I have a problem with Linux

[curiousgirl]

I downloaded and installed the linux distro Fedora 13 last week or maybe the week before (time flies...).
I have a serious problem with it and I wonder if anyone here can help. You see I keep discovering these things it does that I think are really super uber cool, but when I try and talk to people about how cool all the stuff I found is, their eyes glaze over and they tell me things like "listening to you is like listening to a person who is really interested in locks talking about the intricate details of locks and specific types of lock and why some certain lock is really cool".

It's depressing, its like first of all I discovered something uber, and then no-one else is the slightest bit interested to hear about it.

Also how do I get over the sense that I wasted my life by not trying Linux till I was 24?

[TaZMAniac]

Hi and Welcome to the Forums!

Don't be depressed. You can feel sorry for those that have turned into Windowz zombies.
LOL!!

Many pc users are just that, users. They have no desire to learn something new. Especially if it's a new OS and has the word Linux attached to it. 5 letters that scares the heck out of many people.

I've turned many people on to Linux. Some heard me talking about the pros of using Linux and it being free. Others made the switch when they saw it in action and found out they can do as much or more then they could with Windows.

Don't be discouraged. Maybe cut down on the techie talk around them or let them see it in action. Sometimes we can get on a one track line of conversation especially when we are excited. Most times our excitement is considered boring by non-technical friends. You just have to sort them out and know the boundaries.
I can talk tech all day to a few friends but the others have a life span of maybe 2 minutes. I know their limits so I don't push it.

Belonging to a forum like this fine one is another way of sharing your stories and discoveries. We all have a similar taste in techieness. LOL!

Something else you can do is start a blog and write about your discoveries or surprises.
Don't be discouraged if you don't get any replies when you start your blog. It takes people time to get comfortable with you and your writings. But be assured, people are reading it and your stories will give pleasure to many people.
You may also open other peoples eyes to the fact that they really do have a choice.

As for wasting your life all those 24 years before you tried Linux?
Try 24 years before any computer was available for home use!
Now that's depression!

[curiousgirl]

I mean it's been such a short time, and I fully admit I don't know my way around this OS yet, but already I can see in the little things I've picked up - playing with sed and awk and echo and | and stuff, wow... this is something I can make do things. It does lots of different things, like, its not just a predefined application where you click ok 6 times but it will do what I ask it to do. But when I was trying to tell my dad about sed, and how cool I thought it was, he was saying to me "so it's like replace in notepad" and I was getting frustrated and saying "no no no, you don't get it, you can put it in a whole line of other things that are applied and then they all run and it happens basically at once and prints the output on the screen it's totally different!!!" (Yeah I suck at explaining things...) and his eyes glaze over. *Sigh*. As I said, I don't know how to make this thing work yet, but, its so obvious it has so much potential, its tremendous.

And thinking about that, and the whole thing with "open source" and stuff, when I downloaded the DVD iso, frankly, I was just curious, I didn't care the slightest about open source or anything like that, I just wanted to try something new. I was perfectly happy with windows (well except that I wanted win2000 my favourite ever windows and I had winXP). But, now that I have looked at it and thought about it, it strikes me how it really is a whole different mentality, to be able to change things, (even if right now I can't because of ignorance) and have that flexibility to make stuff do what YOU want it to and actually really own your software and have control over it, is such a brilliant idea and brilliant principle, I am rapidly becoming sold on the idea I have to say.

I just had so much fun these past ? days since installing this thing, just playing with it. I don't really think I am a techy person, but it's just, like I said, I am thrilled by the evident potential of this thing, I really want to figure out how it all works and what it all does and how to master its power lol. What I don't really get is how people can dismiss that power unless they are just not imaginative enough to realise that something that does one little thing on its own can be extremely powerful in combination with other seemingly little things.

Speaking of which, oooh yay, just found a way to make random numbers!

Agh! I'm just so excited... I'm not very good at being quiet when I am excited!

[MikeTbob]

Welcome to Linuxforums and and the world of GNU/Linux...it's kind of like entering the Matrix isn't it? Thrilling and exciting,,and no one will listen to you!! You just know that if you could make them understand, then they could join the Matrix too!
As mentioned previously, don't get discouraged by people who refuse to listen or learn new things. Linux isn't for everyone and we like it that way.

