What is Digg?106 Comments
- DuckFOO, on 10/12/2007, -10/+55I like Linux but you need to remember that it isn't for everyone.
- Akaji, on 10/12/2007, -4/+47Which is exactly why Microsoft and other less-than-noble companies are able to sneak BS into their licenses.
- st23am, on 10/12/2007, -9/+35Because Gamers like to play games right out the box and not spend countless hours tying to configure ATI drivers they may not even work?
- Zippo, on 10/12/2007, -8/+32When was the last time anyone ever actually read or cared about a EULA?
- sjbdallas, on 10/12/2007, -5/+28Anyone else hear the voice of the comic book guy from the simpsons when they read Akaji's comments?
- Ramble, on 10/12/2007, -15/+31Find me a Linux distro that's as least as good for free then.
- haruchai, on 10/12/2007, -0/+13I don't get it. I installed Ubuntu and Compiz - simple download and automated install and everything seems to run fine on my nVidia card. I did not have to "compile" anything or "configure drivers". It all worked, and my computer is a home built custom job with components I picked. All the drivers seemed to be in the download of the distribution. It was set up and configured in half the time it takes me to load and configure Windows XP. Ubuntu also had tons of utilities I use every day that do not come included with Windows and were installed as part of the Ubuntu distro. That actually saved me a lot of time compared to Windows. Finally, I find I have to re-install windows on my dual boot computer about once a year because it gets to be full of crap and runs like a pig with applications falling over - including Microsoft applications. It takes forever to reinstall Windows on the reformatted drive and to reload all of the applications. I have never had to re-install Linux except to switch distributions once - from Red Hat to Ubuntu.
The only reason I have not switched 100% to Linux is that here are still some applications that are specific to my business that do not have Linux equivalents. Also, there are some games that are only in Windows. If application developers just developed all applications and games for both Windows and Linux, then Linux would reach critical mass and rapidly gain market share. - yohojones, on 10/12/2007, -9/+21I run one file to update drivers and install programs in windows. First time I had to compile my video drivers Linux was out for me.
- pbaehr, on 10/12/2007, -1/+12I used a smashed apart rock to cut my steak for 20 years before I recently switched to sharpened steel. Thanks to the rising price of shale for showing me the way.
- fasda, on 10/12/2007, -4/+14If someone was going to switch from Windows to Linux then they would have done it by now. Not only that they would have done it for a better reason then "I don't like the copy protection rules".
- Avalontor, on 10/12/2007, -0/+8"In the past, the average Joe "owned" a copy of Windows much like one owned a paperback book or an album on CD. There was a physical medium attached to this "ownership," and one could more or less do as one pleased with the OS, within the bounds of fair use rules."
Actually since a large portion of windows comes installed on new PCs(OEM) and everyone buys retail OEM versions because they are cheaper, you can't do what you please with it.
You cannot move your OEM license to another PC, that's why it is cheaper. It's like owning a paperback that you can only read in the bathroom. - cdlavalle, on 10/12/2007, -0/+8Here you go. http://www.ubuntu.com/products/GetUbuntu/download?action=show&redirect=download . This will install and optimize itself for your system including most video cards and wireless. Enjoy all of the free software. If you want to learn /anything/ about Ubuntu learn a bit about apt-get it will make your life easy. Here's a short and easy tutorial http://linuxhelp.blogspot.com/2005/1...r-for-new.html Then you can get all your software for free and have the system set it up and install for you! Simple huh?
If you feel more comfortable keeping Windows and playing with Ubuntu until you get used to it burn it to a CD https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BurningIsoHowto and reinsert that CD into your CD drive on your Windows machine. It will automatically partition your Windows box and create a Ubuntu/Windows dual boot machine for you. Not bad, eh? - pbaehr, on 10/12/2007, -1/+9Actually, that's what prompted me to switch. When I heard the original DRM predictions/announcements for Windows Vista I switched to Debian.
Sure, now I have more reasons than that, but it was the original incentive. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7I didn't properly edit my initial post. I have been using Microsoft technologies for over 20 years. I was a defender of Windows 2000 - saying it was rock solid, and on stable platforms it was. When viruses started to really hit, followed by spy ware, and other security issues, I started to look at other alternatives. I kept my computer as clean as possible, since I am an engineer I knew how to keep my system clean. Issue was when I visited my folks or family, I would spend Christmas, Thanksgiving and other get togethers cleaning their crap. Then I tried OSX when it first came out. I thought it was *****. It was slow and things were just goofy. I tried linux, and it was just too complicated to work with. I finally tried OSX 4 months ago, version 10.4. Since then, I am a SUPER HAPPY camper. I bought a Mac Pro, I run my windows XP in parallels (that I used transporter to move) and all is nice. I installed Ubuntu at my relatives homes - they just use it to surf the net and check email. It works great for them. Moving away from Microsoft has not only saved me time but now I dont think about my computer. It just works.
