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Linux is Not Windows

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Re: Linux is Not Windows

#91

Post by radioact1ve »

Dunbar wrote: post #22
radioact1ve wrote: post #15

I think we can all agree Linux != Windows, but shit it's 2011. Somethings should just work.

Who writes the drivers for this software that 'Just Works'? Over and over again I see commercial OS vendors implicitly credited for writing drivers that were actually supplied by the hardware manufacturers themselves. The vast majority of the general population find that their Windows and OS X machines 'Just Work' because they come preconfigured with all of the manufacturer's drivers already installed. Linux can't 'J…

Same excuses I've been reading since I first started using Linux around 2001.

Re: Linux is Not Windows

#92

Post by radioact1ve »

jrockway wrote: post #40
radioact1ve wrote: post #15

I think we can all agree Linux != Windows, but shit it's 2011. Somethings should just work.

What doesn't work for you?

Everything now is working... but it's a pain in the ass to get everything working. I've been using Linux since 2001-2002. I'm scared of updating anything because of what might break. I love Linux ideas and principles but shit man I wish it was easier. Easier != windows/mac

Re: Linux is Not Windows

#93

Post by bane »

dkarl wrote: post #89
bane wrote: post #85

Earlier quoted context omitted.

By the way, your handy thumb drive with four drivers on it -- why did you need that? And why did you have it? Why weren't you that well prepared for the Linux install? It doesn't seem like a fair comparison if you're comparing a Windows install where you knew exactly what drivers you needed and already had them on hand to a Linux install where you hadn't even Googled the right driver for your video card. I was that w…

You have had the worst luck with Linux that I have ever heard of. Among my dozen or so personal and work acquaintances who have installed Linux for desktop use, none of them have put in one tenth of the work you have, and all of them have multiple fully functional desktop systems to show for it. My condolences for your absolutely spectacular bad luck.

nod, I suppose, but a quick peruse of various Linux help forums will show I'm not really all that rare. This is a reality that the community is going to have to come to terms with.

Is it better than it used to be? Sure! Is it competitive? Not really.

Re: Linux is Not Windows

#94

Post by rjbond3rd »

eropple wrote: post #73
rjbond3rd wrote: post #63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I disagree. Windows is always interrupting me with things. Updates, virus scans, warnings, malware etc. whereas Linux stays in the background (for me).

I don't remember the last time I was prompted for, literally, any of that, with the exception of Windows Update--which is about as annoying as Ubuntu's nagging updater (that is, not very). But, then, I don't install crap. Most people do, but most people who do also don't care so much about whether they see those popups or not. It doesn't register to them. So, yes, there is an edge case here where you can install crap…

Really? You don't get told there's a new version of Java, Acrobat Reader, Flash, updates for whatever security suite, updates for other applications?

You change the motherboard after it fails, now Windows needs to re-validate, then if you don't do that right away, Windows Security Essentials starts counting down to when it won't work anymore?

And the Windows re-validation process fails for unknown reasons every time, so it keeps telling you "this copy isn't genuine" even though it's a 100% legit retail version (and prompts again each boot).

Which I installed to get rid of the -crap- the hardware vendor installed. And then on top of that, the -only- stuff I installed was Java, Flash, Firefox and Reader. That's -it-.

I don't even use Windows -- this is my wife's computer. Linux never bothers except for security updates.

And in the last year, Windows got infected twice, requiring re-installs when MalwareBytes and AV could not disinfect (hence, perhaps, the validation problem).

It takes more effort to keep the Windows machine going than the other 5 Linux boxes in the house (each running a different distro no less).

Re: Linux is Not Windows

#95

Post by wvenable »

justincormack wrote: post #61
TeMPOraL wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Nope, shitty hardware never works. Linux just hides that from you less than Windows. And that's the thing that Windows actually gets right. A typical user doesn't know nor care about OS-hardware compatibility. He/she buys a printer and wants it to work. It is up to OS to make this happen.

It is not the OS that makes this happen. The device ships with a windows driver disk. The manufacturer made it happen. Out of the box Linux probably ships with more drivers than Windows, but the process is much more centralised.

You could argue that Microsoft makes it much easier for manufacturers to make and distribute drivers (that work) for Windows than they can for Linux. Linux ships with a lot of drivers because that's the primary way you get Linux drivers.

Re: Linux is Not Windows

#96

Post by eropple »

rjbond3rd wrote: post #94
eropple wrote: post #73

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't remember the last time I was prompted for, literally, any of that, with the exception of Windows Update--which is about as annoying as Ubuntu's nagging updater (that is, not very). But, then, I don't install crap. Most people do, but most people who do also don't care so much about whether they see those popups or not. It doesn't register to them. So, yes, there is an edge case here where you can install crap…

Really? You don't get told there's a new version of Java, Acrobat Reader, Flash, updates for whatever security suite, updates for other applications? You change the motherboard after it fails, now Windows needs to re-validate, then if you don't do that right away, Windows Security Essentials starts counting down to when it won't work anymore? And the Windows re-validation process fails for unknown reasons every time,…

Acrobat Reader sucks, so I don't install it. I squelch Java's nags because it's disabled in my browsers and I only have it for running Netbeans. I am probably more lax in my Flash updates than I should be (because I don't see them, I squelched them as well), but I run FlashBlock in Chrome so I'm not overly worried. Microsoft Security Essentials updates through Windows Update and never bothers me.

I've gotten revalidation prompts, but never failures; I know they can happen but it's never been an issue for me.

Seriously, I honestly don't know why so many people have trouble with it, but I have had a pain-free experience since installing Windows 7. Even Vista was pretty much problem-free, although MSE wasn't around then and I did get occasional AV nags.

Re: Linux is Not Windows

#97

Post by rbanffy »

eropple wrote: post #33
djd wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The reason Linux seems to be un friendly is because windows takes care you as a baby,most of the time you are not in control and there is nothing much to worry. So if kids where exposed to Linux first this problem would not arise IMHO

Alternatively, Windows takes care of things that a normal person has no need to, but Linux forces you to do. It's like being forced to think about breathing.

It's been a very long time since Linux forced me to do anything. Windows, OTOH, is a chore. Install the base OS, install anti-malware, install decent browser, install miscellaneous things, keep track of everything myself... No. I use Linux precisely because I have a life.
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