why is ubuntu so difficult?

[kcard0]

i keep seeing linux how good it is,how EASY it is and once you get it you'll never go back to windows.i dual boot vista with ubuntu and no problem.i start surfing and see the compizfusion eyecandy crap,and i got to have it.why is it so hard to get it to work?whats a tarball?why do i have to go to a command prompt?why is it i go to compfizconfig and click on 3d cube it says there's conflicts with another thingamugigy,would you like to fix the watchumacallit?why is there no APPLY action type buttons?the only thing i get to work is wobbly windows.(and usually thats a 30 pack,and a fast car going down storrow drive backwards).it almost seems like you have to have gone to MIT and be a genius to figure everything out.it also seems like it was created for computer people by computer people and not the masses.with windows it is all point and click and linux seems to have alot commands.does it get easier if i get smarter?if where can i buy smart?
your pal
kcard0

[st33med]

First off, space your sentences! Its hard enough to read it.
Second, what do you need help in Ubuntu? Most of the time, you do not have to use the terminal, if you prefer.

[oboedad55]

i keep seeing linux how good it is,how EASY it is and once you get it you'll never go back to windows.i dual boot vista with ubuntu and no problem.i start surfing and see the compizfusion eyecandy crap,and i got to have it.why is it so hard to get it to work?whats a tarball?why do i have to go to a command prompt?why is it i go to compfizconfig and click on 3d cube it says there's conflicts with another thingamugigy,would you like to fix the watchumacallit?why is there no APPLY action type buttons?the only thing i get to work is wobbly windows.(and usually thats a 30 pack,and a fast car going down storrow drive backwards).it almost seems like you have to have gone to MIT and be a genius to figure everything out.it also seems like it was created for computer people by computer people and not the masses.with windows it is all point and click and linux seems to have alot commands.does it get easier if i get smarter?if where can i buy smart?
your pal
kcard0

You don't have to be a genius, I'm running it. If you want to use it and have problems, post your questions here and people will try to help you. It's always a good idea to post your hardware specs, especially video card if you want to get compiz working.

--Jon

[NoaHall]

A tarball is a compressed file type. Try downloading .deb instead, they work similar to .exe or .msi on Linux.
The command line is needed to give you more power/customizing power over your OS.
There's no apply because it's applied as soon as you click.
Thanks, I am quite smart - but you don't need to be to work out Linux.
It's just a different OS, being not the same as windows is a good thing(IMO), because windows is slow, powerless, and buggy.
It needs to sort out conflicts because there are some plugins which use the same shortcuts and do the same thing as each other. It's really not that hard.

[oldos2er]

You shouldn't need either a tarball or a command prompt to install compizconfig-settings-manager. Use Add/Remove, or Synaptic Package Manager.

You might want to read http://linux.oneandoneis2.org/LNW.htm

[pedro3005]

System > Administration > Synaptic Package Manager.
Search for "ccsm".
Mark for installation.
System > Preferences > CompizConfig Settings Manager
Enjoy.

[falconindy]

Ubuntu isn't difficult, it's just different. It's heavily driven by the command line, because that's where Linux originated. The windowed environment is comparatively new and will never be as powerful as the command line. That isn't to say that you need to use the command line. Most operations can be done from the graphical environment as well.

A tarball is a group of files rolled into one. It's essentially a zip file with no compression. That's why you rarely see .tar files and usually see .tar.gz or .tar.bz2. The extra extension is a sign of compression.

There's no "apply" button because settings are applied as soon as you change them.

Welcome to Ubuntu. It's not for everyone.

[halitech]

Linux is no harder then Windows or Mac or Amiga or any other OS that has come along. It only seems harder at first because most of us grew up on Windows and had someone (normally) along with us to help us out. Its honestly not hard, just different and we need to avoid thinking in the windows way and try to think in the Linux way.

As far as a tarball, it's basically the windows version of a zip file. As far as the command line, most instructions are given that way because its easier to say"open a terminal and run 'sudo apt-get install XX' " then it is to try and explain 10 ways of opening a graphical program and installing a program.

I've only tried compiz once and didn't care for it so I uninstalled it so can't really help you there but you didn't need to get a tarball to install it, you could have installed it from the Ubuntu Repo.

