An Ubuntu confession

[thedilemma]

I've used Ubuntu for what seems like half a year, though most of my usage is just basic work-related activity, such AbiWord and web browsing. In many ways I feel intimidated it and have, on numerous occasions, considered switching back to Windows. However, I want to continue to use Ubuntu - open source seems like such a good idea, it seems much more secure than Windows, it saves me anywhere from $100-400, and I like certain features of it moreso than I do Windows. But when I see various features that come with my wireless mouse or printer that I have no clue how to get working, I feel utterly crushed in my technical ability.

I've been a Windows user for roughly seven years and consider myself "tech savvy", but the comfort zone for situations like this seems to be the dividing line between geeks and super-geeks. It seems like you need to develop a masochistic desire for problem solving and/or learning information about the OS that you may or may not need to know to master Ubuntu and Linux in general. It would be so much easier to just load up an XP disc and be done with it. However, I haven't done that for several reasons:

* I feel as if there's undiscovered 'treasure' about the OS that I don't know about, and will appreciate after mastering the OS (is this possible if one does not code?)
* Going back to XP would make me feel like a quitter on both Ubuntu and the open source movement
* I feel like that if I can't solve these problems or refuse/do not want to do so, thus neglecting to learn more about the OS, I'm stupid in some way.

I may just have to switch if my school demands it; if they don't, the choice is up to me and I'm leaning towards toughing it out with Ubuntu, though I have to ask, does anyone else feel this way?

[jinx099]

I know how you feel, and I have also been in a similar situation. I attempted to switch almost completely to Linux, but ended up going back to Windows for similar reasons as you have described. I stuck with it one day (as you are trying to do for yourself) and use Linux pretty much exclusively (with the exception of gaming).

My advice for you is to use the forums here to get the small things worked out. Trust me, after using Ubuntu for a while, you wont want to use Windows again.

[leedsdevil]

LOL you know, funny thats how you feel as well as i do. i built both the wife and kid computers and installed Ubuntu on both .they dont seem to have many issues other than getting whats off of thier old computers to work on the new ones. i play with thier pcs offten and have considered using Linux of any distro on my box, here again the gamer is afriad to change lol. so please dont feel bad

[ticopelp]

It seems like you need to develop a masochistic desire for problem solving and/or learning information about the OS that you may or may not need to know to master Ubuntu and Linux in general. It would be so much easier to just load up an XP disc and be done with it. However, I haven't done that for several reasons:

Unless you're having massive hardware issues, I really don't agree with this assessment at all. Ubuntu is by far the most user-friendly distro of Linux I've ever used... most of my problems have been solved, often within minutes, by either Googling or asking / searching around here.

You absolutely don't need to know how to code. You might have to type a few things into the terminal, but seriously, that's not so bad. Especially if you are, as you say, "tech-savvy."

[ukripper]

I've used Ubuntu for what seems like half a year, though most of my usage is just basic work-related activity, such AbiWord and web browsing. In many ways I feel intimidated it and have, on numerous occasions, considered switching back to Windows. However, I want to continue to use Ubuntu - open source seems like such a good idea, it seems much more secure than Windows, it saves me anywhere from $100-400, and I like certain features of it moreso than I do Windows. But when I see various features that come with my wireless mouse or printer that I have no clue how to get working, I feel utterly crushed in my technical ability.

I've been a Windows user for roughly seven years and consider myself "tech savvy", but the comfort zone for situations like this seems to be the dividing line between geeks and super-geeks. It seems like you need to develop a masochistic desire for problem solving and/or learning information about the OS that you may or may not need to know to master Ubuntu and Linux in general. It would be so much easier to just load up an XP disc and be done with it. However, I haven't done that for several reasons:

* I feel as if there's undiscovered 'treasure' about the OS that I don't know about, and will appreciate after mastering the OS (is this possible if one does not code?)
* Going back to XP would make me feel like a quitter on both Ubuntu and the open source movement
* I feel like that if I can't solve these problems or refuse/do not want to do so, thus neglecting to learn more about the OS, I'm stupid in some way.

I may just have to switch if my school demands it; if they don't, the choice is up to me and I'm leaning towards toughing it out with Ubuntu, though I have to ask, does anyone else feel this way?

i can imagine how many users are feeling about the experience you going through but it surely worth giving a go to learn a new OS. in my opinion you should control your OS not other way around so i think you are doing a good job by not quitting

[markonhismobile]

It seems like you need to develop a masochistic desire for problem solving and/or learning information about the OS that you may or may not need to know to master Ubuntu and Linux in general.

I loved this part of your post as it rings so true for me! I am one of these
masochistic people who loves the kind of problem solving you speak of I've lost count of the many hours I've spend digging through forums and google trying to sort out problems both on my own PC's and in my job as an IT support technician!

I originally switched one PC in my house over to Ubuntu as a little experiment as I was tired of XP's dog slow network transfer speeds (not ideal when said PC is serving up huge ISO's and movies!) so I slung a spare HDD in, installed Ubuntu and setup Samba - which was my first challenge as I'd never done that before. After checking on here and fiddling around in Webmin I managed to get it doing and found network transfer greatly improved. At this point I started on the road to converting to Ubuntu I have found many useful guides and solutions to problems on here and I keep coming back to some of them each time I setup a new PC (Hamachi HOWTO!)

I've found the best way to keep on top of all my problem solving was to get a Del.icio.us account and the FF plug-in so I could easily tag the relevant pages as I found them so I could access them from any web-connected PC

[em007a]

It seems like you need to develop a masochistic desire for problem solving and/or learning information about the OS that you may or may not need to know to master Ubuntu and Linux in general.

Since Windows95, many techy friends along with myself blame MS for creating an environment where people just don't want to think anymore.

Some may see this as a plus, but the reality is people are getting lazy. They just accept that "this is the way it has to be done" because the choices are already made for them. Why take the time to learn anything when you can just use a ready made solution. Our problem solving skills are suffering because of this.

Don't take the above literally word for word. It's a generalization of how MS has bred ignorance. People are communicating in ways only dreamed of before, but they no longer care why or how. When things go wrong, they often run home to momma instead of digging in their heels and using problem solving techniques.

Congrats on sticking with it. You are one more step above the masses!

[PhotoJoe]

I may just have to switch if my school demands it; if they don't, the choice is up to me and I'm leaning towards toughing it out with Ubuntu, though I have to ask, does anyone else feel this way?

Truth be told, we've all felt that way at some time or another. My first foray into the world of Linux was Fedora so you're already one step ahead by starting with Ubuntu. It is a more 'user friendly.'

Linux is not any harder than Windows but it is different. Take the time to learn the basics (here is a great place to start) and keep in my mind that a lot of Windows experience may actually work against you! You are learning a new OS- not a new Windows product. Once you learn and appreciate the differences, the basics will get easier and your 'comfort zone' will get wider. There is a learning curve, but you'll eventually start impressing yourself. Before you know it, you'll be answering more questions in the forums than you're asking.

You've got a great attitude so stay with it!