First of all I want to say it’s very cool of FOSSwire to have posted an Ubuntu “Cheat Sheet” listing in a very easy-to-read rundown of terminal commands.
But in all seriousness, just looking at this sheet just gives you an itty-bitty glimpse into all the command line crap you have to learn with Ubuntu (and Linux distributions in general).
Would /etc/init.d/gdm restart make any sense to a casual computer user? Or gksudo nautilus? Or sudo iwlist scan?
Not a chance.
Again, I’ll say it’s cool the cheat sheet exists. But the fact it’s even necessary is yet another reason why Linux isn’t ready for prime time.
Yet.
Hey bud, know this:
Every single command on that sheet can be done with the graphical interface. The UFW firewall specifically doesn’t have its GUI finished, but there are plenty of other GUI config options for the system firewall.
Congrats on your lack of information though, keep it up!
You’re mistaking the convenient cheat sheet for a necessity. For example, Control-Alt-Backspace also restarts GDM. There are simple graphical and/or shortcut key interfaces to all of this functionality, in so far as it’s necessary for a desktop user. The cheat sheet is most likely given for users who either fill a more administrative role or are looking to explore beyond the role of a typical desktop user.
To rephrase, the existence of a command line cheat sheet for Ubuntu in no way implies that Ubuntu is not a user-friendly desktop operating system. I’m sure that there exists a list of commands that can be run from an OS X terminal that looks strikingly similar, yet few people would say that this implies that OS X is not ready for “prime time”. Yet.
Would run: msconfig or run:dxdiag or run:regedit make any sense to a casual computer user?
Not a chance.
Again, I’ll say it’s lists listing these commands exist. But the fact they’re even necessary is yet another reason why Windows XP isn’t ready for prime time.
Every operating system can get complicated on some occasions. It’s impossible for any casual user to ever understand all the features of his ^roducts.
How many drivers are able to interpret every single alarm light on their dashboard AND now what to do to fix it? Not much you say? Well I guess cars aren’t ready for prime time yet.
So far, it has been computer geeks justifying the complexities. I don’t think computer newbies feel the same way about having to learn computer complexities. For the geeks, it is part of the fun. For computer newbies it is frustrating.
Most people just want ALL of their software to work without having to learn a bunch of computer gibberish. Apple’s OS is probably the closest we have to that and Linux is the furthest from it.
An operating system that is largely dependent on volunteers to do the developing will never become user friendly because it does not involve people who are being paid and therefore being told to build an OS that is user friendly. You cannot tell a volunteer what to do unlike you can tell a paid employee what you want done. If you want to sell an OS it needs to be user friendly and therein lies Linux’s dilemma. Its not going to come from volunteers.
@ David: according to PCMech 70% of Linux development is done by paid employees.
http://www.pcmech.com/article/linux-is-70-corporate/
The content of this post proves that the writer has no idea what Ubuntu can do.
Ubuntu is easier than windows xp.
There is _no need_ to type all those UNIX commands.
Rich Menga, you simply didn’t boot Ubuntu and you dare write about it.
Shame on you.
Perhaps the Linux fanboys need to explain why it has not caught on?….compared to the two major operating systems.
Ok, i will explain. Just download Ubuntu Desktop Edition here :
http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/download
Burn it as an iso image, and boot it.
It’s free, it’s easy and you will have the opportunity to make your own opinion without typing any complicated command.
You’re free. That’s my explanation of Linux.
@ DEF: I don’t think you completely understood David :p
@ David: Sigh, I can’t really tell you either. It probably has to do with a number of things. Most important probably: Almost all computers come with an OS. And then, changing the OS of a computer is incredibly intimidating to the majority of people. Imagine trying to change the entire engine of your car!
Mac computers have 3% of the computer market. I fail to see how that makes them a “major operating system”
So why don’t YOU explain why Mac computers haven’t caught on?
Ubuntu is incredibly simple to use. Its very secure, very stable, very user friendly, and its free. If you tested out the operating system yourself you would see that.
In fact, if you are running windows…its even easier than ever before to install!
http://wubi-installer.org/
First of all I’ve been using Ubuntu Linux for years and unless you have the most pressing need and know Unix commands you never need to go to the command line. The OS has everything you will ever need to work, e-mail, play with videos and pictures and whatever you could possibly think of. The OS is very fast. The OS is very free and the OS is (in the case of) 8.04 LTS much better looking than, and does the same aero thing as Win Vista. Operating systems are very subjective. Some people like easy systems and some of us like systems that offer more. It’s up to the individual. Linux can be for the casual user as well as the more advanced engineering user. I use Linux in the lab and I use it in the house. It can be anything you want it to be. Don’t look down on an excellent system that is getting more popular every day. Rather look into it with a trained eye the same way you look into the Macs and OS X.
Tried most microcomputer op-sys’s. Relunctantly return to Windows … . See Linux’s troubles with wireless networking on this site. Not to mention complex installation of Open-Source or Linux software (poor or zero standards, bug overloaded, ….).
Glad that DELL finally allows its products to be free of MS-Vista. So far, microcomputer on the last century are so primitive. When Symbian grows up, perhaps it will be THE winner?
I like the idea that you can run Ubuntu inside Windows Vista to get the hang of things first before a possible migrate from Microsoft to Linux.
If you don’t like it, you just uninstall Ubuntu from Add/Remove in Windows, just like any other normal bit of software.
I needed to install and run Ubuntu to run a computational software called OPENFOAM. It has been a month and I haven’t been able to setup wireless NetGear dongle. All the forums speak geek…
But I am not giving up.
However, I can now see why Microsoft rules the world.