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Adopting Ubuntu: Linux switch can be painless, free

cbc.ca — For many people, e-mail, web surfing, picture editing, listening to music, making spreadsheets and basic word processing are just about all they do with their computers. Today's Macs and Windows PCs are impressive machines indeed, but their power- and price- can be overkill for the average computer user. If looking for a new computer, try Linux.

Who dugg this? Made popular Mar 24, 2007

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  • Ricapar, on 10/12/2007, -2/+48You don't need to use a terminal for web browsing, nor spreadsheets, nor word processing, nor email.
  • Amablue, on 10/12/2007, -1/+27Most people who only need to use the computer for email, internet and basic office work would never need to open a terminal. The worst they might need to do is go to Applications -> add/remove and add a program.

    To a complete newbie, Windows would be just as difficult as Linux, assuming both are already installed and running.
  • lifenstein, on 05/30/2009, -1/+26Oh Puh-leease! Like I haven't tried that already! All I found was a G5, with 'I hate macs' spray-painted on it...
  • bysin, on 10/12/2007, -5/+27This guy is either trolling, or has never used linux before.
  • noseeme, on 10/12/2007, -3/+21The only novelty of this article is that it came from the CBC. Other than that, it's the same old same old.
  • tech10171968, on 10/12/2007, -4/+22jimilarue512 sounds like Steve Ballmer's bitch.

    If you can seperate your lips from Mr Ballmer's privates for a second, I'd like to show you my Debian desktop. You know how I get online? I simply move my cursor to "Firefox" or "Opera" and click on the icon. That simple. No terminal, no command line. If you would have researched the subject a bit before commenting on it then you would have seen that. But instead you rehash some long-debunked stereotypes about linux; a lot of the FUD you probably believe about Linux was addressed a very long time ago.

    Maybe it's *YOU* who needs to STFU.
  • kettlechips, on 10/12/2007, -9/+27Dig this, it is a real news source, not some guy's blog.
  • generalloy, on 10/12/2007, -4/+19The history of Linux or GNU/Linux he has is really kind of smudging things together (GNU project), and there are some other problems with the article that maybe an average user wouldn't know, like gaming via WINE or native Linux games, but it's good otherwise :)
  • archiesteel, on 10/12/2007, -1/+15"You should really learn to read, "easier to use than windows or even mac." is exactly what I said."

    Not really. You said that's what people were saying to you. You never said yourself that you thought Linux was easier to use than Windows or Mac.

    Don't confuse "unfamiliar" with "difficult to use". Someone who's never used a Mac would have just as many questions as if they used Ubuntu (remember, for a fair comparison Linux must be pre-installed and configured, just like Windows or OSX would be on a new PC or Mac). Still, you wouldn't say that OS X is more difficult than Windows, right?

    I've had total Newbies use Linux computers (Mandriva and Kubuntu) and within a matter of minutes they felt at ease. Sure, they had a few questions for me (i.e. "where is that program" or "how do I do this"?) but that's a given - if it was someone who had never used Windows on a Windows PC, they would ask the exact-same-questions.
  • Haplo, on 10/12/2007, -2/+16Yup, contacted the author yesterday on this. Probably won't get corrected because it sounds so much cooler that one guy wrote an entire operating system and all applications. Like doing "just" a kernel is not enough.
  • leo78, on 10/12/2007, -2/+16painless as long as you don't use an ATI graphics card.
  • UNL1M1T3D, on 10/12/2007, -0/+13@shoate099

    If your sick of reading those articles, stop reading about them, and don't comment on them. I like Ubuntu personally (got it dual booted with XP Pro x64), and use it basically for everything besides gaming and the odd task I can't use Ubuntu for. I think Ubuntu is good, but still needs some work before it becomes mainstream.
  • inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+13@schoate09:

    Um, yes it can. A lot of companies (and even entire countries) are switching to Linux (not just ubuntu per se). It's hell to be a gamer and use Linux, but for everything else, Linux does the job quite well.

    Guess what OS digg runs on?
  • prammy, on 10/12/2007, -1/+13@mntbikeracer1:

    People with very little computer experience will find any system daunting. Even more so for people who have very little computer experience and have used only one OS whether it be Windows or MacOS.

