linux that works

[Rob Miller]

I understand your frustration.  There's so much complexity.  Hardware + OS +
application software + user = so many opportunities for something
(Windows-based or Linux-based) to go astray.

The solution is acceptance of the situation.  Computing is a ubiquitous tool
that requires some learning to gain the benefits of this tool.

Please try this:  Go to your local source of surplus computer hardware and
buy a mainstream laptop (Dell or HP) that's a few years old.  Completely
wipe the hard drive with a tool like killdisk and then install a
stable version of linux from a professionally prepared DVD.  Buy a Linux
magazine or book with a DVD disk included.  Install from the disk to the
clean, empty hard drive.  While the install is running, pick one daily
function that a computer facilitates for you.  Is it writing reports or
technical documents, doing spreadsheets, web page coding?  For me, I'll pick
web page coding.  Then, on any other working computer that you can access,
use Google or Bing to search for a linux tool for creating web pages.  Tools
that I've come across include BlueFish, NVU, Quanta, and many others.  Learn
how to install this tool and use it.

I've been using Linux and Windows for more than ten years and, in my
experience, the Linux / FOSS tool was at least equal and most likely
superior to a similar Windows-based application.  The barrier to the
successful, trouble-free use of any hardware-OS-application combination is
the learning curve.  Other common technologies have been developed over much
longer timespans and have been focused for simplicity and ease-of-use.  I
like to make an analogy between a cup of coffee and a computer.  There's
hardware, software, and an operator involved in making yourself a cup of
coffee or making yourself a webpage, technical document, spreadsheet, or
photo-image.  To get the best cup of coffee on my schedule at the point
where and when I want it most, I have to climb the learning curve and know
how to use my french press, with which variety of beans, etc.

Don't let problems discourage you.  Try Linux again.

Rob Miller

On Sun, Jan 16, 2011 at 12:02 PM, sir alaric <sphinx at q.com> wrote:

> Listen,
> i know that most likely i'll get a canned response to this. that's the way
> microsoft does stuff. so i expect nothing else.
>
> but i do have a question.
>
> when, if ever, is anyone, anywhere, going to make a linux version of
> anything, that just works.
>
> sadly, windows does. it has 4000 undocumented features, it freezes every
> day, even in Arizona, or central africa. but when it's not frozen, it works.
>
> linux and all it's offshoots, and i do mean all, claim to do what windows
> does, only better. unfourtunately, it's a lie. unless of course you can
> spend 57 days tweeking this or that or the other thing. or spending the rest
> of the year going through the forums. and i mean from starting in january.
>
> and i don't need the learning curve excuse. if you want people to use linux
> and stop using windows because it's better and works better, when, if ever,
> is that going to happen.
>
> or should i just give up all hope.
>
> bob
>
> ps if you know of a linux version that REALLY TRUELY does beat windows,
> right out of the box, please tell me what it is. even if it isn't ubuntu.
>
>
>
> --
> ubuntu-doc mailing list
> ubuntu-doc at lists.ubuntu.com
> https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-doc
>
>
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