A couple of things we Linux users *really* need
Hardware Hell. That's the really big problem with alternative OSes, not including Macs. It's especially frustrating for newbies when they like Distro A but it doesn't support a thingamajig they can't afford to replace (and I'd like to add that it seems like the developers forget that some of us are *poor* since the typical response one gets is go buy such-and-such), but Distro B does support it, even though Distro B is older than Distro A. I believe hardware issues are the real problem for Linux users. The kicker is, there often is a driver for a piece of hardware for your system, but then you have to find it and figure out how to install it (sometimes that's fairly easy and sometimes it's not; Debian/Knoppix supports my ethernet card, fortunately, but in the manual for it are instructions for getting it to run with Mandrake and RH - I've no idea what language that's in, perhaps some scientific code from the 24th century).
What we need is an add-on to apt (or up2date, or whatever) that updates and searches specifically for drivers. Obviously, a list would need to be kept on in your configuration file for the hardware that was detected during setup. This would be convenient even if all of your hardware is supported, as it would get you the latest drivers easily.
Whaddya think?
Another little thing that bugs me. Why is it so difficult to adjust your screen size with most distros? Linux treats 1024 as the default (and is that really a good idea? A lot of us have small monitors and/or not-so-good eyesight) and as I understand it, you have to edit a config file to change it if you didn't specify 800x600 during the install. Windows 98, a 6 year old OS, can change your screen settings easier than that. I know it's a little thing, but it annoys me, mostly because I have a small monitor and a TV out card; I don't want 800x600 on a 24" TV screen, but my regular monitor is so small that I can't see anything with a 1024 setting. And it seems rather primitive, doesn't it?
Other than those two things, I think Linux is perfect. Sure, maybe Wine doesn't work so great without a lot of fiddling with it, but I'm sure it'll get better. People used to complain about installing Linux, and a few distros are still difficult to install, but more are as brian-dead easy as Windows now, as long as you know something about what hardware you have and where you are.
Re: A couple of things we Linux users *really* need
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mistshadow
What we need is an add-on to apt (or up2date, or whatever) that updates and searches specifically for drivers. Obviously, a list would need to be kept on in your configuration file for the hardware that was detected during setup. This would be convenient even if all of your hardware is supported, as it would get you the latest drivers easily.
I just tried the live eval cd of SuSe 9.0 and it has a driver update function of the Yast 2 module in the control center! Why can't soemone tell me these things *before* I make myself look like an idiot with a display of total ignorance?! :wink: :lol:
Forums, life the universe and everything linux!
Mistshadow...
Your right about some forums but also a lot of noobies make mistakes they don't realise.
WinBlows, isn't just a joke its actually trademarked!!! Using it as a trademark to refer to the microshaft OS is just propograting the falsehood that micro$ somehow invented windows.
Some users start topics like "this sucks Im going back to windows unless you help me...." and they are just as bad as the experienced guru's who just say RTFM!!!
But mostly noobies stumble into territory which then don't realise is so hot...
One of the most common is why doesn't <insert distro here> write a driver for my <insert weird hardware here> when I can have it in windows.
The answer is usually <manufactuerer> writes a Windows driver, MS hardly write any, its up to the manufactuer to do it.
Opensource is different, sometimes a manufactuerer will write a driver and this is laudable and to be supported.
But mainly its just a group of people who need the driver. sometimes a single person...
Ive seen the limitations of the SIS graphics driver criticised ...
This is written and maintained by one guy with NO HELP from SIS. He has reverse engineered the whole driver.
The difference is after he did it he shares it....thats what opensource is.
Not only will it be used in Linux but also in BSD and other opensource OS's.
Windows driver wrappers are debateable, now Im not perfect and I intend to try linuxant but overall its a bad thing becuase maufacturers will feel they don't need to write drivers for Linux.
When you buy hardware you pay at least in part for the utilities and software, like nero or photoshop or whatever comes with your hardware.
Even in the best case your paying over the odds for hardware you will only get partial functionality of becuase the accompanying software is usually needed to exploit the device fully.
Noobies are particuarly suceptible to this becuase they have pre-existing hardware, old hands ONLY buy linux compatible hardware so don't have the same frustrations....
On forums, if you go to one and they are unpleasant then don't stop there. Another mistake is posting noobie questions in an experts forum, noobies do this becuase they feel they will get better advice from an expert than from someone reading the noobie forum.
Its unlikely to be the case. Some 'experts' are not people people and stick to the experts but the majority also look through the noobie forums consciencously. Good forums are open and the experts usually spend more time looking to help people than on expert tasks. There are some no-no's like someone posting knoppix questions at debian developer lists is likely to be told to $$$$-off wheras the same question on the help forum would likely get help or even redirection here.
I personally 'support' Mandrake because I started out doing it and I help lots of people, but I don't personally use it anymore. I kinda outgrew it, the unofficial international support board also has many other old hands who don't use it anymore either but still help people and some keep multiple installations JUST to help people!!!!
"I didn't know what to do when I tried Slack and it said "pppoeconf" was an invalid command. Turns out the equivalent on Slack is "adsl-setup". "
Well adsl-setup is the proper command, its the one by rp-pppoe but pppoeconf is a 'wrapper' around the command.
I realise this is confusing but it helps to realise that almost everything in linux is a wrapper for something else becuase code is reused.
In fact rp-pppoe is just a wrapper for using ppp authentification over pppoe.
K3B is a good example.... its a 'front end' to lots of other programs like cdrecord etc. all it is is an interface that passed the right parameters to the right program.
Windows isn't like this.....
nero is written from the ground up becuase there is no code to share, its a monlithic programme.
The same can be said for GRIP, the audio ripper. It uses the common components and really is just a front end to different extractors and/or front ends.
Again its confusing, if you recompile say GRIP for K7 you might think it would run faster. But this isn't the case, the user interface is all you will recompile, if you want it faster then recompile lame or whatever mp3 ripper you wanna use it with!!!
All in all The questions coming to linux from windows are not the same as coming from linux TO windows. This can be a cause of a little friction and misunderstanding when noobies suggest linux should be MORE like windows.