Not happy with Ubuntu

Erich-A

Too many problems:

1: Drivers - I could got my soundcard working (barely) only because I found a chipset close to my soundcard that actually had supported drivers, compiled em, and got my soundcard working at about a 15% level... I couldn't record, I couldn't use my alternate outputs (optical and such) But I did manage to be able to output all sound through the analog output even though Ubuntu gave me errors saying I didn't have a soundcard installed. Additionally, I had to compile my own wireless drivers too, not very fun when I gotta hop between computers to get required libraries and stuff.

2: Too many random things - I can't be sure that this has spawned from poor soundcard drivers, then escalated as I tried to use workarounds for this and that (installing 32bit libraries to get certain things like flash support and such), but in any case. I've lost my menu bar... I'm sure there's a simple fix for it, but I'm really just getting sick and tired of Ubuntu at this point. I had so many little things that I had to tweak out, whereas on OSX and Windows, doing something like "Making a desktop background" just works... I actually had to tweak this out on Ubuntu, partly because I have an obscur resolution for my 24" widescreen monitor, but whatever. Having to pound my computer for hours just to make things display properly was not acceptable.

3: Not enough software support - Maybe I'm not like a lot of you who like to just fiddle around on their computer and surf websites and such, but I actually do work on my computer. And sure, having a free library of software is great and all if you can't afford to purchase design suites. But once again, having to fiddle around with software to make it work properly, then not having all the features I need... then missing a program here or there for some odd things that I do to which there is no alternative on linux... sorry, just won't cut it. I may or may not be able to program my own software (as in, I got a bit of programming background, but really couldn't be bothered to have to make my own software when it's otherwise available on other OSes).

I would have made my rant a little more descriptive and such... but I gotta get to work. Unfortunately I do not have hours in a day to waste on an OS, as soon as I got some free time sometime in the next week, this lousy OS is getting overwritten by something that works. Not meant to flame and all, but yes I am.

wolfen69 · 01:08 AM

i guess you were born with the knowledge of using windows. have fun. i do. btw, if you cant spend a few days to learn something that will benefit you the rest of your life, then you shouldnt use it. i NEVER have to maintain my PC.ever. i actually use my pc more now than i did on windows. to each his own.

wolfen69

originally posted by aysiu: <-says it best http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=425151&page=2

Things I wasted my time on in Windows:

* Researching anti-spyware solutions (pay money? don't pay money? install? don't install? which one?)
* Researching anti-virus solutions (same questions as anti-spyware)
* Always trying to figure out if magically reappearing folders and processes were "real" spyware or normal Microsoft processes (which may be spyware, too--who knwos?)
* Googling around to find "free" programs that did not contain spyware
* Reading over license agreements with a fine-toothed comb to see if the "free" software I was installing contained spyware, adware, or other malware
* Setting up proper security (since Windows defaults to one administrator account, I'd have to create a separate limited user account and use Run as... for certain tasks or log into administrator to perform certain tasks
* Installing Windows updates and going through all the prompts and reboots
* Keeping track of activation codes and original CDs for software
* Keeping track of driver CDs for hardware
* Researching ways to get the UI customized and never finding a satisfactory solution (yes, I know about Windowblinds, Litestep, BBLean, and all that)

Things I wasted my time on in Ubuntu:

* Researching what proprietary codecs to install to get certain functionality
* Researching how to set up dual boot
* Researching what each Ubuntu disk does
* Researching how to set up my Xorg.conf for the proper screen resolution
* Experimenting with various programs available in Synaptic to see which ones I liked best

Summary:

And that's it for Ubuntu. Notice how the Ubuntu ones are one-time deals. Once I have Ubuntu set up, all the research is done, and I can get to work. Of course, I still "waste" time on Ubuntu for fun, but I don't have to. I "waste" time writing documentation, helping new users, and experimenting with different desktop environments and window managers. But all that stuff is my choice. I don't have to do that stuff just to use Ubuntu. In fact, maintaining Ubuntu is so boring/unnecessary, it usually drives people to seek out something to do (I had to do all this maintenance on Windows... I have nothing to do no Ubuntu... maybe I'll break my system by playing around with Beryl!)

j.miller565

another thing is that Themes are a lot easier to install in Linux than in Windows.

misfitpierce

Yes themes are easier... No malware researching etc.

Software database is growing everyday so that made no sense... Drivers can be found for almost every pc or you can try other linux distros that may support them out of box etc. Windows is too problematic and at some point will have to be Vista upgraded which is end to windows b/c Vista is horrible... It looks nice is about it lol

tact · 02:23 AM

No time to waste learning how to do linux properly? As soon as you have spare time you are going to overwrite ubuntu with "something that works"?

You are so busy and have so little time - If you are talking MS-DOS 5 as the "somethng that works" then cool - I can see you doing that in the little spare time you might find.

If you are talking restoring a disk image, or using some recovery CD, then cool - I can see you finding time for that too.

But if you are talking about a clean install of WinXP as the "something that works" - where will you find the time to install that!? (This is an "apples to apples" comparison to installing ubuntu from CD)

XP won't support your video, sound, network etc. straight off the CD - Can you spare the time to find all the original driver disks or go online (on a different PC of course) to spend hours finding and downloading drivers?

Once you have all the drivers, and finish the install of windows - will you have the time to wait while all the service packs are installed? The security updates?

You have heard the stats, right? - that unprotected in the time it takes you to download the latest security patches from MS via the net you will already be infected by malware and virii? So you will need to somehow find the time to reinstall the essential applications - antivirus, anti-malware, office, etc. before you go online to get software updates.

Reconfiguring. How will you ever find time to set up networks, install file viewers, change default settings on everything from MS-Explorer (to show hidden and system files), latest Media player, latest IExplorer...

Can you manage to find so much free time!? Not just for this install - for each subsequent one in the coming year. Cos every time you have to reinstall you have to invest this time all over again.

Do you know how many times you could install and reinstall ubuntu in the same time as it takes to install XP and essentials just once?

Do you know that you can set up linux such that even if you format the partition with the operating system on it and reinstall - all your settings are carried over. Set once, no need to again setup things like VPN settings, network settings, application defaults and settings, email accounts, and on and on and on....

I save so much time using ubuntu - I got time to waste answering your post.

lancest

I had to make a few little tweaks to get Ubuntu working perfect. I'm sooo glad I did! I haven't had to touch anything since. Simple and stable with the software I need. Permanent fast system performance in application start,booting and shutdown. Not my past experience with Microsoft systems.

ticopelp

Quote:

I've lost my menu bar... I'm sure there's a simple fix for it, but I'm really just getting sick and tired

Press Alt-F2 to open a terminal, type gnome-panel. Done.

Quote:

I had so many little things that I had to tweak out, whereas on OSX and Windows, doing something like "Making a desktop background" just works...

Right-click on your desktop, click "change desktop background." Done.

If that's what you consider a difficult tweak, I'm afraid you're in for a hard road no matter what OS you choose.

kostkon · 12:50 PM