Again with the backpeddeling doubletalk?
You are free to express your opinion as I am free to point out that you change it in answer to other posts.

Want a real challenge?
Take a while to mull it over and post a non "I was frustrated" version of your Linux experience. What didn't you like about the WGA? Why do you "hate Microsoft"? You have to admit that is not too specific. Did your friend help you out with Linux or leave you cold? Did you not ask for help and set out on your own? Did you try any live CD/DVDs? Did you read any websites for further information? And what went so wrong that you suggested that no one ever try Linux when not only are there thousands of people reading this forum that use it but this forum itself is run on it.

If you want to make a serious post, go ahead, but stop with the painful backpeddeling.

Anyways...Peace be with you all. (Seriously, I did not intend to really anger anyone, just maybe debate...so sorry) I want out of this, too many opinion police...giving me your wrong because you are X and Y. I suppose I am going to have to change my user name because some people are angry with me and may not help me. Hind site is 20/20. Not expressing a opinion again (or maybe it was too strong...i dunno), just ask for help.

I am not back peddling. Sure I expressed frustration in my post, welcome to user support. I am sure Microsoft has to deal with much worse. I don't think I was being that bad, or even bad.

Anyways this is what I am trying to do, I am trying to "steer people clear" (if you must use these word combinations to understand what i am doing), who expect windows equivalent functionality from Ubuntu. People who are impatient, or don't currently have the time to work through all the problems i have described. People in general have every reason to use Linux...if they have the patients, knowledge and most importantly time. I do apologizes for my tone and wording, but not my opinion and my belief that some people may find it helpful.

Welcome to LQ primectown. I find your thread quite interesting although to be honest your first post is more like a pointless rant instead of something that stimulates discussion and debate. I also can't figure out why you didn't join LQ to ask for technical help when you were experiencing problems, but now that you have joined, your first post is a rant. Usually when you do this, most people assume that you are just sour about your bad experiences and are looking to start a flame war.

Anyway, there are a few things I would like to comment on. Most of the problems you mention seem to be caused by your lack of experience with Linux. As a new user of any OS, you will face many problems and unexpected hurdles and the best thing to do is to ask for help from fellow users of that particular OS. There are many Linux forums out there, most with very helpful members who can usually solve most problems quite quickly. You can also use IRC to look for help or if you have the money, get paid support form the developers of your Linux distro.

Another thing I noticed is that you seem to be struggling with Ubuntu and then generalise that all Linux distros are no good. Ubuntu is just one Linux distro, so if you have problems with Ubuntu, try another distro until you find one that works well with your hardware or one that you are comfortable using. If you have problems with Linux drivers for your hardware, why don't you complain to the manufacturer so that they provide Linux drivers? Would Windows work well if the manufacturers did not supply drivers?

There are licensing and legal issues regarding multimedia apps, so many Linux distros do not ship with all multimedia stuff enabled (particularly those based in the USA or sold in the USA). Its fairly easy to enable multimedia capabilities in most Linux distros (usually with just a few clicks or commands). If this is hard for you to do, then you can just buy a distro with full multimedia capabilities e.g. Mandriva, Linspire and Xandros.

Most of your problems seem like they can be esily resolved, so ask some technical questions, so that people help you out.

Primectown,

Your posts come off as astroturfing... (i.e.: An M$ shill posting #@%^# about Linux to discredit it among those contemplating switching).

The bottom line is that many of us here have been using computers for decades... Myself since 1974... (yes that is Nineteen Seventy-four, BEFORE the personal computer,... and I'm not much older than that). I've used SIM and KIM single-board computers, Mainframes, Timex Sinclair 16K computers, Commodore 64s, Apple IIs, Macintoshes, IBM PCs (the original ones, no hard drives), and modern PC clones.

In my experience, Windoze is the worst, bug-ridden, poorly written, hard to manage excuse for an operating system that I've ever seen. It was several years before it was even up to par with PC GEOS (which was very under-sold and under-rated). Driver issues abound. One update breaks everything. Etc. Etc. Etc.

The only times I have had problems with Linux, I had GREATER problems doing the same thing in Windoze... I now have wireless working in Linux, flawlessly... Now it just plain works... I had great problems getting my girlfriend's machine to do the same.

I don't have to reboot when I install software in Linux. I can re-install my OS (as an exercise, I've never had to do it because it failed), or upgrade it, without losing my user data. I've even switched distros of Linux without losing my user settings... You can't do that in Windoze.

I've opened virus files intentionally, to examine them. Windoze viruses,... they didn't ruin my system, and didn't even run.

If you are truly interested in abandoning Windoze, the people here will help you accomplish that. Just about everything you want to do with a PC, you can do with Linux... you just may not be able to do it with the program you think you want to use. You may have to learn new ways of doing things. Linux is not windoze. You may have to use a different printing system than you originally wanted... or need to tweak your system, or even switch distros... When you use the Linux alternative for that application, you'll probably find that you appreciate it more,... when you use a different printing system, you'll find that one works better for you,... when you switch distros, you'll find it handles your needs more the way you wanted. You will get more control over your hardware, your data, and your sanity. All you need to do is post your problem without losing your cool... Or making unsubstantiated blanket statements...

