Basic features of linux distros do not work for me. I am a linuxnewbie for sure. However, printing is the one nonfunction with all I've tried. suSe 9&10, Mandriva 9.2-10.1+live, Ubuntu 6.03&6.1, Xandros 3.0, Mepis several, PCLinux, Knoppix etc. Used dual boots, from CD and VMWare.

Also, various distros fail sound and/or CD burning, networking and video display. (I have 3 computers, each has nvidia graphics. I also have a Compaq 1600 server running 2000S. I use SCSI 2& 3, IDE and recently SATA3. I began w/DOS 1.2.

I have a SCSI1 DDS3 tape drive. No distro seems to have any intention of operating such a device.

Is it just me? My current impression is that I must be a linux programmer in order to use any linux. If the main efforts of the developers is linux that works out of the box, then I wonder why those who are promoters dwell upon the beautiful screen shots of new releases?

Somebody guide me or give me a hint. I'm trying to get a linux desktop going without $1500 of training on command line whiz stuff. Can it be done? P.S. I have several Linux books.

Update to thread::
Thanks to all for the responses. I had Mandriva 10.1 and Ubuntu 6.1 which were recommended. So, I first retried Mandriva on my newly updated equipment. Dual booting w/XP ProSP2.
I got an early kernel panic. The install was so out of reach I did not imagine reasonable recovery via one-question-at-a-time. Could not even log on. Next I installed "Edgy Eft". Chose LILO graphical boot loader at the finish. Using express install I ended up with no XP or Edgy. Why? Well
edgy ignored the XP SCSI drive and chose my empty third SCSI as sda?? (I did think the install would detect the active system drive). With tools and my wits I did recover the XP C: drive intact with its 4 partitions. Now, if I could just recover from the experience. I check the net every day for info on the "linux arena". Ready? By what definition? Having googled my way out of this experience I did find a basis for continued hope; but it relies on Windows being present and in control. And, yes, MS doe not care much for their customers. Never did never will. MS tells me I am a pirate for reinstalling XP on new HDs which I get as gifts. I truly hope some will see that my words are a plea and not a rant. At 72 I am too old to do a distro myself. http://linuxquestions.cachefly.net/i...s_lq/icon7.gif
Smilehttp://linuxquestions.cachefly.net/images/questions/images/icons_lq/icon12.gif
Wink I think Linux overall is like Swiss cheese. The solid part is quite good, but the holes are - well- holes.

ASUS A8N-E NForce4 MoBo
Athlon64 Skt 939 AMD3000
512 Kingston PC3200 RAM
Onboard Audio & LAN. No RAID
HD= Quantum 73G, Fujitsu 36G and Compaq 18G
on Adaptec 29160 w/ARCHIVE Python 04106-xxx DDS3
Tape Drive. Various IDEs in trays & 250ZIP.
USB= Logitech Kbd, MS Intellipoint Trackball,
Canon i475D inkjet, and Epson 4180 scanner.
Chaintech Nvidia Geforce 7300 GS. HP L1940 flat screen.
XP Pro SP2 OEM Booting from Quantum.

I'd say first, make a decision on a distro and run with it. Next, post individual questions about the certain hardware your having issues with. You definitely don't need to be a programmer to use linux, but I also believe that most books can only get you to a novice level.

I have started recommending Suse 10 or Ubuntu to those searching. I've installed both in environments with minimal manual editting of configurations.

All the hardware you've listed should work. The SATA would be the most likely to cause problems, but I think most SATA chipsets have kernel drivers now.

There are MANY distributions that work right out of the box---for MOST common applications. This does not mean that there are not quirks.

Generally, "distro-hopping" is not going to be a very satisfying way of solving problems.

I would advise you to install Kubuntu or Mepis 6 and then come back with specific problems--one at a time.

And--yes--printing can be annoying, but it does work once set up.

If you want everything to work just like Windows, then you might want to use---well---Windows.

I'm generally in agreement with musicman_ace's statements. However, with Ubuntu's decision to incorporate proprietary drivers, I no longer recommend them.

If you are using newer hardware, like SATA, you need a distribution that is leading edge in hardware support (particularly the newer kernels). Fedora Core would be a good choice.

As far as the tape drive, most drives respond to the mt/scsitape and mtx commands.

Moved: This thread is more suitable in Linux - Newbie and has been moved accordingly to help your thread/question get the exposure it deserves.

--jeremy

I don't understand this... The purpose of any OS is to deliver functionality to the end user. It is not the fault of the Linux/OpenSource community that some vendors publish proprietary drivers. Should we be advocating that users of such hardware abandon it as a matter of principle?? I think not.

The way to promote Linux and OpenSource is to make it work for people, not to slow them down. As a user, I am totally impressed that Kubuntu installed on my laptop and EVERYTHING worked. Why do I care if some proprietary driver was part of this?

If I want to stand on principle and not use the widget that needed the prop. driver, then that is my choice. But please don't cut me off from the options.

No, the user is free to do as they wish.

The distributor is bound by the licences. This particular discussion in regards to Ubuntu's choice has received very wide attention, and can be easily found on major discussion sites, so there's no point in repeating it.

OK--good--thanks for the links.
IMHO--Ubuntu is doing the right thing. I will continue to advocate *ubuntu variants as a top choice for new users. YMMV