Why Linux Isn’t Popular
Most people realize that there’s really two ways you can go with your computer — Linux or Windows. And no, I’m not discounting Macs, that’s just a different machine. However bad it might be, Windows is currently the most popular operating system in existence. Despite all Apple’s attempts to gain ground on the bug-filled Vista, Windows still wins. Sometimes Linux people try and get people to try Linux. “It’s better” they say — and they’re right. But it just won’t work for today’s computer illiterate people. Windows is DESIGNED for people who don’t know what they’re doing. But here’s my experiences with Linux, just today:
Oh, and keep in mind, this is the experiences from someone who has been working with computers since the first PC’s. I used to write programs in Basic and was impressed with the release of Basica. I had one of the first portable computers, the PCJr. Packed in it’s suitcase, I think it weighed 50 pounds. And I’ve been networking and programming computers for over 20 years. Still, this is my experience with Linux (and this is not the first time I’ve used Linux, just the most recent).
I decided to take a left over machine and put Linux on it. My current machine is a bit slow, and this machine had 1 GB of ram and a 2.something processor on it. It’s a nearly new machine with no problems. It just had Windows XP, and I wanted to get it going with Linux.
First I tried Red Hat Fedora Core Linux. The install could not find the hard drive. You see, it was a SATA hard drive and in the BIOS it showed up on IDE channel 3 — so Fedora could only find the CD and not the HD. Sure, Fedora gave me the option of installing a driver, but I had no idea which one to install. A couple hours later, after trying all the different drives and finding that none of them worked, I decided to try something else.
Next I tried Ubuntu. It booted right up. It found the hard drive and I then installed it. An hour later I realized that Ubuntu hadn’t found the network card. In fact, it was incapable of finding the network card. After searching on the internet for some time, I finally found the driver for the card that would work with Ubuntu. I downloaded it, transferred it to the machine, and tried to install it. However, Ubuntu is a basic system and didn’t have the “make” command installed. So I tried to install it — only it couldn’t be installed unless I was connected to the internet… via the network card that didn’t work.
Next I went back to trying Fedora. I spent another hour or so working in the BIOS settings and searching the motherboard manuals for information on dip switches or jumpers that might get the SATA onto IDE 1. No luck. I even found a new place in the Fedora setup to try more drivers. Nothing.
I then spent about an hour downloading another version of Ubuntu (8.x). I burned that to a CD and booted off that disk. Amazingly, it worked — AND it found the network card. This was going to work! I then installed Ubuntu and thought I would get to work.
I got Ubuntu installed and started setting up network applications. Firefox was here and working. Well, mostly — installed with Ubuntu version 8 was Firefox 3 — so little things like my Foxmarks wouldn’t work. I manually transferred over my bookmarks and thought I was set. Next I decided to hook up the printer.
I have a cheap Lexmark Z611. It plugged in. Ubuntu sensed it — but couldn’t figure out what it was. I tried to pick Z611 from the Lexmark list, but it wasn’t there. Of course the CD didn’t have Linux drivers on it. Back to the internet to search for drivers (after trying 4 other Lexmark drivers to find that they wouldn’t work). I downloaded the drivers from Lexmark, but the files kept failing integrity checks. I downloaded them from other locations — they all failed integrity checks and simply could not be installed. Okay, let’s try something else.
I installed Thunderbird for my email because I really wanted to use that (previous machine was using Outlook). It installed just fine, but I couldn’t get it to find the mail servers. It kept timing out. I connect through a proxy server — but not with Thunderbird. Firefox worked just fine. The proxy server worked fine. But for some reason, Thunderbird couldn’t find the proxy server and would not work whether I set the proxy server through the system or the application itself — nor with or without the proxy server or any other option in the settings NEAR the proxy server. Oh, and the RSS feeds in Thunderbird work, just not emails. I’m guessing (based on searches) that it has something to do with ports and protocols used for email, but that doesn’t explain why gmail doesn’t work, nor why there’s no information in Thunderbird or it’s manual to explain what’s going on.
So here I am, someone who actually knows about and understand computers, 6 hours after trying to install Linux. I have a machine that can browse the internet, but cannot get email, nor can it connect to a printer. If I had started with Windows, everything would have worked and been done in about 30 minutes.
So you Linux people, if you want to know why more people keep using Windows, perhaps it’s just because despite all it’s problems, Windows actually works while Linux can only work for extreme expert users, and then only some of the time, for some applications and for some hardware.
Popularity: 55% [?]
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Bah I just typed my whole comment and forgot to check that box…
It took me ten whole minutes to get my lap top set up, hooked up to my printer, fax, IPOD and router. From box to being on the Internet checking my email. Plugged it in, followed the prompts, inserted ISP CD and router CD…all done very quick and efficiently. I like it that way cause I am dumb when it comes to computers. LOL
I’ll never use this Linux thingy now that I read this.
I know that when Linux works, it’s great. It’s just the getting it to work part that’s so difficult.
I think the title to your post should be “Why Linux Isn’t Popular With Me”.
