What is Digg?109 Comments
- sigmaman2, on 11/08/2008, -5/+47"...if I want to install a package on my MacBook right now, I need to look for a .deb installer since Ubuntu is a Debian-based distribution of Linux. And, because Ubuntu is such a heavily customized version of Debian, I have to make sure that my .deb file has been built specifically for Ubuntu."
Ummm, no, you don't.
You don't have to go look for a .deb installer. Ubuntu already has one built-in. All you have to do is go under the Applications menu, then choose Add and Remove Programs at the bottom. You then run a search for the program you want, click the checkbox next to that program, and click Install. Ubuntu will download and install the correct .deb file for you.
If you are searching the internet for the just the right format/version of .deb files, you're doin' it wrong. - JDMM71, on 11/08/2008, -8/+35My god this article sucked. I had to bury it.. I'm a Linux user and this guy is a ***** idiot! He's an obvious windows fanboy trying to hide it by trying out Ubuntu (of all the distros to choose from). He got most of his facts wrong and makes it seem like Linux isn't the way to go.
While yes, it isn't for everybody, this guy made it seem unusable to all but the nerdiest of nerds. - sjbdallas, on 11/08/2008, -2/+28Why would someone "return" a linux based laptop instead of installing a new OS? I'm not linux fan but that seems like a made up stat.
- DangerCollie, on 11/08/2008, -1/+20This article sounds like it was written three years ago and recently reposted. We run Ubuntu desktops at the office and we had exactly zero transition training. Did get some howto questions on OpenOffice but no one has had any trouble with the OS.
The problems we run into are more with vendors. A lot of them want to use GoToMyPc, which doesn't support Linux. We had one yesterday that wanted to send us a Windows application with their product sku's and the accounting people need a Windows kiosk to run one of their apps. Outside that the sales staff run Windows on their laptops, but that's only a handful of machines out of the total. Running a mixed source enterprise is not terribly difficult. No one has any problems getting their work done and we can focus on building things instead running around fixing Windows boxes all day. - weizbox, on 11/08/2008, -1/+19Buried... he didn't even mention the package manager. The only options he listed to install software was from a .deb file or from source.. wtf?
- Kingoftherings, on 11/08/2008, -1/+14Agreed, you shouldn't use Linux like it was Windows.
Also, pyrates. Whats the point of a universal installer? I like it the way it is. Some people prefer RPMs, some prefer Debs, and some prefer compiling from source. It's wrong to make that decision for other people. - Rememberthe0511, on 11/08/2008, -1/+14Did Microsoft summit and digg this story all them selfs? Because really it was full of crap.
I have been useing nothing but ubuntu for 2 years now and it's been great. - dhughes, on 11/08/2008, -2/+14 One thing and you gave up? What do you do if something doesn't work on Windows?
- Dylson, on 11/08/2008, -2/+14No.
- kd420, on 11/08/2008, -2/+13Wtf was he talking about "Ever installed the Linux operating system? It’s not for the faint of heart. " ?? It's just as easy as installing Windows, you need to know which partition to wipe etc, and Ubuntu for example offers to help with that too. Installing software is easier on Linux, once you learn how. When I used to reinstall XP I'd have to find my programs (firefox, thunderbird, itunes etc.) on the web and install them one by one, or keep backups of installers and hope they were the latest versions. In Ubuntu I install all of my programs with one or two lines in the terminal, all I need to do is remember which ones I want. And installing from source usually means typing four words into the terminal anyway, I never even have to look at the source code. I am currently using zero programs that I had to install from source, so it rarely comes up as an issue anyway.
Use Linux as your full OS for a while before thinking you are qualified to make judgement. He sounds like a kid trying wine for the first time and saying it's gross, you need to try it for more than a few seconds to enjoy and appreciate it. Does Linux have flaws? Definitely. But don't write articles that don't highlight any of the REAL problems. - inactive, on 11/08/2008, -0/+11You can use Wine to run a lot of windows programs or just run a virtual windows environment in Ubuntu.
