Ubuntu will never be ready for prime time.

[whatthefunk]

Unity aside, the Ubuntu family is very hassle free for me. There is a bit of a Linux learning curve I think, but once you get over that its a whole lot easier than Windows. Maybe if you stuck to it for a bit longer you would learn how to use it. My first couple weeks with Linux were not good weeks, but now there isnt much I cant do and I am definitely not a code geek, whatever that is....

[philinux]

Moved to Testimonials and Experiences.

[malspa]

This OS will never be ready for primetime/anyone except code geeks.

Back around 2005, I was a moderately competent Windows user, thinking about learning to use Linux. One of the IT guys at work, with a superior, condescending attitude, looked down his nose at me and sniffed, "Linux involves a huge learning curve." I took that as, "It's more than your simple monkey brain can handle." He added, "Linux is not ready for prime time."

It's 2012. I'm still no "code geek," but I can use a terminal when I want/need to. And I've been using only Linux at home for something like 5 years. I don't get this "not ready for prime time" stuff. And I certainly don't understand why anyone has issues with software installation in Ubuntu or any other Linux distro. Synpaptic, Yumex, etc., they're all quite easy to use.

FUD.

[pinguinhood]

I told my friends about Ubuntu and they all wanted to give it a try. The first time I helped them (even if nobody helped me the first time I installed Ubuntu 7.10). They usually use Ubuntu and they have re-installed it from they own without go crazy or have to use terminal to install applications.
I hope you can try next Ubuntu 12.04 and enjoy it!

[aysiu]

I switched back to Windows on my main machine a year or two ago, and I still miss having a terminal.

Windows does have a terminal. Start menu >

cmd.exe

[rjbl]

Hi Folks,

I just tried out the latest release of Ubuntu (The past decade,
each time Ubuntu would make a new release...I'd always download/install it
and then promptly end up deleting it)

I have finally realized something:

This OS will never be ready for primetime/anyone except code geeks.

Something as basic as software installation is virtually impossible/herculean.

This basically is what kills Ubuntu: the moment I have to call up the terminal
and start banging out Unix command lines. With version 11, this is flat out
unforgivable...yet there it is: I have to type out cryptic command lines
to do a basic software install.

I really wanted this OS to succeed, however the fact that it's been over SEVEN YEARS
and Ubuntu still has yet to get their act together with an easy to use/hassle free
operating system....

I'm forced to stick with OSX, although I thoroughly despise what Apple is doing to
OSX (migrating it with iOS), the fact is this: IT JUST WORKS.

Balderdash, plain and simple. Plainly you are trolling, please don't waste your bandwidth and this community's patience and goodwill, any more

rjbl

[Myrddin Emrys]

Something as basic as software installation is virtually impossible/herculean.

This basically is what kills Ubuntu: the moment I have to call up the terminal
and start banging out Unix command lines. With version 11, this is flat out
unforgivable...yet there it is: I have to type out cryptic command lines
to do a basic software install.

What were you trying to install? If it's one of the thousands of packages in the Ubuntu repositories you can install it via a very straightforward GUI that is no more difficult to use than iTunes (this is one area where most of the large Linux distributions were way ahead of Apple, which only launched a desktop App Store last year, and MS, which will be launching one with Windows 8. In the most recent versions of Ubuntu, the pre-installed GUI is the Software Centre. Another option is Synaptic (formerly the default, and now available via the Software Centre). If the software you want to install is not available in the Ubuntu repositories, then it's generally either for licensing reasons, or because it's too new or specialised for the maintainers to have included it.

You'll often see installation command lines ('apt-get install whatever') quoted on forums like this, but it's rarely necessary to use them if you prefer the GUI alternative. Just start the Software Centre or Synaptic and search for the package of interest. However, if you try it, you might find that typing (or pasting) the installation command into a terminal is actually quicker and more convenient than firing up the GUI. Many of us use both systems, depending on the situation.

[MG&TL]

Windows does have a terminal. Start menu >

cmd.exe

Just not a very good one.

[Tamlynmac]

rjbl
Balderdash, plain and simple.

You may be correct. The statement "never be ready for prime time" or "not ready for prime time" was posted long ago in this section. I recall reading the same words shortly after I joined the forums and every year since.

IMHO the specific purpose of this comment is to annoy those members who frequent the T&E. Once again it appears that this message has accomplished the intended goal.

I'd like to suggest we stop reacting to these types of comments. Ignoring them, in the hopes they eventually realize that's it's an ineffective ploy. Ask yourself, who & why someone would bother posting such a message on a regular basis? Perhaps, the answer lies in - anticipated reaction.

Just my $0.02

[BigSilly]

Imho Ubuntu is more ready than ever before. Just my tuppence worth.