Why?

[the_keeper]

This may be a really "dumb" question, but why cannot certain things be easy on Ubuntu. For example, video card drivers; why are they not as simple as an .exe. I realize the coding is different, but why can they not just make one that is similar. I am not complaining, I am just curious.

[techieMoe]

This may be a really "dumb" question, but why cannot certain things be easy on Ubuntu. For example, video card drivers; why are they not as simple as an .exe. I realize the coding is different, but why can they not just make one that is similar. I am not complaining, I am just curious.

Nvidia's drivers are relatively simple to install. You run a script. Sure, it's not "Next->Next->Finish", but it's not editing a makefile and compiling your own code either.

Nvidia can't simply realease the Linux equivalent of an EXE file because there is no single platform for Linux. There are thousands. They've done their best so far to make their drivers as generic and uniform to install as possible, but until there's one Linux (which I think ranks up there with the world imploding spontaneously or human beings evolving tentacles overnight) you're not going to see the same kind of install procedure from Microsoft Windows to Linux for device drivers like this.

[bigtomrodney]

I'd like to believe this is an honest question, but given all of the excitement over the Restricted Drivers manager in the latest Ubuntu release (which makes Driver installation a simple two mouse clicks) I can't take that seriously.

If you had read any of the other threads in this section you would have seen how happy people are with this method - and particularly Ubuntu 7.04. With several years of Windows administration at Enterprise level I can guarantee you that package management is easier than a .exe - If it wasn't Microsoft wouldn't be pushing .msi central deployment and companies like Dell and HP wouldn't be moving their entire software deployment infrastructure to it.

If you are having a specific problem, please ask we're only too happy to help.

[zba78]

I'm sorry if you've experienced any issues but in all previous versions of Ubuntu that I've tried I just copied and pasted the instructions from the community docs and it's worked perfectly.

Also with SUSE I just followed the simple steps in their online docs and it's worked each time.

I've always been surprised when people say ATI drivers are more difficult as I've ran linux on both Nvidia (in a PC) & ATI (on my current laptop) and thought they were both as easy as one another (although I'm not doubting anyone else's difficulties).