    When I got my first job at HP, I was assigned to be the onsite tech support engineer for one of our bigger clients in that city. This was also the time Windows 95 came out. So many people had no idea what to do in Windows 95, and these were not people who just started using computers. They had used Windows 3.x for many many years. Windows 95's interface was alien to them and they were lost. Similarly, when XP came out, people saw the new control panel and got confused again. It was easy enough to setup the classic control panel but that did not help them the first day.

    People can learn to use something new. But many people are scared of using computers because they have a prebuilt notion that it is for the really geeky and they are not smart enough to use it. This is especially true for the people who are in their late 50s to early 60s because when they were young only the really geeky or smart people worked on computers. They have held on to that notion and that prevents them from learning a system easily.

    Linux is not really all that hard to use. It does have its shortcomings though. IMO what linux needs to succeed on the desktop are:
    1. An easy installer for 3rd party applications. Projects like autopackage and Loki installer are available in addition to commercial installers from InstallShield etc.
    2. More ported or equivalent applications. People are creatures of habit. They use Photoshop, they want photoshop. Not Gimp. Not pixel. Not Krita. But Photoshop. OpenOffice is sufficient for most users as is Gimp. The Pros however need Photoshop because Gimp does not support a lot of the higher end functions. However this is a chicken and egg issue, Adobe will port when more linux desktops need Photoshop, More linux desktops will come about when users get their apps ported. Photoshop is the gateway app. Once that gets ported to Linux, many other developers will port theirs. Photoshop on Crossover works well though.
    3. Preinstalled machines. When Mr. Average Joe can go into Best Buy or CompUSA and pick up a preinstalled Linux machine with support, then it becomes easier for Linux to gain marketshare.

    In todays Linux desktop, ease of use is not a problem. I tend to use the CLI because I like it better, but I am not required to do so. I can do 100% of my tasks such as email. browsing, coding etc all without going into the CLI. Gnome and KDE are both easy to use and get used to. I have installed Linux desktops for people and from what I hear, most of them are still using it and are happy with it.
  • atdigg, on 10/12/2007, -1/+11You don't know how Digg works, do you?
  • Scatropolis, on 10/12/2007, -6/+16"If looking for a new computer, try Linux"

    That doesn't even make any sense.
  • lucianolev, on 10/12/2007, -0/+9Yeah.. And after installing Windows my mother died...
  • AmputatedDuck, on 10/12/2007, -2/+11Bad press surrounding Vista will simply keep users on XP, not make them switch to Ubuntu.
  • Kimera, on 10/12/2007, -4/+12Adopting Ubuntu: Linux switch can be painless, free

    We know. We're tech savvy people on a tech site.
  • cwshea, on 10/12/2007, -1/+9Hasn't really told me anything I didn't know except for where Linus Torvalds is/was from.

    Still, I'm going to be switching a newish but really messed up (not physically, just Windows) desktop over to Ubuntu. I need to get a blank CD first... I've had the installer on this computer (laptop) for a few weeks :-)
  • archiesteel, on 10/12/2007, -4/+12You obviously haven't tried it in a while. Linux is actually *easier* to install than Windows - and unlike Windows, there is no reason to "reinstall" at all.

    As for installing 3D drivers for an ATI, just follow one of the many good HowTos on it for Ubuntu, such as this one:

    http://wiki.cchtml.com/index.php/Ubuntu_Edgy_Installation_Guide
  • archiesteel, on 10/12/2007, -2/+10I think it's the imaginary version of Ubuntu, installed on the made-up motherboard that features the new BS chip.
  • generalloy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+8Flash, of course blame Adobe, but you could always install 32 bit Firefox and Flash.

    Otherwise, try swfdec, it's open source and will run on any architecture including 64 bits. It plays Youtube! (tm) http://swfdec.freedesktop.org/
  • schroeder, on 10/12/2007, -0/+8@jimilarue512
    http://ndiswrapper.sourceforge.net/mediawiki/index.php/Main_Page
  • archiesteel, on 10/12/2007, -1/+9"It works but managing wifi connections is a pain in the ass compared to Windows."

