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Linux not for the masses? Think again!

foxnews.com — Wayne setup his parent's first computer with linux, showed them where to click for internet, and they never knew it wasn't windows. At least they'll never experience the BSOD...

Bury

outerspaceapple 2 years 191 days ago, made popular 2 years 190 days ago

218 diggs
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Zuwiki, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Yeah, I knew someone who did that with his parent's computer. Although, they didn't even know what Windows was.
mdweezer, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I ran BeOS on my parents computer for 2 months when Windows crapped out and I didn't feel like rebuilding their computer. I already had it on another partition, I just showed them the web browser and setup a email client and grabbed a driver for the printer and it was perfect.

Ran faster too.
outerspaceapple, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0nice, its great when they don't have to integrate with an (MS) office 'cuz then its just all about the functionality, not the compatibility.
estvir, on 10/12/2007, -3/+2they won't have bsod, but they'll experience kernel crashes due to 'developers' being slack and othe reasons.

they always will not experience [decent] gaming, hardware support, software support and many other things.
estvir, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3also, your parents can't/shouldn't be compared to the general pc population.

your parents also have a son [or family member] with the know-how to setup a opensource computer, 'the masses' don't have this.
coredump0x01, on 10/12/2007, -4/+0"they won't have bsod, but they'll experience kernel crashes due to 'developers' being slack and othe reasons."

When has the linux kernel, or any unix kernel crashed within the last 7 years? The only time i've ever seen a kernel panic was when my hard drive started to die. And on linux, a small driver issue dosen't collapse the entire running workstation like what happens during a BSOD so get off of billy's dick.
coredump0x01, on 10/12/2007, -4/+0as for developers slacking, it seems the only developers slacking off are the ones at microsoft. Just look at XP and internet explorer, a system should not be completely hosed by spyware and viruses counting up to 70 processes just from browsing the internet for 2 months with all browser defaults set and patches applied (taken from an XP and IE using client's computer being repaired for being 'too slow' he will be hearing about firefox and linux). Not to mention the sluggish startup when all starting programs (antivirus, IM client, and whatever malware) all clammer to load at once creating a drab startup. Also, on linux, i've never been daunted by installing software and drivers because it would never slow the system down, not so with windows. And i've never lost an important document or source code from my linux system crashing and burning, so ask yourself, who is slacking?
outerspaceapple, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0I know I'm slacking with my Slackware distro
outerspaceapple, on 10/12/2007, -4/+0- .... .. ... / .. ... / .- / .--. .-. . - - -.-- / ... .-- . . - / - --- -.-- .-.-.- / . -. .--- --- -.-- .-.-.-
dipswitch, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Nice article. For the interested: try Ubuntu, http://www.ubuntu.com/
alethien, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0A properly set up computer not crashing is not exactly big news. I'm a developer and the only time my WinXP crashes is when a program I am writing does something unexpected.
chriszma666, on 10/12/2007, -2/+0Kinda pointless article, but very true. I switched my parents to Ubuntu and they love it. And to Estvir, maybe you should get off your windows-fanboy ass and do some research before busting on something you don't know.
matts0344, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I tried using Linux, but it just gets annoying sometimes having to do a search or ask on a forum for every little thing I want to do because I don't know how the hell to do it in Linux. I use it sometimes when I feel like it, (have dual boot Ubuntu and Linux) but I just feel more comfortable in XP.

For me, theres really nothing bad about XP, it never really crashes and I keep it and a virus scanner up to date. All I usually do is IM, use Firefox, listen to mp3s etc.
hammydude, on 10/12/2007, -3/+0Boring...
No digg for you!
kalisphoenix, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1> When has the linux kernel, or any unix kernel crashed within the last 7 years? The only time i've ever seen a kernel panic was when my hard drive started to die. And on linux, a small driver issue dosen't collapse the entire running workstation like what happens during a BSOD so get off of billy's dick

I've had a couple happen (Linux user since '98). I've also had FreeBSD kernel panics (whoa!). I've seen both on generic 32-bit x86 boxes with decent hardware and no dying components. The kernels aren't *perfect*... also had some pretty hard lockups due to X. Couldn't ssh in, machines didn't respond to pings, nothing. Roughly similar to the amount and severity of problems I've had with Windows 2000/XP.

This is an amusing conversation, given your name ;-)
drbroccoli, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Ubuntu is very good. Noob and experienced user friendly. I'm stuck with Fedora, unfortunately.
gamekid, on 10/12/2007, -2/+0I knew about SourceForge, but not http://mediaportal.sourceforge.net/ as FOXNews mentioned. I'll check it.

∴ Digg.
Brackhar, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Nicely written article.

