[Wylug-discuss] Trying to use Linux at home.

Thu Jun 26 11:06:32 BST 2008

Thank you for the reply, really useful. I'm tempted to try again, but I'd
need to be assured
That I could get the following issues definitely sorted.

1.   System fonts. The Ubuntu fonts were horrible on my 14" LCD screen. Its
such a shame, because if you do not like
Reading stuff on the screen you do not feel inclined to use it. 
2.   Installing a decent Email program such as Evolution. Without tearing my
hair out.........
3.	Upgrading the Firefox Beta to Firefox 3 final
4.	Get flash to install easily, no loss of hair.
5.	Is there a better Office Suite than Open Office?
6.    Getting the Linksys Wireless card to work.
7.    Getting Java to work so I can use logmein.
8.	Is there an equivalent to Picasa? I have loads of photos and I like
Picasa which links in with Flickr.
9.	Is there a way to get a desktop sidebar, preferably google gadgets?

I'm not trying to knock Linux, I'm just trying to explain why its not as
widely used as it should be.

Thanks

N.G. Moulsdale FCA 
Group Finance  & IT Director 
Ebi Manufacturing Co Ltd 
Sandhill House 
82 Meanwood Road 
Leeds LS7 2RE 
United Kingdom 
*        44-(0)113-243-2448 
Fax      44-(0)113-243-0504 
*  Nick at ebi.co.uk 

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-----Original Message-----
From: wylug-discuss-bounces at wylug.org.uk
[mailto:wylug-discuss-bounces at wylug.org.uk] On Behalf Of Andy Coulson
Sent: 26 June 2008 10:28
To: wylug-discuss at wylug.org.uk
Subject: Re: [Wylug-discuss] Trying to use Linux at home.

Nick,

Sorry to hear about your trials and tribulations.  I moved to Ubuntu Linux
about 18 months ago and whilst this has not always gone smoothly I am now a
total convert to Linux and get hugely frustrated whenever I have to
"downgrade" :-) to using Windows. 

Nick Moulsdale wrote:
> Ubuntu Hardy Heron installed well, but the system fonts were horrible, 
> I could not upgrade the Firefox  3 beta to final, I could not get 
> Flash to install, in fact program install was a nightmare. In fairness 
> it was reasonably responsive, never recognised my Linksys wireless 
> card, but could run out of the box and connect to the internet.
The only problem (now solved) I have had with Hardy has been a problem
getting networked printers working.  The turnaround on the fix was rapid
(around 2 weeks) versus similar experiences i have had with windows
problems.  Also the support from the Ubuntu forums and Launchpad team has
been fantastic.  Eventually I tracked the final part of the problem down to
my own inexperience, again with friendly, flame free and non judgemental
support from another forum.  I am running Flash, Firefox is up to v3 and
running a live distro on my laptop picks up my unbranded wireless card
straightaway and it works.
> I'd love to have written that Linux Desktop has come of age. But it 
> hasn't.
>  
> Its too hard to install programs, it reveals its complex nature if 
> anything goes wrong. Yes I could have joined umpteen user groups, BUT 
> I DID NOT NEED TO DO THAT TO INSTALL WINDOWS XP PRO SP2.
I disagree - provided programs are in the repositories, and this has
improved enormously in the last 18months, installing software is, IMHO,
better than windows.  I agree that once you come out of that environment and
maybe need to install from tarballs things get more awkward.

User groups are one of the strengths of Linux too.  If I have a problem
generally I can find a solution within a relatively short time, something I
could never do with windows, often being fobbed off with "you'll have to
wait for the next release/upgrade".  Community support works and is a
massive asset. 
> So, yes Linux is great for servers if you really know what you are 
> doing, but otherwise, its not plug and play, its not even plug and pray.
Again Linux is not perfect, but plug and play has come in leaps and bounds
recently.  I run  Win XP and Linux boxes at home and I think that (based on
Ubuntu Hardy) in Linux is at least as good.  The system is more robust and
you can often get a system up and (usefully) running in a degraded form that
allows you to workaround a problem whilst you fix it.  What's more once you
get your head around a number of concepts, Linux provides so much useful
information in log files that you can generally make a better stab at
diagnosing problems (or at least find someone else who understands the
strange gobbledygook in those files at a user group or support site).

It can be a difficult transition to make and there is lots to learn, but the
effort is well worth while.  Don't give up on us yet Nick...

Good Luck

Andy
--
*Andy Coulson*
Ryburn ImageWorks
Email: andy at ryburnimageworks.co.uk <mailto:andy at ryburnimageworks.co.uk>
* www.ryburnimageworks.co.uk <http:%5C%5Cwww.ryburnimageworks.co.uk>

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