- humptyz, on 11/08/2008, -8/+18I tried Linux out for a week as my primary OS and I'm back with XP. My biggest gripe is that it couldn't put my computer to sleep reliably, and though I love computers I'd be damned if I wanted to figure that out after spending 8+ hours coding at work. Still, I liked what I saw in Linux, especially Compiz Fusion. I want to get an Acer Aspire One with Linux on it and an SSD. It's gotta come in brown though, but NewEgg isn't stocking it. :(
- Heywoodj, on 11/08/2008, -4/+11If you can't get your head around Ubuntu you probably don't think you have the have the savy to install a new OS.
The article states that the forums assume a basic level of computer ability that may not be there.I see the truth of this daily and they don't want to learn. - androo002345, on 11/08/2008, -1/+8I buried this. After having issues with my older computer running XP I decided I'd try out Ubuntu. I know Ubuntu isn't as "geeky" as some of the other distros, but I didn't want to be too involved with setting things up. Installing Ubuntu on my PC took all of 30 minutes and it has worked without problems ever since. My girlfriend, who isn't very computer-savy at all, likes it more than XP.
There are some distros that require a lot of time to set things up and install programs, etc..but Ubuntu is simple and more user friendly than a lot of OS's. I think more people would switch to Linux if they realized it's not as difficult as some people try to make it seem. - smotpoker, on 11/08/2008, -1/+7"If you are searching the internet for the just the right format/version of .deb files, you're doin' it wrong."
Not necessarily, though likely if you are a common desktop user.
However, for "power users" or those who require specialty software/drivers for some reason, sometimes there is reason to search the internet and sometimes packages are not in the right format. This is less common today but it does happen.
On such occasions alien or the like can be used with little effort and typically debian .deb's are [fully?] compatible with Ubuntu in my experience. (just doubleclick to install) - ralph123, on 11/08/2008, -0/+6Oh please:
Flash works fine here on my laptop and on my desktop.
Stop spreading fud, idiot. - huff51, on 11/08/2008, -0/+6i would hope a "power user" would know how to build something from source!
- pyrates, on 11/08/2008, -7/+12And what if the program he wants hasn't been compiled specifically for Ubunutu? That's the case for most linux programs. They need to be compiled for each distribution out there and that is just stupid. They all should just use a distribution neutral installer like autopackage. If you don't have that, it's like having hundreds of embedded systems where a software author needs to first compile their app for each one. That's stupid and it's the reason why Windows and OS X is still winning. Choice does not help here when it comes to authors of software.
- weizbox, on 11/08/2008, -0/+5Why not just undigg it?
http://digg.com/users/GoinEasy9/history/diggs - inactive, on 11/08/2008, -1/+6Most people going to Best Buy or Office Depot or wherever on a Saturday afternoon to buy a new computer don't want to figure it out. It's their dollar and they shouldn't have to. Most people aren't the nerdiest of nerds and Linux is just not for them. My mother has never seen the MS-DOS command line window because she doesn't need to nor does she care. To her the computer IS Word and Outlook Express and Internet Explorer. She didn't buy the computer for the operating system; she bought it do the things she wants to with it.
- jjk7288, on 11/08/2008, -0/+5"Ever installed the Linux operating system? It’s not for the faint of heart."
Um, what? Distributions are generally easy to install these days. Those that are not newbie friendly (Gentoo, Arch) are more the exception than the rule. - quiggibub, on 11/08/2008, -5/+10If you just want a computer to use for work, games, or internet browsing with minimal tinkering, Linux isn't for you. Period. If you don't mind manually fixing or tweaking things, Linux is fine. I don't have the patience needed to use Linux, so I don't.
- jakem1, on 11/08/2008, -0/+5I got the feeling that he was a Mac user rather than a Windows users. Most of his comments about Windows were negative or neutral. He's a journalist - why would you expect him to be an expert on anything?
