Linux Mint Forums

I'm a soon to be an ex-W7 user who's looking to get somewhere without so much spying and the like. I've dabbled in LM for a little while now, with LM19 being my latest foray into the world of Linux. I'm making more of a concerted effort this time because of the whole W7 EOL thing.

Being bad that I am (or a more comfortable Windows user if you were), I will say that it is still disappointing to see just how much is still command line and digging in directories. I would have hoped that Linux as a whole, and Mint in particular, would have moved past that by now. Especially if it wants to be taken seriously and be seen as a contender for the flood of people that will be looking for a safer place real soon.

Anyway, put away the pitchforks and torches now. I use Linux in the office and the file structure doesn't seem to be that much different from the Red Hat Enterprise that we use. I can also see a lot of what I use on Windows can be found for Linux too.

Seggers

HI "seggers",

Welcome to the wonderful world of Linux Mint and its excellent forum!

seggers wrote:I will say that it is still disappointing to see just how much is still command line and digging in directories. I would have hoped that Linux as a whole, and Mint in particular, would have moved past that by now. Especially if it wants to be taken seriously and be seen as a contender for the flood of people that will be looking for a safer place real soon.

Anyway, put away the pitchforks and torches now. I use Linux in the office and the file structure doesn't seem to be that much different from the Red Hat Enterprise that we use. I can also see a lot of what I use on Windows can be found for Linux too.

Most people do not have to use the console terminal (command prompt) except for installing software that is not in the Software Manager or Synaptic Package Manager SPM, or for the occasional maintenance if something is not working as it should, or for some particular customization not available in the System Settings. Although, It will not hurt anyone to learn a little about some console terminal commands which was the same in MS Windows and their "command prompt". And, if there is a need to use the console terminal, there are usually well-defined instructions for people to copy and then paste those instructions into a console terminal window.

As for "digging in directories", I am not sure what that means, or how that would be any different in any computer operating system including MS Windows or Mac.

My FiL wouldn't have the slightest clue about opening terminal windows, editing files and digging through directories looking for log files... In his current W10 (unclean...) all he does is point, click and done. This is what I meant.

The reason I joined the forums was about how to get bookmarks to autoconnect (as they do in W95, W98, NT etc, you get the idea), as per the below, but part of that fun was that the SMB rules had been changed and what worked under 18.3 (from my googlings) now didn't under 19. The fix? Find a config file, add a line to it and reboot. No such effort needed in Windows as it just 'works'. My W7 machine saw everything the LM19 laptop couldn't.

And that, right there, is what I meant about Linux (and LM19) needing to improve such that the FiLs of the world can *use* the OS without having to *learn* anything about it. They don't want to and they shouldn't need to. Think the Apple Mac crowd but with a bit more smarts.... That's why there are clever programmers out there.

Anyway, I'll get off my soapbox as I don't fear a terminal window or the VI editor.

Seggers

My post:
viewtopic.php?f=90&t=275506

What is an FiL?

Thanks.

I think he means Father in-law.

Yep, that's the one. Basically, anyone that you get roped into being tech support because they just can't work it out for themselves.

Seggers

Welcome to the world! I grew up using DOS/Windows so am comfortable with terminal, that said, 99% of tasks can be done without it. It's sometimes quicker to use terminal, however. It is also easier to convey your instructions by saying "type this" than trying to tell someone to "right click on the third icon on the left and then......", so, of course, you are going to see a lot of terminal commands on forums such as this. The people here are very knowledgeable and willing to go the extra mile to help, unlike some other forums out there. FWIW my wife has only recently learnt how to navigate any computer, she is just not particularly interested in using it for anything other than a glorified media player. I only recently upgraded her from Windows to Linux (18.3 then 19) and she has found it way more stable and "friendly" than Windows. Windows 10 January update was the final nail in the coffin for me. I just want a system that works. Mint is that system. Compared to the M$ offerings - updates are painless, have yet to need to re-set all my file shares because of an "update", not one BSOD.....need I go on?

seggers wrote: ⤴Sun Aug 12, 2018 1:18 pm I'm a soon to be an ex-W7 user

Welcome! Where in the world is WNY?

Welcome aboard, seggers! I have moved a bunch of family and friends over to Linux, and it's a pretty safe bet that none of them has ever used the command line. If they had, I would know about it, because they would have gotten hold of me to ask me how to do it. For most people, it's just point and click.

Hello seggers and Welcome to Linux Mint Forums,
Enjoy

Hello seggers

Welcome to Linux Mint and the Linux Mint forum

catweazel wrote: ⤴Mon Aug 13, 2018 1:28 am

seggers wrote: ⤴Sun Aug 12, 2018 1:18 pm I'm a soon to be an ex-W7 user

Welcome! Where in the world is WNY?

Ah, yes. We are the arse end of the rust belt in NE US. Buffalo NY, the end of NY state that has Niagara Falls (and no where near to those cesspits known as Albany and NYC) in it and a reputation - deserved most of the time - for being the dumping ground of Mother Nature when it comes to snow...

Seggers