OK???

As I mentioned in my first post there is a good article to read called Linux is not Windows. No one should ever be under the impression that switching to Linux means they have Windows for free. All Linux users are not blowing smoke and twisting arms to make everyone use Linux.
Be aware we do get real trolls here. You really do not need to change your name if you change your tone in further posts. I will probably not be much help but I am looking at your printer post.

You might also try getting your feet wet with Linux by installing on a desktop rather than a laptop, if you have one available. Some laptops have proprietary hardware that has been obsoleted by the time you buy the silly thing. Detecting this hardware and finding drivers for it can get difficult in Windows too, not just Linux. And if the manufacturer has not released specs on the stuff or created Linux drivers for it, you're going to have to get your hands dirty making it work. You have a better shot at finding "standard" hardware on a desktop than on a laptop, and thus a more pleasant "first Linux" experience.

Please elaborate. How do you expect people to help you if you throw a tantrum and then say "it doesn't work." Linux does work, and I'd even go as far as saying that it does most things better than Windows. For starters, it has more drivers than Windows.
The problem you have with Linux is that you don't know how to use it. If you did, you wouldn't be complaining. Pure & simple.
But they usually are. And then when they find out that Linux is not a free Windows clone they'll usually post a lengthy and pointless rant on LinuxQuestions.org, just like this guy did.

Ok, well "windoze" xp as you call it detected everything on my machine right away, I upgraded the video drivers but thats it. But I am sure it has all the problems you say it does(not being sarcastic), my knowledge is not as deep as yours. Spyware has not been a big problem for me in the past, spy bot and sygate took care of that. But in time viruses will come for Linux, take it as a compliment, it will mean Linux has become much more popular and has caught the eye of crackers.

I don't think my statements were blanket statements because, one...people know that this is my problem (but will maybe still reasonably worried, because of the amount of problems), two my friend with an ASUS laptop(mine being a sager) has had very similar problems(I will admit this is a small sample size, but still I believe significant). They are not unsubstantiated, simply because the problems I have experience and described are real, thus substantial. But other than that I agree with thee

Hmmmm. I consider myself an "average" computer user. I'm not a programmer or IT person, I'm a truck driver. I use Linux (Slackware) and everything on my laptop and my PC works just fine. But then, I did actually take the time to LEARN how Linux works.

Funny thing. I've found it far easier to get a driver or piece of hardware working in Linux than I could in Windows. More often than not the driver actually came with the distro, I didn't have to go hunting around on the net to locate a driver, download it, install it, reboot the box, and hope it worked.

Most problems could be easily fixed in just a few short minutes (sometimes seconds).

I use wireless hotspots all over the country and have yet to have a single issue getting it to work. Speeds are excellent and connectivity is excellent.

I wonder what the difference between my experience and the OP's could be? hmmmmmm

I have ubuntu on my desktop, works well. My desktop is older, I will point out that it did detect my asus motherboard without a hitch, unlike windows.

"I wonder what the difference between my experience and the OP's could be? hmmmmmm"

different wireless nic maybe...or did you mean dumb a$$?

Anyways, I am but one man. I grow tired and have a long day tommarrow. Good night, don't get so personal, I haven't insulted any of you...accept the guy I virtual farted at...but he had it coming.

Let me teach you something about Linux, my friend.

Your little prediction there will not come true. Why? Because Linux has a little feature which is not present in Windows. We call it "security."

A truly self-propagating Linux virus will never exist. Do you honestly believe that Symantec, McAffee and all the AV houses aren't trying to get one out? Despite having 15 years' worth of collected knowledge about virus heuristics, none of them can write one which works under Linux. None of them. If they can't do it, who can?

Linux is so far ahead of Windows in this area, that it's just not funny.

cool it down people. this forum won't get us anywhere good. perhaps you can just let this topic go ok. we have different opinions anyway and besides the linux community doesn't force people. they are just there to help if they are asked for help.

for primectown, i guess if you're up to buy a windows os, why not just dual-boot your system. even just 4gb of disk space for linux won't be bad.

"Let me teach you something about Linux, my friend.

Your little prediction there will not come true. Why? Because Linux has a little feature which is not present in Windows. We call it "security."

A truly self-propagating Linux virus will never exist. Do you honestly believe that Symantec, McAffee and all the AV houses aren't trying to get one out? Despite having 15 years' worth of collected knowledge about virus heuristics, none of them can write one which works under Linux. None of them. If they can't do it, who can?"

There are so many things wrong with this, I have been accused of sweeping statements...this has to be one for sure. Not only this, all of your arguments are based on induction not deduction, and are even conspiracyish (that is not to say it isn't true...but really). Also dude you really underestimate mankind, all it would take to crack Linux is time and will. So far only one is lacking, because Linux is still only a small part of the market (not on servers though i will agree). But lets just say it was as big as Microsoft...people would go after it for user info and financial data. You must see this?