Comments on: An Idiot’s Tale of Choosing a Linux Distro http://www.pcmech.com/article/an-idiots-tale-of-choosing-a-linux-distro/ Helping Normal People Get Their Geek On Sat, 21 Nov 2009 22:17:25 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: 5 Ways to Put an Old Computer To Use » PC Mechanic http://www.pcmech.com/article/an-idiots-tale-of-choosing-a-linux-distro/comment-page-2/#comment-7115 5 Ways to Put an Old Computer To Use » PC Mechanic Thu, 17 Jan 2008 20:12:10 +0000 http://www.pcmech.com/article/an-idiots-tale-of-choosing-a-linux-distro/#comment-7115 [...] want to install to your primary computer. For example, been wanting to play around with some of the various Linux operating systems? Want to give Ubuntu a try but don’t have the cahones to set up a dual boot setup on your [...] [...] want to install to your primary computer. For example, been wanting to play around with some of the various Linux operating systems? Want to give Ubuntu a try but don’t have the cahones to set up a dual boot setup on your [...]

]]> By: Bob Plumer http://www.pcmech.com/article/an-idiots-tale-of-choosing-a-linux-distro/comment-page-2/#comment-6576 Bob Plumer Mon, 31 Dec 2007 14:49:20 +0000 http://www.pcmech.com/article/an-idiots-tale-of-choosing-a-linux-distro/#comment-6576 A friend of mine talked so much about Linux I tried out a few Live Cd's and I too was bit intimidated by the sheer number of distributions around. Seeing all the buzz about Ubuntu at the time I installed on a spare PC I had. It worked well enough. My biggest headaches was driver support and installation. I had problems with my old video card and my wireless network adapter. After reading pretty poor documentation for hours much of it assumes your already a Linux geek know how to do basic still like install drivers using the command line. After days trying to get it to work I reinstalled Windows 2000 which I knew worked(with all it's faults). The Ubuntu worked well enough but in my opinion Linux still has a way to go before it thinks it can challenge Microsoft. A friend of mine talked so much about Linux I tried out a few Live Cd’s and I too was bit intimidated by the sheer number of distributions around. Seeing all the buzz about Ubuntu at the time I installed on a spare PC I had. It worked well enough. My biggest headaches was driver support and installation. I had problems with my old video card and my wireless network adapter. After reading pretty poor documentation for hours much of it assumes your already a Linux geek know how to do basic still like install drivers using the command line. After days trying to get it to work I reinstalled Windows 2000 which I knew worked(with all it’s faults). The Ubuntu worked well enough but in my opinion Linux still has a way to go before it thinks it can challenge Microsoft.

]]> By: Best PCMech Posts of 2007 » PC Mechanic http://www.pcmech.com/article/an-idiots-tale-of-choosing-a-linux-distro/comment-page-2/#comment-6574 Best PCMech Posts of 2007 » PC Mechanic Mon, 31 Dec 2007 14:19:32 +0000 http://www.pcmech.com/article/an-idiots-tale-of-choosing-a-linux-distro/#comment-6574 [...] An Idiot’s Tale of Choosing a Linux Distro I dabbled in Linux this year, but was daunted by the sheer number of distros. Read my tale. [...] [...] An Idiot’s Tale of Choosing a Linux Distro I dabbled in Linux this year, but was daunted by the sheer number of distros. Read my tale. [...]

