What are some issues with non-MS os's?

[Spyro]

Originally posted by: BingBongWongFooey

Originally posted by: Nothinman

I like Debian (linux) and NetBSD the most. Debian has the typical linux symptoms, just a generally sloppy chaotic feel to it

I get the opposite feeling. Debian actually feels like a coherent system while other OSes feel like a hodgepodge of random packages. And maybe it's just me but everytime I decide to install a BSD and play with their beloved ports system or kernel something breaks. I just installed FreeBSD 5.1 recently and sound doesn't work out of the box which is gay and kde3 failed to build from the included ports, again gay and a big show of the lack of QA that FreeBSD has =)

I like the seperation of base system from packages. I know that debian is just one whole collection of packages, but what I see as the base system of debian, is much less coherent than the base system of NetBSD. But as for the software packages on top of that, I would say debian is much better rounded.

I tried compiling a kernel on FreeBSD and I broke it. Maybe I just didn't read the docs well enough, or the docs aren't written well enough, or the system is just confusing, I'm not sure which. But I've compiled kernels on NetBSD and I found it more straightforward than compiling linux kernels. (edit config, compile, cp netbsd /netbsd, reboot)

............... Same opinion, different reasons??? The only reason that I stay away from debian on my post-windows systems is because it encourages me to experiment until I break something. And more often than not.........

 

[civad]

Originally posted by: Spyro

............... Same opinion, different reasons??? The only reason that I stay away from debian on my post-windows systems is because it encourages me to experiment until I break something. And more often than not.........

BTDT (been there, done that!)

 

[Bleep]

I have 1 machine with Red Hat running on it, in fact that is the one I am using now. There are several big faults with
Linux distros, one of them being the learning curve after using windows. Mostly it is in the terminoligy used is so
different between Linux and Windows. The other is that getting a printer to work with Linux can be a real chore and
a lot of times difficult to get help with some plain language advice. Installing some of the distros can be difficult and
you almost have to be a real geek to figure it out.
I think more users that Linux gets the better it will get and I think anyone with some computer experience should
try one of the distros. It is a excellent operating system and getting easier to use all the time. Ease of use is the only
way that Linux can prosper.
Get a extra hard drive and try it out.

Bleep

 

[Spyro]

Installing some of the distros can be difficult and you almost have to be a real geek to figure it out.

Yup, it takes a real geek to power up google, type in an error message, and push enter. Of course it isn't always so simple, but 90% of the time (for regular users atleast) that's the way to do it and you get results.

 

[Bleep]

Spyro:
Your reply is one reason why Linux will never be a mainstream OS, because it is your opinion that hardly anyone should ever
have to ask a question but to figure it out themself.
You mostly get stuff like "unzip the tar file" a new user does not even know how to do that and if you ask on a lot of the boards the RTFM
nazis are on you like flies on dung.
The problem is not with the OS but with the NEW user getting some plain english advice. I want Linux to become a mainstream OS and be competative with
Windows or OSX.

Bleep

 

[Barnaby W. Füi]

Vaguely relevant to this thread: http://www.cafeshops.com/leuksman.7112875

Funny either way

 

[Spyro]

Your reply is one reason why Linux will never be a mainstream OS, because it is your opinion that hardly anyone should ever
have to ask a question but to figure it out themself.

You mean that opening up google and running a quick search for an error message and threads related to the topic means "hardly anyone should ever have to ask a question but to figure it out themself." That doesn't make much sense to me at all. I even use google when I have an error with an Windows program. What makes that so difficult to do. Where in my post did I say that asking people for help is a bad thing. All I said was to type an error message into google, which isn't that hard to do and usually can lead to finding out the solution to a problem, especially considering that most of the results will be by people who have had similar problems. I never said that you had too and I can't make you do it either, so what's your point.

You mostly get stuff like "unzip the tar file" a new user does not even know how to do that and if you ask on a lot of the boards the RTFM

In red hat, mandrake, etc. all you have to do is click on it (or double-click depending on your settings). Which is no different from opening a zip file in windows, only easier because you don't have to click the "use the evaluation version" button. Besides the primary reason you would need to do this is to install software right? With any good distro there are hordes of already packaged apps for you, so the installation would consist of clicking the file, entering the root password (I hope!), and clicking O.K. a couple of times. If you're trying to compile something then you really do want to RTFM, otherwise the chances are that you're not going to get very far.

nazis are on you like flies on dung.

:Q

The problem is not with the OS but with the NEW user getting some plain english advice.

Dude, that's why I said use google. Observe:
http://www.tldp.org/
http://www.justlinux.com/
http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=utf-8&group=alt.os.linux
http://forums.anandtech.com/categories.cfm?catid=34
http://www.linuxforum.com/

That took seconds and this doesn't even include the help that is offered by your distro's web site and tech support staff.

I want Linux to become a mainstream OS and be competative with Windows or OSX.

It already is, in the server department. Desktops will be the next battlefield.

 

[Spyro]

Originally posted by: BingBongWongFooey
Vaguely relevant to this thread: http://www.cafeshops.com/leuksman.7112875

Funny either way

I actually had to laugh out loud for that one! (Which might of had something to do with the fact that I just spent several days trying to compile the latest version of some of my favorite games, and failed miserably on half of them. I must be getting bored, maybe it's time for me to head back to debian )

 

[Flatline]

After installing Mandrake for her, I got my mom a "Linux for Dummies" book and she hasn't called me for linux support yet (thank God - I was spending way too much time supporting her computer). I've seen Windows, Word, etc. for Dummies on a lot of people's bookshelves and it's nothing to be ashamed of (I actually like seeing things like that because it means they're willing to learn).

 

[Spyro]

Originally posted by: Flatline
After installing Mandrake for her, I got my mom a "Linux for Dummies" book and she hasn't called me for linux support yet (thank God - I was spending way too much time supporting her computer). I've seen Windows, Word, etc. for Dummies on a lot of people's bookshelves and it's nothing to be ashamed of (I actually like seeing things like that because it means they're willing to learn).

If you get a "for idiots" book then you can be ashamed. I've been reading the computer-oriented "for Dummies" books since I first picked up "Dos for Dummies" a very long time ago....... They tend to help a lot and the best ones can really simplify stuff down to the level where you'll be able to *get* it no matter how hard the subject is at first.

 

[Flatline]

Agreed. The "Linux for Dummies" one is surprisingly thorough and helpful...I would recommend it to just about anyone who wants the basics.