moRe: [Scottish] time spent on Linux stuff...

[Ben Thorp]

> J. R. Seago wrote:
> Why Ubuntu? If you're going to  use Debian, why not install Debian, and 
not 
> an imitation? If you're going to use an imitation, no matter how good, 
then 
> why not Knoppix? 

This is one of my pet hates, so sorry if this comes out harsh. The answer 
to a newcomers question is _never_ "why don't you try this distro 
instead". Solve the problem _first_ and then (and only in a small number 
of circumstances) it may be worth making a suggestion for an alternative. 
Secondly, Ubuntu is not an "imitation" - it is based on a Debian core, but 
a huge amount of work has gone into making it a top quality, 
user-friendly, desktop distribution. Lastly, Knoppix (IMHO) is designed 
primarily as a livecd distribution and not for installation as your main 
distribution - I know you _can_, but I still don't think it's the best 
idea in the long term.

> babaguy wrote:
> I realise that newly downloaded applications *ought* to simply open by 
clicking 
> on the icon, but the trouble is there *are* (mostly) no discernable 
icons, and 
> when there *is* an icon on the desktop, there's nothing in it!

Ubuntu is not a fan of icons on the desktop, hence the reason that there 
are none when you install. Applications should be found in the menus. If 
you find that an application _has_ put an icon on the desktop, then it's 
most likely not one that's come from the official repositories - thus see 
my previous comments on this.

mrben





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