]]> By: aussiebear http://www.pcmech.com/article/an-idiots-tale-of-choosing-a-linux-distro/comment-page-2/#comment-1530 aussiebear Mon, 24 Sep 2007 09:49:56 +0000 http://www.pcmech.com/article/an-idiots-tale-of-choosing-a-linux-distro/#comment-1530 I find it odd that an author (David Risley) calls himself an idiot, just because they're talking about Linux. I've noticed this trend among many people who try Linux for the first time. Its a terrible mindset to be in from the start. You're not an idiot, you're just unfamiliar, that's all. To put yourself down from the start just tells me you're really not interested in leaving your "comfort zone" of Windows. When you're trying something new, your mindset shouldn't be "how can I take my existing skills to the new thing?", BUT "What can this alternate or new way offer me? What would be the Pros or Cons?" Put it this way, would you use your bike riding skills on a skateboard? So why are you doing the same with Linux and Windows? Just because they have a GUI doesn't mean they're the same underneath! The power behind Linux/BSD/other Unices is not the GUI, but the CLI. To learn and know the CLI lifts a huge glass ceiling you place upon yourselves. You should empty your cup of knowledge and start with a "beginner's mind". Willing to explore and play with it. (Like a child) Approaching it this way, and you'll discover things in a much more pleasant way. You don't have to be perfect at it. When you do something wrong, Linux will tell you or records the issue in the log file. (typically located in /var/log). When you something right, Linux says nothing. Regardless right or wrong, its OK to fumble around. I used to be an MS product user, (been there since MS-DOS 3.03 and Windows 2.0 to Windows XP...Not bothering with Vista)...I have found the transition not too bad. In fact, I'm using Arch Linux instead, as I'm comfortable in CLI from my DOS days. I started using Linux in 2005. Today, everything I did in Windows, I can now do in Linux. (Actually, I can do far more than expected!) I suggest giving Linux distros time. The rate of development is quite fast. Maybe try again in a few years time. As part of the Linux community, we don't actually dream of converting every Windows user over. We would like to convert a few now and then, but realistically, that's not the main goal. (Even though some prefer to get as many converted and knocking MS off its porch). The point is to provide an alternative OS who's aim is to allow you and anybody else modify, etc to meet your needs. You don't need to sign an NDA or pay for some stupid license, etc. All one needs to do is comply with the GPL/BSD/etc licenses and do things in respect to the community. This is why Linux is loved by geeks. Its flexible and highly affordable (monetary wise). Its like clay. Mold it to the shape you like it. Whether it be for desktop, server, cluster, firewall appliance, NAS, robots, digital engine control, missile defence, etc, it doesn't matter. I personally think people are better off with other OSs (Linux, OSX, etc) in the long run. Its true that there are limitations at this time, but these issues will eventually be resolved. You might as well take the time to learn something about it now. (use virtualisation via VMware Server or VirtualBox. Both are free and run on Windows and Linux). Typically, if I must use Windows, I stick it in a virtual machine (Linux is host, Windows is guest) and prevent it from accessing the web. Windows, to me, is only used for apps that I can't run in Wine. (Yes, CounterStrike Source DOES run!) I find it odd that an author (David Risley) calls himself an idiot, just because they’re talking about Linux.

I’ve noticed this trend among many people who try Linux for the first time. Its a terrible mindset to be in from the start. You’re not an idiot, you’re just unfamiliar, that’s all. To put yourself down from the start just tells me you’re really not interested in leaving your “comfort zone” of Windows.

When you’re trying something new, your mindset shouldn’t be “how can I take my existing skills to the new thing?”, BUT “What can this alternate or new way offer me? What would be the Pros or Cons?”

Put it this way, would you use your bike riding skills on a skateboard? So why are you doing the same with Linux and Windows? Just because they have a GUI doesn’t mean they’re the same underneath! The power behind Linux/BSD/other Unices is not the GUI, but the CLI. To learn and know the CLI lifts a huge glass ceiling you place upon yourselves.

You should empty your cup of knowledge and start with a “beginner’s mind”. Willing to explore and play with it. (Like a child)

Approaching it this way, and you’ll discover things in a much more pleasant way.

You don’t have to be perfect at it. When you do something wrong, Linux will tell you or records the issue in the log file. (typically located in /var/log). When you something right, Linux says nothing. Regardless right or wrong, its OK to fumble around.

I used to be an MS product user, (been there since MS-DOS 3.03 and Windows 2.0 to Windows XP…Not bothering with Vista)…I have found the transition not too bad. In fact, I’m using Arch Linux instead, as I’m comfortable in CLI from my DOS days.

I started using Linux in 2005. Today, everything I did in Windows, I can now do in Linux. (Actually, I can do far more than expected!)

