What do you mean: even with windows? I've never had any so
frustrating problems with Linux as I experience whenever I
venture into the dark kingdom.

Hardware incompatibilities, lacking drivers, blue-screens,
unusable software and document formats ...

:D


Cheers,
Tink

I am actually from New Zealand. Born and bread here. I am sorry to all u who got fed up with this post. I agree that It was rude, silly and darn rite stupid not to use punctuation marks. I know my spelling can be off at times to. remember here in "New Zealand" we have different spelling for words than in American. it is more similar to British.

Anyway i was so Hot and Bothered about things I was not thinking straight. and rushed my words and got into this mess.

My main point is that I would really like to use Linux. I am sick of the fact that Microsoft tries there best to force u to use their products. Sometimes I want to use open-source, free-ware/share-ware versions of program that Microsoft produce. E.G. I use Mozilla Firefox on xp, I find that allot more useful than explorer, when I try to access certain Microsoft websites like their update site. I am forced to use explorer. as Mozilla goes to another page with the xp config for update info.

PS
I just cant get my head around Linux, with all the unpacking and setting up required. Windows automatically installs and sets up anything u need easy as. i understand Lunux is A faster better and more user friendly system overall. I know u can even get versions that will run on an old 800Mhz comp and give better performance that Vista. also with the added advantage of live CDs this is a bonus.

Microsoft Has produced a live CD (BART XP A free sys) still not as goo as linux. see http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/#licensing for more info.

I am waiting for a copy of "Linux Xp" to see if it will help me make the jump to linux. does anyone know anything about this.

There is nothing in Windows that is even close to the modern Linux package manager--you can install most or all of the SW you need with out ever unpacking, compiling, etc. Further, Linux typically comes with most or all of the required drivers. The last time I did a Windows install, I had to separately install many different drivers.

The point is that--on average-- a Linux system is EASIER to set up than Windows. What can make it **initially** harder is that people are more used to Windows and assume that they will use the same methods.

Linux XP would not be on my list of choices. Look at http://distrowatch.com and pick something in the top 10 on their "hit list"

Kia Ora! :}

That's not off, that's correct, matey ;D

No one ever found out why the yanks didn't adhere to
the decision to keep English as their national language.



Haere Ra,
Tink

Hi Mickey,
just wanted to point something out for you, incase I am understanding you correctly but you're missing something (and you may have already looked into this, I don't know):

There are several things around, have been for a while, which allow you to update Windows using FIrefox. One is the 'Genuine advantage Plugin' which takes care of the verification process to make sure your copy is genuine. Another is the Firefox Plugin which allows the WinXP update site to scan your computer just like MS-Update Site does, and than lets you download ans install any available updates from THERE (this other site) rather than going through the rubbish of using Explorer + MS-Update.

You should have little trouble locating info on the plugins AND the Firefox-Windows-Update site, using google. If I still used Windows I would have the links and names for you, but I haven't used Win in about 10 months now and no longer have the exact info.
Hope this helps you

Agreed. Is it still a subscription based OS? Where you have to renew the license 1x a year or something or it pretty much wont do anything anymore? Plus, Linux-XP is based on RH..

::shutters::

Something interesting I found here on LQ.

http://www.linuxquestions.org/review...hp?product=687

You can search for distribution reviews here..

http://www.linuxquestions.org/reviews/

Best wishes

IGF

Might try opensuse. If you have a decently powerful computer it might be up your alley.

Just read the content

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...8/#post2942088

"Born and bread here." Shouldn't that be 'Born and breaded here'? I mean 'rite hear' lol

Most people who talk about how easy Windows is have never installed it. It can be quite difficult to get hardware working which is not supported out-of-the-box. Some times you have to 'ram home' drivers and .inf files into invisible directories, etc

I would recommand you Debian Stable :
everything works very well just from apt-get install
(no bugs as in Ubuntu)

First off, I am a total neewb. I started using computers 2 years ago. Since then I have learned XP pro, Vista Business, and now Ubuntu 7.10 and Linux Mint Celena 3.1/Daryna 4.0 beta.

I recommend Mint if you have wirless probs. Why? Because their is a program called windows wireless drivers that is ready to use out the box with Mint but has to be installed thru synaptic in ubuntu. That requires a connection. For me, ubuntu recognized my onboard wireless straight away. But I have an old desktop that I have cobbled together. It is in my office/workshop and needs to be connected wirelessly. For that I have a wpn-111 usb antenna. Apparently the bane of many users.

This is what I did. I inserted the cd into tower. ( I am in Mint, by the way.) When cd shows on screen, a box opens showing the content. In the left corner of the content box is the cd icon and id. Drag that to the desktop. The desktop will automatically read the contents and download them to a folder on the desktop.

Open windows wireless driver located as last entry in administration. Open folder of cd. In the contents is an .inf file. You may have to choose between a couple of such files, but don't panic. Just go thru the steps till the right one is found.

Click add new driver on the wwd box. Drag and drop the .inf file onto the wwd box. Make sure usb is already plugged in. If it is and you have the right file then it should show the driver and say yes to the hardware being present.

Wait for it. The network manager should pick it up. If wifi is encrypted you will be prompted for passcode. Next you will be asked to set up key ring. That will protect passcode. You will be instead prompted for key ring pass at start up. If signal is unencrypted, no prompts will happen.

After you have your wifi ( the above steps can be used for pc cards also) I strongly suggest using automatix to install some usefull packages. It is a standard offer in celena 3.1/linux mint.

One other item. If you see your fonts get small, check the synaptic. Type in fonts. Scroll thru list to msttfonts. If they are installed, mark for complete removal and uninstall. A quick restart will restore normal font size. The use of illegal nvidia driver for compiz will also shrink fonts. Your call, that one.

Hope this will help you. It can be frustrating. But my sony vgn-fs980 is running much sweeter. Still learning. Happy trails.

how is the nvidia driver illegal?. I suppose you mean proprietary

Hmmm, never had to do any of that with Windows, and I've done way too many installs (desktop/server, all versions). About as tricky as it ever gets is pushing a function key during install, so you can have it recognize a driver on disk!