The problem with the Ubuntu community

There are way too many users that migrate from XP to Ubuntu, these are all just 14 year olds who switched to Ubuntu because they think GNU/Linux is the OS that the "hackers" chose and for them that's "cool". They start by looking for what distro is the most simple to install. So it's just full of ex-windows users who keep on complaining that it doesn't support their hardware or because it doesn't have the "user-friendliness" that XP has, or because Wine can't run their little shooter games on it. This is why i left the official forums the moment I realized this is the commonest suggestion for people seeking an alternative to Windows XP.

Why is it so bad that Ubuntu is a common choice for people switching from XP?

its just people wanting to learn new things about computers man.... but in the sense of kids thinking its cool yeah that does get annoying

Originally Posted by Penguin of Wonder Why is it so bad that Ubuntu is a common choice for people switching from XP?

Agreed. I think we should go out of our way to encourage, help newcomers to Linux. It doesn't matter to me why someone wants to use Linux. We should try to change the perception that Linux is mysterious and only for l337 users.

There are way too many users that migrate from XP to Ubuntu

Think that through again and try to see the obvious error in that statement. Seriously though, you make it sound like all these young kids are dragging down the |-|4><0,- style of Linux. Whilst it is true that it is quickly losing the mystique that it once had, consider the benefits of this, rather than being so selfish.

Well, according to this poll on the Ubuntu forums of over 800 forum members, 71% of the forum members are 20 years old or older. The largest minority is in the 20-30-year-old range. So, no, they're not all 14-year-olds. And so what if they were?

I don't really understand what the beef is in this thread. People are switching from XP to Ubuntu. What's wrong with that?

hey i'm only 20 =o) and i am the linux specialist for mercy college =o)... i even installed edu ubuntu for my little sister haha

It would be great if they are 14 and got exposed to Linux. Get them exposed as early as possible.

Originally Posted by boredandblogging It would be great if they are 14 and got exposed to Linux. Get them exposed as early as possible.

I agree. Even if they are the "annoying" ones, they will be the future of computing. If we get them to realize the potentials of Linux early on, then they will carry it over for their future generations.

Bad attitudes don't come with a shrink wrapped license from Microsoft. They're a function poor parenting and the entitlement mentality of the growing number of people who consider themselves victims. I for one welcome new users whether they be 14 or 64 like me. Our sense of community will help to show these poor souls a better way by example.

I'm an Ubuntu newbie, and I think that it being the most common one for people switching from XP is not a bad thing. I am not a 14 year old "hacker geek", but a 36 year old tech support specialist wanting to understand the world outside of Mac or XP.

My choice of distros was inspired by the fact that many sources said that Ubuntu was one of the easiest. I joke with my friends that Ubuntu is "Linux with training wheels" because it doesn't need as much modification as some distros, but all joking aside, I'm pretty impressed by what I've seen so far.

My first experiment, with Red Hat about 8 years ago was a disaster. I didn't know enough about it, and didn't care to adjust to the learning curve. I'm starting out slowly (the plan is to use the system primarily for office apps, then expand my usage as I learn it better). Linux has become so much more in the years since I first tried to take a peek, and I'm excited to find out more.

It's a hell of a long time since I was 14.

Ubuntu is very important for the Linux community indeed. I do browse through their forums every now and then, and I can understand Cyran's point. There are a lot of very basic questions asked, and unfortunately a lot of bad advice given by people who think they are experts at Linux. Which means that you can spend a lot of time in their forums not learning much.

Cyran, just move on if learning is your objective. Gentoo, your 2nd distro, is probably a better choice, and then there's Slackware and Debian for example, CentOS also comes to mind. And most of the things you'll learn there can be applied to Ubuntu as well.

Originally Posted by fragos Bad attitudes don't come with a shrink wrapped license from Microsoft. They're a function poor parenting and the entitlement mentality of the growing number of people who consider themselves victims.

Well stated.

Originally Posted by aysiu Well, according to this poll on the Ubuntu forums of over 800 forum members, 71% of the forum members are 20 years old or older. The largest minority is in the 20-30-year-old range. So, no, they're not all 14-year-olds. And so what if they were? I don't really understand what the beef is in this thread. People are switching from XP to Ubuntu. What's wrong with that?

Your for geeting the 18 to 24 age range. It soes offend me though when these "Newbies" bitch and moan about how Ubuntu doesn;'t support their 300+ dollar video and sound cards. How ever I think that if we being the patiant an d understanding older and more technologically savy linux users hel the ex redmondites out they will come to like linux.