Hi,

I'm completely new to Linux. I've been with MSWin all along. Some months back, I was introduced to Opensource and Linux. I've been slowly transitioning to opensource ever after. As a final step, I'd downloaded a Live CD of Ubuntu. Now, I'm having trouble getting my modem to work. What's amazing is no matter how much I google the problem, all I get are pages and pages of instructions on how to get the darned thing done through command line. Isn't there a simpler way to do it through the GUI? My modem is branded Beetel 100CX. On my windows system, the software reads Conexant AccessRunner.

I really am disillusioned. Is it nowhere possible to get linux working without reading stacks of geeky books? How is linux better? On my copy of XP, all I needed to do was connect the USB cable, the system detected it, and installed all the necessary drivers. Isn't there are similar process for Ubuntu? How on earth is Linux better than XP otherwise? As I see it, for a successful transition, all one needs is the ability to get connected to the net - thereafter, everything can be searched and figured out. I suppose it's back to XP for me unless I get a truly dumbed down walk-through for all this.

Truly Disillusioned,

Rishi

Firstly, don't cross post please, it's against the rules.

Secondly, how do you expect to use Linux without reading stuff? As you say, you've been using Windows forever, so there's pretty much no way you're going to know how to get things done in Linux without reading. If you're not going to take the time to read up on how to do things, then perhaps Linux isn't for you. Linux isn't Windows!

What's wrong with the command line anyway?

Rajarshi,

Have you actually installed a full version linux? A live CD is only a temporary measure so that you can look at how the whole thing works and check out your hardware.

If you are going to install a full version, then what I would do is go to your nearest large bookstore (one that has an entire computing section) & buy a full version of linux (on DVD & CD) that comes with a 1000 page book that explains a lot of stuff about linux. I have Fedora 5 by Chris Negus ($77 AUD) & Fedora Core 3 Unleashed by Bill Ball & Hoyt Duff. Then read some of it & things will make sense.

I have Fedora Core 5 because it seems to be the most popular & easy to use - thats me though, other people might have other ideas.

I wouldn't download the whole distribution (that must take forever - even with a fast connection) unless you can't get it from any where else.

If you do an installation I think that most of your problems will be solved during the installation.

Linux does have plug'n'play & will detect lots of different devices if they are turned on during installation.

Any way welcome to LQ & good luck with your linux career - any questions just ask

Look, as the man said, live CDs are just a way to check out the distro. Mostly for people who don,t know linux and to reduce thier fear factor. they are never 100% compleate after all its only 700mb cd.

if this is your main problem and you can deal and otherwise like it...install it. That problem will most likely dissapear.

Point-in-fact; I just got DSL. in windows I had to run the setup cd, downloads ? after ? about 40mins later im up. in linux(SuSE 10.1) i went to dsl in yast( the config program for suse) put in my address, password and what card to use and it was done. @ 5 mins total.