It looks like you have a “little” competition in installing Linux, http://dthomasdigital.wordpress.com/2008/04/25/linux-on-thew-desktop-your-time-has-come/
I strongly suspect it’s not just me, as I’ve heard similar stories from those who have tried it. And after all, if an experienced computer person can’t get something like this working, what chance does someone who doesn’t know what’s going on?
I only wish my experience had been the same as on that link. And again, I LIKE Linux. I would prefer to use it. But I can’t. Further research indicates it’s something to with the SOCKS proxy for the email. No more help on getting the printer driver supported yet.
Ouch!
Link coming tomorrow. By the way, do you use Blogger’s scheduled posting? I’m using it all the time and I love it.
The experienced (PC) computer person is a fallacy. You are experienced primarily in Microsoft operating systems. By its very nature you are given the bare minimum of information to operate by. Everything else is hidden. You may think you are given everything you need, but how would you know otherwise if your only experience is with Microsoft? Open Source software like Linux hides nothing from you. All you need is the incentive to seek that knowledge out.
I have seen many posts like this one. Don’t waste your time. You are not saving any average users from the heartbreak of a broken installation. They won’t be installing Linux anymore than they are installing Windows. When it comes time for the public to adopt Linux en mass, it will come preloaded on their machines.
If you want help with installing Linux start by searching your distribution’s forums. A quotation from a choice error message would be a good place to start. You can also try the same on Google. This is how it works with Linux. You are on your own with an Internet full of people willing to help. Avoid the IRCs, if you get any abuse it will be there, not from the distribution’s forum. If, however, you wish to have your operating system handed to you all setup and ready to go then you have a little bit of a wait. If you listened to the hype then your expectations will be out of whack with reality. Right now Linux is a DIY operating system. It’s still ready for the average user. It just needs to be installed by someone with a little bit of knowledge of Linux. Once it’s set up and the user is pointed in the right direction, they’ll have far less trouble than with a Microsoft leased machine. That has been my personal experience with five machines.
What would your post here have been like if your “computer experience” was with Linux/Unix instead of Microsoft? Is the “problem” with Linux simply user experience? I know one thing that would be different. You never would have even tried to get that Lexmark printer working with Linux. The only way Lexmark could be more anti Linux than they are would be if they put a bullet in Linus Torvald’s head. But you would know that if you were as experienced with Linux as you are with Windows.
Back when I was in college, I took a few elective computer classes. One time when we were in the computer lab, a computer science major jumped up with excitement. He spent the last hour or so making a blue rectangle on the screen.
No, he didn’t take a graphics program and click out a blue rectangle withe a mouse, he took a computer with no graphics programs on it, and with 1s and 0s, created a program that produced a blue rectangle on the screen.
Those of us who understood what that meant congratulated him for learning how to do such a feat. Those in the lab who didn’t understand, just wondered why he didn’t just use MSPaint instead.
Why am I boring you with my tales of long forgotten Blue Rectangle Lore? Because it’s a great parable for why Linux isn’t popular. Windows is for those of us who just want to click a mouse and have the magic happen. Linux is for those who want to control the magic.
The best is never what the masses want, the one that’s easiest is never the best. The masses want what’s easiest. The easiest usually bores the ones who want the best to death.
KT, I use Wordpress, and nearly every post I write is scheduled and not posted right away!
Thanks for stopping by, Richard. While I’ll admit I have lots of experience with Windows, it’s not just Windows. I mean, I know Networking, OSI in depth, and hardware like it’s no one’s business. And remember — I was using PCs before Microsoft even thought of Windows. Indeed, I don’t have Linux experience, but this is why — it just doesn’t seem to work with equipment I have.
I’m sure if I had the “right” equipment — not a Lexmark printer, for example — it would be great. But my point is that many people DO have Lexmarks. Windows works with Lexmark. Linux doesn’t. So in other words, if you have a Lexmark printer, you’re not going to use Linux. With Windows, it really doesn’t matter what hardware you have, it will work with it.
Again, I’m not saying I don’t like Linux, I do! It’s just that there’s no way it has reached the point where the average computer user can use it yet, if you ask me. And I certainly agree, ONCE IT’S WORKING that it will work better and have less problems than Windows. It’s that whole first step that’s hard for me, much less an average user.
As for the forums, indeed, I have searched the Ubuntu forums and other Linux forums until my fingers bleed. No one appears to have had an issue like mine (that I can find), but thanks for that tip. I even asked on the forums for help with the email issue. I was told it was the SOCKS proxy. Yeah, that’s about it. No help on how to make it work, just that it was the SOCKS proxy. I haven’t given up yet, but my main point in this whole post was that Linux is NOT a simple, easy-to-use operating system — and Windows is.
ParaTed2k, I liked that story! I was one of those crazy people. Remember Adventure? XYZZY! I can’t count how many of those I tried to make afterwards…
But your point is well-taken, and basically what my post is saying — Linux isn’t for the masses. But some people try to claim it is and I just don’t think so.
I miss my Commodore 64 and then my KayPro II. Those where the days my friend, when girls where girls, and men where men, …….we didn’t need the welfare state……everyone pulled their weight…….the internet was at 300 baud…….yes, those where the days my friend, but alias they did end in January 1993.