I suggest giving Linux distros time. The rate of development is quite fast. Maybe try again in a few years time.

As part of the Linux community, we don’t actually dream of converting every Windows user over. We would like to convert a few now and then, but realistically, that’s not the main goal. (Even though some prefer to get as many converted and knocking MS off its porch).

The point is to provide an alternative OS who’s aim is to allow you and anybody else modify, etc to meet your needs. You don’t need to sign an NDA or pay for some stupid license, etc. All one needs to do is comply with the GPL/BSD/etc licenses and do things in respect to the community.

This is why Linux is loved by geeks. Its flexible and highly affordable (monetary wise). Its like clay. Mold it to the shape you like it. Whether it be for desktop, server, cluster, firewall appliance, NAS, robots, digital engine control, missile defence, etc, it doesn’t matter.

I personally think people are better off with other OSs (Linux, OSX, etc) in the long run. Its true that there are limitations at this time, but these issues will eventually be resolved. You might as well take the time to learn something about it now. (use virtualisation via VMware Server or VirtualBox. Both are free and run on Windows and Linux).

Typically, if I must use Windows, I stick it in a virtual machine (Linux is host, Windows is guest) and prevent it from accessing the web. Windows, to me, is only used for apps that I can’t run in Wine. (Yes, CounterStrike Source DOES run!)

]]> By: Sy Ali http://www.pcmech.com/article/an-idiots-tale-of-choosing-a-linux-distro/comment-page-2/#comment-1503 Sy Ali Sun, 23 Sep 2007 01:10:28 +0000 http://www.pcmech.com/article/an-idiots-tale-of-choosing-a-linux-distro/#comment-1503 Welcome to pclos. The video driver issue is one of the main reasons a lot of people stay with it. But the more you use it, the more little reasons you get for keeping it. Best of luck.. Welcome to pclos. The video driver issue is one of the main reasons a lot of people stay with it. But the more you use it, the more little reasons you get for keeping it.

Best of luck..

]]> By: TangoMIkeMike http://www.pcmech.com/article/an-idiots-tale-of-choosing-a-linux-distro/comment-page-2/#comment-1477 TangoMIkeMike Fri, 21 Sep 2007 16:31:57 +0000 http://www.pcmech.com/article/an-idiots-tale-of-choosing-a-linux-distro/#comment-1477 If DELL configures a Linux PC the way it does WIN...you will use the command line as much as you do in WIN which is NIL...Mandriva has a control panel to configure just about every hardware and much more options than ther is in the WIN control panel...I have family members using Mandriva and they don't know what a console or shell or command line is. Everything can be done in A GUI but most things are done faster using the command line.. I give them a fully configured Linux box so there are no issues. Just boot up and click away, much like Windows...no defrag or virus or spyware etc...just a smooth computing experience. If DELL configures a Linux PC the way it does WIN…you will use the command line as much as you do in WIN which is NIL…Mandriva has a control panel to configure just about every hardware and much more options than ther is in the WIN control panel…I have family members using Mandriva and they don’t know what a console or shell or command line is. Everything can be done in A GUI but most things are done faster using the command line..

I give them a fully configured Linux box so there are no issues. Just boot up and click away, much like Windows…no defrag or virus or spyware etc…just a smooth computing experience.

]]> By: John http://www.pcmech.com/article/an-idiots-tale-of-choosing-a-linux-distro/comment-page-2/#comment-1476 John Fri, 21 Sep 2007 16:16:26 +0000 http://www.pcmech.com/article/an-idiots-tale-of-choosing-a-linux-distro/#comment-1476 Oh my it looks like it was Jack who wrote what I liked not Jared. Who ever it was "Good Job". Oh my it looks like it was Jack who wrote what I liked not Jared. Who ever it was “Good Job”.

