Recent experience advocating Linux

[alfred]

On 03/06/2010 2:19 PM, Ralph Janke wrote:
> You can setup ppa without commandline.
>
> AFAIK, each software manager has a place to edit
> the sources. There you can add a source just by
> pasting in the line that is given to the user
> in the ppa of choice when looking at it in launchpad.
>
> Certainly, we could think about ways to providing, filtering
> and selecting ppas in the future, so there is room for
> improvement, but it is already possible to do it
> fairly easily.
>
> However, I am not sure if it is really such a good idea
> to have the real novices to start to add all kinds of ppas
> and install software that is not in our repositories. PPAs
> have far less QA than the official achieves, hence,  there
> are lots of issues with it when users start to go this way.
>
> Therefore, it can be a useful feature when some things are
> not easily done.
>
> Ralph (txwikinger)
>
>
> On 06/03/2010 02:11 PM, Brett Alton wrote:
>> In some ways Ubuntu is easier in some ways it isn't.
>>
>> I'm set up Ubuntu and Windows (mostly in the past) hundreds of times,
>> so I know what it's like to configure a fresh installation.
>>
>> With Ubuntu, I wrote a bash script[1] that does everything for me but
>> for Windows, I either use my repository of manually downloaded
>> programs or use http://filehippo.com to get the latest and greatest
>> software. Both methods have their pros and cons. I, of course, prefer
>> Ubuntu due to the fact that I can install repositories and download
>> gigabytes of programs without having to click next next next. Also,
>> the programs are kept up-to-date with a package manager over each
>> program implementing their own update system manually (or, worse,
>> programs that pop up every couple weeks asking you to install a new
>> version).
>>
>>   From a user perspective, setting up PPAs can be _dreadful_. There is
>> NO way to do it without using the command-line. Want the latest
>> Chromium/Chrome build? Command-line. Pidgin? Command-line.
>> Ubuntu-tweak (which isn't even available in the Ubuntu repos),
>> command-line.
>>
>> Installing software in Ubuntu, no matter how wonderful I mind it, is
>> still dreadful for the average user.
>>
>> [1] http://github.com/brettalton/ubuntu-assistant
>>
>> On Thu, Jun 3, 2010 at 1:56 PM, Ralph Janke<txwikinger at ubuntu.com>   wrote:
>>
>>>     From my own experience, that can be a myth!
>>>
>>> I have numerous times now discovered, that users of
>>> windows computers had problems connecting printers.
>>> And even PC technicians from stores were not able to
>>> find the right driver to get the printer working (and
>>> I am talking standard HP printers here).
>>>
>>> However, if you install Ubuntu on the same machine
>>> the printer just works without any configurations, hence
>>> passing the Eric Raymond test.
>>>
>>> Please lets stop live in the past. Ubuntu is now as easy
>>> (if not easier) to use as Windows. And we are also making
>>> strides trying to catch up with the user experience of Apple
>>> which is certainly excellent. However, just wait for the next
>>> two releases and we will have made additional strides.
>>>
>>> The nice thing for ubuntu is, you can do both. There is
>>> nothing that prevents you from using command line
>>> terminal if you are good in using that, however,
>>> point&click is supported equally.
>>>
>>> Just my 2c
>>>
>>> Ralph (txwikinger)
>>>
>>>
>>> On 06/03/2010 01:12 PM, Borden Rhodes wrote:
>>>
>>>> I get a little concerned when I read 'point-&-click' syndrome.  One of the
>>>> major reasons why I don't advocate Linux to clients, friends and family (the
>>>> biggest being bugs and instability) is the fact that configuring and
>>>> troubleshooting Linux requires a huge amount of technical expertise.
>>>>
>>>> People use computers like cars: they just want to get from point A to point B
>>>> as quickly as possible.  These people have careers and friends and other
>>>> responsibilities and although the amazing things you can do with gawk are
>>>> fascinating, they aren't useful for getting work done.  Accordingly, people
>>>> pay me huge sums of money precisely because they're using their brains for
>>>> things other than hardware troubleshooting or virus removal and I don't use my
>>>> brain for anything much more useful so I have room for this information.
>>>>
>>>> I'm pleased to see that recent efforts are trying to fix this in Linux but we
>>>> still have years to go.  I know that sitting in front of a root terminal gives
>>>> a huge rush of power but people looking to get something useful done rather
>>>> than bask in the computing experience don't appreciate the novelty as much as
>>>> the hackers and hobbyists do.
>>>>
>>>> Borden
>>>>
>>>> On 3 June 2010 09:25:25 Stephen Kawamoto wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> On the bus to work the other day - I'm a security guard - I talked to an
>>>>> Asian lad using his PSP 2000.
>>>>>
>>>>> He claimed familiarity originally with Mac and Windows XP.
>>>>>
>>>>> At some point in the past, he tried Linux but didn't like it. I assume this
>>>>> may be due to the point-&-click syndrome caused by extensive Mac and
>>>>> Windows use.
>>>>>
>>>>> So I advocated Linux like mad, expressing my opinion about freeing one from
>>>>> licensing renewals during upgrades i.e. XP and 7 require separate
>>>>> licenses, as do Macs. This is reflect in their price.
>>>>>
>>>>> As the person has some familiarity with Linux, I didn't mention that Linux
>>>>> is usually free.
>>>>>
>>>>> At our destination, he said he'd look into trying out Linux again.
>>>>>
>>>>> My only regret is not having printed up personal business cards, which I'll
>>>>> remedy when I return to my Dell machine - I'm in the middle of migrating
>>>>> from a Dell GX60 to a Compaq D51C.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> ubuntu-ca mailing list
>>> ubuntu-ca at lists.ubuntu.com
>>> https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-ca

Hi I've stopped advocating Ubuntu Linux for now. Since
January, I have lost all my Internet Accessed Versions of
Ubuntu. That is Version 9.04, and 2 Versions of 9.10, Two Wubi 
Installations on Windows 7, with Wubi 9.10, and my Netbook Twice I lost 
9.10, So I don't have linux running on any Machine right now. There was 
that Upgrade Problem where perhaps one File was a Virus, and That made 
the Netbook not work anymore. 9.10 was not Stable and had a problem with 
100 Percent CPU Usage, which Cooked my $170 Athlon XP CPU in my Previous 
Linux Box. On My new Linux Box with 9.10 on it I looked at the Live 
edition of 10.04 64 bit Version, and that destroyed my 9.10 Ubuntu 64 
Bit version on my new Linux Box. Doing a Restore, from Simple Backup put 
224 Gigs of stuff on my Hard Drive a 250 Gig Hard drive. Then it would 
not boot. It was an Unstable edition of 10.04. On an Upgrade my Net Book 
stopped working after my Accounting System stopped working on an upgrade.
When you try to get someone to use Live mode, and it wipes out their 
Windows, you are not going to have a Convert Ever again with Linux!

Perhaps if Ubuntu Paid Help actually helps me, recover that hard Drive, 
I might try to do something Linux again, after all the bugs get fixed in 
the Ubuntu Install Disk, but I'm in no rush, and in No Rush to talk to 
anyone about trying Ubuntu out for now!

I have 2 Non Internet Versions of Ubuntu that are working Fine. That is 
9.04 Ubuntu 32 Bit, Everything is working ok, except for SDL Ball, which 
does strange things, and Wanda the Fish does not work. The rest works OK!

Alfred!


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