Digg.
gamekid, on 10/12/2007, -2/+0(that's &there4; btw)
Burner, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0I swear I've seen this article on Digg before?
Tynan, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Big surprise. People who only want to use Internet can use Linux after someone else installs and configures it for them and shows them how to start their browser.

Never mind that using a Web browser is incredibly easy in any OS if that's all you want to do and someone else sets up the system for you.

Sorry if I'm not convinced that this means anything. Linux remains (by its nature, not because of any major fault) comparatively very difficult to use because it is a system by and for tech junkies. There is little reason for the unwashed masses (most of whom don't know what RAM is and don't care) to try to wade through hundreds of distros trying to find the one that is right for them and then figure out how to install it. I always love how people seem to think it's so great that you can modify your open source programs. As if more that 0.01% of people have any clue as to how to do this.

I also love how nobody seems to be dissing Fox when their pro-individual stance happens to fall in the right place in this case.
zeldafan, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Yeh, duplicate story. So no digg.

In other news I'm setting up my mom's computer for work with ubuntu and open office. She won't know the difference.
kloper, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Yeah, instead of a BSOD they'll get a kernel panic, much better...
rm999, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I barely use Linux compared to Windows and I've experienced more fatal crashes in Linux than the blue screen of death in Windows XP.
gotamd, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0The problem is that a lot of the "masses" are between computer illiterate and linux-guru status. They know enough to be frustrated by Linux when AIM and other stuff won't easily install (well, you'd have to use GAIM anyway unless you wanted that crappy POS thing that AIM came out with for Linux years and years ago).
FaNtAsMa, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0"Yeah, instead of a BSOD they'll get a kernel panic, much better..."
You have to REALLY ***** something up before you get kernel panic..
cybernetic798, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2You know I really hate it when people submit slanted headlines. "At least they'll never experience the BSOD"? When is the last time you had a BSOD in XP or 2003. I have never had a single crash in XP or 2k3. I'm sure one nut will reply to this saying that XP crashes all the time only to bolster their biased argument but mysteriously no one but these biased Linux users (apologies to the unbiased ones) seems to have any trouble with XP.

On the other hand, an Ubuntu installation of mine suddenly had a 'kernel panic' even though I hadn't visited that partition for a while and hadn't changed anything at all. I had to jump through many holes to get that installation going again and I am 100% certain no common user would be capable of doing that, whereas Windows crashes are relatively easy to fix, and usually there is no lasting effect from a crash other than possibly losing whatever you were working on at the time. Windows XP and 2003 gracefully restart processes that crash in most cases (for example, if explorer.exe crashes, the shell is restarted and automatically repopulates task bar etc, something that it didn't do in earlier versions).

You people talk of Windows as if it is total crap, but actually it is a very good piece of software, it just has some errors in it just like EVERY other software out there.

And as for viruses and trojans, hmm let's see...if more people target one platform, that platform is going to have more vulnerabilities right? Yes that's right. Thank you for admitting that we can't place ALL the blame on Microsoft.

Let's not be naive and slanted here, different OS's have different roles. I use Linux for cross-platform development and cluster coding etc., but Linux is by no means near the goal of being good enough for a common user. I think the closest distribution, as many have pointed out, is Ubuntu if only for the fact that there is an outstanding guide to setting up common programs at http//ubuntuguide.org. But even that guide fails for common things like sound setup on some systems like laptops. Even though hardware support is a hard problem for Linux developers given that not many manufacturers are willing to divulge useful information, it is a major problem for common users.

My 2 cents.
Lewie, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Wait until they try searching for their favorite program, and try to install it.

I'd love to fully switch to Linux, but I don't have the time nor patience to deal with it right now. I'm no novice, but Ubuntu still isn't nearly as easy as XP or OSX.
uptown, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Wayne's parents: How do I see the internet?
Wayne: Click here .. see, you can do it all without Windows.
Wayne's parents: What's Windows ... and how do I see the internet?
arkanoid, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0As I can see Linux will be sooner or later the most used OS. As time passes more people migrates, and distros becomes better. Dark gray future for MS.
macewan, on 10/12/2007, -2/+0ew, you need to warn when sending us to foxnews
senectus, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I did this for my Mother as well.. using Ubuntu
http://www.modmeup.net/?page_id=2
Tobey, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Misleading title. This was more about open source software in general, rather than Linux.

But it was still a good article.
pingviini, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0The only time I have seen a BSOD in winXP was due to a faulty nVidia driver on a really old (tnt2) video card. Give Microsoft credit where it's due. They did a good job bringing computing to the masses. And, no I'm not a windows fan boy. I am using Linux right now, and have built a system for my brothers and sister using SuSE. And suse actually had good video drivers for said tnt2 video card. Whoda guessed?
dainbramage559, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0My POV is this:

To the complete computer n00b, linux can be a godsend, because there is simply nearly no way for them to contract windows viruses and malware. Everything is there for them: Internet, solitaire, music player, word processor, etc.

