It's more like a holiday where i get to be the architect of everything before i go there... and find out it is actually in place when i get there! And it doesn't break away underneath me while i'm there!!! And WOW i can even manipulate the weather And the chicks on the beach! WOW! Linux, MY kind of holidays man...

i will admit Linux is just slightly more complicated than windows, but on the plus side once you massage Linux in to the OS you want it to be it sure is more secure and stable...

don't give up! is all i can say, i was once feeling the pain and frustration you are feeling now, but i did not give up, i kept reading and watching what my OS was trying to tell me, and eventually i learned to make it work for me, and now i am ever more greatfull to the people that make Linux happen...

Thats because they are really just looking for help and don`t really want to go back to windows.

and another thing, Never ever use rpms, apt-get or any other way of installing programs other than source. The only time I have ever had a problem installing from source is when it was a problem with the code I downloaded. The only thing I wish would change, is that all the different compression methods should be toned down to one or two.

tar -xvf progname.tar
./configure
make
make install

My 2 cents...

I started off with Debian, (which I still use today, in addition to Libranet, Knoppix and Xandros which are based on it) and I was simply astounded the OTHER way. I had never seen anything as great as apt-get for Windows!

I typed apt-get install mozilla-firefox

and in a few minutes i type firefox, with NO reboot, and it works!

With dyw on this one, nothing is simpler than apt-get, and if you dont like typeing or HAVE to have a gui there are several like synaptic - in which you can search through tons and tons and tons of software and in a few clicks its on your system. Comand line is so easy if you know what you want (oh and it checks all the dependancies for you... quite honestly the best part about it). Compiling from source isn't hard since it will give you an error and tell you if your missing a dependancy... sometimes its the only way to get what you need depending on your distro.

I still use windows for the purpose that most software is built for win32. Ive really only found use out of Linux for hosting servers. I dont think ill ever get used to using it as a client desktop though. I want to use my computer not sit configuring it all the time.

after 1 year of linux and 0,5 years of os x i have found that windows needs more tending than those 2. not to mention all stupid crashes, bugs and "updates". and xp is as lousy as they get. i have to work on xp workstation and it is a pain in the ****.

and to this thread: installing programs is far more easy with linux as long as you have decent repositories in your automated package management software.

I started with Suse backwhen it was Version 7.1 and was fine as long as I stayed with the CD packages. As soon as I tried installing third party software, I ran into the same dependancy hell as L/P. It's the reason I went hunting for a better distro and the reason I will never go back to using Suse. I'm a dyed-in-the-wool Slacker now and have few problems with software installation. My advice to you L/P is get away from that distro but don't go back to Windows till you've tried something better.

Linux has improved but still has a way to go yet b4 ease of use is no longer an issue.
If you dont like one distro, try another.
I am new to linux, all distros are different..... try mandrake 10.1 community the 3 cd iso download
comes with nearly everything you need, i said NEARLY...
or Fedora core 3 , 4 cd iso...I found these 2 systems easier to use than some of the others...

Which brings me back to my point that you need to configure your system before you can start using it. Windows is just alot more easier to use from a new users pov. I love linux, it can do so much more. Why? Well your not restricted by a GUI. But the GUI is what makes things easy. Which is why, imo, windows is easy to use/maintain.

While I agree with you, ( I install a base slack and compile everything from there) you gotta remember for someone who is newer to gnu/linux systems using a rpm/apt based system where the packages are split into pieces compiling from source is a nightmare itself. How many threads are there on this board filled with this very issue?

I have to agree with __J on this point.

I have been a professional software engineer/programmer/ananlyst for over 20 years. I can compile from source in my sleep. But at home, I run Mandrake 10.1, and I use the gui interface to handle all my installations/updates. Why? Because when I get home from work, I don't *want* to spend my time doing work-type stuff.

For the thread-starter's original complaint/question, I would give the same advice I give to all Mandrake newbies:

DON'T DOWNLOAD AND TRY TO INSTALL "WILD" APPS!

Use your distro's package management system!

For SuSE, I understand that is yast. (I don't use SuSE.) Make sure your yast repositories are set up properly, and then use it to get the apps you want/need. It will resolve your "dependency hell" for you, and you can be sure your apps are tweaked correctly for your SuSE system. Don't try to compile from source tarballs until you know what you are doing, or, if it is something you *have* to have, be sure to ask for detailed help here.

Following those basic instructions should ease your transition to Linux, and give you a more enjoyable experience. When you are ready to go further, you will find all the help you need right here on this forum.

Installing is a NIGHTMARE?

WAKE UP THEN!

it's true, ur first impression will be a nightmare, but after a while u get use 2 it.

i've tried 4 dists,
Redhat 8/9
Fedora 2/3
Suse 9.2 live cd
Mandrake 8/9/10.1

I wasn't impressed with suse, yes it has a nicer theme, n the chameleon is everywhere. i just didn't like it,
Redhat 8 was 4 3 days then i got 9, 9 was impressive, but it didn't go anywhere thanx 4 exams.
then i got mandrake it's nice i prefer it a lot more then suse, then i got fedora, i love it!!
Especially FC3 in gnome,

i suggest try another dist, go 4 fedora/mandrake or even slackware which i read is the best dist of the year, never tried it though.
but there is 1 thing u should always remember which ever dist u get u must install the development kit. it helps a lot.

I don't like rpms much, i always go 4 tarballs.

n i think it would be a good idea 2 have a dual boot. so u can use software that r not avaible in linux, or have u some time, until u figure it in linux.

keep trying linux, it is more stable n safer.

I'm also new to this, just finally got online through Linux using Suse 9.2. When installing rpms through Yast, where are thry installed? I get the undertsanding the ease navigation through linux is through the command line, but I can't find the program that was supposedly installed anywhere there of through the GUI