I just pulled a Raven! Grrrrrrr….
Linux is hands down more stable, but requires waaaay too much work and experience and knowledge to install. As much as I hate MicroShaft, I hate being on the learning curve with puters more. I have no intention of even trying a Mac, because this old dog doesn’t want to learn any new tricks. LOL!!! Why you might wonder… I am a QA Test Analyst by trade with a degree in programming and 30 + years in IT Operations. I have always been on the extreme learning curve. Testing is no different. I am currently trying to “force myself to learn Virtual Basic so I can learn to write coded test scripts for automated testing, before that it was SQL so I could query databases to make sure an app was pulling the right data, and before that XML to check and verify report data, and before that it was learning Test Director & then Quality Center and on and on and on. I am so burnt out on what I do, that if I could find something else that I’m as good at as I am at “breaking applications and code”… and still make decient money… I’d be there in a heartbeat! I’m at a stage in my life where I’m suffering severe burnout I think. I know constantly learning more and different techie stuff is utter hell for a person who started out as an art major!
Oh, 300 baud! That brings back some memories — like TAPE drives! Anyone remember using a tape drive to store data? I had an old black cassette player connected to the C64. Man, that was something.
I like coding. It just doesn’t pay as much as I’m making now. I’m thinking about just taking the pay cut and going back into doing what’s a LOT more fun! After all, I’m coding all the time anyway with all sorts of playing around stuff — might as well get paid to do it all day again!
I remember mainframes, tape drives and silos, disk packs on the DECs… and noisy impact printers… ick!
I never actually worked with the real mainframes. I mean I did RPG programming on some midranges, but punchcards were just before my time!
I loved those old 8- and 9-pin impact printers! Remember the silly perforated edges on them? I hung streams of them up at my doorway as a curtain of sorts one time…
Ogre,
look abroad. linux is from finland
so is SuSe. american made linux distro’s never seem to do it for me……
I am curious if SuSe 10.3 would do the trick for you; it did for me.
your experiences with RH and Ubuntu are exactly mine.
have been using linux since 0.85 ( 36 floppies, 20 yrs ago)
always did slackware until 2 yrs ago.
( I spent 20 years on unix, so that sort of is my credentials…)
tried RH and now ubuntu a few times, always trouble.
suse 10.3 is what I use now (2 yrs or so). both laptop and desktop. plus virtualbox for win2k / MS visio + printing MS infested docs that openoffice doesn’t understand ( very rarely, didnt happen for 1 year now…) ( there’s no visio equivalent for linux…… )
counterstrike, and other games go under wine + crossover…
one thing I do recognize in your story: printer support is tricky.
HP , canon . epson is ok. anything else might be an issue.
Do try the suse 10.3; it really beats ubuntu / RH on point&click functionality.
It even recognized my satellite tv-card out of the box.
wmv/mpeg support & such is a matter of adding community software repositories and off you go with the installer.
took me about 45 min to set the whole thing up.
cheers
RG
Well thank you very much for the comments and the suggestions! After fighting Ubuntu for hours, I’m ready to try anything. If things don’t start working again Monday, I’ll give Suse a try on Tuesday!
It takes long enough to get a new PC set up, get rid of all the extra BS packaged in, put the proper programs on, add your docs, music, and such in. I wouldn’t feel like fighting with Linux.
Well, with Linux it SHOULD take less time. And once it’s working, it’s so much better in operation than Windows, from my experiences.
Hey, I tried Suse 10.3 today.
There went another 4 hours down the drain. No network card, no network interface. And that’s after installing all sorts of things like ndisgtk and ndiswrapper. So much for Suse. I guess at least with Ubuntu I could use the network a little bit…
Hours more — I tried to go back to Ubuntu. It can’t find the disk. I actually had to change disk settings in the BIOS in order for Ubuntu to just boot off the live disk! That’s just insane.
Again, it is clear Linux hasn’t change — it is designed only for the hobbyist or someone that wants to play around and experiment. It’s simply not made for production or every day installation and use.
More hours on Suse — the final answer from people at the Suse support forums was that I need to go buy a different NIC card. Great.
Back to Ubuntu. Now I’ve spent 2 hours today trying to get the network interface working again. I managed to make it work the first time I installed it, but something’s different this time, so I have no network interface still. It’s almost like it’s intentional that Linux does not work well. Oh, wait, I just remembered — IT IS. Which again, is my whole point — if you’re not someone who wants to play with the operating system, don’t use Linux. If you want productivity and have needs and requirements for your computer, stay away from Linux.
If, on the other hand, you’ve got dozens (or more) hours to play around with a computer (knowing it will NOT work on a schedule that you need) and you want to learn about new stuff, go right ahead and jump on Linux!
I may have needed someone such as Orge, as I had some issues with McAfee anti virus. It seems my McAffee went south, or somewhere.
It was working great for awhile, but then one day it went bonkers, so I uninstalled and reinstalled, over and over, until finally… I left it uninstalled and downloaded Avast!. It seems to working great.
Sometimes your best option is to throw away one piece of software and go with something completely different!