LinuxQuestions.org - why can't things be easy?

- Linux - Newbie (https://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/linux-newbie-8/)

- - why can't things be easy? (https://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/linux-newbie-8/why-cant-things-be-easy-327485/)

why can't things be easy?

I've been learning my way around linux for a while now with Fedora Core 1, but the other day I got to play around with a computer running Lycoris desktop/LX 1.3, and I found so many things that I wish I had on Fedora...

For one, if you insert a disk, CD, USB key, etc, you can access it instantly. I hate messing around with mounting and unmounting things, like I have been in Fedora, and I'm sick of my CD Drive not ejecting becuase it won't unmount, because it's "busy". Even when I close all programs I can think of that would be using it... I know it's really bad, but there is now a bent paperclip sitting next to my computer.

Another thing is, why doesn't Fedora have a graphical package manager that supports all rpms, rather than those that come with Fedora? I want to be able to easily Install/uninstall/upgrade anything. And without needing to have internet access....

I guess my question is: Is there anything easier (and free)?

maybe give mandriva a try: http://www.mandriva.com/

here's the ISOs on an Australian mirror: ftp://mirror.pacific.net.au/linux/Ma...iso/10.2/i586/

ubuntu does all that :P

First off, I would suggest Fedora Core 3. I have it on my desktop machine, and it recognizes the usbdisk, though I'm not sure about cds.

As for ejecting the CD, make sure you change directory to something that's not on the CD if you're on the command line(like by typing "cd /"), or if any of your terminals are in the cd directory (maybe the one you used to mount the cd?)

The cd can be mounted easily even as a user if you add a line like

Code:

/dev/hdc                /cd                auto                noauto,user                0 0

to the file "/etc/fstab". make sure you create the directory you want to mount to ("/cd" in this case).
Then all you have to type is

Code:

mount /cd

Code:

mount /dev/hdc

On the subject of a graphical package manager, there isn't a good one that I know of. You will need a way to get the rpms if you don't have internet access, but normally just double-clicking the files in the file browser will start the installation. If you have any trouble, make sure you run up2date at least once to install the GPG keys.
The best package manager for fedora in my opinion is yum. it's command line, but easy to use for updating/removing packages, and in some cases for installing them.

I agree as far as ubuntu goes i am using it on a nforce4 with a ultra withno trouble. ubuntu seems to be the most usrer frendly for me . i have tried 6 or 7 other distros and only konn or ubuntu seem like good starter choices(ive only been up 4 days).

Your cd should certainly mount automatically, and to dismount it, you right click on the icon, and click 'eject.'

I use FC3 ... It does basically all those things ... Yum is easy ... not as good as APT, but certainly satisfactory

Debian does all those things as well ... I'm recommending it to my newbie friends as a solid, if slightly staid, distro ... The new one disk ISO internet installer is a piece of cake. And new-to-Linux people are better off with solid archetecture than bells and whistles.

I just wanted to say thanks to fancypiper for the post full of killer links, there are a few in there that I was unaware of.

Thanks a bunch

pjbii

/me blushes

You are welcome.