Theres something funny about it. People posting "linux is not for me" on a linux forum.

If you could, please give me the output of this command:

aplay -l

Here you go:

I know that, and you know that. But it certainly doesn't stop 'em.

Not only that, but their posts usually also contain suggestions about what can be done to make Linux more appropriate for them. They think that they're giving "constructive criticism," but this is rarely the case.

Hi!

I made a half-hearted attempt to install Linux and gave up after the first five minutes. This, combined with my complete lack of technological knowledge, has made me an authority on open source software in general, and Linux in particular.

Please allow me to list the many problems I found that the whole OSS community somehow overlooked for the past 15 years...

</irritated sarcasm>

And I don't understand why this Linux is so user-unfriendly. I'm a bonafide, certified, super-mega-ultra-expert with Windows. I can click on any icon I see and something usually happens. With Linux you have to type commands to get anything to work. What Linux people need to understand is that Linux won't take over the desktop until any idiot can use it. </more irritated sarcasm>

Of course that assumes Linux-users care if Linux takes over the desktop and if Linux is made so any idiot can use it, only idiots will want to use it and current Linux users will find something else.

Speaking of icons, I've actually been surprised to find some of the new users in our tech lab trying out RH Linux. They are clicking on icons to do stuff that I had never tried before. I prefer command line. I never even tried the different icons that are set up by a default install.

I think you do have to be computer literate to use Linux, but to me that is a plus. If you want everything dumbed down to point and click get an apple. If you like frustration along with a point and click interface go with windows. JMHO

Well, I think I have said this before. When I built this rig I decided to use Linux. It's more stable, helps me to learn more and I could afford it a lot more too. I also wanted to learn and then share what I have learned with others.

If any idiot can run windoze, then why does so many have so much trouble with windoze? The last I heard there was over 80,000 viruses for windoze and something like a couple dozen for Linux with only one still being a threat, rootkit if I recall. Yup, windoze is great, if you write viruses and like to break into peoples boxes.

Ya'll that don't want to give Linux a chance can have your windoze. I have no need for it here.

Do people really believe that if Linux becomes more "user friendly" that troves of "any idiots" will be downloading and burning ISOs, making sure their BIOS is set to boot from CD-ROM and then installing and configuring their own operating systems?

These "any idiots" can't install Windows. Why would they install Linux?

If they want to use desktop Linux, they need to get it preinstalled. Sorry to burst your bubble.

Read more here:
http://www.psychocats.net/essays/linuxdesktopmyth

That's pretty much my point. Windoze is for people that have no clue what is going on with their computer and even worse, they don't want to know. I hate to say this but it's the same with driving cars. They can go get a drivers license and have no idea what happens under the hood of the car. Some don't know that when your oil light comes on that you better stop quick. They think they can drive 20 more miles then put some oil in it. Usually when the oil light comes on, it's already to late. Heck, most don't even know where the oil goes anyway. Stopping wouldn't do them any good anyhow.

People just want something that they think works. Windoze doesn't work very well but they don't know that. My wife before she met me didn't know Linux existed at all. She hated it at first but after all the crashes that she couldn't figure out why it was happening and me explaining it to her, she's warming up to Linux. Then she found out her school !requires! windoze. I did one of her papers on my Linux box and she turned it in. They didn't know the difference. Wonder why that is??

Linux ain't for everybody but I sure do like it. Let the idiots stay with winders. Gives the anti-virus companies something to do too.

and let microsoft's employee can survive!!

Linux being pre-loaded really would help out a ton, that's so true.

I tried (and stayed) with linux this year. Tried many distro's, wound up with slackware a few weeks in. It was an uphill battle, but I found these forums. I had no one to physically sit with me and help me out.

I think I was an intermediate/somewhat advanced windows user, and made the move. These forums, the help of those here got me through my learning curves; and continue to help out with the right answers in a few replies at the most. The community is so strong it's a blessing unto itself.

I venture to guess as gnu/linux distro's get a little more advanced and more intermediate user's move over; and spread the linux out to their friends and family the move to linux preloaded will be demanded more and we'll see linux more prevalant. Time will tell. Spreading the word, and loading up a few friends pc's for them is one of the best things we can all do.

I've helped out a few friends get up and running on slackware; and they truly love it. They only go into windows for printers or scanners that just dont work with linux becuase of lousy proprietary vendors. But they tell me, as I believe for me to, that once those printers, scanners die, they'll just buy hardware for linux first.


I've found if you just give them the pc with linux they are reall impressed, as I was my first time running mepis off of a live cd. Help your friends and familt move over

If you've ever worked with the public, then nothing is ever really a surprise since you are surprised daily how so many complete dumbasses can even somehow live to middle age.

I used to be a mechanic at a gas station when I was younger. It was amazing how many people were so incredibly stupid that they didn't know how to work a device as simple as a gas pump. I've kind of always felt, that if a person can even get a grasp of the basics, like knowing how to pump gas, check their oil and top it off, and check the tires, then they really shouldn't be driving. If a person is too stupid to figure out those very simple things, do we want them on the road driving where stupidity has more serious ramifications?

Also, even if Linux were somehow made where all you had to do was press a single button to install it, there is still plenty of idiots running Windows that would find a way a fumble with that. I would imagine that something like 99% (who knows the real statistic, but majority of the Windows world, including those that work in IT, are morons that think they know it all, but don't even know enough to realize they don't know jack) of all Windows users have never installed any sort of OS of any type in their life nor have any idea of how to (then of course you have the ones who do know how to install Windows and are somehow a computer expert). Maybe a small percentage of them would be willing to put forth the effort the try to figure out how to though. That's why the idea of Linux being any more user friendly attracting idiots to it, is kind of a silly idea. Most of the idiots don't really care about anything but pirating software and music, using email, burning CDs and/or DVDs, and surfing the web. Alot of them think that those things are the only thing that a computer is for. I don't think there is ever any worry of Linux being able to do those things in a manner that is more dumbed down than Windows. Even if Linux were to, there is still the sheepish mentality of such types that would still prevent them from having Linux on their desktop since some other idiot or advocate of MS told them that Windows is the best OS ever. Linux isn't exactly an OS that caters to people that don't want to do their own thinking. Windows is much more geared for the mindset of being told what to think and how to run your affairs.

Yes - how else could all those insurance firms prove that people need them? And hey, if you never wreck a car, what do all those mechanics do who stop having jobs?

..but I do think that would eat some parts of the idea behind Linux. If it was preloaded, you didn't choose.

Sure you did. You chose to buy a computer preloaded with Linux instead of Windows or OSX.