Yota
February 6th, 2008, 11:00 AM
COMMENTS:
I am not willing to post this on the Linux boards because, after reading a LOT of those boards, I've decided that Linux people can be a little snotty toward people who are trying to transition from Windows. It's like they can't fathom why someone who is transitioning from a purely visual OS might not particularly dig having to learn a bunch of Unix-like command line crap.
Also, 80% of the forum answers you get to questions about a GUI-based app will involve command lines. It's like they compete with each other to see how many /z __--/&66^^^es0,,,t3r!c))) commands and switches they can use to answer your question about how to find some app you just installed. It's YOUR GUI, people. If the only way to do something is via CL then I'll pass, thanks.
It also seems that the phrase "windows-like" is a hot-button for Linux people. They are very sensitive about that. Yet it would be just as valid to ask for "Mac-like" as well. Yet they don't get so pissy about that. When people say "Windows-like" they invariably are referring to the good traits of Windows, not the bad. The ease of installation and use in particular. But Linux users are always quick to hiss out "Linux is not Windows!" as if that were helpful to anyone switching from Windows. Just mentioning the that you are wanting to switch from XP to Linux often brings derision. You may get help with your question but you also have to wade through the thinly-veiled insults and the numerous tirades against Microsoft.
But obviously, with the development of many of the nice GUIs for the various Linux distros, the Linux community in general is aware that they will not displace Windows with command-line crap; something that Windows ditched a decade or more ago. CL still has its place hidden away in batch files, of course.
I'm impressed in many ways with Linux and my infatuation with it is mainly derived from its price. But I'm willing to allow that the free versions may not be the best for someone who is transitioning unless that person is comfortable with tinkering and getting support from a forum (which I knew going in).
QUESTIONS:
1. I'm using Ubuntu Gutsy (7.10) 64-bit and am using Automatix for keeping it up-to-date (great app!!) but this question is way basic. I have been incredibly frustrated that when I install a new app from Synaptic Package Mgr or Add/Remove, I often cannot find that app under any of the menus. So I am left to assume that it's another CL app? But I don't have a clue how to find CL apps either. Is there some place from which I can see a list of -and launch - both CL and GUI apps?
The answers I've found for this have been poor. One of them suggested that I install the Debian menu, which I did. But then I couldn't see it where they said it would show up (on the Apps menu). I tried adding it but it would not accept it. Wow. The other answers involved mumbo jumbo about seeing all apps in Synaptics (true, but I can't launch from there to my knowledge). A good example is VNC. I've installed it over and over and yet I cannot find the damn thing. Also, clam antivirus. Can't find it either.
2. Wine. Gutsy comes with a graphical configuration tool for Wine. I configured this one executable that came with my case that supposedly has some nifty BIOS utilities - it's for XP. I configured that executable and now have no idea how to actually launch the thing in Wine. The instructions at WineHQ simply didn't work and/or didn't make sense. Anyone know how to use this tool? It sounds useful for certain things and I'd like to see what its limits are (I know it is very limited).
3. How does one go about switching from the default GNOME front-end to KDE? I can see that KDE is installed but how can I use it?
4. I'm planning on installing another Linux distro soon just to play the field. I'm playing with Ubuntu for my own learning purposes but ultimately I'm going to be giving this computer to my dad as a gift. He is not computer savvy and, from what I've seen, Ubuntu/GNOME is not ready for someone transitioning from Windows. It's good and all I guess but there are tons of problems that you have to work through. But my dad does enjoy browsing and e-mail and just goofing around. So I've heard that Freespire/Lindows is a decent OS (not free, but also not expensive). Is that true? I've heard PCLinuxOS is decent for transitioning also.
I am not willing to post this on the Linux boards because, after reading a LOT of those boards, I've decided that Linux people can be a little snotty toward people who are trying to transition from Windows. It's like they can't fathom why someone who is transitioning from a purely visual OS might not particularly dig having to learn a bunch of Unix-like command line crap.
Also, 80% of the forum answers you get to questions about a GUI-based app will involve command lines. It's like they compete with each other to see how many /z __--/&66^^^es0,,,t3r!c))) commands and switches they can use to answer your question about how to find some app you just installed. It's YOUR GUI, people. If the only way to do something is via CL then I'll pass, thanks.
It also seems that the phrase "windows-like" is a hot-button for Linux people. They are very sensitive about that. Yet it would be just as valid to ask for "Mac-like" as well. Yet they don't get so pissy about that. When people say "Windows-like" they invariably are referring to the good traits of Windows, not the bad. The ease of installation and use in particular. But Linux users are always quick to hiss out "Linux is not Windows!" as if that were helpful to anyone switching from Windows. Just mentioning the that you are wanting to switch from XP to Linux often brings derision. You may get help with your question but you also have to wade through the thinly-veiled insults and the numerous tirades against Microsoft.
But obviously, with the development of many of the nice GUIs for the various Linux distros, the Linux community in general is aware that they will not displace Windows with command-line crap; something that Windows ditched a decade or more ago. CL still has its place hidden away in batch files, of course.
I'm impressed in many ways with Linux and my infatuation with it is mainly derived from its price. But I'm willing to allow that the free versions may not be the best for someone who is transitioning unless that person is comfortable with tinkering and getting support from a forum (which I knew going in).
QUESTIONS:
1. I'm using Ubuntu Gutsy (7.10) 64-bit and am using Automatix for keeping it up-to-date (great app!!) but this question is way basic. I have been incredibly frustrated that when I install a new app from Synaptic Package Mgr or Add/Remove, I often cannot find that app under any of the menus. So I am left to assume that it's another CL app? But I don't have a clue how to find CL apps either. Is there some place from which I can see a list of -and launch - both CL and GUI apps?
The answers I've found for this have been poor. One of them suggested that I install the Debian menu, which I did. But then I couldn't see it where they said it would show up (on the Apps menu). I tried adding it but it would not accept it. Wow. The other answers involved mumbo jumbo about seeing all apps in Synaptics (true, but I can't launch from there to my knowledge). A good example is VNC. I've installed it over and over and yet I cannot find the damn thing. Also, clam antivirus. Can't find it either.
2. Wine. Gutsy comes with a graphical configuration tool for Wine. I configured this one executable that came with my case that supposedly has some nifty BIOS utilities - it's for XP. I configured that executable and now have no idea how to actually launch the thing in Wine. The instructions at WineHQ simply didn't work and/or didn't make sense. Anyone know how to use this tool? It sounds useful for certain things and I'd like to see what its limits are (I know it is very limited).
3. How does one go about switching from the default GNOME front-end to KDE? I can see that KDE is installed but how can I use it?
4. I'm planning on installing another Linux distro soon just to play the field. I'm playing with Ubuntu for my own learning purposes but ultimately I'm going to be giving this computer to my dad as a gift. He is not computer savvy and, from what I've seen, Ubuntu/GNOME is not ready for someone transitioning from Windows. It's good and all I guess but there are tons of problems that you have to work through. But my dad does enjoy browsing and e-mail and just goofing around. So I've heard that Freespire/Lindows is a decent OS (not free, but also not expensive). Is that true? I've heard PCLinuxOS is decent for transitioning also.