Ops, the US Army joins the swelling Linux ranks

[Spiffor]

Originally posted by Urban Ranger
It's not that hard to use after being properly installed and configured. It's the same point-n-click GUI.

And IMHO, this is the terrible weakness of Linux. It basically assumes that every user is either a geek, or is monitored by a geek. From a user perspective, it really sucks, because you can hardly fix any problem yourself even if you're semi computer-literate.

I mean, how hard can it be to perform an update of your favorite browser? On Linux, if you don't use RTPs, it is a completely uninstinctive procedure which pales in comparison to the double-click elegance.

[Az]

Spiffor ( though I don't remember what RTP is )

[Spiffor]

Oops, I meant RPM (RTP is an acronym I learnt at about the same time )
Redhat Package Manager. It's basically an installer that performs all installation tasks itself. It was developed for RedHat at first, and as such is not compatible with all Linux distributions. As far as the layman I am can tell, it does exactly the same job as any installer you'll download for windows. Pretty simple, but unfortunately many programs don't do RPMs. And even for those who do, many require root access for being installed (and as such the ordinary user must call the computer expert, for he only is root)

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by Spiffor
And IMHO, this is the terrible weakness of Linux. It basically assumes that every user is either a geek, or is monitored by a geek. From a user perspective, it really sucks, because you can hardly fix any problem yourself even if you're semi computer-literate.

Depends on your definition of semi computer literate. My friend Dennis was able to download, compile, and install gaim 0.71 after messing with Linux for a week. Sure, he had several years of experience administering Windows, but that just goes on to show that Windows is not at all simpler than *nix. Take a look at the system processes running under XP. Do you know what they do?

Originally posted by Spiffor
I mean, how hard can it be to perform an update of your favorite browser? On Linux, if you don't use RTPs, it is a completely uninstinctive procedure which pales in comparison to the double-click elegance.

Debian is much easier with apt-get. RPM is a bit of a pain with all the dependencies.

Originally posted by Spiffor
Pretty simple, but unfortunately many programs don't do RPMs.

Most programs do distribute a RPM version. For a lot of them, they include instructions in the tarball to run rpmbuild on the source.

Originally posted by Spiffor
And even for those who do, many require root access for being installed (and as such the ordinary user must call the computer expert, for he only is root)

Ditto with any Windows NT-esque OS. You can't install many prorgrams unless you have administrator previlege.

[Kuciwalker]

Originally posted by aneeshm
I repeat , I said that we not respond to his trolls . I'm perfectly willing to debate any points of argument he may have . Implying that some people live in a dream world is a troll , IMO . And it is my intention to warn other , unsuspecting posters not to flame in response . I'm sorry if I got a little carried away . I'll edit out some parts .

"We all love your weekly "so and so . . . . . " is also a semi-troll , too , if we look carefully .

is poor itty-bitty aneeshm sad about losing his forum?

[Kuciwalker]

UR - Windows is FAR more user-friendly than linux. At school, in the syslab (all linux computers) we have to use the terminal for half the things we want to do.

[Panag]

hi ,

intresting to see that some people have found the light

have a nice day

[Spiffor]

Originally posted by Urban Ranger
Ditto with any Windows NT-esque OS. You can't install many prorgrams unless you have administrator previlege.

Which is my worst beef with NT-esque windows btw. I am the sole user of my computer and I sure don't want crappy "identities" to clutter up my comp when there is so blatantly no need for them

Believe me, Ur, I've indulged in Linux for a week on my computer with real goodwill. My intend was to see if a User Friendly distro of Linux (RedHat) could hopefully compete with Windows from an "average user" perspective. Well, I'm a bit more than "average" in this regard, because I have some computer knowledge although not being an all-out geek, and I was patient enough to devote time and endure the hardships for a week.

Even RedHat falls far behind Windows when it comes to personal computers. However, it is true it's as eas to use as windows. It's just much, much more of a pain to get it operational.

[Kuciwalker]

Which is my worst beef with NT-esque windows btw. I am the sole user of my computer and I sure don't want crappy "identities" to clutter up my comp when there is so blatantly no need for them

Then give yourself admin priveleges

[Spiffor]

Originally posted by skywalker
Then give yourself admin priveleges

I do. For the one month when XP home was installed on my computer, I still couldn't delete some non-system crap, and I couldn't even install my old Office 2000 . Admittedly, XP professional is infinitely better. But even if all the login crap is hiding now, there are still traces of it (such as the Startup menu and the ignominous "shared files" folder )

[aneeshm]

Originally posted by skywalker


is poor itty-bitty aneeshm sad about losing his forum?

Uh , yeah , right . I don't have a single post in the Mac forums . In fact , I've never worked with Macs in my life . So I think this is just a little bit unjustified . It's just that I dislike people who gloat over what they have done , like in Glonkie's case , and the way they do it. (I like that name , sounds much less dignified than Asher)

[Kuciwalker]

Even people who gloat over doing the RIGHT THING?!

[Kuciwalker]

Originally posted by Spiffor

I do. For the one month when XP home was installed on my computer, I still couldn't delete some non-system crap, and I couldn't even install my old Office 2000 . Admittedly, XP professional is infinitely better. But even if all the login crap is hiding now, there are still traces of it (such as the Startup menu and the ignominous "shared files" folder )

When you start up the computer for the first time, all logins you create have admin priveleges at start. So what is the problem?

[Az]

Originally posted by aneeshm


Uh , yeah , right . I don't have a single post in the Mac forums . In fact , I've never worked with Macs in my life . So I think this is just a little bit unjustified . It's just that I dislike people who gloat over what they have done , like in Glonkie's case , and the way they do it. (I like that name , sounds much less dignified than Asher)

How do you know he was speaking of the Mac forum, and asher?




DL.

[Spiffor]

The problem is shown in the attached pic. It messes up some of my data, since some autamatically goes to "all users" and some automatically goes to "administrateur".

Besides, I highly dislike being called "administrateur" simply because I can't have the same name as my computer (which would be "Spiff")

Don't get me wrong, it doesn't ruin my whole XP experience. But I think of identities as something that is only an annoyance to me, whenever they decide to make an appearance.
For my needs, it would be infinetely better if XP was single-user in heart. As it is, it can only look like a single-user OS when you half-ass the disappearance of the most glaring aspects of multi-userness.