[ubuntu-uk] Ubuntu/Linux is still not an OS for the masses - discuss

Wed Oct 13 12:23:55 BST 2010

Hi Mel,
Like yourself i'm new to the world of Linux having been in Microsoft
Support since I left school. Unlike you I've never had the problem you
describe but I have had instances on my old PC (NVidia 6600GT PCI-E
card) with the Live CD's not booting properly or hanging on the boot
up logo.
I found downloading the "alternate" CD with the text based installer
proved more fruitful and may allow you to be more specific with the
command line switches that are loaded, maybe to load just a standard
VGA driver instead of "trying" to load a compatibly NVidia one.
Just a thought, I'm probably not the best placed to comment but as a
newbie to Linux I thought I'd offer my 2 pence.
I don't think the masses (at this point in time) would be installing
Linux off their own back, or certainly not what I would consider as
the masses, but if they did I agree they might be turned away but the
sheer power of Linux and its need sometimes to be effectively be a
"geek" to understand stuff. I agree the Live CD should be fairly point
and click with lots of stable drivers to cater for all hardware but
the way I look at it, the leaps and bounds Ubuntu is making,
considering its free is enormous and maybe one day it'll have front
end gui that allows even the most computer iliterate to operate it and
install drivers etc, but for now its horses for courses in my opinion
and we all need to feed our experiences back into the pot as it were
to make sure these issues get ironed out. Afterall, we are downloading
something that Microsoft would charge an arm and a leg for.....
Paul. 

----- Original Message -----
From: UK Ubuntu Talk 
To:
Cc:
Sent:Wed, 13 Oct 2010 12:03:25 +0100
Subject:Re: [ubuntu-uk] Ubuntu/Linux is still not an OS for the
masses - discuss

 Thanks for replys

 I want to use Linux. I might use Windows, I might work with Windows,
I 
 have hated Windows since version 3 (I was there, it was good for its

 time), I have to admit I think they have finally got close with 7. I

 dont like Microsoft as a company and its actions, but I have to feed
my 
 family so I deal with it. Whilst this post might seem like I am anti

 Linux I am quite the opposite I am anti Windows and really want to
use 
 Linux. I have personally being trying to use Ubuntu since 7.04 but I

 don't have the time to faff to get a working machine when I can
install 
 XP or 7 fully loaded with drivers on virtually any machine in 3
hours or 
 less.

 Maybe I wasn't clear about my points about the live CD trial.

 Tyler
 Windows does work without loading drivers. I have never yet had a PC

 that didnt give me a screen after installing Windows, as I said it
might 
 be 640*480 4 colour but at least I can work from there. Ubuntu gives
me 
 a blank screen, either out of range of the monitor, with only a
mouse 
 pointer or in the case of previous versions psychedelic dots and 
 stripes. This means going to the commandline to install drivers -
that 
 just lost the majority of your audience.

 How does the end user with a live CD in his hand disable kernel mode

 settings.

 Al,
 Do you not hand out live CDs at various events, if they give the
trier a 
 black screen then they WILL end up in the bin. Whilst the masses
might 
 not install, a live cd is meant for the masses to try, is it not?

 As a business we have to supply varying hardware, we cant even buy
the 
 same hardware we could 6 months ago. We can get most PCs fully setup

 ready to ship/deliver including Windows OS install in half a day, 
 There's no way that could be true of Ubuntu, so it would not be
economic 
 to supply even if the OS was free.

 Alan,
 I'm not a PC novice but I am a Linux novice. Not investigated how to

 log bugs yet, I can find out and might, but "the average enduser"
wont.

 If your Mum bought a blank PC she would ask someone who knew
something 
 about computers to install it, the are many time more people who
could 
 install Windows to get a working (maybe not optimum) PC, than could
get 
 Ubuntu working. My 10 year old son could get a working PC with XP or
7 
 and he's never done it before or been show how to do it, no way
would he 
 get Ubuntu working.

 Roy
 Your point about the security issues in Windows are why I would like
to 
 move away for it, personally and in business but its not feasible at
the 
 moment. But my point is none of those solutions will work for the
live 
 CD, you have to take the plunge and install then delve into
commandline, 
 by which time you have potentialy trashed you PC. The point of the
live 
 CD is so you dont have to trash your PC.

 Chris
 I am not asking for everything to work perfectly I am asking for a 
 visible desktop I can start from.

 How do I install the NVidia driver on the live CD, and how do I
install 
 the driver on my Phenom which I did a HDD install on but get "out of

 range video" after the restart. Sorry, I know the answer to the
second 
 but the average enduser doesnt (commandline and vi!).

 I used the cd to see if my hardware will work and 3 out of 4 dont,
the 
 4th did until I installed it then it didn't. This is on a 6 year old

 laptop to a 6 month old Phenom II. I have access to many varied PCs
so 
 if I have time (whats that) will try a few more.

 I suppose my point is from where i am standing Ubuntu is as
difficult to 
 get working now as it was over 3 years ago. I can find answers and
have 
 had working(ish) copies of Ubuntu, I just cant afford the time is
takes 
 to get there.

 Mel

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Links:
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