LinuxQuestions.org
Share your knowledge at the LQ Wiki.
Go Back   LinuxQuestions.org > Blogs > goumba
User Name
Password

Notices


Rate this Entry

People want their problem solved, not another distro.

Posted 02-17-2017 at 08:57 AM by goumba

I've really been trying hard not to post this. Really, but it gets harder each day.

One trend I've noticed growing on LQ lately.

Newbie posts their problem. "I can't get X working on distro Y."

A response from certain (many senior) users, "You don't want distro Y. You want to install distro Z. It's super fantabulous, lightweight, based on distro ZZ, and oh by the way nothing I have to say here solves your problem."

And it's happening more and more.

Newbie just installed a distro and encountered issues getting hardware or software working. What really makes you think they want to go through the trouble of installing yet another distro just to try and get problem resolved? What if it doesn't resolve their issue? More wasted time.

Ugh. Ok, rant over.
Posted in Uncategorized
Views 2959 Comments 5
« Prev     Main     Next »
Total Comments 5

Comments

  1. Old Comment
    YES!!!! This is -burried- here: (bold&font=4 on the NOT are mine)
    http://www.linuxquestions.org/linux/...linux_question
    Quote:
    Don't use that distro - use distro xyz instead.
    ... it does not matter how ill informed you believe the users choice of distro is, if their choice is not directly appropriate to their problem do not suggest changing it. If you want to convince people which distro is best, there is a thread for you.
    An "exception"?: [you were 'here'! but no conclusion yet]
    http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...ml#post5670737

    p.s. I'll keep this in mind, when I'm tempted to 'illegally' say:
    "don't install linux!!: keep Win$$ undisturbed: use VBox!"
    Posted 02-18-2017 at 12:58 AM by Jjanel Jjanel is offline
    Updated 02-20-2017 at 02:31 AM by Jjanel
  2. Old Comment
    goumba,

    You say that “people want their problem solved, not another distro”.

    Often the problem can be solved using the existing distro but in other cases
    it may not be possible to do so, or it will be extremely difficult for a novice Linux user.

    In many cases the installed Linux distro may be totally unsuitable because:

    1. The user’s hardware is old and/or low-powered.

    2. There is a bug in that particular distro, but not in an alternative one.

    3. It has a relatively old kernel compared to another distro which uses the latest kernel.

    4. It is a FOSS distro and it is difficult or virtually impossible to add non-free firmware/software packages etc.

    5. A required driver may already be installed in an alternative distro and it may very difficult (e.g. lots of use of the command line) or impossible to add this driver to the existing distro.

    6. Last, but not least, a fresh installation of a more suitable distro takes a much shorter time than a Linux novice would take trying to deal with the complexities of the command line in the existing distro.

    Your suggestion is for people to keep their existing distro regardless of any other considerations and keep banging their heads against a brick wall.
    Posted 02-19-2017 at 09:06 AM by beachboy2 beachboy2 is offline
  3. Old Comment
    I agree with both goumba and beachboy2. I think each one has a point, though I lean slightly towards goumba.

    I think helping a poster solve a problem on the existing install should be the first goal, but sometimes you can tell that a poster is like a person who wants to pull a 19-foot (6 meter) trailer boat with a Kia Soul. The only answers there are, "Ditch the Soul, get a proper tow-vehicle; or forget about the boat."

    Just my two cents.
    Posted 02-20-2017 at 06:46 PM by frankbell frankbell is offline
  4. Old Comment
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by beachboy2 View Comment
    goumba,

    You say that “people want their problem solved, not another distro”.

    Often the problem can be solved using the existing distro but in other cases
    it may not be possible to do so, or it will be extremely difficult for a novice Linux user.

    In many cases the installed Linux distro may be totally unsuitable because:
    I will not disagree with you there. However it is occurring way too often that the reason the other distribution is being suggested for reasons other than directly addressing the OPs problem. While what you say is true, I'm addressing the replies that go like:

    Quote:
    OP: I can't install the firmware for my device on distribution X
    Reply: You don't want distribution X. It's based on Fedora. You want distribution Y based on Debian and uses a minimal desktop.
    Meanwhile the OP can obtain and install said firmware on their chosen distro with a little extra effort, rather than a whole new distro.

    As you see, no where in my example has the problem been addressed. Just stated "get a new distro" with other reasons stated. This is as likely to chase someone away as having to dive into the command line, AFAIC.
    Posted 02-25-2017 at 06:27 AM by goumba goumba is offline
    Updated 02-25-2017 at 06:29 AM by goumba
  5. Old Comment
    Quote:
    I will not disagree with you there. However it is occurring way too often that the reason the other distribution is being suggested for reasons other than directly addressing the OPs problem.
    I must agree with this statement. We all have our favorites. Sometimes persons suggest their favorites just because, not because the suggestion addresses the issue.
    Posted 02-25-2017 at 10:08 PM by frankbell frankbell is offline
 

  



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:50 AM.

Main Menu
Advertisement
Advertisement
My LQ
Write for LQ
LinuxQuestions.org is looking for people interested in writing Editorials, Articles, Reviews, and more. If you'd like to contribute content, let us know.
Main Menu
Syndicate
RSS1  Latest Threads
RSS1  LQ News
Twitter: @linuxquestions
Open Source Consulting | Domain Registration