Re: Linux - Software that doesn't deliver
If you do want to give Linux a try I would recommend Ubuntu. It's by far
the easiest Linux to deal with, that I've seen anyways (PCLinuxOS is
supposed to be quite good too). The Linux forums are not always better than
here, that is, there's "knuckleheads" for both parties (this was one of my
biggest frustrations when I first started playing with Linux, the users in
the forums were very arrogant and had an elitist attitude about them. This
has changed dramatically). I'm not saying it hasn't happened but I did not
see any evidence of this within the Ubuntu forums. Ubuntu is geared for the
home users (ie newbies) and is reflected in the forums. The responses to my
questions were very helpful and quite detailed. There are a lot of users
that could make the switch to Linux and it will do everything they need, but
it's still not a suitable replacement for Windows "power users", IMO. It's
improving in leaps and bounds with every release though, and at the rate MS
releases things it could replace it in a few years
Spanky deMonkey wrote:
> Well, Linux, it was fun to see you again, but its time to send you
> back to the hole whence you came.
>
> I thought I would give Linux another try, after 2 years or so away
> from it. So I (stupidly) downloaded Partition Magic and attempted to
> Partition the C drive. Result, Windows wouldn't start anymore. I
> figured, nothing to fear, I have a new copy of Linux. Fedora 7 to be
> exact, on disc and ready to go!
>
> I installed that rascal on the partition I had just created, at the
> expense of windows, and off I went.
>
> My goal was to accomplish 3 things:
> 1. Recover my files from my Windows drive
> 2. Make EVE-Online work in Linux until I got my windows disc again.
> 3. Watch DVDs with Linux, for additional entertainment.
> 4. Play MP3's
>
> Guess what? 48 hours and about 20 dollars later, Linux is 1 for 4. 1
> success, after a while, and 3 miserable, total failures. So I'm going
> to put away my wallet, and go back to Windows XP. I will talk about
> what Linux is good for, and what it is not. Lets start positive, with
> the good:
>
> GOOD THINGS ABOUT LINUX:
> 1. Programming. No doubt about it, unless you cough up some serious
> dough for developer software, Linux uber Windows in the programming
> arena, any day. Programming is what introduced me to Linux in the
> first place, when I took Computational Physics and Programming for
> Engineers. I was an Engineering Physics Major with a Minor in
> Computer Engineering.
>
> 2. Data Manipulation and control. Linux is good at this, I was able
> to force mount my fubar Windows partition and save my documents, and
> I will use Linux one more time when Windows is back up to push my
> documents onto the Windows partition. It was the only benefit Linux
> has provided to me.
>
> 3. None, a lot of people say "low cost". I disagree. Lets talk about
> cost, but I'm going to put it in the failure category.
>
> Failures of Linux:
> 1. Multimedia. I tried to get a DVD player for Linux for 12 straight
> hours. I used Yum, RPMs, Google, Forums, and every other resource I
> could find. To no avail. This leads to me Linux's second failure, and
> probably, one of its greatest.
>
> 2. Support. Actually Linux community, you should take this personally,
> because you are the support. Therefore, YOU FAIL. You and your forums
> and websites, while noble intentions were in your heart, failure
> weighs on your efforts.
>
> In my 12 hour ordeal to find a DVD player, I noticed an interesting
> forum post from a young man, much like me, asking for a 'step by
> step' explanation of EXACTLY how he get a working DVD player in
> linux. 2 Linux knuckleheads replied. The first reply just said, you
> need to use this search engine to find this and that. The second
> reply was, you can use yum, you need a "some vague description" and a
> "some other less vague but still vague description". Well Linux
> community, that's not step by step. Its also not helpful. This is the
> thing that has pissed me off the most. A computer's base language is
> binary, but its instructions are assembly. Assembly tells registers
> where to go, which function to perform, and then where in memory to
> go when the operation is complete. Step by step, who, what, when,
> where, why, how. Linux Community, please learn from your computers,
> especially your assemblers. And stop being so damn vague.
>
> 3. Gaming. Everyone knows this ad nauseum, I downloaded Cedega, paid
> the 15 dollars for access, downloaded the latest ATI Drivers. Does it
> work? Of course not. What's wrong with it? I think its my OpenGL
> drivers, in fact, I'm positive. So I tried to edit my xorg.conf file,
> checked websites forums, ATI website. 12 X crashes and all kinds of
> aticonfigs with Parse Errors later, and I'm done. And what do you
> know, not one damn person in the ENTIRE LINUX WORLD has the
> competence to be able to solve my problem. Not one. I know I'm not
> the only person to have this problem, because others are pleading on
> the forums for help for the same damn problem, and getting vague
> irrelevant answers or answers that are simply questions. See Part 2
> about giving clear instructions. I use my computer to entertain me,
> Linux does not entertain. Linux only shows me how to fail.
>
> 4. Cost. Oh yes, I bet you think I can't form an argument against you
> on this, because Linux is "free" right? WRONG! I earn about 26
> dollars an hour as an entry level engineer. Windows XP cost me, maybe
> $150. That means 6 hours of work, and I have just paid for Windows
> XP. I spent 12 hours trying to download a F***ing DVD Player. I
> probably spent at least 8 to 12 hours on the damn Graphics Card
> problem, which still isn't fixed either. I have WASTED 520 dollars
> worth of my time on trying to 'fix' Linux, because its broken. And
> yes, if it doesn't play my video games or my DVD's or my MP3's it IS
> BROKEN. I have already lost more money than my Windows XP cost me,
> and I still don't have the same amount of functionality.
>
> 5. Delivery. People wonder how the hell Windows thrives and Linux
> kind of survives. Windows costs money, closed source, not as
> flexible. Well, its because Linux DOESN'T DELIVER. PERIOD. Wanna know
> why 90 percent of the world pays for Microsoft and shuns your free
> linux, because I am perfectly happy to PAY MONEY to get what I want,
> as is everyone else. Windows gives me what I want. When I put in a
> DVD, I get to watch a movie. Not search through Forums and Yum to
> download a Xine. When I double click on my video games, I play a
> game, not try to reprogram config files to get the video card to
> work. When I install a Video Card Driver, the only work I have to do
> is double click, and go take a piss while it installs for me. Not
> have to sit there and try to read the manual on ATICONFIG to see if i
> can it to actually do its job.
>
> Its all about delivery folks. Why do I pay to take women out on dates
> and get them all liquored up? Because there is a much better chance
> that woman will deliver what I want. A piece of that ass. I could
> probably find a nice woman, and hang out and be her friend,
> completely free, but then, I would rather pay to get what I want.
>
> So here's what Linux needs to do to make itself competitive:
> Comprehensive, Plug and Play Video Game Support. Installation and
> playability as easy as Windows. Only Linux could probably support game
> console emulation in addition to Windows, Linux could be better than
> windows for gaming.
> Adaptability to an actual customerbase. Like I said before, Windows
> succeeds because it give people what they want, entertainment, not
> heartache. Linux needs to do the same, instead of only responding to
> some dissident anti-social underground movement.
>
> Linux had 2 years or more since I last messed with it to improve.
> Cosmetically, there were some improvements, functionality and ease of
> use. ZERO improvement. Well Linux community, give it another try, you
> keep on editing those config files and trying to get answers on your
> forums. I'm going to get what I want from my computer, even if I have
> to pay for it for the next 2 years. Let me know if you fix it between
> now and then.
Speaking of Live,
The biggest thing holding me