[Tfug] ubuntu (troll?)

Tue Apr 15 11:14:00 MST 2008

This is crunch time for me at the University. I am too tired to engage in
trolling for responses. I was really just giving my perspective on why I can't
use linux to any appreciable degree. Please pardon me if I stepped on your
toes, it was not intentional.

This reminds me of some new Vista (you want to see me get yupset - 
start talking
about Windows...) security popup that is designed to annoy users.

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080411-vistas-uac-security-prompt-was-designed-to-annoy-you.html

Quoting Andrew Ayre <andy at britishideas.com>:

> 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
>>>>> Subscription Options:
>>>>> http://www.tfug.org/mailman/listinfo/tfug_tfug.org
>>>>>
>>>> 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
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> Tucson Free Unix Group - tfug at tfug.org
>>>> Subscription Options:
>>>> http://www.tfug.org/mailman/listinfo/tfug_tfug.org
>>>>
>>>> _____________________________________________________________
>>>> Lose up to 20 lbs in one month with a new diet. Click here.
>>>> http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2121/fc/Ioyw6i3mPb9CdsTrEfImfpy4KazyjP02jOvAVIg9CmSC3hk9mOLGDu/
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> Tucson Free Unix Group - tfug at tfug.org
>>>> Subscription Options:
>>>> http://www.tfug.org/mailman/listinfo/tfug_tfug.org
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Tucson Free Unix Group - tfug at tfug.org
>>> Subscription Options:
>>> http://www.tfug.org/mailman/listinfo/tfug_tfug.org
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Tucson Free Unix Group - tfug at tfug.org
>> Subscription Options:
>> http://www.tfug.org/mailman/listinfo/tfug_tfug.org
>>
>>
>>
>
> --
> Andy
> PGP Key ID: 0xDC1B5864
>
> _______________________________________________
> Tucson Free Unix Group - tfug at tfug.org
> Subscription Options:
> http://www.tfug.org/mailman/listinfo/tfug_tfug.org