Why Linux isn’t quite mainstream (yet)
By Sharon Jackson in Reader
Posted in computers, linux on February 6, 2008 at 9:03 pm
I’ve been messing around with an old PC and installed Linux Ubuntu Feisty Fawn (7.04). No problems with the installation, especially after recently installing Windows XP and comparing time/ease etc. However, I am real close to uninstalling FF and putting XP back - the only thing preventing me is that I know this machine freezes up under Windows for some unfathomable reason.
The reason? Because getting wireless to work is a pig!
I specifically sourced a usb wireless point that would definitely work with Ubuntu from Linux Emporium (great, fast and friendly service btw) . Now, being a Linux virgin I was under the misapprehension that you’d get an auto run like in Windows - hahahahahah. After looking at the docs etc and finding no user-friendly guides I rang my Linux expert brother. He said ‘just plug the usb in and see what happens’. So I did - and it worked! Partly…
What I hadn’t bargained for was the fact that WPA encryption wasn’t supported. So off I went to search the forums and found a submission with what looked like step by step instrucction. They were to a point. I had to look up how to comment out lines and then ring my bro again to see how I could create a file /etc/default/wpasupplicant.
After following the instructions faithfully there was still no WPA encryption available. Reading through the comments I saw that, while it did seem to work for most people, it didn’t work for others. So I am waiting for my uber-geek brother to ride up on his cyber-horse and save the day.
Now, I’m not a total geek but I do kinda know my way around a computer and can generally figure out the solution to a problem but I still couldn’t get the darned thing to work. So how would the general computer user feel if faced with these problems?
Windows may be the root of all evil (lol) but until Linux can be as user-friendly to the average Josephine then I can see why not many people are joining the RevolutionOS (good documentary, need to go and watch the second half sometime).
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Loading ...Comment by Mario - February 8, 2008 on 9:26 am
An interesting write-up. Have you since tried 7.10 Gutsy to see if that fixes the issue? I’ve just started using Linux on an old PC and have installed Ubuntu. I thought I’d comment because I’ve had the opposite experience with hardware i.e. hardware that was a nightmare under XP (a HP 7410 all-in-one) works great with HPLIP under Ubuntu. Under Windows, the HP provided software was extremely flaky - it was hundreds of megs and the only mostly-reliable service was printing. Scanning and faxing only worked on a clean unpatched XP install - nightmare! Under Ubuntu, it always works, all the time. Great! I wasn’t expecting that at all.
Comment by K Rider - February 8, 2008 on 9:42 am
Its exaxtly the same fun as I have had with Linux. It loads up the OS fine, and you have got an office suite, a web browser, DVD player/writers, Games, etc, all loaded and working for you.
BUT, if you want to try and add some applications, it gets really complex, and the instructions seem to be in gobbelde gook.
Comment by Sharon Jackson - February 8, 2008 on 10:28 am
Mario : I’m downloading Gutsy and giving that a go later - must do homework first though 
K : Luckily if I do hit a total brick wall my brother uses linux exclusively and will come and fix it for me, nice guy that he is 
Comment by Mike Skuse - February 10, 2008 on 4:17 pm
Agreed, nice write up there:)
I will admit that I’m a Microsoft Fanboy (- Hence the Zune and the love for Vista - oooh shiney)
However I also like Ubuntu, when I have enough time and money I’d love to have a proper system running Ubuntu rather than just using live cd’s and virtual machines - Ubuntu seems to be seemless - if it needs a driver it gets it a bit easier than Windows I believe. However I blame hardware manufacturers for the fact that Linux isnt as successful - by not supporting it with drivers and applications most people wont think twice, perhaps that’ll change a bit more in the future with more and more people influences from the internet etc.
Another thing that I’m highly interested in when I come into money and get a house of my own is having a Linux Media centre for example LinuxMCE or Plutohome - both of these are amazing - they can not only control media but lighting, blinds and security along with everything else in your home which I’m amazed at and love the idea of - they are also easy to impliment in all rooms so that you can move between two rooms whilst watching a movie and it’ll follow you which its what I’d love to be able to do (I wont bother but I’d love to be able to lol)
Anywho fingers crossed to Linux becoming mainstream!
Comment by Ben Smith - February 11, 2008 on 1:03 pm
Exactly the same reason why I went back to XP. Ubuntu looked great at first and was much faster than XP, but the wireless wouldn’t work with WPA for love nor money.
Comment by Sharon Jackson - February 11, 2008 on 9:15 pm
Mike - setting up a Linux home is my brother’s pet project, when he has time away from his very demanding job! A fellow student of mine has been running Linux and got really into it, prefers it to Windows in fact, and has now got his GF wanting Ubuntu on her laptop.
Ben - it is infuriating! I haven’t had chance to install Gutsy Gibbon yet, may even just leave it til April when Hardy Heron is due. In my final year at college and I think this term is going to be BUSY. If I do get it up and running be sure I’ll be celebrating on here lol
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