Thread: Reasons to use Linux

Originally Posted by Replicon

Really, think of it not in terms of someone who's had windows for years and might want to switch, but in terms of someone who's never had a computer and wants to start learning. It's not that much harder to get started with Ubuntu than it is to get started with Windows.

Sorry, but to get my PPPoE working in Ubuntu, I had to use a freaking console application I found out about after searching the help. What, is this Windows 3.11? Why is there a graphics editor but no internet setup? The text-based manuals are just ridiculously uncomfortable, the file system is retarded. To optimize the fonts, I had to edit a bunch of config files, use commands and shit and they still looked like garbage. I can't use half of my mouse because there are no drivers (That is, unless I edit a bunch of config files again) and I still can't configure my scroll wheel. Getting the graphics card drivers to work wasn't exactly a walk in the park. The list goes on.

Other than running the latest windows-based games, you're not missing out on much with linux, and frankly, the price is right

Yeah, "right" is the correct word. Because anything other than free would be too much.

Well I've definately had my fair share of Linux fun with three prior attempts over the years at using Linux as my daily desktop took quite a toll on me. That was before I discovered Ubuntu. I love it, Unbuntu takes Linux where I've long hoped it would go. It's easy to use, reliable, dependable with great applications as well. I could even go as far as to say that it has some elegance to it. I guess that's a strange concept to think about in regards to a Linux OS. For me it's not an exageration at all.

I believe that the future of software in an open-source dominated world is going to be significantly different than the world dominated by Microsoft "windoze". One things for certain is that software will increasingly compete on ease of use in the total software experience more than on features. The future will be more about being simple than about any other dimension. (just an opinion guys)

Originally Posted by Serkat

Sorry, but to get my PPPoE working in Ubuntu, I had to use a freaking console application I found out about after searching the help. What, is this Windows 3.11? Why is there a graphics editor but no internet setup? The text-based manuals are just ridiculously uncomfortable, the file system is retarded. To optimize the fonts, I had to edit a bunch of config files, use commands and shit and they still looked like garbage. I can't use half of my mouse because there are no drivers (That is, unless I edit a bunch of config files again) and I still can't configure my scroll wheel. Getting the graphics card drivers to work wasn't exactly a walk in the park. The list goes on.

Yeah, "right" is the correct word. Because anything other than free would be too much.

I don't know why, but for some reason, you sound... offended... that I chose to switch to Linux for reasons I think are very reasonable. I guess the PPPoE thing left you pretty scarred. I remember having a lot of trouble setting up PPPoE a while back, but I was on Debian, and it was about 6 years ago. And even ignoring the OS support, most modern DSL companies provide modems that give you a plain DHCP so you don't have to bother with that crap. The silly days of having to install software provided by the ISP have been over for a while. Except maybe for AOL users, but I don't care about them.

When I got my laptop, I turned it on for the first time, it asked me to create a new account (through *gasp* GUI), and then everything was set up. I saw firefox and thunderbird at the top of the screen, and that was it. It was done. Support was already there for media, and everything worked out of the box. That satisfies 99% of usecases right there.

Granted I'm a techie, so I went beyond that and did all sorts of configuration and scripting, but all of that is optional.


Though to Windows' credit (and I'm not sure if this is still true in Vista), in XP, you can change your window manager, so instead of Exploder, you can use something different. I had Fluxbox for a while. It was ugly though, cause the windows still load with the default skin.

I'm not really offended, just pissed because I'd actually really like to use Linux for a number of reasons but I can't because the fonts look horrible etc. I'm pretty adept at computer stuff, but I just feel I'd rather club a seal than worry about the look of fonts on my OS. Fonts should be basic and look super awesome out of the box.

I could have sworn I just installed some fonts package (ms-font-somethingorother) from the repos and it just worked.

Originally Posted by Replicon

I could have sworn I just installed some fonts package (ms-font-somethingorother) from the repos and it just worked.

msttcorefonts

Microsoft TrueType core fonts
most often used with programs running under wine, so the fonts match up with native windows

but, of course, you can use them outside of wine

One thing,
make sure you've selected the right rendering mode for your monitor

personally, I think the default gnome fonts are lovely
but it's purely personal preference
you can always change them if you don't like them

Originally Posted by Replicon

I could have sworn I just installed some fonts package (ms-font-somethingorother) from the repos and it just worked.

Well, it didn't, it was all blurry and shit, and Google was out of shape.

Originally Posted by Serkat

Well, it didn't, it was all blurry and shit, and Google was out of shape.

well, sounds like a resolution or refresh rate issue

nought to do with fonts...

Well, I donlt know if this is relevant, but I;ve been wanting to upload Linux as soon as my new (read: rebuilt from more cannibalized chunks than Frankenstein;s monster) computer is up and running. It seems interesting, and this thread has given me several more reasons to try it.