It does get easier as you use it, just a matter of remembering that Ubuntu(Linux) is not windows. Good luck and hang in there

[cranecreek]

You just have the widows mindset, this is Linux and of course its different. Windows has a terrminal but no one uses it because things were made simple for people. I have never had a Linux desktop till now so I have to learn how it works. I have always used the terrminal in Linux, actually I find it easier and I love tar balls, So simple to work with.

I am new to this site and so far the people here are more than willing to help out a fellow Ubuntu user, you'll find that for any Linux Distro. Need help just ask. Another option is to install ssh server and someone would probably do it for you.

Keep the course

[tobias_r33per]

You just have the widows mindset, this is Linux and of course its different.....

i Agree it is different and yes all flavors even have there own quirkiness, its no different to when windows changes something from version to version, my option is that ubuntu is the most user friendly i have com across, you want something hard , lets get into building your own Gentoo box from stage 1 :) but i think once you understand the basics with a little research and knowledge most things always become a little better in the long run in terms of "ease of use"

[kdmerge]

Lets see I can install windows and browse the web and view ALL content very easily and quickly - sometimes having to install software/plug-ins etc. but there is always a pop-up or message telling me I need to and linking me to where to go.

It is very quick and easy. But I want to see if Ubuntu is faster on my "older" hardware so I installed Ubuntu with Wubi and start surfing. Things work well until I try YouTube, Tangle, Hulu etc.

So I am up to about four hours now of reading forum posts and doing all kinds of stuff in the command line. And still no Hulu and no tangle videos will play. You Tube is fine but not the others not even apple.com/trailers.

I want to believe but Windows is much easier and it works.

[NoaHall]

Are you using 64 bit or 32?
Download the flash player from the official site and install.
Ubuntu is faster and more powerful - yet doesn't take up as much resources. And all the time, you can edit it in pretty much anyway you want. Shame how windows likes to make things run as slowly as possible, using as much as possible. Still, I guess it's kind of pretty.. Kind of..

[kcard0]

thank you all....i can't believe all the people that have posted replies to my frustrated ramblings.i greatly appreciate all the help.thanks for helping a newcomer out
k

[credobyte]

Are you using 64 bit or 32?
Download the flash player from the official site and install.
Ubuntu is faster and more powerful - yet doesn't take up as much resources. And all the time, you can edit it in pretty much anyway you want. Shame how windows likes to make things run as slowly as possible, using as much as possible. Still, I guess it's kind of pretty.. Kind of..

Not always. I had an old AMD ( 256Mb RAM, 64Mb video ) - Windows XP worked like a charm, Ubuntu didn't even had the power to launch LiveCD ( yes, I installed it & it was a total mess ).
For those who are curious if Ubuntu will work faster than Windows, especially, on older machines - no, it will not work faster.

[k33bz]

Not always. I had an old AMD ( 256Mb RAM, 64Mb video ) - Windows XP worked like a charm, Ubuntu didn't even had the power to launch LiveCD ( yes, I installed it & it was a total mess ).
For those who are curious if Ubuntu will work faster than Windows, especially, on older machines - no, it will not work faster.

lol, alot of the times Ubuntu wont work period on older machines. But there is always some kind of work around with that :)

[halitech]

Not always. I had an old AMD ( 256Mb RAM, 64Mb video ) - Windows XP worked like a charm, Ubuntu didn't even had the power to launch LiveCD ( yes, I installed it & it was a total mess ).
For those who are curious if Ubuntu will work faster than Windows, especially, on older machines - no, it will not work faster.

lol, alot of the times Ubuntu wont work period on older machines. But there is always some kind of work around with that :)

Ubuntu may not run but if you are used to Ubuntu, Debian will run on most machines that Ubuntu won't run on. I've install Debian with XFCE (gives you basically Xubuntu) on machines as old as a P266 laptop with 96 meg of ram and it ran fine. Wouldn't suggest trying to open youtube and open office at the same time but it ran. Its all about using the right tool for the job, which is not always Ubuntu.

[nothingspecial]

I started out with linux and it`s not difficult.

I bought a laptop once with windows preinstalled, I tried it for a bit but I didn`t know what I was doing so I installed Ubuntu.

I can see where you`re coming from.

[hockeytux]

thank you all....i can't believe all the people that have posted replies to my frustrated ramblings.i greatly appreciate all the help.thanks for helping a newcomer out
k

I think its safe to forget the command line for the moment. If you would only like to install new programs then Synaptic and the Add/Remove functions will do fine.

