Why Ubuntu is far away to be ready for the average user

[sandbird]

1. Hard to install:

Ubuntu can be installed (almost) easily only on VMWare.
As for full install on real hardware even I can't managed to install it, and I know something on Linux more then the average user. It simply failed to install on any computer.
Also in VMWare it'll not be easy to a normal user who don't know what it /etc and all the other "strange" questions of the VMWare tools installation script (also how can a normal user know how to execute this script in the first place?). I managed to install the VMWare tools without any problems but I know something on Linux. My mom will never managed to do that.

2. It looks very ugly for the average user (It's ok for me BTW):

Well, few very powerful linux gurus managed to turn on the 3D accelerations but it's not something that everyone can do. I personally never saw these effects only on youtube videos.

3. Anything is done on the command line:

Fine with me but average user will not going to like it.

[Greyed]

Why? There's literally 1,000s of topics that have rehash this for the past 3 years. Why another? Search the forums to see why you're wrong.

[koenn]

As for full install on real hardware even I can't managed to install it

if you're having trouble installing Ubuntu, a support request in the appropriate forum might be more effective than this useless rant.

I particularly like the "even I can't ..." part. There's a couple of thousand people out there, "average users" mostly, that manage to install Ubuntu just fine.

You might want to read this:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=450676

[skintythe1andonly]

I would have to disagree. I actually saw one of my friends in college using the cube and said id give linux a try as I was getting frustrated at the time with how long my system was taking to boot and I swa starting to program at the time so I said idd try it out. I was up and running with cube and all in a day, with no problems on my laptop. I have since got my parents home pc up and running with ubuntu too. Once my brother saw synaptic, he thought it was great, i remember him asking if there was a 30 day trial with all these programs or something. My mother now has an acer aspire one which is running linpus linux which really does make things easier she thinks, as she says "it just works!"

[sandbird]

As I said, if you're not super-linux-master then you'll not be able to install it unless someone will do that for you.

Windows XP is "next, next, next" and while one or 2 drivers will be missing - at last it's working out of the box anywhere.

[jespdj]

1. Hard to install:
That's not my experience. Just because you happen to have hardware on which it won't install easily, doesn't mean that this is so for everybody. Try installing Windows XP on a newer laptop (with Santa Rosa chipset) - you'll notice that it is not easy to find all the drivers you need.

2. It looks very ugly for the average user (It's ok for me BTW):

Well, few very powerful linux gurus managed to turn on the 3D accelerations but it's not something that everyone can do. I personally never saw these effects only on youtube videos.
That's your personal taste. Not everybody agrees with your personal taste. Turning on the 3D effects is easy: go to System / Preferences / Appearance / Visual Effects.

3. Anything is done on the command line:
Nonsense, you don't need the command line for most tasks on Ubuntu.

[koenn]

As I said, if you're not super-linux-master then you'll not be able to install it unless someone will do that for you.

Windows XP is "next, next, next" and while one or 2 drivers will be missing - at last it's working out of the box anywhere.

I remember the first time I installed Ubuntu, it consisted of nothing more than clicking "next" 5 or 6 times, and the only information I needed to provide is what username I wanted and what country I live in. And everything worked out of the box - not even "one or 2 drivers missing".
Are you seriously claiming that one needs to be a super-linux-master to accomplish that ?

[Greyed]

Windows XP is "next, next, next" and while one or 2 drivers will be missing - at last it's working out of the box anywhere.

Funny, that's been my last several KUbuntu installs, even the one on a 10 year old Laptop at which XP turns up its nose.

[Closed_Port]

Wow.
Even for a troll attempt, this was incredibly pathetic.
You should be ashamed of yourself for not even being able to troll and people should simply ignore this stupid and obvious flamebait threat.

[sandbird]

I have normal hardware and even ATI graphics card which is Linux friendly, but Ubuntu is failed to install on it.

[koenn]

I have normal hardware and even ATI graphics card which is Linux friendly, but Ubuntu is failed to install on it.

Explain your problem
here : http://ubuntuforums.org/forumdisplay.php?f=326
or here : http://ubuntuforums.org/forumdisplay.php?f=333

[sandbird]

Wow.
Even for a troll attempt, this was incredibly pathetic.
You should be ashamed of yourself for not even being able to troll and people should simply ignore this stupid and obvious flamebait threat.

