Why do new people give up on Linux?

[jonny75904]

It comes down to two things:

1) Time - for those of us with careers and families, we have but 3-4 hours in the evenings to play with children, house work, eat dinner, pay bills, etc. Time is precious. For most adults, a computer solution needs to work out of the box. It should just work. Linux is free, but time is not - it costs time with children, time with the spouse, and translates to a messy house because we have less time to clean. So the attractive option is to pay for Windows or Mac, it works, and if it breaks, whatever, restore it or pay someone to fix it.

2) Minimum Technical IQ - Most people don't know anything deeper than "Intel, AMD, and RAM is good." So talking about things like ATI, NVidia, North Bridge, South Bridge, volume mounting, images, etc just cause a general glazing over of the eyes.

So for many, it makes no sense to sacrifice time and frustration over linux because, face it, most people want email, internet, facebook, and little else. PC, Mac, and linux all do that. Two cost money, the other costs time and patience. For many it is just easier to part with money.

[kmb42vt]

Ubuntu 10.10 did not have Unity installed, only the classic Gnome 2.32 desktop environment. Ubuntu 11.04 uses the Unity shell on top of Gnome 2.32 and yes, so far 11.04 with Unity is very heavy on resources.

Ubuntu 10.10 Netbook Edition uses Unity

Oh, right! So it did. I'm so non-mobile right now it's ridiculous so I didn't even consider the netbook end of things. Thanks for the correction.

[steve5091]

I'm a newbie whos been using linux Mint 9 for about 5 to 6 months now and i absolutely LOVE it. I've used, or should O say tried other Linux distros but love Mint the best. I will NEVER use Windows again.
steve5091

[OldManHook]

Availability
Writers and Fan Boys-Who has never used Linux.
Ubuntu:The Best,the#1 Distro,Apple type Fans(Ubuntu is always right) All well and good if true.
The Best Distro for new users? Easy to use?eople wants things to Work( like Windows)My MP3's and DVD's won't Play-Install What?
Dial-Up internet (Not everyone has broadband) Someone gave me a Linux CD--Trying to install need highspeed internet to get updates even a working system-What do i do now?
The six (6) Mo. upgrade cycle-I upgraded now it broke can't play MP3's Can't find my files-I give up.
Why do i have old programs-I want Firefox 4,What is a PPA?
Just done a Update,my Sound and Wireless stopped working-What did i do Wrong?
Ubuntu is Linux! I never heard of Linux Mint What is PCLinuxOS? Everything i read is Ubuntu Isn't Linux one OS,Done a Google search for Linux,WHAT? What is this Linux Stuff? So much to Choose From. OH well I'm going back to Windows!
Now, How do i install This Program?Where is he software Manager,No Package Manager?. What find the site,Download,Run,restart-Restart again?
Maybe this Linux stuff is is a good idea-Maybe i should try this Mint thing-Now what is an ISO?What? How do i make One?
Why can't i buy a Linux computer at Walmart? If Only
What is a Terminal?-Never seen one,Think it some kind of computer

[Buggsy]

The environment in this thread seems getting hotter and hotter.. Maybe mods can say something to cool it down?

Ahhh, i miss husse.. if he still here, he will definitely say something to cool down you all so that this forum is all about helping each other, not to shoot each other.. i miss that friendly environment when i first time came here.. sob.. sob..

Yeah, from what I've been reading, Husse may have been a Troll, but the point is kinda' mute now...

[feed3]

Yeah, from what I've been reading, Husse may have been a Troll,

What do you meant by that??

[eiver]

I believe we are getting very close to what Godwin's law describes, so maybe someone should consider closing this topic - everything relevant has been said already a long time ago.

[Kilz]

I believe we are getting very close to what Godwin's law describes

I bet Hitler would have come to the same conclusion.


I just couldnt help it

[MrD]

I've just installed Ubuntu 10.10 on my laptop which has had various successive builds of Mint on it for a while now, to test it out out of sheer frustration at low flash video performance. There is a massive boost. It makes it workable. I have Intel GM965/GL960 onboard graphics.

I'll not give up on linux. Because of the security it offers. Because of the open source software. I rarely have to reinstall due to error, don't tend to get hit by problems that gradually slowdown or make my laptop unusable. I'm not saying there aren't problems, but I've found there are problems with Windows that don't happen to me now. These tend to include losing my writing/university work, or losing my time having to fix issues. Also the thought processes that come with linux mean that I am more open to what software I need rather than what i want. A computer is a tool, for information, discussion, entertainment (video and audio) and also to perform tasks that create the multimedia I use in my hobbies.

The gap has lessened in many areas, and in some linux outperforms. Having had to go to vanilla Ubuntu was a necessary step to carry out my needs. Note I didn't give in and go to Windoze, even if my desktop pc has it dual booting on a partition so my kids can play their favourite games. Although Hedgewars has their attention in Ubuntu right now.

[mikhou]

jonny75904,

I agree with you that time is an issue when it comes to doing certain things with Linux. HOWEVER, I would disagree with the sentiment that Linux equals a huge investment of time. If all somebody wants to do is surf the web, check email, and write letter or two then somebody with minimal computer skills could install LM and be completely happy. They don't even have to ever install any updates or even reinstall a new version on a 6-month cycle. LM as is is just as easy to install and use as Windows, again, with minimal computer skills.

