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Thread ID: 46143 2004-06-15 00:43:00 Discussion: What Do Newbies (And you) Need to Make the Switch to Linux?? Chilling_Silence (9) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
244549 2004-06-15 14:40:00 Judging from the threads on the subject,
that I've read on this forum
I'd need infinite time & endless patience!
Sorry, I have neither!
98SE will have to do for now!
Despite all it's faults!
Regards.
DUNK (1527)
244550 2004-06-15 15:40:00 I think I agree with what Murray P said.
Linux isnt as well-known on the Desktop as Windows is, but the fact that for many it is a perfectly viable alternative for those who want to move away from their current desktop OS is still unknown to the vast majority of computer users out there!

I must be honest that about a week ago I asked every customer who came through the door of the CyberCafe what they thought of Linux.

Of all the people we had come in (It was a slow day, but still had a good 50 or so people) only one knew what Linux was, and his comment was something like:
I run smoothwall as a firewall, that's Linux right?

We got one or two other good comments:
I tried Linux once, but then windows gave me a Blue Screen error and restarted it so I didnt load it up again
Linux, yeah, I like it, my aunty makes it every time we go around to her place

Otherwise, I got about 45 blank stares, and one big grin on my employers face :-)


Some linux games to google for:
Legends
Battle for Wesnoth
Adonthell
Supertux
tuxmath & tuxtype
Tuxracer

What about in Business, what are peoples perspective on using Linux in a corporate environment outside of the server-room?


Chill.
Chilling_Silence (9)
244551 2004-06-15 21:03:00 Well, for what it's worth, my 5c.
Ive given Xandros my best shot, but have put it to one side for now.

The basic reasons as mentioned already by (sorry I forget who :) ), drivers!

It wont support my scanner, and it doesnt support my soundcard fully, so that sound quality is miserable.

When device manufacturers start including Linux drivers with their products as a matter of course then maybe I'll go back to it.

I found it a pain trying to locate and install all the extra libs etc, when trying to install just a simple small program. I mean MS Windows is MS Windows more or less, but Linux? It is a multiplicity of messy distributions which is confusing to say the least for anyone starting out.
Terry Porritt (14)
244552 2004-06-15 22:11:00 No blinkers here! mikebartnz (21)
244553 2004-06-15 22:39:00 To Murray P and Chill .
Your well-considered and stable opinions were well worth reading and I really am sorry if I have offended the majority on this thread .

But WTF X-( really got my gander up with his "pretty coloured plugs" etc in his 12 . 02am post . And the rest of the post is just for him . . . . . . . . .

When I bought my first computer, I got precious little help from vendor as they went out of business soon after .

The Toshiba notebook I have now, was bought from a firm who puts you on to another business when you query them or their person who deals with it is out . I have rung Toshiba in NZ once and the technicians were marvellous .

AND there are NO pretty coloured plugs on my computer . It's all black and grey, and it runs Windows XP Pro and its my favourite toy .

regards, Marg .
pulling hair out (4493)
244554 2004-06-15 22:41:00 Terry>
Did you install the Alsa library files from Xandros-Networks, as well as the SANE Scanner Backend?

Xandros has some of the best Hardware support Ive seen, especially with the cursed Win/LinModems!
Chilling_Silence (9)
244555 2004-06-15 22:46:00 > But WTF X-( really got my gander up with his
> "pretty coloured plugs" etc in his 12.02am post. And
> the rest of the post is just for him.........

Marg, don't take it to heart. The best policy is to ignore and forget and listen/read those that are helpful to you.
nzStan (440)
244556 2004-06-15 23:19:00 Chill, I pretty well installed everything going in Xandros, but there is just NO Linux support for my Canoscan FB310, ClickSmart 420 webcam or "Ma-La-Zi 5.1 sound card. The sound card chipset is more or less recognised and I do get sound, but the quality is very poor, sounds like tinkling glass in the background, and there is no surround sound recognition.

I just bought a Canon MP700 combined printer/scanner/copier, there are no Linux drivers.
Toyota if Im going to have to dither around trying to find hardware that has Linux support, and if I did it probably wouldnt be what I want anyway. So there :)
Terry Porritt (14)
244557 2004-06-15 23:29:00 Just a side-track. A few years ago in DOS I could phone-fax-web browse-ftp, run a word processor, run graphics programs/viewers/editors/players, run PCB programs and plot out printed circuit boards on my HP serial port plotter, control devices on the parallel port, in fact heaps and heaps of things from MS-DOS.

Now I know the Linux gurus like Graham can do all that without blinking an eye, because they have 'grown up' with Linux/Unix, and so would all those whose tertiary education has been with Unix.

In Xandros, I'm limited in what I can and want to do. In Windows I can do most all things I want. Thats the big difference.
Terry Porritt (14)
244558 2004-06-15 23:31:00 The problem is not many device you bought came with Linux drivers, like motherboard drivers, display, sound, web cam . . . etc . :(

I know Linux will work with most of the device without drivers, but sometime you need to use their own drivers to use their advance features for that particular device .

If manufacturers provides both Windows and Linux drivers then I think it will make Linux more appeal :)

I know some already do, but the majority don't :(

As for user friendly and ease of use, I think Windows is a little bit better in that area still . (My opinion only, correct me if I'm wrong) .

Let say you have a PC with no OS and a person that have no computer experience, do you think that persoon can have the PC up and running with Windows or Linux if you gave him to try both?
SKT174 (1319)
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