On Mon, 28 Feb 2005 11:02:55 -0800, AndyYankovich <andyyank@tampabay.rr.com> wrote:
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Thanks for listening. Andy
Andy, Alot of people have already replied to your post, so I'll just append my sentiments onto it... I feel much of your frustration, and I am a software developer. I get pissed when I can't just *do* something, and have to investigate my options, maybe jump through a hoop or two, to get something that I would deem 'simple' to work. Even as a software developer and a "lover of technology", I sometimes want to be 'just a user' and get something non-technical done (such as draft an email and print it in evolution (which you can do, btw, by opening your drafts folder, right clicking the item you want to print, and selecting 'print' from the context menu :) ) Fact is, though, you have to get some enjoyment or benefit from going this route that outweighs the extra work you put in. There are several other operating systems that you can use and just 'get things done'... Windows is one, OS X is another... The benefit that Linux brings to the table is cost savings and options, tons of options... imho, it's the options part of it that causes all the headaches... there are alot of choices when running linux, whether it's running an rpm or a dpkg based system, which desktop you use, which kernel you run, etc. etc. etc... If you want bleeding edge changes in your software, you can have it... it might not be available through the normal route, but it's there for you (upgrading firefox to the latest and greatest pre-rpm availability) if you so choose to go for it... Windows has it's benefits... it's more user friendly, it's developed from a central source, it generally 'just works'... however, your choices are limited. Outside of third party applications, you're generally stuck with what MS gives you, or allows you to have... you still have to wait for someone to compile and create an installation routine for software, so no latest and greatest for you, unless they distribute windows source and you have a compiler (which can cost, if they use something like Visual C++ or one of the many commercial packages) I think you know why you came to Linux in the first place, and now you just have to decide whether it's worth sticking on, through the minor headaches... possibly change some of your choices, opting for ease of use (only install those packages available through yast, for example)... stick with 'supported' configs, and find yourself a good help group... This list is one of the best that I've seen, I've had nothing but great experience with the users on this list. Forums are good (linuxquestions.org, for example), and the best resource I've found to date is your local LUG... ours meets once a week in a social atmosphere, but quickly erupts into a geek-convention that can only be matched by a star-trek convention as soon as someone mentions a problem with their linux box... linux generally has a great community, sometimes you can run across the elitist pricks, but don't let that get you down. I'm not a linux god, but I've got a fair level of knowledge in it. Contact me via email and I'd be happy to provide what support I can, or help direct you to the resources that can help you... after a while of knowing where to find the information you seek, you'll be quite self sufficient in running and *using* linux. just my .02 Mike