- matthekc, on 11/08/2008, -1/+5linux should require a basic competency test...
which thing stores data on a computer?
A. a hard drive
B. a cpu
C. notepad
D. none of the above
about ten questions like that would weed out the people who have little chance of succeeding with linux or for that matter a computer in general. - inactive, on 11/08/2008, -0/+4Alright, you got me. I stick with Windows because I generally know how to beat it into submission. Linux is strange and foreign, and while I admit, the power is positively scintillating, it's hard to let go when you know you have the upper hand.
To be fair, I think I just have a weird S&M thing going on with computers. It's like, when I'm programming, someone will tell me that X language will do what I want it to do without any fuss, but I enjoy using Y language because I enjoy the feeling of forcing it to do something that X language would do so willingly. - secrity, on 11/08/2008, -0/+4A great many programs are available in the Ubuntu repositories. Many more programs are available in .deb packages or rpm's. It is highly unlikely that it would be necessary to compile a program to run it on Ubuntu, but you certainly can if you want to.
- mrCdawg, on 11/08/2008, -1/+5I definitely see where you're coming from. I have seen similar problems on my desktop and have spent hours hardcoding them to my liking. In my opinion, Linux will not catch on to the general public until it can fix these reliability issues and it needs to step away from the required knowledge in coding. If it can do that, Windows needs to watch out.
- stimpack, on 11/08/2008, -0/+4If someone is unable to use Linux, I don't want them to use Linux. That may be elitist but the tard count on Linux forums is nice and low.
- wastern, on 11/08/2008, -0/+3who cares, if you like it, use it. why does it matter what everyone else does
- Armorfist, on 11/08/2008, -0/+3I was about to say that.
- lemur, on 11/09/2008, -0/+3I am 100% skeptical of this.
Let's say I power cycle my computer once every day so that it's off as I sleep for an average of 8 hours (I actually sleep more than this, but let's factor in nights I sleep less). That means the computer will be powered off for about 2920 hours a year, or almost 122 days total.
Which computer wears faster: one that has been off for 122 days, or one that has been running on low power for 122 days? - smotpoker, on 11/08/2008, -0/+3See my comment above regarding alien. If *no* package exists (which is extremely unlikely these days since nearly all Linux users see package management as one of Linux's bigger advantages and most vendors supply multiple packages) you can usually compile from source (ie "tar zxvf firefox* && cd firefox* && ./configure && make && make install", change "firefox" to package name, obviously)
- jimmydeanbakker, on 11/08/2008, -0/+3I ditched Windows about two years ago for home usage, but I use Windows at work. I'm using Ubuntu 8.10 and loving every second of it. I have all the programs at my fingertips that I need.
- matthekc, on 11/08/2008, -0/+3http://www.getdeb.net/
look a whole unofficial ubuntu repository!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alien_(software)
wow look you can convert package formats!
Seriously if you need help the forums gives neat answers like these all day long. - glitchbit, on 11/08/2008, -2/+5I agree.
*closes eyes and gets into fetal position*
Seriously though I love linux and compiz fusion, but I have to use professional level software and that means Adobe... and OpenOffice still doesn't have some of the more advance features that Excel has which is needed in some business environments, like the one I am in.
Overall Linux does not have a lot left to catch up with Windows and Macs, but they do need to slow down their kernel development so that these recompiling of applications does not have to happen every 6 months. This is what is hurting linux imo, they need to learn how to optimize parts of the OS that does not force applications to have to be recompiled so frequently and I think this would bring the level of stabilization they desperately need. Also they do need to get rid of some of the technical lingo present in the OS and I would love to see drive letters lol. - FrostySol, on 11/08/2008, -1/+4I'm skeptical that the author actually used Linux... If this story had been written four or five years ago maybe I'd buy it, but using Linux nowadays is no more difficult than using windows. If you can follow the dialog prompts you can use Linux. Sure there are still rough patches (especially when wifi is involved) but it's getting better every release and as long as you accept that Linux is not Windows you shouldn't have any problem figuring it out.
