Linked by Thom Holwerda on Mon 19th May 2008 16:20 UTC
Linux It's one of those catch phrases that never really seems to die out. Wherever you look in the operating systems world, at personal blogs written in crummy English, or at high-profile quality websites, there is bound to be someone, somewhere who used it. Even I, myself, used it in articles in a far and distant past, and I'm not particularly proud of it. "Ready for the desktop" is no longer acceptable - in fact, it's on its way out.
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RE: Inexperienced..?
by BigDaddy on Mon 19th May 2008 17:47 UTC in reply to "Inexperienced..?"
BigDaddy
Member since:
2006-08-10

Non-techy experienced windows users might be more of a hassle, though.


I took my in-laws AOL based computer (that's all she ever used) and switched her over to Ubuntu. Both her and her husband fight for use of the computer now. There are a ton of games for him to play that are not arcade and she has discovered internet radio for Costa Rican music and talk shows.

What I am getting at is this, sometimes moving people outside their comfort zones helps them enjoy their PC more.

Reply Parent Bookmark Score: 6

RE[2]: Inexperienced..?
by Bending Unit on Mon 19th May 2008 20:44 in reply to "RE: Inexperienced..?"
Bending Unit Member since:
2005-07-06

I don't see your point.

For games, wouldn't Windows be an infinitely better choice?

Internet radio is not restricted to Ubuntu. I haven't found a radio player on Linux that is half as good as Screamer Radio (for Windows).

Reply Parent Bookmark Score: 1

RE[3]: Inexperienced..?
by itisak on Mon 19th May 2008 22:05 in reply to "RE[2]: Inexperienced..?"
itisak Member since:
2006-07-24

Not Necessarily.
Only maybe, if your only interest is DirectX games. And many of those old & new can work well on Linux. Not to mention many Cross Platform commercial & Completely free Games & Simulations.

I have not found any major issue with Linux Media stuff, and now prefer it, Radio, TV, SAT, HDTV, etc, etc.

Maybe it is not marketed, and sometimes it may require more involvement, but well worth it.

If vendors & developers choose not to support something it is probably their decision & their loss...

While there maybe interest & need for some for Windows, then use it. But it is not that necessary anymore........

I am only one person, But tend to only purchase those things that support my platform or at least open standards.........

Still there is the Wii & PS3 they don't do DirectX and even run Linux.

Reply Parent Bookmark Score: 3

RE[3]: Inexperienced..?
by BigDaddy on Tue 20th May 2008 03:32 in reply to "RE[2]: Inexperienced..?"
BigDaddy Member since:
2006-08-10

The point I was trying to make, I admit that it is kind of fuzzy, is that even people you would not think capable of switching to a Linux distro can do it.

The games I was talking about are all the ones you can get via the Add/Remove application. Click on it, look under games and it like shopping for them. No CD's to buy and they don't worry about system requirements. Tetris clones, samegames... you know, time wasters or puzzlers.

I know and agree that internet radio is not exclusive to a platform. However, it was so easy with Rhythmbox for her. I use Amarok personally, but to each their own. I had never heard of Screamer, but it looks nice for a windows app.

Reply Parent Bookmark Score: 1

RE[3]: Inexperienced..?
by gustl on Wed 21st May 2008 20:40 in reply to "RE[2]: Inexperienced..?"
gustl Member since:
2006-01-19

I don't see your point.

For games, wouldn't Windows be an infinitely better choice?


Yes - and no. Some people don't need or even like the arcade games you usually get from the big game vendors, they like the small card, logic and puzzle games better. If such a person crosses your way, be nice and give him some Linux distro and be sure to install every game in that distro.

Internet radio is not restricted to Ubuntu. I haven't found a radio player on Linux that is half as good as Screamer Radio (for Windows).

But probably the pre-setting of the app she discovered on her system was right for her, and probably the only way she found out something like internet radio even exists was to find the application in her menu and getting curios.

One size does seldom fit all, and it is a pitty that in a usual computer shop nobody asks you which operating system you prefer, and give you hints towards the strenghts and weaknesses of each system in case you know nothing at all.

Reply Parent Bookmark Score: 2

RE[2]: Inexperienced..?
by Alleister on Mon 19th May 2008 23:08 in reply to "RE: Inexperienced..?"
Alleister Member since:
2006-05-29

I had an very similar experience. A friends Windows PC died while he was working on his final Paper studying Film. I offered him to use my Laptop, which however had just Linux installed and i wasn't very keen on changing that fact.
I was really surprised that he had no trouble at all working with that machine after i just gave him a five minute introduction and told me that he actually found the folder structure better than the way it is on Windows (i always thought the folder structure is what "the Windows crowd" would have trouble getting used to).
The reason his next PC runs Windows now is because he requires a lot of Film editing Software which isn't available for Linux, otherwise he even would have switched.

Reply Parent Bookmark Score: 3

RE[2]: Inexperienced..?
by Googol on Tue 20th May 2008 06:46 in reply to "RE: Inexperienced..?"
Googol Member since:
2006-11-24

Maybe you want to install this for him

http://www.supergamer.org/

I found that as a new entry at Distrowatch only now, but it looks very interesting.

Reply Parent Bookmark Score: 2