Actually installing plugins or new free software on Windows is no different. For downloading Skype, Firefox, Opera, OpenOffice etc you would go to their websites wouldnt you?

(I installed Skype through Synaptic though its faster :) )

[halitech]

I think its safe to forget the command line for the moment. If you would only like to install new programs then Synaptic and the Add/Remove functions will do fine.

Actually installing plugins or new free software on Windows is no different. For downloading Skype, Firefox, Opera, OpenOffice etc you would go to their websites wouldnt you?

(I installed Skype through Synaptic though its faster :) )

for Skype, you can add their repo and use synaptic. FF and OpenOffice are included, Opera you would need to get from the website.

[aeiah]

why is it i go to compfizconfig and click on 3d cube it says there's conflicts with another thingamugigy,would you like to fix the watchumacallit?

oh come on. this even told you what the problem was. all you had to do was read it a second time and let it sink in. it was probably telling you that you couldnt use the 3D cube feature whilst also using another compiz feature - probably the wall or something like that. just turn one off, turn the other one on.

[t0p]

I'm always mildly irritated when I see a question like "Why is Linux so difficult?" What the questioner really means is: "Why is Linux so much more difficult than Windows?" And it irritates me because Linux is not more difficult than Windows. In many ways it is much more simple than Windows.

Most computer users have used Windows OSes since they started using computers. After a lifetime of doing stuff the Windows way, that's what they're used to. So using Windows seems "easy" to them. They forget that they were not born with Windows-using skills. They had to learn to use Windows. They think that Windows is "intuitive". But it isn't intuitive: it's just what they are used to.

Linux is not Windows. It is a different OS - a different kind of OS. The new user has to learn how to use Linux. But he doesn't want to invest any time and effort into learning it. He wants it to "just work" like he thinks Windows "just works". He forgets all the time he had to put into learning Windows. He thinks the Windows Way is the Right Way, and that Linux is counter-intuitive and difficult. Especially when he's advised to do stuff in the terminal! He's been spoon-fed on the Windows GUI all his life, and using the "difficult", "geeky" command-line is too much for him.

But if you try to remember that Linux is just different, and you spend time learning how to use it, you will come to realize that Linux is actually easier than Windows. Simple file structure. Simple configuration files. Simple command-line interface (that can become a wonderfully complex, powerful command-line interface if you want it to be). Linux is not Windows. It's just different. And, I believe, it's better.

Okay, in recent years a lot of developers have decided that they must aim to steal users from Windows. So they have concentrated on making Linux like Windows. And now you don't really need the terminal at all - you can do just about everything through the GUI, which is what Windows users are used to. And I suppose they're right in doing this. They want to increase Linux's "market share", which they equate with taking market share from Windows. As a result, most "popular" distros are much easier for Windows users to learn. That isn't a bad thing in itself. But it means the new user sees all these similarities with Windows; then when they have to learn an aspect of Linux that isn't like what they're used to, they freak out. And ask questions like: "Why is Ubuntu so difficult?"

Try to bear in mind that Linux is not Windows. It's just different. Try to lose your preconceptions and spend some time learning it. You just might find it's the best computer-based decision you ever made.

[epsolon77]

The joy that I find in Ubuntu is choice. While I do work in IT and know more than most, I am not a computer genius. Ubuntu gives you the option to install what you want when you want. You can install from source or use an install package. This way you can select exactly what you need instead of what someone else decided they better throw in just in case.

A TAR is simmilar to a ZIP file, just files that are compressed.

As some have said a deb file would be easier to install then a tar. Think of a deb file as an easy install file.

I think the reason Ubuntu is "so difficult" is because people approach it like it is a windows replacement. While it provides a good chunk of the same functions, they are completely different. Just remember that there is a great amount of help for Ubuntu, and other linux distro's right at Google's fingertips. Use the support groups just like you are now, and I am sure you can get it all worked out. After all, half the fun is in the journey.

[scrooge_74]

i keep seeing linux how good it is,how EASY it is and once you get it you'll never go back to windows.i dual boot vista with ubuntu and no problem.i start surfing and see the compizfusion eyecandy crap,and i got to have it.why is it so hard to get it to work?whats a tarball?why do i have to go to a command prompt?why is it i go to compfizconfig and click on 3d cube it says there's conflicts with another thingamugigy,would you like to fix the watchumacallit?why is there no APPLY action type buttons?the only thing i get to work is wobbly windows.(and usually thats a 30 pack,and a fast car going down storrow drive backwards).it almost seems like you have to have gone to MIT and be a genius to figure everything out.it also seems like it was created for computer people by computer people and not the masses.with windows it is all point and click and linux seems to have alot commands.does it get easier if i get smarter?if where can i buy smart?
your pal
kcard0

Are we feeding the trolls?