You just can't reply to the facts that I posted.

Until that it'll be easy to install - it'll not be ready for the desktop.

Right now it's only "ready to vmware playing".

[mips]

As I said, if you're not super-linux-master then you'll not be able to install it unless someone will do that for you.

Windows XP is "next, next, next" and while one or 2 drivers will be missing - at last it's working out of the box anywhere.

I'm inclined to call troll.

Ubuntu requires way less steps to install compared to XP. This from personal experience.

[Solicitous]

As I said, if you're not super-linux-master then you'll not be able to install it unless someone will do that for you.

Windows XP is "next, next, next" and while one or 2 drivers will be missing - at last it's working out of the box anywhere.

Ok Windows install might be next next next, but I disagree with it working out of the box. I have built many systems where the video and nic are recognised but require the drivers to be installed before the device works (video is ok, but the nic is a pain, can't just get online and download them). With Ubuntu...lets just say if your chances of winning the lottery were as high as Ubuntu recognising hardware and installing the drivers, then everyone would be multi-millionaire. The big upside of Ubuntu, if you run the live CD you'll know how much of your system works out of the box, with Windows you need to install and see.

Then after install something EVERYONE should do is updates. From years of working in IT performing updates on Ubuntu is far far BY FAR easier than on Windows (heck you run wuauclt /detectnow from cmdline and you get no feedback other than seeing svchost running at 99%, and then Windows waits for a long time to alert you in the system tray). With Ubuntu you get prompted or can go through Software Packages and update with feedback to the user (or cmdline for the brave) right after install.

Anyway, how many average users install operating systems anyway? I reckon bugger all, they buy a PC with it preinstalled and should they need to reinstall they use the supplied restore disc. So installation anyway isn't that much of an issue.

Sandbird, you say you havent been able to install Ubuntu on any computer....I'd check your hardware or look at your install procedure.

I'm tired of reading these discussions. I personally believe that the average person isn't ready for Ubuntu. Reason being, alot of average people can't make choices, and Ubuntu and Linux in general provide nothing but choices for people.

[mikewhatever]

As I said, if you're not super-linux-master then you'll not be able to install it unless someone will do that for you.

Windows XP is "next, next, next" and while one or 2 drivers will be missing - at last it's working out of the box anywhere.

Ridiculous!:lolflag:
Now, before you disagree, this is a supermaster speaking.

Well, few very powerful linux gurus managed to turn on the 3D accelerations but it's not something that everyone can do. I personally never saw these effects only on youtube videos.

I am also an extremely powerful linux guru, yeah! Keep going.:lolflag:\\:D/

[lisati]

I've found Ubuntu much easier to install than XP - the few "tweaks" number somewhat less than what I'd need if I went to the shop, bought a Windows disk, and tried to set up my system from scratch. Even when I run into trouble, these forums are a great place to seek help. I'm currently having a breather from sorting out a major mess-up on my system (to cut a potentially long and boring story short, entering in an misplaced "Format C:" from a windows recovery console does wonders for an Ubuntu installation if it's the only OS on the system) and one "hiccup" that came up while I was re-installing was solved within a short time searching earlier posts, without the need for trolling or ranting....

Don't be fooled by my post count - there are some folks registered with www.ubuntuforums.org who have a better chance of providing a useful answer to many of the questions asked.

Feel free to ask specific questions about specific problems.

[Vince4Amy]

3. Anything is done on the command line

In Distros such as OpenSUSE everything can be done Via a GUI. However I still use the command line on OpenSUSE why..

Because it's faster, easier to do things & gives more verbose information. I even use the command line on Vista sometimes to do things, it's just an alternative way of doing things, it is also a quicker way of doing things.

[AlexR1]

guys read this and stop worrying about this guy.

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=58017&highlight=anatomy+troll

[fatality_uk]

I was planning to do the whole "Ubuntu is easy to install, it even setup's up dual boot with ease" thing, but instead, im just going to say "MEH!"

