[Tfug] ubuntu (troll?)

Tue Apr 15 10:50:19 MST 2008

Saying:

"Because such simplicity is abhorent to many techies, I really doubt 
linux is going anywhere. It is a lost cause."

Is either a statement with no basic research and understanding, or is a 
statement designed to make people irritated (i.e. trolling).

Which is it?

Andy

sitkaa at email.arizona.edu wrote:
> I don't consider myself a troll. actually, if you knew me, you would thik that
> is funny. That you see my feedback as trolling only exemplifies my 
> point: there
> is a bridgable divide between the technically inclined and the not-so. It is
> unlikely that this bridge will ever be more than a footbridge swaying in the
> wind simply because techies couldn't give a hoot about making linux simple.
> 
> I agree I could take some courses so I could figure out to use the operating
> system. All I really want to do is use the computer for simple things like
> office stuff, connecting to the internet, organizing and storing files, and
> maybe listening to some internet-based music. Does taking a class at Pima
> College (it is cheaper then the University) seem like an awful lot of work to
> anyone besides me? I not, then I suppose I am a troll.
> 
> 
> Grrrrrrr!
> Michael
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Quoting "Eric M. Gearhart" <eric at nixwizard.net>:
> 
>> Yes I would agree with the "don't feed the troll" post - are you 
>> seriously asking for help or are you just trolling this list?
>>
>> Techies "turn wrenches" and get stuff working... there is a level of 
>> "polish" lacking from Linux right now, but there are projects 
>> underway that are trying to address that situation (openSUSE, Ubuntu, 
>> etc.)
>>
>> Eric
>> http://nixwizard.net
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: sitkaa at email.arizona.edu
>> To: tfug at tfug.org
>> Sent: Tuesday, April 15, 2008 8:49:49 AM GMT -07:00 U.S. Mountain 
>> Time (Arizona)
>> Subject: Re: [Tfug] ubuntu
>>
>> I am the itinerate newbie regards to linux. I have been interested in it for
>> over a decade, but haven't hadn't loaded it on my main computer until just
>> recently, primarily because of the because of the difficulty involved 
>> in doing
>> a dual boot, but also due to a lack of anyone to hold my hand to degree
>> neccessary to get past first base. I can hear the chorus already saying
>> that it
>> is so much easier now with this application and that, but to me it is still
>> written in Greek for all I know.
>>
>> I don't know how to use linux, I don't know what applications are
>> available for
>> it, and frankly, after a decade of watching this whole thing, I have gotten
>> pretty disgusted with it. The promise of linux is unfulfilled. I don't like
>> Microsoft, but at least I can understand it.
>>
>> You want to attract more than just techies to linux? Make it is
>> sooooooo freakin
>> simple I can understand it. I don't care one iota how little functionality it
>> has, I really only wanna push one button, and then have the damn thing
>> work. If
>> it can't do that, it is too complicated.
>>
>> Because such simplicity is abhorent to many techies, I really doubt linux is
>> going anywhere. It is a lost cause. I suppose I will be sticking with the
>> spyware, malware, constant updates, NSA backdoors, and 
>> anticompetitive busines
>> practices of Microsoft as long as I live, cause you people can't grasp
>> just how
>> stupid and lazy I am.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Quoting Earl <earljviolet at juno.com>:
>>
>>> I used virtual box with 98 for a while and it worked OK for the
>>> limited testing I did. I finally deleted it because all I did was
>>> update spyware and virus programs and run them.
>>>
>>> Earl
>>>
>>> "God made man, Sam Colt made men equal."
>>> "The fates guide him who will, him who won't they drag" Spengler
>>> "I want to change the world but they won't give me the source code"
>>> Unknown Linux Geek
>>>
>>> -- Malcolm Schmerl <mjs355 at comcast.net> wrote:
>>> Jim March wrote:
>>>> On Sun, Apr 13, 2008 at 10:22 AM, Jeffry Johnston <tfug at kidsquid.com
>>>> <mailto:tfug at kidsquid.com>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> He told the other that it wasn't as nice as windows, but it
>>>> worked pretty good.
>>>>
>>>> Probably running Gnome... KDE is nicer than windows ;)
>>>>
>>>> Jeff
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> The real indicator as to whether or not somebody is going to jump
>>>> cleanly into Ubuntu or any other newbie-friendly distro is whether or
>>>> not they have somebody experienced to help with initial tuning and
>>>> setup. Multimedia support for starters, DVD playback, MP3 codec, all
>>>> that happy $hit :).
>>>>
>>>> Gnome v. KDE means a lot less in my opinion.
>>>>
>>>> For REAL success, get VirtualBox running with an XP VM for those few
>>>> programs or times we still need Windows. A LOT of users will have at
>>>> least one such app, in my case the ones I need most involve playing
>>>> with election databases.
>>>>
>>>> This works with surprisingly little horsepower. I'm pulling it off
>>>> with a single-core Celeron 1.6 lappy, lowly Intel945 video and 1.5gigs
>>>> RAM. And it'll work in a lot less than that.
>>>>
>>>> Oddity on that score:
>>>>
>>>> I rented a video recently that flat wouldn't play under Ubuntu. I
>>>> tuned and tweaked and tried VLC player, updated LIBDVDCSS, etc. No
>>>> joy. If anyone cares, it was the video-only final conclusion to
>>>> Stargate SG1 :). Finally I said "screw it", loaded XP, downloaded VLC
>>>> for that and watched my friggin' video :).
>>>>
>>>> But here's the kicker for a newbie:
>>>>
>>>> You explain that when they're on the 'net in Ubuntu,
>>>> EMail/web/whatever, they're basically immune from
>>>> viruses/spyware/crapware.
>>>>
>>>> THAT they get. Bigtime. The number of newbies getting hammered by
>>>> malware is just crazy...that is BY FAR the number one reason a
>>>> non-techie will consider Linux.
>>>>
>>>> You also have to explain that running XP or whatever as a VM task is
>>>> much safer than dual-boot because Linux shields Windows. You lose 3D
>>>> video support and gaming, but short of that it works.
>>>>
>>>> Jim
>>>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> Tucson Free Unix Group - tfug at tfug.org
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>>>>
>>> Jim,
>>> The problem with Windows, as I see it, besides the mal-ware problem, is
>>> that you get caught in a constant cycle of hardware and software
>>> upgrades. We use an old copy of Quickbooks, which is perfectly adequate
>>> for our business and which ran perfectly well on Windows 98, but has
>>> problems on XP and will cost $200 to upgrade. I use an old machine (AMD
>>> 750) which works just fine with Ubuntu. Will Virtualbox work with
>>> Windows 98 or ME? This really sounds like a way for me to go. Thanks for
>>> the idea, Malcolm
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
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>>> _____________________________________________________________
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>>>
>>>
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>>
>>
>>
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> 
> 
> 
> 
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-- 
Andy
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