Now the primary difference might be that Windows comes pre-installed, but if somebody is interested in using a minimal OS for the tasks mentioned above, I'm sure they could find a friend with enough computer skills to load LM in less than an hour. When I think of someone who has little computer savvy but does the tasks mentioned above, I think of my 62-year old mother. And I really think that I could teach her to use LM in under an hour. Just my $.02.

But back to the topic at hand - "Why do new people give up on Linux?" Because they're used to Windows and it comes pre-installed. Linux doesn't require a huge time investment (although, it can if you want to do a lot of tweaking).

mikhou

[AlbertP]

Broadcom has started having better Linux support last year - Dell and HP stopped buying their wireless networking cards because they did not work with Linux! But that driver is only for 3 43xx chips, the others still need wl / ndiswrapper / proprietary firmware to work.

[Edward.H]

Most of them are used to Windows,they would feel bad when they experience Linux

[grey1960envoy]

Personally I believe that people do give up on things too easily, not just Linux but anything that requires the slightest bit of brain power and tinkering. We have become a society of techno junkies IF it works right, but if it fails the landfill is a good place to put them then go out and buy something that does work I am writing this on my Hackintosh that took me almost 2 weeks to get fully operating (most people I know would have given up about 4 hours into the build because they wouldn't RTFM or had no patience to carry it through to the end). I know this is a Mint forum but I needed to see how well a Mac works without shelling out a fortune to buy one.

[AlbertP]

With Windows you also need to install a driver for the Broadcoms to work, but those drivers are preinstalled. Many people don't know of those preinstalled drivers, they think wireless just works in Windows. On a Sony VAIO laptop where I reinstalled Vista, I had to install tens of drivers. I booted a live USB of Mint 10 KDE and as far as I could see in 5 mins of Linux, everything worked fine.

[FranzB]

I had been thinking about changing to Linux for some time and after a lot of surfing on the net I finally undertook some action.
I have been using Linux Mint 10 now on and off in dual boot mode with Windows 7. I wanted to start a new thread about some things that are in my opinion really irritating about Linux. However, I may as well post my remarks on this thread. It is not supposed to be destructive, but constructive criticism as I am a scientist.

First of all, I think that the option to download Linux from some mirror site, then check its integrity with MD5, then burn it to a CD (hoping nothing goes wrong) should not be the first option you are confronted with, certainly not a general, average computer user.
The first option should be clearly to have the CD-R shipped for a small fee from one of the Linux stores. I did just that and I must say that the service was supportive, reliable and fast (it took one week to have it shipped from the UK to the Netherlands) and the program could be installed without a hinch. I don't know whether it is allowed to give the address or link to the shop so I will refrain from that. Anyone can google for it.

Then came the first task of adjusting the settings. It drove me nuts. Granted, I am not an expert but reasonably well experienced (I have been using computers since 1966! IBM 360-11, Fortran and Basic programming, and at one time I set up a computerized program to run a chemical analysis fully automatically). Still, I was cursing trying to get things right when, e.g., using the color options presented under
Menu-Preferences-Appearances and then Themes, Background, Fonts, and Visual Effects. It drove me nuts. Try to understand this rotating triangle and the dot in it.
It's trial and error. At one time I had black lettering on a black background. It got that bad that I considered uninstalling Linux. The only thing that prevented that was the
trouble to get the Windows 7 boot loader back. So I kept Linux and returned to it eventually.
Windows 7 irritates me to no end because of all the options that 95% of those who use a computer never ever will use. They want to go from A to B and don't need a Ferrari Formula 1 racing car for that or worry about colors, stipes and what have you.
In a way Linux Mint is like W 7, only at different places. Thousands of options.
To those who designed the program and are looking after changes to it: please keep it simple. The greatest sophistication lies in simplicity. The great majority of computer users don't need all that. On the contrary, having too many options may turn them away from using it. The latter would be a pity. It should have more users,
not this meagre 2%. Unfortunately, as I did notice during my job, many computer programmers are somwhat autistic and I doubt that my words here will have much of an effect. Please...............

[AlbertP]

Trouble to get bootloader back? Just keeb Grub, set delay to 0 and Windows to default. No one cares about the second left by Grub chain-loading.

[maxmir]

Unfortunately, as I did notice during my job, many computer programmers are somwhat autistic and I doubt that my words here will have much of an effect.

If you insult people it often makes them disinclined to help.

[FranzB]

To Maxmir:

I am sorry, it was not meant to be insulting. I should have written "autistic", in the sense that they often are
too engrossed with the program as such and not with the fact that people have to use it. I have even seen one programmer walking out of a discussion with another without saying anything, apparently too concentrated on his own work to listen to the other's argument.
At one time a CEO of a big company visited me since they were interested in what I was doing. The question that actually interested him most was asked when we walked to lunch. "How was the interface between you and the programmers?". That is what I was referring to. I did not want to insult. Sorry for the rather quick use of the word.

[maxmir]

I am sorry, it was not meant to be insulting.

No need for apologies, certainly not to me, I was just making an observation. Anyway, I'm not a programmer, just a systems architect / systems integrator who can't get a job.

[randomizer]

I am sorry, it was not meant to be insulting. I should have written "autistic", in the sense that they often are
too engrossed with the program as such and not with the fact that people have to use it.

For a good portion of Free software the developers write the software for themselves, and it's a bonus if others can use it as well. It probably makes perfect sense in their view, because it's exactly how they envisioned that it would work.