! epic/10!, would install again!" but that's a far cry from using it as a daily driver. Like I said I hope it improves in time.

Depends what you mean by "everything working", I installed Ubuntu 14.04 LTS and it detected my previous dual boot setup ie Linux distro and Windows OS and asked if I wanted to do a clean install or upgrade my old Ubuntu and keep my Windows OS, I told it to do a clean install,all went fine and it installed all possible drivers including AMD video driver,sound, USB wireless drive etc...

It was nice to have Firefox,Libre Office preinstalled(Linus distros always come with a lot of useful preinstalled software unlike Windows),something I've to do manually with any Windows installation.


Fact is the only reason I use Windows is for gaming,I could get by quite happily with just Linux ie it's stable,great security,installs fast, good driver support etc...

 

[Noo]

Using Ubuntu 14.04 here. I can't even put a shortcut to the desktop. Apparently is a bug. Something simple such as the ability to put a shortcut of an app on the desktop is apparently too hard.

 

[Mem]

Using Ubuntu 14.04 here. I can't even put a shortcut to the desktop. Apparently is a bug. Something simple such as the ability to put a shortcut of an app on the desktop is apparently too hard.

http://askubuntu.com/questions/450266/an-easy-way-to-create-a-desktop-shortcut


Btw any bugs you find should be reported.

 

[Noo]

Thanks I'll try when I get home. I did something earlier by going to the applications folder and attempt to create a direct link to the app but it will still say I don't have privileges. I'm the only user and then admin of the laptop. Wth

Other than that, I really like the new 14.04. I tried version 12 before but this is definitely a worthy competitor of windows.

 

[Noo]

http://askubuntu.com/questions/450266/an-easy-way-to-create-a-desktop-shortcut


Btw any bugs you find should be reported.

Nope, user/shared/applications, right click, "make link" grayed out.

 

[HOSED]

Noo When you opened file manager (I assume nautilus) did you use the sudo nautilus command from term first?

 

[Noo]

Noo When you opened file manager (I assume nautilus) did you use the sudo nautilus command from term first?

I tried the terminal command "sudo nautilus" thing and yes it let me create the link, but when i dragged it to the link to the desktop the image of the icon is gone, just a generic blank app icon titled "link to firefox.desktop"

Though that sudo nautilus method "works", i don't want all of my apps on the desktop to be a generic blank icon.


UPDATE: Got it to work by choosing "copy to" and then point it to the desktop. "Make link" method is jacked up. Now that i'm finally able to create links on the desktop, organizing it is another battle.

I've several app crashes, not OS. Just closing the lid on my laptop and reopening it later, all of the windows/apps have 1 inch of black border all around it. changing the default theme back and forth fixes it.

Had one instance of keepass crashed and closeed itself.

volume is really low (found a solution though)

brightness doesn't work (neither through laptop keyboard shortcut or system settings)

I also forgot to mention installing the operating system was a pain in the ass too. At first, it'll successfully install the OS but once I restart the PC to boot up ubuntu for the first time, it'll freeze at the black screen with a blinking dash (like a dos prompt). I went and reinstall ubuntu again, and again, and again....does the same thing everytime. I finally got it to work by choosing "try ubuntu" and then let it boot into the desktop and then click on the install ubuntu. I think it has something to do with the Nvidia graphic cards.

 

[pw257008]

i have the brightness issue too. found something that looked like a solution on the mint forums, but haven't gotten around to implementing it. from what i read, the problem is in the linux kernel itself (newer versions--i didn't have this problem with mint 15 but i do with mint 16)

 

[Noo]

Another issue. Closed the lid of the laptop and come back at a later time...this is what happen. 1 inch of black borders on every window/app opened.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Yeah I find Linux is still very buggy in the GUI department. You can eventually get it working properly by swapping hardware around but it's going to cost a lot. In the case of a laptop, you're kinda screwed. I've been wanting to buy a Linux laptop but I'm scared I run into issues like that too, you can't really do much with a laptop in terms of changing hardware around.

Though in your case you're using the crappy Gnome3/Unity UI so try Kubuntu or Xubuntu to see if you get better luck.

 

[HOSED]

^^ That is a great point, personally I have always though of Ubuntu and its variants as a great way to "revive" older hardware. I would add to your recommendations Bodhi, but be prepared for somewhat limited set of applications out of the box.

 

[Noo]

I fixed the graphic glitch issue. It was the driver. I went through all of them before finding the one that work.

 

[Noo]

Other than that, I really like the OS. I honestly think it's going to be a competitor of windows & mac in a couple of months.

I'm just sick of all the malware and viruses and stuff that just doesn't work right when I'm using windows. and the security issue. with it.

At least with this ubuntu, I don't have to worry about anything.

 

[smakme7757]

Other than that, I really like the OS. I honestly think it's going to be a competitor of windows & mac in a couple of months.

I'm just sick of all the malware and viruses and stuff that just doesn't work right when I'm using windows. and the security issue. with it.

At least with this ubuntu, I don't have to worry about anything.

Well you do, Linux isn't immune to malware it's just not a prime target. Also, if you're constantly getitng malware on Windows then i don't think Ubuntu can save you.

I've only got one virus in the last 10 years that i can remember while using WIndows. That was 100% my own fault as well.

 

[zir_blazer]

Actually, I think than Linux greatest strength is also the greatest weakness: The total freedom of choice. Because you can achieve the same or similar results in a multitude of different ways (Packages, configuration, scripts, etc), there is no standarized procedures. You don't really know pro and cons, or what makes than that -usually complex- way is better when people suggest it. This means that EVERYTIME you want to do something, you get literally bombarded by info that you need to decode before understanding what it is, and how to use it in YOUR particular scenario, which demands much more knowledge than most Windows standarized procedures. Usually you can pull out ahead if you google because the vast majority of simple things are already pretty well documented, but when you try to do something that is not (Or don't hit the keywords for good google results) and that's where the issues begins.


Also, the holy grail of Operating Systems is having the best of both worlds. Linux, besides that most distributions are free, is usually more powerful than Windows and potentially more stable and secure because malware doesn't usually target it, but Windows is still king of games and most popular applications, meaning you can't really fully replace it for most normal people everday usage.
Wine for running Windows programs on Linux doesn't cut it, it is dependant on developers constantly adding support as new things comes out and they will always lag behind on support and bugs. Dual Boot sucks due to downtime and lazyness, as I consider that if I can do something on both Linux and Windows, and I am in Windows, I'm not going to reboot. However, you can get the most out of both OS via virtualization, so you totally kill Dual Boot. With a Hypervisor that supports VGA Passthrough (Requires VT-d or AMD-Vi) like Xen on top of a Linux distribution, you can make a Windows VM that is gaming capable and in my experience has been pretty much as compatible as running the real thing, and supposedly if well tweaked it can offer near-native performance. Simultaneously, you can run other Windows/Linux VMs.