why I am frustrated with my linux experience so far...

First off, I was really excited about the potential to have an operating system in which I could have more control over, and am still somewhat optimistic.

My main frustration thus far is the lack of hardware support. It seems that most of my peripheral hardware(keyboard, printer, etc.)

So my question is this... Why use linux? It's not that I am lazy and don't want to learn something new. The reality is quite the opposite. I even realize that most of the hardware issues that I am having can be worked around. But I am new to linux (not PCs) and I wish I could be broken in a little bit at a time. but if I am going to get my printer and keyboard working properly (with full functionality as I had in windows) it will probably take me months. I wish this wasn't the case. What gives...

I am thinking about trashing my ubuntu install now just to avoid frustration...

thanks for letting me rant.

I could see from your profile that you have hardly seeked any help for the issues you are facing.

Difficult to help you if you don't tell us what kind of printer and keyboard you're trying to set up. :)

Stick with it and dont be afraid to ask for help its worth it in the long run i have now switched completely to linux after years of using macs (from system 7 up to osx 10.4)

scottac said: My main frustration thus far is the lack of hardware support. It seems that most of my peripheral hardware(keyboard, printer, etc.)

You have to rephrase that: It's the lack of hardware producers to supply linux drivers or open specifications so that others could write drivers for it... you can't blame linux here...

Please post more info. system configuration, keyboard type ie usb or ps2, printer make, model, connection type, etc. along with a description of the problem, what steps you have already tried, any error messages, version of ubuntu your using, and any thing else that may be related to the issues.

Thanks

My guess is that you didn't buy your hardware with Linux-compatibility in mind. That's okay.

Sometimes Linux users get a little overenthusiastic about evangelizing and "converting" people.

If you want to explore Linux, take it slow.

Here are some tips for you and practical migration steps:

1. Start with open source Windows applications. Use those for a while. Make sure they fit all your computing needs.

1. Install Ubuntu as a virtual operating system within Windows. This will allow you to quickly switch back and forth between OSes and not worry so much about hardware support.

https://wiki.ubuntu.com/HardwareSupport http://www.linuxcompatible.org/compatibility.html http://www.linux.org/hardware/ http://tldp.org/HOWTO/Hardware-HOWTO/

1. You can keep this setup indefinitely... until you're in a position to buy new hardware. When you do, make sure it is Linux-compatible hardware.

4A. Once you know you have all Linux-compatible hardware, go ahead and do a full install of Ubuntu.

4B. Or, better yet, when you're in the position to buy a new computer, buy one with Ubuntu preinstalled.

Thanks for all the responses. I have two pcs (laptop with vista) and desktop with clean kubuntu install.

I am not giving up. not even close.

I am also not placing blame on linux. I realize that it is the hardware manufacturers that are not keeping this operating system in mind. However, it is still frustrating.

I am also not really asking any questions at this point. Even if it does take me a few months, that is really fine. I enjoy the learning experience...

sorry for posting this I guess. I really just wanted to rant and didn't know where else to do it. probably belongs in a different section.

thanks...

kpkeerthi said: I could see from your profile that you have hardly seeked any help for the issues you are facing.

It bothers me when people use that as a justification for someone having problems. "What, your printer won't work? Linux doesn't recognize it? Well...you haven't asked for any help yet...it's your fault!"

Personally I've had enough unanswered threads on these forums to know that asking for help isn't a cure-all. And because of those empty threads, I've spent hours looking for the solution on Google and on the forums. Just because someone hasn't *posted* about it doesn't mean they haven't sought any help.

Anyway...I agree wtih you, kpkeerthi. If you haven't posted a thread here - whether or not it goes unanswered - you shouldn't just quit. But it really irks me when the end user - who is trying hard to make the switch - gets greased with all the blame. *You* didn't by Linux compatible hardware, *you* didn't post a question, *you* need to "re-phrase" that from "Linux sucks" to "Linux sucks *on your hardware.* As if he cares about semantics and sentence structure when his keyboard won't work, or when the computer crashes randomly every couple minutes.

Grrr. Anway, @OP: seriously, ask for help if you have issues. There's almost always a solution, unless you've got some really, really weird hardware. Good luck. :D

I moved it to the appropriate section. There's nothing wrong with the occasional rant. We all need to let off steam sometimes.