]]> By: John http://www.pcmech.com/article/an-idiots-tale-of-choosing-a-linux-distro/comment-page-2/#comment-1475 John Fri, 21 Sep 2007 16:12:22 +0000 http://www.pcmech.com/article/an-idiots-tale-of-choosing-a-linux-distro/#comment-1475 Jared, well said! I was going to write something but you said it better than I ever could have. I have found PCLinuxOS to be the one for me, like they say "it just works out of the box". I like the forum at PCLinuxOS.com they are friendly and take the time to help. I still use Windows for somethings but for everyday use I use PCLinuxOS. I am 71 years old and do not want to go back to the "DOS" days of using a computer. Now if you do that is OK, but I think it is OK if I don't Jared, well said! I was going to write something but you said it better than I ever could have. I have found PCLinuxOS to be the one for me, like they say “it just works out of the box”. I like the forum at PCLinuxOS.com they are friendly and take the time to help.
I still use Windows for somethings but for everyday use I use PCLinuxOS. I am 71 years old and do not want to go back to the “DOS” days of using a computer. Now if you do that is OK, but I think it is OK if I don’t

]]> By: syahid ali http://www.pcmech.com/article/an-idiots-tale-of-choosing-a-linux-distro/comment-page-2/#comment-1470 syahid ali Fri, 21 Sep 2007 11:00:12 +0000 http://www.pcmech.com/article/an-idiots-tale-of-choosing-a-linux-distro/#comment-1470 command line should be optional. if the linux community dreams to convert windows users to linux users, there should be minimal usage of command line. end users are lazy, enough said. command line should be optional. if the linux community dreams to convert windows users to linux users, there should be minimal usage of command line. end users are lazy, enough said.

]]> By: JMiahMan http://www.pcmech.com/article/an-idiots-tale-of-choosing-a-linux-distro/comment-page-2/#comment-1452 JMiahMan Thu, 20 Sep 2007 19:46:34 +0000 http://www.pcmech.com/article/an-idiots-tale-of-choosing-a-linux-distro/#comment-1452 If Linux is truly about choice shouldn't the Users have a choice to not use the CLI? If a hardware vendor offers "Closed" drivers shouldn't a Desktop Linux distribution use them? Is it about the users or the politics of FOSS? No matter how you fight it Windows has set the standard in look and feel. To get people to switch and feel comfortable may mean you have to look and feel some what similar to Windows. That does not negate in anyway Linux or how things work differently under the hood. Isn't the offering of different Linux distributions the reason to give people a choice. If you like the CLI stick with Ubuntu or Gentoo or any other distribution that requires you to use it. IF you like that it's your choice. However a vast majority of Normal Computer Desktop users are not familiar with the CLI as the only reason in Windows you need to go to the command prompt is to troubleshoot or fix something that's broke. The main issue with Linux Desktops that claim to be Desktop oriented is that they've disconnected from true Desktop users. They can't relate. YOu can see it with their users who post comments like Windows is not Linux, The CLI is a powerful tool etc.. The common Desktop user could care less about those comments. They just want it to work like it did in Windows or better. Unless you can offer that you've missed the boat. If Linux is truly about choice shouldn’t the Users have a choice to not use the CLI?

If a hardware vendor offers “Closed” drivers shouldn’t a Desktop Linux distribution use them? Is it about the users or the politics of FOSS?

No matter how you fight it Windows has set the standard in look and feel. To get people to switch and feel comfortable may mean you have to look and feel some what similar to Windows. That does not negate in anyway Linux or how things work differently under the hood.

Isn’t the offering of different Linux distributions the reason to give people a choice. If you like the CLI stick with Ubuntu or Gentoo or any other distribution that requires you to use it. IF you like that it’s your choice. However a vast majority of Normal Computer Desktop users are not familiar with the CLI as the only reason in Windows you need to go to the command prompt is to troubleshoot or fix something that’s broke.

The main issue with Linux Desktops that claim to be Desktop oriented is that they’ve disconnected from true Desktop users. They can’t relate. YOu can see it with their users who post comments like Windows is not Linux, The CLI is a powerful tool etc.. The common Desktop user could care less about those comments. They just want it to work like it did in Windows or better. Unless you can offer that you’ve missed the boat.

]]>