Ubuntu - Linux for sissies?

~~DudeBoyz~~ · Feb 25, 2007, 10:35 PM

What is up with Ubuntu? It has to be the cheesiest Linux distro out there.

Not only is it way over-simplified, but by default they don't let you log in as root or SU to root so you can do some hardcore editing of things like the xorg.conf file. You have to jump through some hoops to get any sort of admin rights. Kinda lame if you ask me.

At least they have Kubuntu for those that like KDE instead of Gnome, but still. It's a total pain to work with for anybody that has half a brain.

PLUS - it doesn't come with MC (Midnight Commander) at all. Totally lame.

Yeah, it does have some software update thing that seems easy, but I can't think of anything else that has a redeeming quality.

Anybody actually like this distro? If so, why?

***temeteus82*** · Feb 26, 2007, 04:14 AM

I think that it's meant to those people who don't know anything about Linux and want to take a look... Personally I've installed several Ubuntu/Kubuntu workstations to people who wanted to have linux but they didn't know how to install or configure it.

~~DudeBoyz~~ · Feb 26, 2007, 05:38 AM

Maybe I was just too harsh.

I spent like HOURS trying to work around that root thing, and just so I could edit the display file so I could get 1280x1024 instead of 1024x768. I even got it to go 1600x1200. Could not figure out how to do that without dropping to the command line as root.

I miss Corel Linux...

These "Live" disks are pretty cool in that you can just boot right to them without an install. Pretty convenient, after all.

Al_Vampyre · Feb 26, 2007, 06:09 AM

Its great for those of us trying Linux for the first time in years though...if you want the uptake of Linux to be greater then you need to make it as easy as possible for people to use initially, then they can get on to the advanced features when they are ready...oh and gaming support would be the biggest step to mass acceptance of Linux

***temeteus82*** · Feb 26, 2007, 07:51 AM

I don't think that it's to hard to cfg from terminal all you need is sudo command

Mousey · Feb 26, 2007, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Al_Vampyre

Its great for those of us trying Linux for the first time in years though...if you want the uptake of Linux to be greater then you need to make it as easy as possible for people to use initially, then they can get on to the advanced features when they are ready...oh and gaming support would be the biggest step to mass acceptance of Linux

AMen, Linux was originally seen as a geek's os, in which you never spent a second out of the terminal.
The only problem i have with ubuntu is the fact i can't access my hdd and i can't get any drivers for it

~~DudeBoyz~~ · Feb 26, 2007, 01:39 PM

I just installed PuppyLinux in a VM and that sucker was better on the install than Ubuntu. It set video up like a freakin' champ - 1600x1000 even - and the packet manager worked primo. Midinight Commander was easily installed, and I had admin rights so could handle what I needed to.

I don't like Ubuntu much at all. Just about ever other distro is better than that - except maybe Slackware, which did not do any auto-partitioning setup.

~~DudeBoyz~~ · Feb 26, 2007, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by temeteus82

I don't think that it's to hard to cfg from terminal all you need is sudo command

Standard SU should be all that is needed.

H3X4D3C1M4L · Feb 27, 2007, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DudeBoyz

Standard SU should be all that is needed.

sudo and su are roughly the same thing.

Ubuntu is a great Linux O/S for those of us who are lazy or for those who want to switch from Windows. Not only is it VERY easy to both use and install for someone who has never heard of UNIX period, but its easy to update and maintain as well and you get the inherent stability benefits and robustness of a Linux operating system

I keep Ubuntu handy for older machines that I use for web browsing or email or GAIM etc., because there are points when I get sick of tooling with Gentoo or OpenBSD

~~DudeBoyz~~ · Feb 27, 2007, 12:54 PM

Even at $39, I'd recommend Xandros over Ubuntu/Kubuntu any day of the week.

I'd recommend PUPPY LINUX over Ubuntu for n00bs.

H3X4D3C1M4L · Feb 27, 2007, 01:05 PM

Hard to argue with free.

Besides Ubuntu is quite popular now so there's a large support base for it

~~DudeBoyz~~ · Feb 27, 2007, 01:07 PM

Suse is probably the best of the free distros - covers the line from relative n00b to command-line geek.

Xandros is one of the most idiot proof.

OS X beats them all.

If Apple would release OS X to run on Intel machines, I have a feeling the thing would just totally take over the alternative desktop market.

H3X4D3C1M4L · Mar 4, 2007, 02:49 PM

I wouldn't doubt it either but good luck convincing Jobs to do the most obviously smart thing.

H3X4D3C1M4L · Mar 7, 2007, 03:41 PM

http://consumer.hardocp.com/article....xoY29uc3VtZXI=

This is a good arcticle on the subject

RIV@NVX · Mar 7, 2007, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DudeBoyz

OS X beats them all.

If Apple would release OS X to run on Intel machines, I have a feeling the thing would just totally take over the alternative desktop market.

Not for everybody. I *absolutely*hate* OS X (someone told me it's because I expected it to be better Unix than Linux, which is not).