Getting frustrated with Ubuntu....

[David]

On Mon, Nov 28, 2005 at 08:45:53AM -0800, Lee H. wrote:
> Although I have been a Windows user since I bought my first computer in
> 1999, I have made several attempts to work with various distros of Linux
> over the years, all ending in complete frustration.  This summer I

... where you learned a lot of habits! I have a similar problem 
switching from Macintosh, or switching from an RPM based linux. Be 
prepared to make the effort. The good thing is that you end up being more 
flexible in your thinking.


> Wanting a fairly light, uncluttered system and wanting to learn as I go,
> I installed 5.10 as a server.  I wanted a relatively simple GUI so I
<snip>
> the Ubuntu Wiki and I was ecstatic when everything worked as it should.
> Thank you!

This a great way to build a server but a lousy way to get benefit from 
Ubuntu desktop. 99/100 times Ubuntu seems to install perfectly from CD, 
so that's what you should do. It's not surprising that you get frustrated 
when you try to get Ubuntu to do something it's not designed to do. 

Building a system this way is a great training exercise, but it's hardly 
surprising if you run into grief, especially if you are thinking "windows" 
when you should be thinking "gnu/linux". As long as you are doing it for 
fun and education, fine, but if you are trying to get a working system you 
are really making it tough on yourself.

<snip> 
> At this point I felt I was stalling out--I was happy with what I had
> done so far but I was still a little lost about installing other
> software and....

apt-get has to be the utterly best packaging system there is (perhaps with 
the exception of OSX?). You could install everything from tar ball, but 
you would have to be a masochist to do it. It's like buying a car, then 
fitting pedals. I can understand wanting to get "under the hood", but IMHO 
you should do that AFTER you have learned Ubuntu. apt-get (or synaptic, or 
aptitude - all the same thing with different front-ends) is essential to 
ubuntu. Otherwise you might as well build your own linux distro. Then you 
could be TRULY masochistic ;-)


> So, wanting something I was more familiar with, I installed Gnome.  Big
> mistake!  I didn't notice that installing Gnome would automatically
> install .... <snip>...

of course! that's what they are supposed to do, and clearly it worked very 
well :-)

> Now, having proven that I know just enough about Linux to be dangerous
> to myself,

we all go through that stage!

> I'm still a Newbie with years of Windows-centric thinking to
> overcome.  I've read many instructions on the Web, but after a couple of
> minutes of reading my eyes tend to glaze over and my brain stops.  I
> learn by doing, and it's only after I've done something once or twice
> that I begin to understand what the instructions are telling me.

because your brain is windows oriented. The more different systems you 
use, the less that's a problem. Windows is a particular problem because 
it's the only mainstream OS left that isn't *nix. 

> 1.  When downloading software from various sources, where is the default
> place I'm supposed to download it to?

Personally, I drop everything into /usr/local/ with subdirectories such as 
/usr/local/tar /usr/local/iso 

I don't think it matters too much what you do, as long as YOU are always 
consistant so you know where to look.

> 2.  Is it possible to install just the GUI part of Gnome without all the
> excess baggage it brings with it?

Yes.. but I can't imagine why. Therefor I have no idea how to do it ;-)

> 3a.  How do I change the refresh rate so I can use Gnome?  The other
> GUIs I've tried are watchable with no flickering.  Why is Gnome
> different?  3b.  What part of the Gnome installation made my soundcard
> work?  

Don't know.. it always works out of the box for me .. on about 8 different 
machines.

> 4.  At some time, I do want to attempt to compile a Kernel suited to my
> machine.  I've found the instructions on the Wiki and they look good.
> Are there any "Gotchas" or things I should look out for?

No idea.. never done it.. never had the need.

> 6.  Under Windows, you have to install chipset drivers from VIA.  Is
> there something similiar under Linux or is this not necessary?

Virtually all drivers are built into linux (as they are on OSX). M$ are 
lazy.. they make the manufacturer and end user do the work.

> I think that'll do for now!  Thanks for your patience!