- greevar, on 11/08/2008, -0/+3Every time you power down or up the machine, it puts strain on the electronics. The power supply is especially susceptible to the stress of powering on. Now I don't presume to know what the MTBF of specific components are, but repeated power cycling can wear it down faster . Switching to a low power mode instead can save the life span of your equipment.
- CoreyTamas, on 11/08/2008, -1/+4Something I have to confess I really enjoy is a well-balanced article that offers solid counterpoints to use of the Linux operating system, citing real examples of actual problems rather than urban legends or paranoid prejudices... especially when it's an article that's obviously not biased and gets its facts right.
This isn't one of those articles.
This is a very poorly written article which fails to cite sources for its underlying assumptions, doesn't compare apples to oranges, works with outdated information and clearly has a windows-based agenda. Don't get me wrong; I'm no Linux fanboy... I'm a fanboy of good writing, solid research and competent journalism. That's why I'm burying this article. - huff51, on 11/08/2008, -0/+3or say install the flash plugin, flash doesnt work on windows either until you install the plugin
- repruhsent, on 11/08/2008, -2/+4Congratulations for posting the only sane comment in this thread.
- nmanguy, on 11/08/2008, -1/+3I made Ubuntu work effortlessly on my laptop, despite having to resort to Broadcom restricted drivers, but 7.10, 8.04, and 8.10 all failed miserably on my desktop because my GPU and sound card didn't work well.
- octowussy, on 11/08/2008, -0/+2How many of these articles do we need every day?
- sigmaman2, on 11/09/2008, -0/+2...then here!
http://ctolpin.googlepages.com/momfriendly.png - freesf, on 11/08/2008, -0/+2ah...no...
- AikoMiko, on 11/09/2008, -0/+2When I built a new small form factor PC for my 62 year old mother to use for email and web surfing I installed Ubuntu 7. It took her about 5 minutes to understand the difference and she hasn't looked back since.
So if my mom can use Linux how useless is this *****?! - redwallhp, on 11/09/2008, -0/+2As was I.
- inactive, on 11/08/2008, -8/+10Sorry, I like playing games.
- smotpoker, on 11/09/2008, -0/+2"That's the case for most linux programs"
Wrong. These days nearly all linux programs have a specific Ubuntu package. Even when they didn't, many other debian-based packages were still compatible.
"They need to be compiled for each distribution out there"
Wrong. There are hundreds of distributions but they are almost all based on four: SuSE, Redhat, Debian and Slackware.
Usually a recent redhat rpm will work on centos or a debian deb will install on any version of ubuntu provided the libs on your the system were compiled roughly in the same time frame as the software you're installing (usually this just means applying system updates regularly and downloading the latest version of the software)
There are more neutral installer methods:
.bin which I think is just a shell script with compressed data/executable appended) but they are not used most of the time because A- integrating them with several package managers would make it unnecessarily large and B- requires familiarity with details of how all major package management systems work and access to them for testing.
.tgz (slackware's method), just a compressed file that extracts an executable binary and libs
source: requires compilation but usually just one line of commands are necessary to install (in the case of gentoo: emerge packagename)
Most people just prefer package management though because it usually auto updates, they are all well-tested specifically for your distro and more-or-less verified to work. They also install in a manner you/your distro consider most optimal or intuitive or whatever and are easily convertible. - depro9, on 11/08/2008, -1/+3What a bunch of fud *****! bury
- mashw, on 11/09/2008, -0/+2I think it means it'd keep waking up or when he woke it up something like the sound would cease working. Well at least that's the problems I've had.
-
Show 51 - 100 of 110 discussions
Check out the new & improved 
© Digg Inc. 2009
— Content created and posted by Digg users is 