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

[AnneWilson]

On Thursday 26 June 2008 11:06:23 Nick Moulsdale wrote:
> 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.
>
Nick, I came late to this thread.  You didn't learn Windows in a day, and 
there's certainly a learning curve to Linux, but there are *very* few things 
that can't be done in Linux, with a little help from people who have been 
there longer.

I can't speak for anything Ubuntu, but some of the things, such as Firefox 
upgrade, just happen automatically if you use the distro's update system.  
For other things, ask a specific question, with as much detail as possible 
about what you want to see, and it's highly likely that someone can help.

I'm not an Evolution user, but you started by saying that KMail is awful, yet 
you didn't give any hint as to what you disliked.  I've used KMail for years, 
and it's highly configurable, so I could certainly have told you whether what 
you want to see is obtainable, and if so, how to do it.

Don't give up without trying what can be achieved with the help of mailing 
lists.  I'd suggest that you should use both a local one such as this and one 
for the distro of your choice.  It's time well spent.

Anne