[olug] Disappointment and a question ...

Sat Apr 5 04:56:06 UTC 2014

I had/have issues with flash but not because of the OS. ;)  I live in linux
as my main desktop and only remote into a virtual windows box when I have
to admin my windows network at work.  We keep the MS tax to a minimum at my
company, even windows desktops run openoffice, but most just use Google
Docs.  We threw out exchange and migrated to gmail and apps a few years
back.

for my $0.02, there is no reason to run either M$ or iO$ unless you require
an app that only runs on one of those two con systems, oops I mean
operating systems.  I've got chrome, firefox, and sublime.  I write code
primarily in Python and HTML/javasccript   All of which run pretty much
everywhere.  The shell in iO$ is superior to m$ but since I don't spend my
time listening to tunes and obsessing about my desktop background, and
twirly wheels to amuse me while I'm waiting for my apps to load or my
system to reboot because I just plugged in a new mouse.  I've got three
screens and 4 desktops worth of stuff going on that keeps my employer happy
about paying me to do my job.  Man I love xfce on ubuntu.  It just stays
the h#!! out of my way -- the way a Desktop/OS should.  The less I have to
concern myself with an OS the more I like it.  Just like the IT industry in
general, when we are doing are jobs the right way, nobody notices us.  I
mean really, windows is so last century.  And apple -- just what does it
bring to the table besides bling for bucks and to show what a good consumer
you are?   Apple is the over-priced Air Jordans of computers and consumer
devices.  People pay too much for them and then they worry about free trade
chocolate?   total face-palm!  sorry, starting to hyper ventilate here <g>
 I'll go outside to cool down and look at my neighbors' 4 wheel/all wheel
drive vehicles they need to get them across the metro and Interstate
system.  Can't let snow stop you from getting to Applebees.

best,
Jeff

On Fri, Apr 4, 2014 at 10:01 PM, Matthew Goeres <mgoeres at gmail.com> wrote:

> I ran Ubuntu and Mint linux for several years, but ended up switching to a
> Mac awhile back.
>
> I was so tired of flash issues and dealing with cryptic programs. I still
> have a desktop running Mint but it's only real function is that it is my VM
> staging area with VMware workstation and also connects to my ESX hosts
> which I do all from a VNC or RDP session.
>
> Now with HTML5 being used for a lot of things like youtube I could
> probably do a linux distro again, but my macbook is much more convent at
> this point and I still have a shell if I need to do something as simple as
> an NMAP or do some text manipulation on a file.
>
> -Matt
>
> On Apr 4, 2014, at 9:52 PM, Jeff Hinrichs - DM&T <jeffh at dundeemt.com>
> wrote:
>
> > I'd say Ubuntu -- Speaking as someone who helps others and my entire
> > family, including wife, runs ubuntu -- not a problem.  My kids have only
> > seen windows boxes on tv and in school.  If you want to see how most
> > distros would work/look on your box, most have a live version you can put
> > on a thumbdrive and try out before you commit.
> >
> > My parents run ubuntu on their laptop.  Install fests are so last century
> > because yes, you can do it without dropping to a command line.  I
> encourage
> > you to take a look at what is out there right now.
> >
> > I am not an ubuntu fanboy, just ask and I'll let you know how they gnomed
> > things up but in general, it is what I recommend.
> >
> > Best,
> > Jeff
> >
> >
> > On Fri, Apr 4, 2014 at 9:30 PM, David Gilman <davidgilman1 at gmail.com>
> wrote:
> >
> >> If you want usable out of the box and UNIX look at MacOS X.
> >> On Apr 4, 2014 8:19 PM, "unfy" <olug at unfy.org> wrote:
> >>
> >>> First up, I'm not looking for a flame war.  This is just a legitimate
> >>> question.
> >>>
> >>> -----------------------
> >>>
> >>> So, I've been using Linux since about Slackware 3.0 or something like
> >>> that. 1996/1997 or so.
> >>>
> >>> I used linux as my desktop OS for the longest time because I was tired
> of
> >>> how unstable windows was, etc.  I'd boot into windows to play games if
> >>> necessary - but my day to day life was under linux.  I even used it at
> >> work
> >>> with windows in a virtual machine.
> >>>
> >>> I eventually picked up a dell notebook that had XP SP1 on it (2003 ?)
> ...
> >>> and being open to new things, decided to give it a fair shake.  After a
> >>> month or so I was generally happy with how stable it was and decided to
> >>> leave linux behind as a desktop OS.  There was generally better
> hardware
> >>> support under XP ... and it seemed stable.
> >>>
> >>> I've stuck with linux / bsd as a server OS though.
> >>>
> >>> Fast forward to 2014 and a coworker has been fiddling with some
> different
> >>> linux distro's.  Ubuntu, Zoran (or whatever), and a few others.
> >>>
> >>> I had to walk away shaking my head.
> >>>
> >>> --------------
> >>>
> >>> The question:
> >>>
> >>> Is there a linux distro that is actually USEFUL to folks out of the
> box ?
> >>>
> >>> Something like a working control panel ?
> >>>
> >>> Base / simple configuration of services (with the understanding that
> >>> complex stuff will require editing a config file) ?
> >>>
> >>> Feedback when an application is loading in the background ?
> >>>
> >>> An error message if an application fails to load ?
> >>>
> >>> Non-cryptic cd/dvd burning software ?
> >>>
> >>> Customizing start menu / widget stuff isn't black voodoo ?
> >>>
> >>> Something where I don't have to drop to the console to fix 90% of the
> >>> problems ?
> >>>
> >>> Basically, it seems like looking back over the last 20 years - I've
> seen
> >>> different distros hit all of these subjects and sometimes complete said
> >>> task - only to change it / drop it a few releases later etc.
> >>>
> >>> Is there a distro that SIMPLY WORKS FOR THE HOME USER ? Doesn't have to
> >> be
> >>> the prettiest thing on the planet, but lets you accomplish everything
> ya
> >>> need to do out of the box ? And isn't a PITA to use ? Is there a distro
> >>> that quits trying to re-invent every aspect of the wheel with each
> >> release ?
> >>>
> >>> I know what I'm asking is a bit subjective - but seriously - what ever
> >>> happened to "this tool does one thing and does it really well"
> mentality
> >>> (see most of the command line tools) ?
> >>>
> >>> When subjectively looking at the 4 or so distro's my coworker fired up,
> >>> Windows 3.1, Windows 95, BeOS, OS/2, etc were all more functionally
> >>> complete.  Hell, I still think BeOS rocks :D.
> >>>
> >>> There is ZERO chance I'd use any of them as a desktop OS.  I'd be more
> at
> >>> home in the 2.0 kernel days and Afterstep / Windowmaker hehehe.
> >>>
> >>> KDE looked like it was trying pretty hard in the early pre-1.0 and
> >> 1.0/2.0
> >>> days to get things somewhat there....
> >>>
> >>> ----------------------
> >>>
> >>> Sure, most distro's come with the standard apps like open office or
> >>> whatever it's called these days.  And a couple options of browsers.
> >> Maybe a
> >>> few 'explorer' like programs.  A few media consumption programs. Some
> of
> >>> these applications may or may not work.  Others might offer some closed
> >>> source drivers that may or may not work on your hardware depending on
> the
> >>> age of your hardware.   (that brings up more fun.  want to run older
> >>> hardware - gotta run an older distro.  but then if you have a problem
> >> with
> >>> something, everything/one says you need to upgrade your distro... which
> >> you
> >>> cant cause of the older hardware etc).
> >>>
> >>> Is there a distro that has a checklist of "this is what this distro
> MUST
> >>> do from a functionality stand point", and then it sticks to making that
> >>> happen ?
> >>>
> >>> ----------------------
> >>>
> >>> With the above said, I did make use of Mythbuntu for many years on my
> >> HTPC
> >>> box (with two hauppage pvr-150's).  But - that was mostly just getting
> >> the
> >>> OS to run mythfrontend and mythbackend  and nothing else.  Did have to
> >>> patch alsa by hand all the time for HDMI audio over nforce 630i chipset
> >>> (don't think i ever pushed the patch upstream though heh).
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> _______________________________________________
> >>> OLUG mailing list
> >>> OLUG at olug.org
> >>> https://lists.olug.org/mailman/listinfo/olug
> >>>
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> OLUG mailing list
> >> OLUG at olug.org
> >> https://lists.olug.org/mailman/listinfo/olug
> >>
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > Best,
> >
> > Jeff Hinrichs
> > 402.218.1473
> > _______________________________________________
> > OLUG mailing list
> > OLUG at olug.org
> > https://lists.olug.org/mailman/listinfo/olug
>
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-- 
Best,

Jeff Hinrichs
402.218.1473