For the middleman/ end user, ie the jaded 15 year old who loves to play CS:source on his windows XP installation, he may be thrown by the ways in which to install and run programs, configuring Wine/Cedega, etc. It will take alot of growing pains, like searching forums for answers to how to gain file permissions, etc and how to install his ATI drivers (ive been at it for months, still cant get it right).

As a total geek, I am in love with linux. It just looks and feels sharp. I have my letdowns and sighs about it here and there, but there are many victories to be had when running this OS as well. I love linux, and believe it can only get better and better.
Hyperion, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0Dupe, and already made to the front page, just article was on a different site.

http://digg.com/linux_unix/Linux_for_your_Mum_Dad
furtwan1, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0No BSOD, but Kernel Panics instead...

Our Linux (Redhad) labs at school (MSU) always have at least 2 KP'd computers. It's funny because our XP labs never have BSOD's...

Wait, it can't be a problem with Linux, M$ must have somehow messed up the Linux labs.
dainbramage559, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Let me add one more thing:

If you really want to do good, start a small child out on linux. Show them the ropes and then let them have at it. I set my 5 year old sister up on it, and she's lovin it. Playing PlanetPenguin racer, playing the typing tutorial games, gnibbles, surfing the internet securely on Firefox, viewing photos, and listening to Raffi MP3's. When she becomes more adept at reading, I'll teach her how to use Ubuntu's package manager to download new games.
fox40, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0"- .... .. ... / .. ... / .- / .--. .-. . - - -.-- / ... .-- . . - / - --- -.-- .-.-.- / . -. .--- --- -.-- .-.-.-"

Translation: "THIS IS A PRETTY SWEET TOY. ENJOY."

You're welcome
spectre_25gt, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0"M$ must have somehow messed up the Linux labs."

I'd be quicker to bet your school just has a system administrator that's in over their head.
briangig, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1"It doesn't faze them at all."

Durrrr...

anyway. I've been using linux on and off, for serveral years, and it needs alot of polishing before it is ready for the masses. People are so used to windows, where everything is a click away, and always (usually works). Why would they switch to linux? Spyware/virii? I dont think alot of people even understand that concept...
DonWilson, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0At least none of the software they buy in the store won't work for their computer.

We bought my grandmother a linux machine for christmas and within a week I had to drive 100 miles to install Windows XP for her because the interface was too confusing.
Optimus, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Linux is not for the masses.
SlashNot, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Yea i recently put Ubuntu on my parents pc and it works for them. They use the computer for email and internet, so it doesnt bother them.
guardian653, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Linux for the masses yeah right... It has its places.. Though I can say that it has improved a lot these six years
digitalsin, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0"At least they'll never experience the BSOD"

What a slanted crappy addition to the headline. Guess what? I've seen the BSOD twice on one of my computers since XP has been out. One of those times was due to a bad driver.

Take your biased crap elsewhere fanboy.
shiftless, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0Linux is a cute novelty piece of software.

I guess if you can't affor anything nice you can use it.
mancat, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0So what would you tell your parents when they want to:

- Play a game that didn't come with their distribution.
- Install some weird Embroidering Pattern Generation software.
- Install a browser plugin to view something like Shockwave that is not supported on Linux.
- Pretty much do anything BESIDES browsing the web, using a word processor, or sending an E-mail without your help.

?

It's nice that they won't have any spyware, but unless your parents really do nothing else with the computer, you've just severely limited their choices of available software they can use. Maybe you should have given more thought to setting up their Windows machine with a limited user account? At least if they have some Windows program to install, you can install it for them, instead of saying "No it doesn't work at all." I guess this is not an option if you hate Microsoft, though.
brokencrystal, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0cybernetic798 said... "And as for viruses and trojans, hmm let's see...if more people target one platform, that platform is going to have more vulnerabilities right? Yes that's right. Thank you for admitting that we can't place ALL the blame on Microsoft."

Linux usually doesn't get viruses/spy-ware because "viruses/spy-ware" need root/administrator privileges to infect your OS. Windows wasn't built from the ground up for multi-user logins like Unix/Linux, thus Windows doesn't function well when a user is logged in without having "Administrative" rights. If you do not believe me, then try to install something as administrator, then when the program needs to reboot, log in as a regular user. (non-admin) Many times, the program you are trying to install will need to write to the registry when it reboots. Since you are not "Administrator" using this "other" login, your program will not finish setup properly, and the program will crash or be buggy. To prevent this, you can always be logged in as Administrator, but then you open doors for viruses and spy-ware. Your explanation sounds like "conspiracy theory" to me.
EyeDye, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0"newbie-friendly Mac"

haha!
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