[Freston]

Welcome to Linuxforums and and the world of GNU/Linux...it's kind of like entering the Matrix isn't it? Thrilling and exciting,,and no one will listen to you!! You just know that if you could make them understand, then they could join the Matrix too!

I never thought about it like that, but it's true. We took the blue pill

Obviously, curiousgirl, you've found something new and exciting. You want to share it. But it's difficult. Btw, I think I was 29 until my Linux adventure really started. Years wasted, yes, but better late than never. Once you really are comfortable with the basics, you'll see you can keep up with current developments. Don't think any less of yourself just because you never had to configure a dial-in modem on Slackware 2.1

But when I was trying to tell my dad about sed, and how cool I thought it was, he was saying to me "so it's like replace in notepad"

Heh, yeah... I know what you mean. I work in IT, but all my colleagues are Windows types. It's very difficult sometimes to keep my mouth shut. Just like you have already discovered that the command line is much MUCH more powerful than the GUI (kudos for that!) and even though functionality may resemble the same as in frond-ends... it's not the same.
We got a second database server. Not to go too much into the technicalities. But there where some ~350 user rapport files that needed to change so they'd point to the new server IP. You've found sed, so you know it's just an easy `sed -i 's/oldIP/newIP/g' file` and when you put this in a loop you can change all ~350 files in one go. My colleagues used, indeed, notepad's search and replace. It took them hours of mouse clicks. I could have done the same in 5 minutes, and that includes dry run testing.

So, Welcome to Linux and these forums. Have fun!

[Lakshmipathi]

curiousgirl,Welcome to LF! Never worry.I learned to ignore people who don't appreciate the value of something like Linux. Enjoy your own new world. I'm using Linux for past 7 years !! I came to know about Linux at 2003.Never ever going back to Windows in my life again.

I work in IT, but all my colleagues are Windows types. It's very difficult sometimes to keep my mouth shut.

Freston,Ha Ha ..same here.In my previous work place almost everyone uses M$ -- I'm the odd man with my linux machine. When i learned Microsoft website powered by "Linux" server , It was hard for me to keep my mouth shut. Created plenty arguments in my team about "windows vs linux". I heard the term "rolling on the floor laughing" -- but I seen it once in my life --this is what happened.
---
I was in a bus ,returning back to my native place (eight hour journey) ,at bus stand .
I open my newly brought Linux laptop and checking . The guy who sat next to me , asked me "Is it windows ?" I replied "No , Linux" then he started to show his laptop and told me he has plenty of virus on machine and how to get rid of it.

I used to carry lot of Linux DVD and Live CDs -- I gave him few Live CD and try and remove that virus - by booting into Linux first. I also informed him where to get these Linux CD/DVD.
-------

When I told this to my office friend , he fell down to the floor laughing "Lakshmi, I can't believe , you started your Linux lecture with a stranger , that too in a bus stand "

[Freston]

I'm the odd man with my linux machine.

Hahaha I know I know

Still, after all this time I work there, they look at me bewildered when I run Vi (in runlevel 3)... hahaha you know what they call it? They call it 'colors' It's true, they say Freston is doing 'colors' again. Or they ask, can't you use 'colors' to figure this or that out. ROFL

[hazel]

There are only three things that are anything like using Linux: falling in love, getting hooked on a class A drug, and joining a cult. Of course those outsiders who are not (yet) smitten won't understand what has hit you. Never mind. We understand. I'm over 60 and I'm still in love.

[elija]

I know how you feel. I have spent hours rabbiting on about Linux, the stability, safety, choice, freedom and yes even some of the cool tools to my Windows using friends but they don't get it. I rabbit on about the freedom from the controlling actions of a Mega Corporation and being English, I get to say American Mega Corporation as if that makes it worse and they don't care.

I have discovered the silver bullet, the magic potion if you will that makes most Windows users sit up and say "How did you do that? Gimme that mouse!"

Depressingly, it's the spinning desktop cube provided by Compiz. Now, it is only a first glint of interest, but it's a start.

[MASONTX]

Let me add my welcome too. I am also a Limuix Newbie, but um, considerably older than 24. I've been messing around with computers since you had to put your data on punchcards (don't miss them a bit), and just recently switched to linux. I haven't gotten under the hood much, yet, but am already a fan. Keep posting your discoveries, and maybe this old dog can learn a few of your tricks.