    I disagree, at least when using Network Manager (with knetworkmanager if you're using Kubuntu). I find it actually better than Windows' built-in wifi manager.
  • AbstractEgo, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8>>5840886
    Buried For Use Of "boi".

    Really, Stop That.
  • Renork, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8I actually just installed Ubuntu today. Everything works but my sound and its really pissing me off. Big time newbie and everything I have read so far hasnt been any help.

    Hopefully Ill get it working 100% in the next day or so. Or its back to Windows for a while.
  • thehoodie, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7Who said it was a bad thing, I get a new computer now and I'm installing Ubuntu on that one too!
  • atdigg, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8@jimilarue512 You should use WIndows.
  • raisputin3, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7My Airport (original) card works well on Ubuntu (Feisty)
  • archiesteel, on 10/12/2007, -5/+12Sure, you're a Ubuntu user. I believe you.

    Another shill to add to the list.
  • levitron, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7"....why'd you by a Compaq?"

    'Cause it was cheap, fairly new, and a laptop. Kinda regretting it now, as it's noisier than most desktop systems...

    "Have you checked Linuxant's Driverloader?"

    I feel like I've checked everything else, but I'm more than willing to give it a shot. Thanks!
  • generalloy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7it's one card; I'm sure if I were in your position, I would agree and say it's not user friendly either. But lots of people's cards DO work, and they work by default, and the situation will be much better with Feisty's new wireless stack (which has been in the works for years); who knows, your card might even work if it's Broadcom based.

    So, it seems like your problem is the device manufacturer not supporting Linux; that is a problem, but just remember that you seem to be saying Linux is not userfriendly because one device won't work. Even Vista has device driver probs..
  • heavensblade23, on 10/12/2007, -6/+12I'm tired of hearing how "easy" is it to switch to Ubuntu. Difficulty isn't the problem, a lack of desire is.
  • ChrisF79, on 10/12/2007, -5/+11Off topic, but why did you buy a Compaq?
  • archiesteel, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7Do a search on www.ubuntuforums.org

    You might also want to check out www.ubuntuguide.org
  • prammy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6@jimilarue

    Can you please enlighten me with these required terminal commands you speak of? I use Fedora, used Ubuntu in the past and I can't seem to remember typing any terminal commands to do my day to day tasks.

    But I *DO* use the terminal for a few things, like pinging a machine, sshing to another and some sysadmin tasks which have guis but is faster for me to type the commands rather than go 3 menus deep and then click it.
  • shad0walker, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6Default WiFi management in 6.10 and earlier SUCKS outright, but 7.04 has Network manager built in.
    Got it installed on my laptop right now, after all of 5 mins setup for the wifi card (BCM43xx) the Network manager popped up a nice list of networks for me to connect to.

    Also, the updated BCM43xx drivers in 2.6.20 are working beautifully for me now. Only issue i encountered was a connection drop which was fixed by loading the acerhk module.
  • Sicarul, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6@whiskeysquared:
    The kind of users you are talking about don't know how to install Windows either, i don't see your point. I've installed Windows XP more than once on a friend's computer because he didn't know how to, or just didn't want to risk their data by doing it themselves, which is fine, but as much as i don't expect them to install Windows, i can't expect them to install a Linux distribution. That said, i think Ubuntu's install is better, i don't know if easier, but being able to resize partitions at install... doesn't get much easier than that.

    @jimilarue512:
    I agree with atdigg, stop bitching, just use Windows if you want to.
  • mntbikeracer1, on 10/12/2007, -21/+26I tried linux at my house with my family because so many people were saying some of these distros are easier to use than windows or even mac. Guess what I got a billion questions a day for a month as opposed to a few a week when on windows. Linux may be easy for nerds, admitting I may be a bit of one, but is not nearly a compatible system with the 99% of users that know how a power button and a keyboard work and there ends the extent of their knowledge.
  • archiesteel, on 10/12/2007, -12/+17"Unfortunately, Linux has not been, nor may ever be, "Clueless-User" friendly"

    Actually, Linux is *very* "clueless user"-friendly. It's Windows Power Users that have a hard time with Windows. Clueless users are not yet used to the quirks of Windows, and to them the Ubuntu UI is simple and straightforward. Tests were conducted with "newbie" users on both Windows, Gnome and KDE, and there were no significant differences in the time it took the test subjects to perform tasks between any of the three desktop environments.