This is the same stuff all the time

[credobyte]

Ubuntu may not run but if you are used to Ubuntu, Debian will run on most machines that Ubuntu won't run on. I've install Debian with XFCE (gives you basically Xubuntu) on machines as old as a P266 laptop with 96 meg of ram and it ran fine. Wouldn't suggest trying to open youtube and open office at the same time but it ran. Its all about using the right tool for the job, which is not always Ubuntu.

That's what it runs now ( since February, if I remember right ) :p

[presence1960]

Lets see I can install windows and browse the web and view ALL content very easily and quickly - sometimes having to install software/plug-ins etc. but there is always a pop-up or message telling me I need to and linking me to where to go.

It is very quick and easy. But I want to see if Ubuntu is faster on my "older" hardware so I installed Ubuntu with Wubi and start surfing. Things work well until I try YouTube, Tangle, Hulu etc.

So I am up to about four hours now of reading forum posts and doing all kinds of stuff in the command line. And still no Hulu and no tangle videos will play. You Tube is fine but not the others not even apple.com/trailers.

I want to believe but Windows is much easier and it works.

If you really like Windows better than that is what you should use. When you come to linux expect a steep learning curve. You should really dual boot with windows until you can get up to speed with linux. this way if you get jammed up you can boot into windows and do what you need to do, then come back to linux and learn.

Most of what you know about windows is useless in linux. You are trying something different so you have to make the effort to learn "the new way" of doing things and expect bumps along the path. if you aren't willing to learn new tricks or to work through issues maybe you should stick with windows. We all (those who came from windows) went through the trials & tribulations with the switch. Those who kept the right frame of mind & were willing to start anew and learn have never gone back.

I don't think you knew too much about windows when you first used it. maybe the problem is you don't want to give up "what you know" about windows because you cherish that. If that is the case drop the ego and begin to learn anew if you are truly tired of windows. if not I suggest you use windows.

[MarcusW]

why is it i go to compfizconfig and click on 3d cube it says there's conflicts with another thingamugigy,would you like to fix the watchumacallit?


Um, "yes I would like to fix the watchumacallit" didn't work? :D

[juancarlospaco]

http://www.salagir.com/gfx/troll-web.jpg

:)

[scratman]

A quick note for Original Poster with regard to the Terminal. This is not an original post, but will hopefully address some of the posters' concerns.

The Terminal (referred to as the Command Line in Windows parlance) is quite simply the most powerful way to manipulate the settings and setup of your operating system. No, it's not exactly eye-candy, but it does a job, and very well. You can do almost everything through the GUI that you can through the Terminal, but there are certain benefits to using the Terminal. It's extremely stable, as it is one of the core components of all Linux distributions (distros), it is tried, tested and trusted.

Secondly, if the tasks you wish to perform include many actions and changes, it is actually a lot easier for the people on this forum to provide the commands required to resolve your issue than it is to give you step by step directions through every individual pane of the GUI method. That way you can simply copy and paste the commands into Terminal, saving everybody time and hassle.

[k33bz]

Ubuntu may not run but if you are used to Ubuntu, Debian will run on most machines that Ubuntu won't run on. I've install Debian with XFCE (gives you basically Xubuntu) on machines as old as a P266 laptop with 96 meg of ram and it ran fine. Wouldn't suggest trying to open youtube and open office at the same time but it ran. Its all about using the right tool for the job, which is not always Ubuntu.


That I will agree with, I have debian with LXDE installed on an old HP Vectra with 272MB RAM with a Pentium Processor at 133MHz. Works like a charm.

[steveneddy]

Here's my two cents:

Linux is NOT Windows.

After you wrap your head around that, remember that this is a totally different operating system.

It operates differently than other operating systems.

That's the beauty of operating systems, they are all different, do many of the same things, but in different manners.

Kinda like sisters or cousins. they may look or act similar but each one makes a sandwich a little different.

Everyone else gave you the advice you needed, now read the links in my sig so that you start to learn about your new operating system.

And it's not hard, it's different. Now go learn something.