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Fedora Core 2: Making it Work
Joe Barr writes "Linux.com is running a followup article by Ken Barber to his initial review of Fedora 2. This time he explains how to tame the GNOME and Fedora 2 problems he noted the first time around and get them both in working shape.."
I agree with the parent. Here's my experience with Fedora:
I ssould start out by saying that although I am not a computer newbie I am a linux newbie. I'm not illiterate (advanced degrees in economics and education). I have done a little bit of programming and can quite happily manage my windows box.
I downloaded the ISOs burned them to CD. no problems so far. Reboot the machine and install from CD. During the install, the screen goes blank but I can still here the hd chugging away. I figure it must be a graphics issue. Boot back into windows, google for a likely solution.
Reinstall Fedora with the text only command (i cannot remember the specific commands). Fedora installs but when the computer reboots, screen again goes blank.
Back to windows and google. Discover it's likely a driver problem and i need to configure Fedora to start in a standard vesa mode.
Back to Fedora, cannot figure out how to get to text mode.
Back to windows and google.
Figure out text mode. Next problem how do I start a text editor? (what editor?)
Back to windows and google.
Figure things out, manage to login and use gnome. but now i can only use 640x480, anything else gives me a blank screen. Additionally I have no sound support whatsoever (but I can access the net).
Google for solutions, try lots of things.
Give Up. (and I'm not going to discuss my difficulties in installing software - where is it, what directory, what does bin, etc, usr, mean?)
Use Fdisk, reformat hard drive, reinstall windows xp.
btw, I don't have some crazy pc setup, I have a Compaq that I bought from CircuitCity.
That was the first and probably last time I will try linux.
I realize that Redhat have the 'power users + hobbyists only' disclaimer on the Fedora website, but I could not beleive how difficult it was to install and setup linux.
unfortunately, I don't think my experience is atypical. If all distributions are this bad I doubt linux will be overtaking ms on the desktop. ever.
One thing that I have learned is that programmers need to realize that just because something seems 'easy' to those already familiar with it, it does not follow that it will be easy for newbies. If anything, linux distributions don't need to be as easy to use as windos/mac , they need to be MUCH EASIER in order to compensate for the learning curve that acts as a very significant barrier to entry.
while (!asleep()) sheep++