Why Linux can't be easy

[feddersen]

A few things that annoy me at the moment (suse 10.1)

When I insert a cd or dvd it automounts, YEAH! Offcourse i still can't access the dvd except as root (which is hard to do graphically when I'm already logged in as user... so I end up mounting it manually..

When I updated my system (kernel update) i lost my wireless connection and had to go back to the old kernel. In the process I lost mplayer and had to manually update it. Then I sort of lost 3d support on my videocard.. XGL still works though.. AND YES, I did install the ati driver through yast..

Then my friend called and blamed me for introducing him to linux, because he'd lost 3d support after updating (sound familiar), and he is using a nvidia card...? Apperently he is sick of fighting to get everything working... he also had managed to fill up 20Gb on his main partion and had no space left to install all the great software available. so I helped him repartion his hd. Atleast it is possible I think my friend is happy again..

So, Why can't linux be easy?
Well, It wouldn't be any fun

Atleast I know what to do later on, fixing my computer is a fulltime job..

[Jakkfrosted]

Anything that requires work has greater rewards. Thats called reality.

[richiefrich]

First off it there should be basic instructions. (which in my opinion aren't well documented) Second As anyone that uses linux should know that after installing a new kernel, it is vital to re-install any packages that build against the kernel. A.K.A. video drivers, sound drivers, vmware, etc.. , there are a few others that i know of and use. . I could go on but, I see no point I think there needs to be better documentation. I see you meantioned 'yast' So, it is apperent to me that your on SUSE and I think as most binary distro's do, don't document a kernel upgrade all that well if at all. I must say that is an area that lacks documentation and should be relooked as there are many people that use distro's such as Red Hat, Fedora, Mandriva, Ubuntu and many others.. The only real good documentation on any kernel updateing I have seen is that in gentoo's handbook andk on there wiki, I am sure there are others I have not looked at all the handbooks for all the distro's so yes I know there HAS to be others, but i have yet to see one well documented in a binary distro, maybe slackware but I haven't used that in years.

Well thats my opinion, if there are documentation out there taht the binary distro's use please link me. I'd love to read them and see how good they are. Thank you.

[Kojak]

Linux isn't easy or difficult. It is just different. And: Try to update a Windows ME machine to Windows XP. Tons of things will break and - contrary to Linux - you have practically no possibility of tweaking the system so that it works again.

Most people don't udate/upgrade their Windows box and complain that things break (BSOD). The same people add WinXP SP2 and their box breaks and they complain. The same people install Linux. The same people don't upgrade for some time their Linux and are happy that nothing breaks. The same people tweak their linux box so that it is a custom OS. The same people upgrade their linux box and complain that things break. Duh.

[fingal]

Updating your X system often will break your video driver ... Sad but true. I'm not sure all those updates are right for a desktop user. Almost too much security and attention to detail.

[feddersen]

I just want to look at this from then avarage user point of view and it is hard to convince people to stay with linux when a update can break it. If yast tells me that there are updates available - i will try it out. So will most people, it is natural that you want the "best" and latest upgrades..

A kernel update is probably one of the biggest changes one can make to the system. But I can't understand why the system allows an update that actually breaks it.. My friend even lost X. It's easy to fix when you know how. But still...

I like messing about with my system and i think that is the prize to pay if you want cutting edge software

[Kojak]

...it is natural that you want the "best" and latest upgrades..

No, it is not natural. It is a result of imposed wishes, which would lead us to a discussion on sociology and psychology, thus I will keep is short and simple. Industry and its marketing tell us that we want the latest and greatest because they want to sell their stuff. Thus they try to convince us with clever marketing that we need an ipod, that we need a dual-core or quad-core PC, that we need the OSX interface, that we need a car with climate control. No, we don't need those things but we get peppered with such messages that often that someday we believe that we need the things we didn't need before.

Now you switch to Linux. OSS, some kind of "anarchy" if you want to see it that way. Nobody forces to use something, you decide what YOU need for "getting your job done". But we still think in the old way and thus need the latest Gnome or KDE, the latest kernel, the latest Xorg, even if the advantage it brings to us is nonexistent.

If it ain't broken, don't change it. Do kernel upgrades only if your hardware really requires such a kernel upgrade. Otherwise, stick to the old kernel.

If you do a kernel upgrade, then you should accept that it is basically the most complicated upgrade on your system. It is a bit like a heart transplantation. Definitely not easy and you need to pay attention to details so everything works well again after the operation.

[fingal]

I just want to look at this from then avarage user point of view and it is hard to convince people to stay with linux when a update can break it.

I know what you're saying, but who's an average user? On these forums the average age is probably < 25 (if not younger) so you're probably a gamer on some level or other. You'll notice straight away when your fps drops below the 300 mark.

If I was over 50 I might be less inclined to notice, but I might still be 'an average user'. I agree that it's less than ideal. I use urpmi for updates, and it's good at spotting software conflicts, in which case it won't install an upgrade.

I'm not complaining: I have more free software than I know what to do with, but I would like to play the occasional game.

[d38dm8nw81k1ng]

my biggest gripe is that programmers can't write documentation to save their lives. i heard there's a movement to write documentation for OSS apps. to me, this sort of thing is important as a well-written book helps people when working with something. it would also help newcomers when they make the transition.

[techieMoe]

If it ain't broken, don't change it. Do kernel upgrades only if your hardware really requires such a kernel upgrade. Otherwise, stick to the old kernel.

Hmm... that sounds like a certain distro I dislike... oh yes! Slackware. Seriously, though, I agree. Too often we're conditioned to want new, new, new when the stuff we have is more than capable of handling the tasks we need. I ran into that with my desktop machine, which is 2 years old and running like a champ. I caught myself wanting to upgrade it simply because it wasn't "new" anymore and realized that doing so was a silly waste of money. Then I bought a fancy new laptop. Haha. But in my own defense, I had a specific use in mind for that.