Linux Gets The Boot

Discussion in 'Trucking Electronics, Gadgets and Software Forum' started by dilbert, Aug 2, 2008.

  1. Aug 2, 2008 #1
    dilbert

    dilbert Bobtail Member

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    Apr 21, 2008
    Newport News, VA
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    Well, I gave it the old college try and ran Ubuntu Linux on my desktop for six months. And for me anyway it just isn't ready for prime time. Too may issues. I'm back to Windows XP.


    Ubuntu is promoted heavily as easy to install and get up and running for the average user. And that was mostly true. Installation was a piece of cake. I used the default settings for the most part and had no problem. It will try and set up for dual boot if Windows is already on the computer and use free desk space. I told it to just format the whole disk. It found and installed drivers for everything with no problem with the exception of a five button trackball mouse. And that's when the fun started.


    I searched numerous forums and found lots of directions for how to get it to work and none of them did. And they all required going into command line and modifying configuration files. That's not user friendly. There's a reason while GUI's are so popular, it's what the people want.


    As far as finding alternative programs for the old Windows ones I was used to there were also unacceptable short comings. I use Microsoft Outlook extensively and there just isn't another program that integrates email, calendars, tasks, etc. as well. Evolution was close, but it wouldn't sync with my Palm after many tries, nor would it sync with the online calendar we use.


    File sharing with my wife's computer was a nightmare. First off, the second hard drive I have is owned by root? I need to give myself permission to use it? Command line again to set up another user to share it over a network. The share went away every time I rebooted.


    Music management was not even close to being as good as the program I've used for years in Windows. Amarok on Linux isn't bad for playing music, but it doesn't have the organization features I like. And it had real problems syncing with a flash drive.


    Some of the programs I use routinely worked under the Windows emulator Wine, but mostly not.


    After six months I decided that Ubuntu Linux would be fine for just getting on the Internet and web browsing or doing basic email but more complicated tasks are either too tricky to set up or just not possible.
     
    dilbert, Aug 2, 2008
    dilbert, Aug 2, 2008
    #1
    Native Dancer Thanks this.
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  3. Aug 2, 2008 #2
    CMoore2004

    CMoore2004 Road Train Member

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    Nov 2, 2007
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    Glad to see people at least giving it a try, and I hope you got a good understanding of what Linux was all about. Of all the things it had, you didn't have to pay for one of them, and it's probably the same users on the forums you visit that create and modify the drivers and other software you use. I've always liked Linux/*BSD, but I'd never recommend it as an operating system for an average home user. When someone makes a compilation like Ubuntu, the normal user expects everything to work right off the bat, and when it doesn't work the way they like they usually go around screaming about how bad Linux sucks. On the other end of the spectrum, you have those that brag about running Linux because they think it makes them sound like they know what they're doing with it.

    That filesharing problem would've been easy to fix--you likely could've changed the mount options and it would've mounted it as RWX to every user, or you could've made it mount it as a different user. As far as the other issues, I would've posted to the appropriate software designers' forums, and they might not incorporate it right away but it would likely be added in the future if they see how they can make their software better.

    To those interested in LEARNING why Linux is so great, I've recommended they start with a very basic CLI install of something like Slackware, and not using a package manager to install the rest of the applications they'd like, such as X.org. When you know what the OS is doing behind the scenes, you're capable of doing much more and customizing to your exact likes. Plus, when you see an error, you easily understand what went wrong. There are quite a few Windows command-line tools that'll let you do things you can't do by pointing and clicking anywhere, too, and knowing how to use them can be a great help. The one I use the most in Windows seems to be the "route" command, but I'm usually the one called for network issues only after 3 other companies have tried and failed.

    I have a box of Ubuntu discs at home and I occasionally give them away to users who keep messing up their entire install of Windows by visiting sites like MySpace and clicking "Yes" on every security dialog that pops up. Basically, Ubuntu's live disc will protect the users from the number one Internet enemy--himself.
     
    CMoore2004, Aug 2, 2008
    CMoore2004, Aug 2, 2008
    #2
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