Goodbye

[David Mackie]

Hi-
	I'm sad to read Edward's farewell to Linux. I too migrated from Windows. 
Using Linux, I have had to learn more about computing in general, and about 
paying attention to small details. I've had to accept how little I know, how 
much more there is to learn. But ....
	First, that's called growth -  and growth is a good thing. Second, that 
growth leads to control. Linux hasn't been all "plain sailing" -  but that's 
between the software, my peculiar hardware, and my own desire to experiment. 
If I'd stuck to word-processing and email, I might never have encountered any 
problems- but the problems I have had made me think, learn, and grow.
	Edward, if you're still reading . . . . you do not need to be an "advanced 
guru", just experiment a little. There are many Linux distributions, tailored 
for different users on different machines. If Kubuntu doesn't work, Mandrake 
or Fedora probably will. First, ask some advice about your needs and your 
equipment. What the heck -  people are helpful, and it's free ! 

	McDave


On Sunday 12 June 2005 07:07 pm, Efwkub at aol.com wrote:
> Dear Linux enthusiasts in general and Kubuntu people in particular, thank
> you for the assistance I have received on this list.
>
> With regret I have decided that I do not have enough time to use Linux.
> Unfortunately I have had too many problems, bugs, inconsistencies, etc.
> etc. First with SUSE (as earlier noted I gave up using their support as it
> was going nowhere, slowly). Now with Kubuntu.
>
> The number of problems I have had has been overwhelming, even though I have
> only started to look at Kubuntu, i.e. there are a great many things I have
> not looked at or tried yet.
>
> If I thus extrapolate the number of problems I would have to expect and the
> time needed to research then try to implement possible solutions, and the
> expected rate of failure and success therein, should I try to get a full
> range of functions to work at all, let alone reliably, I see that a totally
> unrealistic input would be required on my part, for what would remain an
> uncertain result.
>
>
> I accept that Linux software works for some people, whether because they
> are lucky or they are experts, or they pay others who are experts. I have
> had to accept that unless I somehow achieved "advanced guru" level I would
> never be able to count on having a system that worked. And that unless I
> thoroughly checked, tested and modifed any Linux installation I had (on
> every material change) I would always be worrying about it, never able to
> rely on it.
>
> May I thus respectfully ask that, enthusiastic as you are, you moderate
> your claims so as to reduce the chances of misleading people. I came to
> Linux after years of Windows (which, dire as it is, and much as I hate the
> way MS have treated everyone, looks less bad now). I knew a lot of the
> words and concepts, and I didn't expect an easy time. I expected to have to
> read a lot, and I did.
>
> I also had the benefit of a working internet connection. Please consider
> what someone new to computers would do having bought a PC expecting to use
> Linux, alone in a room, and thus without the ability to access Google, or
> your helpful forums and lists etc.
>
> Just by way of illustration, I am not asking for assistance because I am
> not going to proceed any further, the problems below happened to me in one
> relatively short session earlier today. They might get a few of these or
> others that I have mentioned. Repeat - please don't trouble to advise me on
> the issues.
>
> I am very disappointed because I like the open source approach, I do
> respect what has been achieved, I can see that Linux is done logically, so
> that it should be possible to make it work, I wanted to get into Linux. And
> I have had any amount of hassle with Windows (and e.g. Norton AntiVirus)
> over the years. So much so that I will return to typewriter and fax rather
> than go to XP. The 98SE machines I have do act up when pushed but they are
> a bit overloaded, most of the time they are fast, easy to use, highly
> productive. And when they fail they can be re-booted and then work again.
>
> I therefore wish you all the best but ask that you think more carefully
> about what you say about Linux.
>
> Thanks, Edward
>
> ******
> Kuser, try to create a new user "mpd". Am told (something like) "cannot
> create home directory for mpd it is null or invalid"
> Not sure how something that hasn't been created can be invalid, but try to
> enter
> /home/mpd myself, get message "Kuser crashed caused signal 11 SIGSERV"
>
> Decide to try to create a folder myself for mpd, using Konsole
> Open Konsole then, to get power to set permissions:
>
> efw at HP3:~$ sudo konsole
> Password:
>
> I get the message:
> "Error: "/var/tmp/kdecache-efw" is owned by uid 1000 instead of uid 0.
> Link points to "/var/tmp/kdecache-root" "
>
> Switch to Kuser and see that it has given mpd the UID of 0, along with root
> So change this to 1001 (efw – myself – being 1000)
>
> Give up on that for now
>
> Open KPPP, (as usual) get
> "/etc/resolv.conf is missing or can't be read!
> Ask your system administrator to create this file (can be empty) with
> appropriate read and write permissions."
>
> Open KSysGuard, (as usual) get
> "Error – KDE System Guard   Connection to localhost has been lost."
>
> Control Center, System Administration, Login Manager. Click on
> Administrator Mode
> Enter password, get "Welcome to the KDE Control Center" a central place..."
> (Previously I was getting a right pane showing the "System Administration"
> sub-items.)
>
> Leave the PC for about 30 seconds, return to find that Konqueror and OOo's
> Writer have crashed leaving SIGSERV messages.
> (Konqueror and Writer are what I would need to use most! Writer often
> failed, usually quickly, under SUSE. Hardly tried it under Kubuntu)