[the8thstar]

1. Hard to install:

Ubuntu can be installed (almost) easily only on VMWare.
As for full install on real hardware even I can't managed to install it, and I know something on Linux more then the average user. It simply failed to install on any computer.
Also in VMWare it'll not be easy to a normal user who don't know what it /etc and all the other "strange" questions of the VMWare tools installation script (also how can a normal user know how to execute this script in the first place?). I managed to install the VMWare tools without any problems but I know something on Linux. My mom will never managed to do that.

2. It looks very ugly for the average user (It's ok for me BTW):

Well, few very powerful linux gurus managed to turn on the 3D accelerations but it's not something that everyone can do. I personally never saw these effects only on youtube videos.

3. Anything is done on the command line:

Fine with me but average user will not going to like it.

Why did you try Ubuntu? You could have stuck with Windows or tried OS X instead. So why do you complain?

[mikewhatever]

I was planning to do the whole "Ubuntu is easy to install, it even setup's up dual boot with ease" thing, but instead, im just going to say "MEH!"

+1.:) I forgot the dual boot thing. Guess it makes us all mighty powerful linux magicians.:twisted::biggrin:
This is the funniest thread I've seen in a while.:)

[forger]

sandbird, get a petition (http://www.petitiononline.com) signed from 1000+ people that the desktop is not usable and forward it to the ubuntu development team.
This is the only way you can prove your point, not by claiming that it's not ready for an average user and you're only talking about yourself.

Drivers are a general problem in linux, it doesn't matter if it's ati or nvidia or any other graphics card, their manufacturers just didn't make a good driver that "just works" and is open source..

You will not understand this, and I don't know if you were there when Windows XP was firstly made, but imagine Ubuntu being Windows XP in the year 2000, only it's free, it's open source, you're allowed to distribute it, you can download tons of free games, you *can* enable appearance effects from System > Preferences > Appearance > Visual effects.

You don't have the same effects in Windows XP, and you surely don't have all your drivers pre-installed. You also have to *find* your drivers to download them or have the CD. Ubuntu does that *for you* and recommends the best driver solution it can. And yes, you don't have to be a linux guru to make effects work, you have to be willing to do it. You have to find the shortcut keys, but you can search in google (http://www.google.com/search?q=compiz%20shortcut%20keys) and find them.

Instead of whining, I would recommend to keep trying. Effects are the eye-candy, but that's just eye-candy, there are real issues like hardware not being supported well, or not being able to limit your internet bandwidth.. these are real issues and can be fixed only if you file or find an adequate bug report (http://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu) :)

[meho_r]

1. Hard to install:

Ubuntu can be installed (almost) easily only on VMWare.
As for full install on real hardware even I can't managed to install it, and I know something on Linux more then the average user. It simply failed to install on any computer.
Also in VMWare it'll not be easy to a normal user who don't know what it /etc and all the other "strange" questions of the VMWare tools installation script (also how can a normal user know how to execute this script in the first place?). I managed to install the VMWare tools without any problems but I know something on Linux. My mom will never managed to do that.

2. It looks very ugly for the average user (It's ok for me BTW):

Well, few very powerful linux gurus managed to turn on the 3D accelerations but it's not something that everyone can do. I personally never saw these effects only on youtube videos.

3. Anything is done on the command line:

Fine with me but average user will not going to like it.

Hahaha :D That's a good one ;)

[bash]

When I first started using Linux in form of Ubuntu 6.10 I was curious what I would await me. I was positively surprised from the Live CD and liked the concept immediately. Found the installation to be breathing easy, especially compared Windows XP (Installing Windows has gotten a lot better with Vista). Though when I first started Ubuntu and began to use I had a few problems where I really struggled. My biggest problem was the insanely complicated way of installing proprietary graphics drivers. And getting to install Beryl back then wasn't the obvious as well. But my issues have been resolved in the following releases. I mean installing graphics has become incredibly easy. Just one click and you should be set. No more recompiling on newer kernel versions and so on. And even Compiz now just requires one click to get activated.

[graabein]

Far, far away. Yeah right.

[mangar]

This topic has been discussed to hell and back a billion time.
please lock it, and add it to the "Linux Desktop Readiness Thread".

I do agree that Linux is not ready for the average user, but discussing this topic is beating a dead horse.

[K.Mandla]

Closed. Moved. Yawn. Next, please.