A question...

[fajrdrako]

How many of my friends here use Linux?

Comments

[auriaephiala.livejournal.com]

I have for years.

[rustydog.livejournal.com]

Use is a bit strong of a word. I have Linux on my eeePC and have struggled with it for months. I'm no luddite, but I don't know much at all about Linux and I find the forums and information online very difficult to navigate, because the people who use them are already very good at it, and they don't explain things in a way beginners can understand.

[judymoe.livejournal.com]

I've used it in the past, just about the time they started working on KDE and Gnome. I haven't used it in years, but have recently been thinking about giving Ubuntu a shot (back in the day SUSE came with some very weird...um, 'features', and wasn't as easy to install as I hear the new stuff is).

For those who do, do they still use vi, or just OpenOffice, etc.?

So, why do you ask?

[flautopiccolo.livejournal.com]

My sons put Linux on our upstairs 'internet' computer. So I've used a computer with Linux, but don't know much about Linux itself.

[takhys]

I'm in exactly the same situation. It's very easy to do everything that comes pre-loaded and set up on the eeePC, but sorting out something new takes quite a while.

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad you find that too! I was starting to think I was just being exceptionally dim, even for me.

On the plus side, I'm going on a series of courses to teach me about Linux, starting in a couple of weeks. I'm not volunteering to act as a Helpdesk, but at least I might improve my geekese so I can actually understand the help fora...

[sraun]

My server runs Debian Linux - e-mail, web services, etc. for fireopal.org and ytilaer.com. My experience with Linux as a desktop/laptop platform is fairly limited.

[rustydog.livejournal.com]

I was starting to think I was just being exceptionally dim, even for me.

Yup, that's how it has made me feel, too. Until now, I could teach myself my way around new computers and software pretty easily. I have this vague idea that in making the little computer Exceptionally Easy to use, they've actually made it harder for people who have *some* skill (but are not computer geniuses) to customize. It took me forever to even figure out which version of Linux I was running.

Yay again for your Linux class! I think that's an excellent idea. I'm considering a "Linux for Dummies" book. Back before the internet, books would have been the first place I turned, but these days it's unusual when I can't teach myself anything I need online.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Good - so if I need help and advice, I can ask you? What kind of Linux do you use?

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

So it's tricky when starting out. Hmm. I will ... take that under advisement. I was eyeing books like "Linux for Dummies". Are they helpful, do you know?

(I made up that title, but there are books like that out there in my public library. Mostly specific to certain types of Linux. Ubuntu for dummies.)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Woo. You make it sound really challenging.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I ask because I got a new computer a while ago, with Windows XP on it, which I know how to use just fine. There are things I don't like about Windows that many people have told me wouldn't be a problem with Linux. I'm a little hesitant to learn a new system; I'm capable enough, but I'm no techie, and I already know how to do the things I need to do with Windows. I have no compelling need to change.

Anyway, a friend has taken my old computer, which works fine, and is installing Linux on it so I can give it a try. I was curious about other people's experiences.

What people are saying more or less confirms what I've heard: that Linux isn't intuitively obvious or necessarily easy, and there's a certain learning curve.

If it clarifies anything, I've tried using a Mac, and I pretty much hated it.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

So aren't there good places to go online for the clueless beginner, which is what I will be?

I don't mind getting a book, but the sad truth is that at the moment I can't afford a book.

Que sera sera.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

That gives you somewhat more experience than I have! What do you know how to do - log on, open the browser? Does it use Firefox or will I need to use entirely different programs?

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Right! It's something. That's probably where I'll start.

[rustydog.livejournal.com]

I was directed to this article (http://www.downloadsquad.com/2008/01/17/flipping-the-linux-switch-new-users-guide-to-the-terminal/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2008/01/17/flipping-the-linux-switch-new-users-guide-to-the-terminal/) by a Linux expert, and I found it helpful but was surprised there wasn't a more all-encompassing guide, what with Linux being open source and all.

I haven't gotten a book yet, mostly because I haven't decided to commit the time to it, but I plan to go to the library when the time comes. Then if I really get into it or find it invaluable, I might ask for a book for Christmas or something. :)

[rustydog.livejournal.com]

My machine came with OpenOffice, and I've been very pleased with that.

[dewline.livejournal.com]

Which version of the OS?

[sraun]

If you've got a choice, I'm told that Kubuntu is the end-user distro of choice for Win2k/WinXP experts.

[majkia.livejournal.com]

if you try Ubuntu, which I'd suggest be the version you try, you can use Firefox. Open Office is pretty much like MS Office. There is an email program that comes loaded with it too.

I have Ubuntu on a spare computer since I wanted to mess with it.

So far, I've not seen where it gives me anything Windows doesn't offer. In fact, for the internet, it hardly makes any difference at all.

so I personally don't see a reason to switch.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I don't know yet.

[bunsen-h.livejournal.com]

I use Linux (Fedora) at work; our major current product lines run on it.

Every month or two, my desktop machine does something sufficiently abnormal or weirdly undesirable that I have to get help from one of the experts, and the problem turns out to be something pretty damn obscure -- that is, only an expert would likely be able to fix it. I can't comment on other versions of Linux, but I wouldn't use this at home.

[flautopiccolo.livejournal.com]

The Linux that my sons put on the old computer is Ubuntu. I've been using Firefox and Open Office with it. Also Pidgin for IM. I'm the designated updater: When the computer notices there are updates available it says so, then I log in and it processes the updates.

One thing I've found is that Ubuntu seems to be more stable than Windows XP is on my newer computer. Ubuntu very rarely crashes.

[iclysdale.livejournal.com]

I'd second all the suggestions for Ubuntu. I use it on a bunch of my computers, and it's the first Linux distribution that I'd really recommend to people who *aren't* geeks. On the whole, it behaves the way you expect it to, and it just works.

If you want me to bring over a bootable Ubuntu disk sometime I actually make it over, we can load it on your computer, and you can take a look.

[dewline.livejournal.com]

Sorry, I meant "which version of the Mac OS?"