If you have any questions or need help, people will be more than willing to help you out. Even if you just need some moral support, we're here for that too.

Most of us have had frustrating experiences at one point or another, so you're not alone.

I would say keep at it if you're feel like you have enough patience or stick to what is familiar if you don't feel like adjusting.

My first few months even with linux were pretty difficult, and I felt like I had to search/ask for solutions to make things work from the beginning, sometimes spending hours figuring out what the hell was up. But the more time I spent on it the more I learned about it and eventually fixing/doing things started to become easier. Now after about 6 months of tinkering, I have a pretty smooth running Ubuntu install and problems are pretty rare.

It's much the same as learning any operating system really, except the extra flexibility of linux makes it a bit more difficult sometimes.

hyper_ch said: You have to rephrase that: It's the lack of hardware producers to supply linux drivers or open specifications so that others could write drivers for it... you can't blame linux here...

I agree with you here, even though I was flamed in a thread for saying this. :mad:

here is the deal. I am definately sold on linux after being a windows user for more than ten years. I am a computer nerd at heart and it is simply something I need (COE and EE major in school) and want to learn.

Quick question for everyone. Is there a better distibution to learn on. I really like the look and feel of my kubuntu 8.10 install however if there is a better distribution (without all the flash) that will better suit a linux noob, I am definately open to that.

I have thought about opensuse or mint. What do you guys think.

thanks again...

scottac said: here is the deal. I am definately sold on linux after being a windows user for more than ten years. I am a computer nerd at heart and it is simply something I need (COE and EE major in school) and want to learn.

Quick question for everyone. Is there a better distibution to learn on. I really like the look and feel of my kubuntu 8.10 install however if there is a better distribution (without all the flash) that will better suit a linux noob, I am definately open to that.

I have thought about opensuse or mint. What do you guys think.

thanks again...

Mint is good; it's like Ubuntu with the non-free stuff pre-installed, and cooler menus. Little slower than Ubuntu in my experience, but I guess mileage varies by hardware.

Suse...it's - ah - big. That's the best I can say it. Takes a DVD, I believe, to install, and comes with lots and lots of apps. I don't have a lot of experience with it, though, so can't recommend one way or the other.

Definitely try Mint...but you said you had Kubuntu 8.10 installed and I've got to say that It's far and away better than Mint, IMO. I'm running it right now, soaking up the awesomeness. :) Of course, I guess I'm biased.... :P

FYI: Mint with KDE sounds like a cool idea, but, in my experience, isn't. :(

Try them all. Look at VirtualBox so you're not reformatting twice a day. :)

Good luck. :) And remember, no one distro is better than the next. It's all about what you want, no matter what the fanboys say. :P

jrock612 said:

FYI: Mint with KDE sounds like a cool idea, but, in my experience, isn't. :(

Try them all. Look at VirtualBox so you're not reformatting twice a day. :):P

I have seen virtualbox mentioned in passing through the forums but am not really sure what it is. Would you care to elaborate?

And why is KDE a bad idea with Mint...

thanks again guys.

scottac said: I have seen virtualbox mentioned in passing through the forums but am not really sure what it is. Would you care to elaborate?

And why is KDE a bad idea with Mint...

thanks again guys. VirtualBox is a virtualization software package. In other words, it lets you "virtualize" one operating system inside the application (fake hardware) while still running another. Picture one operating system inside a window on another.

I don't much like VirtualBox, and recommend VMWare on Windows and Linux or Qemu on Linux. Try them all and choose for yourself.

EDIT: Here's a screenshot of FreeDOS being virtualized with Qemu on my SliTaz Linux desktop. I'm familiar with regular command-line Qemu, but there's a GUI called KQemu available, and both VirtualBox and VMWare Player have GUIs.

scottac said: I have seen virtualbox mentioned in passing through the forums but am not really sure what it is. Would you care to elaborate?

And why is KDE a bad idea with Mint...

thanks again guys.

Well, cardinals_fan covered what VB is. As for Mint and KDE being a bad idea...no real reason, really. I ran it through VirtualBox today to test it, and not only was it simply ugly (in my opinion), but the Mint menu structure necessitated so many changes to the basic KDE structure that it didn't really feel like KDE anymore. Again, though, just my opinion. :P