most user friendly as of 2011

[LT72884]

As of today, August 7th 2011 at 7:29PM, what is the MOST user friendly linux distro out there for the average user?

Here is a list of what i call user firndly

1. WIFI configuration MUST BE SIMPLE ENOUGH that ANY user can just click and connect with out using CLI if possible. This is 2011, things should be simple. Linux has had over 25 years to to get this done. haha
2. Installing and downloading appliations such as another type of media player. This means a simple install that doesnt require CLI. Basically double click the "exe" type file and pick your path and then sit back and enjoy.
3. cool programs that compete with other OS's named after a fruit and shiny see through objects that require windex to clean them.
4.easy security setup. IE, easy to find the firewall option AND actually includes a simple to use firewall
5.allows flexibility and the use of non linux programs to be run. IE some people prefere word and power point over open office or libre office presentation. i am one of those.
6.easy to use and fun photo editor besides the insane gimp program.
7.easy mass storage device handling. The ability to just plug in a flash drive and drop or paste files to it aand then just remove it.
8. easy to use email client
9. fun media tools such as a movie maker and photo editor.
10. the ability to see hard drive space with out using CLI. IE "my computer" type of window and or icon that takes you to all your drives and whats available in MB or GB

Thats about all i can think of right now. The reason im posting this is because i just installed kubuntu and so far no one of the average pc user group likes it. They siad they would much rather have windows because it works and they actually CAN connect to a wifi network. They also liked how windows allowed you to install a file very easily from the internet. They just hit download, install to this pc and then it was instlled for them. Its kind of funny how so many images on google show the penguin smashing the windows and what not and so many users say linux s better than windows at everything but yet when i saw users more happy with WINDOWS 98 than ubuntu, i knew something was wrong. Its 2011 and users are more happy with windows 98 and 200 than the newest ubuntu.

No way is this a bash against linux. Im just stating my observations and findings when allowing the average PC user use linux for a while. I have seen the same people try MAC for the first time and they liked it. MAC is bsd based, so somehow somethings gotta work out here.

Thanks

[jayd512]

Hello there!

Is this post meant to convey information? Or is it just a rant?

You're absolutely right, though... Using Linux is different than using Windows. Linux is NOT Windows

But I have Ubuntu installed on my laptop, and didn't have to do a thing to connect wirelessly.

[liquid150]

This seems to be a pretty lopsided "I love windows" way of interpreting "user friendliness."

[LT72884]

Sorry bout that Jay, this was ment to convey information about what others are saying about linux. Not a rant or anything. Just wanted to conduct an expeirement and see what happend. Right, i agree linux is NOT windows but nor is MAC and when i saw the same people use mac and they prefered that over linux, i thought that was interesting.

I posted here because this site is a gathering of ALL distros rather than just one.

Thnx for the input.

[LT72884]

LOL, no i hate all os's including MAC. This is what others are telling me about linux. others as in ones that have tried linux, windows and mac. But i do prefer word and power point over open office. i have them both on my win xp and 2k box and still like office suite better

thanx my friend

[LT72884]

This seems to be a pretty lopsided "I love windows" way of interpreting "user friendliness."

no, nothing to do with loving windows.To them, user frindlyness means that it requires little effort to do something and windows has done that job damn good The average pc users i let use linux prefered the simple way of doing things with windows and mac over linux. This thread is not out to flame linux or windows or mac. it was posted state results i have found and to see ways to resolve these issues for these average users so that they feel comfortable when using a new OS. I see your point and have taken that into consideration. I appreciate your input and hope to furthur receive more.

thanx my friend and hope to hear more from the forums.

EDIT

i need to learn to proof read before i post. sorry for mistakes. haha

[elija]

Have you just insulted every Windows user out there by saying they're too stupid to use an App Store?

[elija]

And now in more detail...

1. WIFI configuration MUST BE SIMPLE ENOUGH that ANY user can just click and connect with out using CLI if possible. This is 2011, things should be simple. Linux has had over 25 years to to get this done. haha
Done and dusted. Years ago, with the exception of a few chipsets you don't even need any extra drivers. Now if you have the time, and the money, get yourself a laptop, and format it. Get yourself a Windows CD and no other disks and no network cable either. See how easy it is. Speaking from experience, upto and including Vista I can only say "YIKES!"

2. Installing and downloading appliations such as another type of media player. This means a simple install that doesnt require CLI. Basically double click the "exe" type file and pick your path and then sit back and enjoy.
How complicated is that process? Find some software on a random internet site, download it and remember where to, hoping like Hell that you haven't also downloaded a nasty that disables your virus scanner and your malware scanner and makes you part of a botnet serving spam*. Run the file you downloaded and pick where you want it installed, hoping that when it comes to uninstallation that the installer doean't leave a pile of unwanted files on your system. All the time not knowing if it has been tested with your version of Windows.

Compare that to the repositories of Linux. The most apt** comparison would be App Stores. Each bit of software in a central place, tested and ready to go. Yes it's alien*** to a Windows user when they first try Linux; that doesn't mean it isn't better.

3. cool programs that compete with other OS's named after a fruit and shiny see through objects that require windex to clean them.
Check.

4.easy security setup. IE, easy to find the firewall option AND actually includes a simple to use firewall
I suppose that you think Windows users (who you seem to think are too stupid to use an app store) would find an on/off switch too complicated?

5.allows flexibility and the use of non linux programs to be run. IE some people prefere word and power point over open office or libre office presentation. i am one of those.
Well if you prefer Windows software then you will always be better off in Windows. And I use the term "better off" loosely. There is Wine, but it may or may not work with the software you want to run. I assume that you will also want to run Windows software on your Playstation?

6.easy to use and fun photo editor besides the insane gimp program.
Nothing wrong with the Gimp. Sure it's different but that doesn't mean worse. If you think Gimp is insane then what ever you do, don't look at Blender!

7.easy mass storage device handling. The ability to just plug in a flash drive and drop or paste files to it aand then just remove it.
Check. Although like Windows, you will probably want to use safely remove if you love your data.

8. easy to use email client
How many do you want? Evolution, Thunderbird, Claws, Sylpheed....

9. fun media tools such as a movie maker and photo editor.
Check (and now you're repeating yourself)

10. the ability to see hard drive space with out using CLI. IE "my computer" type of window and or icon that takes you to all your drives and whats available in MB or GB
Check.

I have to wonder if you have actually even looked at Linux or if you are just being paid to try and spread FUD.


* If you're lucky. It could be so much worse.

** See what I did there? That pun was yummy!

*** Oh and another one!

[jayd512]

Well said, elija!

[MASONTX]

I'm not sure what you are getting at, but I have installed numerous linux distros without resorting to cli to do the install. Ubuntu, Lubuntu, etc, AntiX, PCLinuxOS, Crunchbang, Peppermint, SliTaz, Puppy, LegacyOS, Zevin, Zorin, EasyPeasy, Imagineos, Dreamlinux, and others. Yes, there are some that aren't easy for a newbie, but many, if not most, linux distro's today install very easy. If you run into a difficult linux distro, there are always hundreds of others to try.