Let me give one OT "RANT", and then I will shut up on this subject. Suffice it to say that I have been extremely disappointing in all Linux distributions because of the lack of any organized support fort the users - the attitude seems to be "if you don't already understand the nuances of Linux, we will shame your questions and be very unhelpful. Check out the various forums and "FAQ" lists to verify this attitude.
I have tried Ubuntu, Linux Mint, and Debian in the recent past, and have found that unless you wish to spend a loot of time in "geekdom study", the terms are cryptic and not logical acronyms, and the user groups are useless unless one is already fluent in their brand of "geek-speak". Yes, I am computer fluent in Windows and peer-to-peer networking - I have worked with PCs since the Apple II days and the IBM PC DOS systems are no stranger to me, but the Linux groups are just not helpful at all to those who do not understand their peculiar cryptic language. In other words, there are no clear and concise instructions for Linux. The "Man pages" are supposedly the answer, but they offer geek-speak explanations for those who are not initiated and expert into the Linux brand of geekdom. I know, there are many who will disagree, but you will have to point me to a (non-on-line) manual that I can use as a reference book and is similar to those like "Mastering Windows XP Professional", Linux in any distro is just not going to "make the grade". For those who simply want to do email and surf the web, Ubuntu is great, as is Linux Mint - it has all the tools those users need, but for those who want to do such things as network a Linux workstation into a Windows peer to peer network, there is just not enough explicit information about how to set it up and make it work. Windows peer-to-peer is native, but with Linux, it is a complex "add-on" that I have not been able to master after several attempts with Samba configuration. I once thought Linux would be my road to salvation without buying Windows7 for 7 computers on my home network, but it just does not work consistently, so I guess I will have to spend the upgrade fees for Win7. So until Linux gives up its superior "I am geek and I want it to stay that way" attitude, it will never fly properly. Ubuntu and Mint have come a long way in making installation easier, but there is a long way to go in usability. Linux will also have to give up using "cute" names for applications to make sense to users - for instance, Photoshop has a relevant name for photo editing, but GIMP might mean something like "geeky image manipulating program" to Linux fans, but it has no obvioous meaning to the average user. Until Linux "gets real" instead of continuing to be "geeky", it will never fly - meaningful names are important - at least that is my opinion - I equate abstract naming to "geeky", and by saying "geeky" it means exclusionary, and not to be understood by the general user. And that is what is wrong with Linux. 73, Don W3FPR On 7/9/2012 11:38 PM, Dick Roth wrote: > FYI...to get to manage users and groups one needs to install > "gnome-system-tools". This can be done via the gui Ubuntu Software > Center. Once installed you can get to Users and Groups through the > Dash. ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