- Tallon29, on 10/12/2007, -6/+13Compared to clicking a download link and then clicking Next a few times yes, it was hard.
- nyx210, on 10/12/2007, -6/+13@killerofkiller: not everyone knows what "sudo" does or even what it means. also, many people don't have the patience to figure out what each of the command-line arguments do.
- Crass22, on 10/12/2007, -3/+10Growing your own vegetables and animals is also free, but people still go in droves to the supermarket to buy crappy produce that is over-priced. Just cause you don't grow your own food doesn't mean you shouldn't eat. It just means you dont want to go through a bunch of hassle, you just want to eat your food and get done with it. Same with some people and their computers, its just easier to buy a dell, plug it in, flip it on, and go.
Apple users on the other hand, well....... they're just "special" - coredump0x01, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8"I run one file to update drivers and install programs in windows. First time I had to compile my video drivers Linux was out for me."
How does one compile proprietary video card drivers? If you mean recompiling the kernel module, why does it matter? All that stuff is hidden and done automatically by Nvidia and ATI's installers. Why not use a distro with a complete and up-to-date package manager? - DigitalDud, on 10/12/2007, -3/+9It's free if your time is worthless.
- ray901, on 10/12/2007, -3/+9@ bherring
"I'll spew the "Linux is free" crap forever. If you can't figure out how to use it, then get off of the computer"
I'll take you up on that. I have a 20" viewsonic monitor. My Linux distro (Ubuntu) does not recognise any resolution other than 680*450 for the monitor. I have spent weeks fiddling with xorg.conf and on forums and still can get it to work.
So you with the big mouth - can you solve this problem for me? If you can't I expect you to quit using the computer.
P.s. I don't really expect you to fix this for me because I think you are just a mouthy git with nothing to back himself up with. - 1jaxstate1, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6You'll still need a copy of XP/Vista. Switching hardware and still buying Windows to run on Parallels isn't hurting MS one bit.
- PaperMonkey, on 10/12/2007, -2/+8@cdlavalle - THANK YOU! This is the way it should be. I can't stand all of the Linux users that insist that you are useless if you can't recompile your own kernal or rebuild your box with your eyes closed and one hand tied behind your back. Some of us just don't take to this sort of thing as quickly. What we need are people like you cdlavalle who are willing to point us in the right direction and give us a helping hand. I would happily run Linux on my machine at home and I'm sure if I was running a useful GUI then my wife wouldn't have a problem with it either. The fact that you include a tutorial and an option for dual booting means that more of us are likely to move over to a great OS. I used to run a distro of Linux in school b/c I lived with CS majors and knew that if I screwed something up that they could help me. Now that I'm out on my own it is a far more daunting prospect...
@dvfreelancer - you are part of the problem, not the solution... you are the reason that more people don't try out different OS's you insult people for using the major OS that is most user friendly and comes packaged on their PC. I'm sure more people would use Macs if the price point were lower but it isn't so we are stuck with what we can afford. One of these days you will learn to keep your snide comments to yourself and the rest of the Linux users out there who are more than happy to help people out will show the PC users that there are viable alternatives out there. You just have to do a little more research and have the desire to try something different. - kelbear, on 10/12/2007, -2/+8"Just hit enter" is not good mentality to promote.
- rlombardo, on 11/05/2008, -2/+7Yeah everyone is complaining how Vista Ultimate is $400...but when Apple introduces a $600 phone, everyone goes ga ga
- plgonzalez, on 10/12/2007, -4/+9People will start to care about whats in their EULA as soon as its all over CNN and the front page of USA Today!
- fasda, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6I hope I did not misunderstand you when you said "I have used a PC with either DOS or Windows 2 almost 20 years now" because it dose give the impression that you haven't upgraded your hardware in about 20 years.
- catalysis, on 10/12/2007, -3/+8If I can't run a program that I want on it (BF2), what the hell good would it do to install it on my computer?
- SuckMyDigg, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5You can run bf2 on it.
Cedega will allow this. Unfortunately you have to pay $5 a month for a subscription at this time which is why I'm still using windows. - pbaehr, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5"I'm sorry, sir, you can't return this book. It's been flagged."
- lazyrussian, on 10/12/2007, -2/+7Here's the thing about Linux.
If you have time to sit down every night and learn it piece by piece and a nice-sized external hardrive to backup your info, then it'll be a piece of cake to you experiment and learn, which is what I did.
If it wasn't for that, I'd probably be an XP user until my computer broke, say 2010, or I would get a mac - hell my kde looks like a mac-desktop now. - kindaran, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5With the proliferation of sneaky 3rd party software, spyware, and privacy issues nowadays, I read most agreements associated with installing software.
