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Thread ID: 123673	2012-03-10 08:10:00	I converted my mum to Ubuntu Linux	goodiesguy (15316)	PC World Chat

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
1264172	2012-03-12 00:35:00	Google takes practice itself, may sound stupid but it does. Knowing what phrases to search for and what results to look at requires some knowledge that some people looking for help just don't have. I myself use google first and the forums second, but I understand why some are the other way around. It can be a nightmare sometimes knowing how to word a search. Try search for a plant you have seen and want to find out more about it. Took me ages to find one just recently.	mikebartnz (21)
1264173	2012-03-12 00:52:00	You seem to be deliberately ignoring to read or comprehend the key word that I have used several times, so I'll put in in bold SOMETIMES finding help is hard. Won't disagree with the last part but I wasn't deliberately ignoring anything apart from what appeared to be an aggressive rant against Linux. Your saying "Dont get me wrong, I use linux myself, theres nothing wrong with it" doesn't mean much when everything else you are saying is saying the opposite.	mikebartnz (21)
1264174	2012-03-12 00:57:00	Won't disagree with the last part but I wasn't deliberately ignoring anything apart from what appeared to be an aggressive rant against Linux. Your saying "Dont get me wrong, I use linux myself, theres nothing wrong with it" doesn't mean much when everything else you are saying is saying the opposite.I don't think he's actually ranting about Linux - the impression I'm getting is that he's dissatisfied with the quality of free support he received (and that he observed others receiving) when trying to solve a problem, and he doesn't understand why those posts were answered (or ignored) in the manner that they were.	Erayd (23)
1264175	2012-03-12 00:57:00	@ mikebartnz. It appears you rant about Windows in your signature to me. Also that is on every post you make!! "Computers are like Air Conditioners, they stop working when you open Windows."	Snorkbox (15764)
1264176	2012-03-12 01:12:00	I don't think he's actually ranting about Linux - the impression I'm getting is that he's dissatisfied with the quality of free support he received (and that he observed others receiving) when trying to solve a problem, and he doesn't understand why those posts were answered (or ignored) in the manner that they were. You may be right but his first post (#6) here sort of set the tone for the rest of his posts and the fact that he considered that Link you gave about help as just applying to Linux and not Windows.	mikebartnz (21)
1264177	2012-03-12 01:13:00	@ mikebartnz. It appears you rant about Windows in your signature to me. Also that is on every post you make!! "Computers are like Air Conditioners, they stop working when you open Windows." :groan:	mikebartnz (21)
1264178	2012-03-12 04:27:00	At the risk of veering back towards the topic, I have observed a couple of common issues and misconceptions people encounter when "switching to linux". 1. Basic Concepts Linux is not an operating system, it is a kernel. There are numerous 'distributions' that take the base linux kernel and add a collection of system tools and programs and put them together to work in a coherent fashion, as a system that meets the needs of that particular community. Within those distributions, there are usually a large variety of operating components to choose from, from boot-loader to display manager, gui environment, command shell and so on, although most have a 'default install' choice for those who don't know or don't care. The upside to this (perceived by some as a lack of standardisation) is that you can have exactly what you want, you don't have to put up with the same crappy UI everybody else "likes", and you can choose a system that works how YOU want it to work. They all work slightly differently, and require a different approach. None of them are (or are intended to be) a free (as in beer) drop-in replacement for Windows. Ubuntu is probably a notable exception here, as Canonical has (at times) expressed this as one of the goals of their "product". They are also a commercial operation with the intention of leveraging a larger userbase into profits for their shareholders. The downside is that in the process it is importing a lot of the problems that people are trying to escape from when looking for something not-Windows. Choosing a distribution that will work for your particular use case will greatly influence your experience. 2. Hardware Support of hardware is dependent on availability of 'drivers' to interface with the rest of the software. Most hardware vendors make available a linux 'driver' or the necessary information to enable one to be written. Some don't, and some of those have been reverse engineered by some very smart people to produce code allowing that hardware to be used. Some has not. For most hardware, support is already in the kernel and nothing needs doing, no drivers to install. For others, installation of proprietary firmware is required, which some distro's cannot ship with the system due to licencing restrictions by the manufacturer. Brand new, 'closed' hardware is always going to be problematic, as it takes time to figure out how it works, write supporting code and integrate it into the kernel. Some googling of your hardware & support thereof, can save a lot of moaning and shagging about later. 3. Software Programs are generally installed using a package manager (yes, there are gui's as well as text based interfaces ...) from software repositories, specifically for the distro you are using, maintained either by them or by third parties. This ensures the software you install will work with your system, has all the right dependencies installed and meets a certain quality (dependent on the repo maintainer's policies). This is an important part of the 'stability' that linux is famous for. Installing random packages downloaded from 'somewhere on the internets' is usually a newbie's first mistake and is pretty much guaranteed to cause problems sooner or later. Having said that, you are free to do so if you want. Compiling from source code gives access to basically any software (or version) you want, but YOU will be doing the hard work, patching and dependency checking, that the package maintainer does for you in a binary distribution. Again, choice of distro has a big bearing on the software available via 'official' channels. Windows software will not run natively on 'linux', however the WINE project does an excellent job of allowing just that. That sudoku game on the disk from the friend will run fine, as will most other windows software. There are a few notable exceptions, windows CAD software has been mentioned, and some more complex and tightly integrated (with Windows) software may require some fiddling or not work at all (yet). Regardless of the ability to run Windows software (how much linux software can Windows run?) there is a HUGE amount of free (as in speech) software available to cover almost any requirement. And if you need something not available, you (or someone you engage) can take the existing code and modify it to suit. Bottom Line People looking for "Windows for $0" will be disappointed. People willing to drop some preconceptions and learn some different ways of doing some things will be rewarded with some new options and freedoms that may not have previously been apparent.	fred_fish (15241)
1264179	2012-03-12 04:28:00	It can be a nightmare sometimes knowing how to word a search. Try search for a plant you have seen and want to find out more about it. Took me ages to find one just recently. Got a few plants like that, that started growing all on their own in the veggie garden. Two were tomato plants, so I know where they came from, but two others :confused: haven't a clue what they are - just waiting for something to "sprout" :D	wainuitech (129)
1264180	2012-03-12 05:14:00	At the risk of veering back towards the topic, I have observed a couple of common issues and misconceptions people encounter when "switching to linux". 1. Basic Concepts Bottom Line People looking for "Windows for $0" will be disappointed. People willing to drop some preconceptions and learn some different ways of doing some things will be rewarded with some new options and freedoms that may not have previously been apparent. Good Post.:thumbs:	mikebartnz (21)
1264181	2012-03-29 00:05:00	Thats not all either, a lot of people dont know how to actually give a working answer. Many forget the people they are trying to help dont know, so if the answer leaves out a step, or doesn't give exact steps, sometimes it can cause more problems than solve, even though the answer is in fact the right one. ..... Totally and in many fields :) I find the phrase 'or something like' particularly galling while attempting to follow arcane Linux instructions to the letter. Do they think I'm psychic ? Pete	Organicpete (133)
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