Posted on 08/06/2012 8:15:49 AM PDT by ShadowAce
The only reason I'd like to see Linux market share increase, is that it would make the internet a lot better place, with less spam-bots and zombies out there trying to either fill up your email box, or attack your network, so it can spread. Otherwise, like you, I don't really give a damn what other people use, or the number who use Linux. I try to move people away from the evil empire when I can, but if they don't want to, they get no sympathy or support from me for their choices.
To the posters who say that Linux “just works” and that as the years go by that this is even more true with each passing year - I say “you’re right”.
To the posters who say that “Linux sucks because I couldn’t get blah to work” - I would say “From your point of view - you’re also right”.
I put myself in the first camp. To those in the second camp - you’re missing out - but that’s fine - doesn’t bother me none.
Obviously for those that use it and love it - sure there is a bit of tweaking involved.
For those that tried it and gave up on it - there was probably something fairly simple that you could have done to get things working.
These two points of view are likely never going to meet in the middle - which is why these threads will always exist.
I especially like the new Unity desktop UI. It allows me to launch apps the same way I do on the Mac: by just typing a few characters of the name. Unity still doesn't work as well as Spotlight, but it's a giant step in the right direction.
Start menus are an abomination. Docks are eye candy, suitable for reviving hidden windows, but not much else. On the Mac, I keep my Dock hidden past the right edge of the external monitor.
The command line can be a pain, but Linux users are very friendly and helpful in the forums.
I got a command that allowed me to install a printer driver, the USB printing works like a charm. Getting it to work wireless is taking some thought.
but I am getting there with Ubuntu Linux, I am not afraid to try like I would have been with Windows
A fair point. These days, not much at all. Now, that didn't used to be true, as anyone who has to watch their kernel compiling after a minor tweak can attest.
Just installed Mint 13 and I have to say that from a pure user perspective, it's arrived. I showed it to a certain computer-naive user (sorry, Mom) and she picked up on the UI right away. A lot of stuff I used to say about usability - and it was perfectly deserved - appears to have been addressed.
Yeah, I love the CLI, always have. Model T mechanics used to love the buggy-whip socket (sob!)... ;-)
Yeah, it was a bummer. I haven't compiled a kernel in freaking ages though. The biggest problem I hve is keeping VMware workstation running. If you're running VMWare, don't upgrade your kernel until you know there is a patch for it ahead of time. I've been bitten by that beast so many times it drives me crazy.
Just installed Mint 13 and I have to say that from a pure user perspective, it's arrived. I showed it to a certain computer-naive user (sorry, Mom) and she picked up on the UI right away. A lot of stuff I used to say about usability - and it was perfectly deserved - appears to have been addressed.
That's good to hear. I've had similar luck with folks who aren't nerds. I have a guy that I set up on Fedora 12, and once he got used to it, he likes the fact that it just runs. i talked to him about upgrading to Fedora 16, and he just looked at me and asked "why?". I gotta admit, if it's working, why bother? I stay on the bleeding edge to stay sharp. Someday I'll just say "to heck with it", and run Mint or a similar low-maintennance distro, and just run it til it drops.
Yeah, I love the CLI, always have. Model T mechanics used to love the buggy-whip socket (sob!)... ;-)
LOL. I can relate. I live on a command line, because it is the nature of my job. Someday though, I'll probably cease to care.
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