    But don't let that get in the way of good FUD.

    Mmm...I wonder how many paid MS shills are lurking on Digg? Considering that this is a high-traffic site (and the insane amount of pro-Xbox digging), I'd say at least a dozen. And now they will digg me down.
  • raisputin3, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5@generalloy
    I think I have swfdec installed on my ubuntu laptop (Powerbook G3/500) and it doesn't work so well, however, I am willing to give the new version a shot. Thanks for the info :)
  • archiesteel, on 10/12/2007, -2/+7"Everything, that is, but the wireless internet in my Compaq nx9010."

    Have you checked Linuxant's Driverloader?

    http://www.linuxant.com/driverloader/?PHPSESSID=802033e39ae6c9651149dc6f3a55fee1

    Works with my Compaq laptop's Wireless Internet.
  • P373Y, on 10/12/2007, -3/+8That is so true.
  • archiesteel, on 10/12/2007, -6/+11"Your MP3s will not play on install, you have to go out of your way to read up on how to get MP3 support setup correctly"

    Fixed in Feisty

    "Open Office will eat word documents alive in terms of formatting, leaving that nice tables layout you did for your resume in bloody pieces"

    Exaggeration. Most Word docs will come out just fine in OpenOffice 2.0. But if you really need to use MS Office it's trivial to have it running in Linux.

    "Newer wireless cards using the Atheros chipset will give you a week long headache trying to figure out why they aren't working"

    Use Linuxant's Driverloader: http://www.linuxant.com/driverloader/?PHPSESSID=802033e39ae6c9651149dc6f3a55fee1

    "If you have an iPod (like the entire rest of the living world apparantly) you will be left out in the cold by Apple, sure there are 'alternatives' but they don't live up to the original solution"

    Are you kidding? iPod integration in Amarok is excellent. As a iPod user I much prefer it to iTunes (the player). Of course, if you mean that access to the online store is a bit more complicated, you're right. There are workarounds but they're not quite mature. As far as *player* integration with iPod, though, Linux has Windows and OSX beaten hands down.

    "Developers don't get on board for a number of reasons, one of which is the mess of code that is the entire OS as a whole."

    That's a ridiculous assertion: the Linux code is much less of a mess than the Windows one.

    More pro-MS FUD...
  • whiskeysquared, on 10/12/2007, -7/+12You're getting dugg down because die hard Linux users hate to admit that Linux has problems too. It's not as simple a conversion as most would have you believe. There are a lot of small issues that add up. Before I'm labeled as a MS goon or Apple fan, I'll dispel both immediately. In fact, I WANT Ubuntu to be the answer to all of my problems. Sadly it's not, it just solves some of the problems from Windows and at the same time brings in some fresh ones.
  • archiesteel, on 10/12/2007, -3/+7"My biggest problem with Linux/BSD right now is lack of support for NON-x86 hardware."

    As compared to Windows' support for non-x86 hardware?
  • voyvf, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Of course it's free. It's free for anyone to install, run, and learn it in their own spare time.

    That's why I try *not* to push it on other people - if they don't have enough initiative to try it out, they'll likely not have the initiative to learn it on their own, sans hand-holding. While I never mind helping a person out, I do understand having better things to do than be Captain Tech-support 24/7.

    Of course, those not willing to learn something new in their spare time generally have bigger issues than an unruly OS. :D
  • archiesteel, on 10/12/2007, -3/+7"You guys are missing my point. The learning curve on Mac and Windows is not important because that is what people have become accustomed to."

    Most people are *not* accustomed to Macs. If someone can switch to a Mac, then one can switch to Linux. Gnome and KDE are just as easy to use as the OSX desktop.

    "Can you show me where I said I was "just another MS shill spewing BS.""

    No, no, *I* said that. The use of the prase "Linux fanboy" was the giveaway.

    /Linux and Windows user, computer enthusiast since 1978
  • archiesteel, on 10/12/2007, -2/+6http://www.linuxant.com/driverloader/?PHPSESSID=802033e39ae6c9651149dc6f3a55fee1
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