- cdlavalle, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5Whoops, put the abbreviated tutorial in there. http://linuxhelp.blogspot.com/2005/12/concise-apt-get-dpkg-primer-for-new.html
Try it out, it's easy and there is a plethora of awesome open source software out there for your computing pleasure. - Waiting2awake, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4 Ofcourse they are allowed to make money, they just shouldn't be allowed to exploit the stupid factor in people who don't understand the issues or the problems they can entail.
- DigitalDud, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4And like owning a paperback that you can only read in the bathroom, you might be okay with that.
- joevill, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Permission to use? Whatever happened to ownership?
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3I can take my Mac Pro, clone my disk to a USB drive, take that drive to my buddys house, and boot off of it on his Mac Book. All my apps will work.
Try doing that with windows. - SSCrow, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5I'm a tired of people Bitching about Microsoft making Money.
Are they not allowed to or something? - grubwort, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5And like a paperback that stays in the bathroom, it stinks.
- fasda, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3But to keep the analogy going most people would not know that you could or would want to read outside their bathroom as it was the place they where have always read their books.
- redhatcat, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3@Avalontor
If you don't mind being Microsoft's bitch, that's absolutely fine.
Others, however, may have better things to do than deal with Microsoft's time-consuming, invasive asset protection. - Aesculapius, on 10/12/2007, -3/+6Heaven forbid that MS actually create a better more reasonably priced product where sales are driven by the merits of the product itself instead of all this licensing mumbo jumbo.
- redhatcat, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3@SSCrow
It's not that about Microsoft making money. It's about Microsoft's complete lack of respect toward their paying customers.
If you have purchased software, you should be able to use it without wasting time proving that you have indeed purchased it. You shouldn't have to waste CPU cycles on Microsoft's WGA checking to see if it's still paid for. You shouldn't have to deal with purposely crippled software intended to make you buy the more expensive, less-crippled version. You shouldn't even be wasting your time entering Product Keys! - EmperorAwesome, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3Dugg for "tinfoil hattery".
- Swift2, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I'll say it once: Windows was a brilliant way of capturing the market in the '80s. First, they spread the line that a non-graphical interface was the way to go. Secretaries had to learn WordPerfect 5.1, with all the commands, and figure out how it would look from the non-WYSIWYG interface. But it was faster, see! And then, you could buy cheaper hardware, so you wouldn't mind paying more for the software, right? Then, Windows. All the gossip about the light weight and the speed of DOS was gone, magically. The price for the OS went up. The copy protection was refined. How?
Well, two things. With Windows, you needed an MIS priesthood, because it was mysterious. So they became convinced that they needed to be rehired forever, and Windows gave them lots of work. But also, they charged an arm and a leg for the OS and the Office suite, which gave the execs the brilliant idea that its price meant it had worth. Done! - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2@sansbury:
Lets say your hard disk crashes, or your computer is flooded, or something else. Since cloning is a way you make backups, you can take your 'work' environment anywhere you want to go. - 30ODD6, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I'm not really sure what to think...
Is there anything in the world that isn't a pain in the ass?!
Seems there is always something! - ialan2, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2"prevent a user from transferring his copy of the OS from one PC to another more than once."
Bit like saying you can take the book from your bedroom to read in the living room but you can't take it back. - dgh1973, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I love Linux just as much, if not more than the next geek... but I think the population en masse would be more likely to switch to Macs. Linux is getting there fast but it's not quite ready yet. It's getting too fragmented like Unix... an rpm here, a deb there...
The only hope Linux really has anytime soon is to have a flagship distro to standardize around like Ubuntu. - Waiting2awake, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2 They have a number of them already. They look very similar to MS. I haven't used any myself so all I can speak to is the looks of them.
That said though, I don't think the average MS user knows enough about computers to see any difference between XP and a larger distro like Fedora. The trouble is they rightly assume they know very little about computers and so any change is going to be "bad" and secondly most people are too lazy/busy/ignorant/don't care to switch. Others are the gamers who, rightly, would be foolish to use a computer OS like Linux so switching for them is not possible because they are using their $600 computer to act as a $300 playstation or xbox.
Sadly, people primarily do what they are expected to do, which is(in the mind of many) shut up, consume, don't make waves and question nothing. - petercooper, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2"WE'VE HEARD ALL MANNER of tinfoil hattery about Windows Vista's schemes for copy protection, which have prompted the usual round of threats from the usual quarters about how Vista will usher in an OS apocalypse and techies will migrate en masse to Linux."
And people are (as always). My dad, who used to be quite the fan of Microsoft, switched a few months ago to Ubuntu and has now even weaned himself off of having Windows to hand through VMWare. He's managed to convince several non-computer-literate friends of his to also make the switch and has helped them on the way, and now all of them are using Ubuntu full-time. It's a drop in the ocean, but believe me.. when people like that are switching, I can be assured millions of others are too.
I'm still on OS X myself, although I run Ubuntu on my little-used PC. With Apple's silly hardware lineup though.. I have been considering going back to the PC fulltime.. -
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