Linux...

[Softpaw]

Well, I finally got a spare computer to work well enough to install Linux on (Mandrake 10.1), and after playing with it for the last 24 hours, my thoughts are as follows:<br><br>1. Linux is weird<br>2. Linux makes mundane tasks excessively difficult<br>3. People who recommend the widespread use of Linux as a desktop OS are out of touch with reality<br><br>After getting it up and running, first thing I wanted to do was get my network working. Thankfully, the ethernet card was installed properly and required little more than basic TCP/IP configuration. HOWEVER, I then tried to set up some file sharing stuff. I still haven't figured out how to connect to my network's file server. I tried to set up some sharing options to share the Linux box's files, but I kept getting this error that I had to login as root to save my changes to the file. I tried the "su" command, which is supposed to work, but it didn't. I ended up having to reboot, change run levels, login as root from command prompt, and force-start the GUI from there. Once I got it up, it presented me with a headache-inducing red background that I couldn't get rid of, and numerous warnings that "running as root can allow you to damage your system with nothing to stop you". There's little that ticks me off worse than having software try to push me around. I am the admin, the computer is the dumb servant. Nevermind that I have no experience with the OS, I want to run as root, dammit!<br><br>Bleh, not sure what the point of this is, maybe I just needed to rant?<br><br>Oh, wait, this can be the "talk about Linux" thread, that works <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://definecynical.mancubus.net/forum ... /smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo--><br><br>And Ruedii, no smart-a** comment about my noob-ness please.

[Richard K Niner]

Oh well... some OS's just aren't for everyone: *nix is a much better experience when one has a strong background in and is comfortable with using command-lines for everything.

[Softpaw]

Heh, well, thankfully I wasn't stupid enough to install it on my only working computer this time, or even my primary one, so I still intend to play with it. It just bugs me that I have such a hard time using it, since I work on {Windows} PCs every day.

[Steve the Pocket]

Yeah, Linux is hard as crap. No wait, crap isn't hard. Oh well.<br><br>However, I will congratulate you on having so much success on your first try. I have gone through about six Linux distros (the second-to-last of which being Mandrake 10.1) and always end up with some sort of problem. This might be due to the fact that I<ul><li>use nonstandard hardware from rummage sales</li><li>am too lazy to read the manual</li><li>give up easily when something doesn't work</li><li>have <i>no idea</i> what I'm doing, ever.</li></ul>My problems tend to involve either unsuccessful installs or inability to detect hardware (see point one above), which means I'm often sunk within the first day. Mandrake lasted a few days but was tossed when I realized that, like you, I was unable to login as root (it wasn't even on the login screen -- you'd think they'd catch such an obvious problem in testing, assuming they do any) so I couldn't change any settings or install anything.<br><br>Right now, I'm running SuSE, which is a LOT easier to use. It installed with no problems, detected everything including my printer, connected to the Internet without having to enter any complicated network info, and comes with a program called YaST which can be used to customize hardware settings without even switching to root (in some cases). There are a few problems (Firefox won't run, and the sound isn't working), but I'm asking around on Linux message boards, so hopefully I'll get that resolved soon enough.<br><br>The biggest problem with Linux is that it was never intended for home use. It was made for professional nerds who needed a powerful system that could run on relatively slow machines. There are those, like Linspire and Lycoris, who put genuine effort into making Linux a good home system, but their versions aren't free, which is Linux's biggest selling point.<br><br>I have plans, at this very moment, for an OS called Blue Fox Linux. Rather than starting with an existing Linux platform and tweaking, I am designing its interface from the ground up, using every idea I can think of to make it easier to use. I made a complete screen shot in Paint Shop Pro; if anyone's interested I can post it.

[Burning Sheep Productions]

I'm interested...

[Joe3210]

Me too.

[Archaemic]

Huh. Never heard of problems like this. I installed Gentoo without problems. Well...problems like this.

[Dr. Doog]

I agree, felix. thats why i never actually suggest people use Linux instead of windows. my friend installed it (suse, and now mandrake, possibly fedora core next as he hates both) on his computer, and he isn't exactly that used to anything other than basic computing skills (which is better than most people i know) and he said he didn't really see why people love it so much. and in my <i>personal</i> expirience, only two distros i have used recognise my ethernet card. <!--emo&:blink:--><img src='http://definecynical.mancubus.net/forum ... /blink.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='blink.gif' /><!--endemo--><br><br>Xandros is too weird when it comes to installing things, so i shyed away from debian based, but Fedora Core 3 seems to be working okay.<br><br>also, i would love to see the screenshot, and probably will want to use this Blue Fox.

[Steve the Pocket]

Perhaps I should clarify, DooG, what I meant by "designing." As of right now, I have no idea how to actually make this OS; all I'm doing at this point is drawing up screenshots of what I <i>want</i> it to look like. I also have no idea how to find someone who can program this. That said, here's the link to the PNG:<br><br><a href='http://img193.exs.cx/img193/9580/mainscreen0tl.png' target='_blank'>Main screen turn on!</a>

[Dr. Doog]

*LE GASPE!* Gnome is awesome.

[Richard K Niner]

I just can't wait to play Tetris on that babby <!--emo&:P--><img src='http://definecynical.mancubus.net/forum ... tongue.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tongue.gif' /><!--endemo-->

[Dr. Doog]

Tetris = 73h seXXors.

[Dr. Dos]

<!--QuoteBegin-DoppledangeR DooG+Jan 31 2005, 06:56 AM--> <table border='0' align='center' width='95%' ><tr><td class='quotetop'><b>Quote:</b> (DoppledangeR DooG @ Jan 31 2005, 06:56 AM)</td></tr><tr><td class='quotebody'> Tetris = 73h seXXors. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table> <!--QuoteEEnd--><br> such foul language can cause one's ears to melt.<br><br>or in this case eyes.

[Dr. Doog]

tetris is sexy?

[Steve the Pocket]

What really sucks about SuSE is that it came with almost no games whatsoever, meaning one of these days I'll have to download them from the KDE website and try to install them, no easy task given Linux's weird "package-based" installation system.