Question

Is a Linux-based OS really not user-friendly these days, compared to proprietary OS's like Windows & Mac OSX? (especiallydistros like the Ubuntu ones, etc.)

Answer 1

I think ubuntu is user-friendly and becoming better and better in this case

Answer 2

I think Ubuntu is very user-friendly and most of the big distros out there are.

The problem is when you have an issue with some hardware driver or something like that. In this situations people sometimes have to type few bash commands and they get irritated by it because they don't understand what they are doing. At least that's how I felt in the beginning.

Answer 3

yeah and usually to set up wireless is a pain

Answer 4

Well, yea. I think now-days most of the distros already contain most of the drivers so it isn't such a problem.

Answer 5

ubuntu didn't have dirvers for my laptop :D

Answer 6

I suppose you had to use ndiswrapper to get it working?

Answer 7

idk, i had to run a bunch of commands and i got irritated because i didn't know what it means :D
and also it was pretty hard to find out why wireless doesn't work, then what i need to do, then identify my wireless card then find what to do with such card, lol

Answer 8

Some manufacturers don't write drivers for linux AND they don't release their specifications. So you have to use ndiswrapper, which is a layer that enables you to use windows drivers under linux.

Note that if they did release their specifications, someone would surly write the driver, they always do :D

Answer 9

no, it's not windows drivers, there was a page in ubuntu manual about my drivers

Answer 10

Its all about emulation, we can run most opperating systems in virtual machines

Answer 11

Hmm, I don't see a reason why didn't include the drivers with the install in the first place. Probably some license mumbo-jumbo.

Answer 12

how do you eat your cereal....with no spoon?

Answer 13

if you are hungry enough there is a way right?

Answer 14

I would say the most user friendly Linux distro is the Ultimate Linux, it has all needed packets preinstalled and is the ideal solution for a desktop pc, it is built n top of Ubuntu.

For notebooks i would suggest actually getting more familiar with Linux and installing Slackware or Gentoo

Answer 15

Gentoo for new windows-users? no way

Answer 16

I agree with Tomas.A. I used Slackware on my laptop for a couple of years and I wouldn't recommend it for newcomers.

(I switched to Gentoo because of portage :D)

Answer 17

Common problems: unable to boot, now you have to mount your casper-rw from another distro