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Ubuntu 9.04 For the Windows Power User
crazipper writes "Know a Windows power user who is (honestly) good with technology, but hasn't yet warmed to Linux? Tom's Hardware just posted a guide to installing and using Ubuntu 9.04, written specifically for the MS crowd (in other words, it talks about file systems, mount points, app installation, etc). Hopefully, by the end, your 'friend' will realize just how easy Ubuntu can be to use and start down a long path of exploration with a new operating system."
It's far more likely that stuff in the repository is safe than something you just download off the net. In most cases.
The normal repositories are provided by the same folks that put together your OS, and the downloads are signed by them so you know you're getting the software from a trusted source. Linux does let you skip the "check for malware" step with things you get from trustworthy repositories due to this signing mechanism. Unless the repo is contaminated, but that's somewhat unlikely and would be found very fast.
And if you don't trust the people you get your OS from then... well that would be special.
You should be as careful adding new repositories to your system in much the same way you would be careful trusting a third party website to get software from. And careful adding packages you download from the web in the same way that you are with windows.
For me, it was the lack of support for hardware. My netbook came with Ubuntu pre-installed (bypassing my previous experience where Ubuntu managed to hose the partition tables of two discs). It's a netbook, so the usual problem of 'no games' and so on weren't really an issue as long as it could run Firefox and a basic text editor.
And then I plugged my mouse in.
I have my MX Revolution (the Best Mouse Ever Made) set up with shortcuts for manipulating tabs rather than the silly default fwd/back buttons. However, after about half an hour of googling and fiddling with repositories, I was no closer to a working mouse. Now, I'm sure some will be quick yell "but it's the manufacturers fault! They don't provide any drivers!". This'd be fine if:
a) there weren't custom drivers for both windows and OS X available
b) the custom drivers for Linux didn't require me to DOWNGRADE THE OPERATING SYSTEM in order to install.
It was at this second point where I decided that Linux was not the choice for me. If I have to reinstall the entire operating system to get a mouse working properly, then there's something very wrong.
Actually, there is a menu option in Ubuntu under Applications->Add/Remove that provides a simpler interface for adding applications. Not that anyone who knows what he's doing would use it, but it's there!
Your post displays a mix of FUD, lack of knowledge and lack of intellectual curiosity.
Firstly, for a huge variety of software that a user might install, the process is a single command in a terminal, for example:
sudo apt-get install <whatever>
Alternatively, applications can be selected for installation or removal through nice GUI programs such as Synaptic.
The system repositories are set up on installation and files in those repositories can be assumed to be secure. Contrast that with Windows, where the process often involves downloading a random exe file that may or may not be trusted.
There are some applications and libraries that may require adding repositories, but, in my experience, those repositories provide detailed instructions on how to add them. Your failure to grasp these simple steps shows a lack of effort on your part and not any difficulty with Linux.
Under Windows, after installing an application, can you be sure about what the installer did? Under Linux, I can query the package manager for the files installed and the scripts run. Under Windows -- no. So under Linux, I can feel more secure and trusting of the package that I just installed. It's Windows that should make you feel insecure.
I fully expect this post to be downmodded to hell by the Windows fanboys, but, fortunately, I have some karma to burn!
The real "Libtards" are the Libertarians!
...have you seen the Windows command line? cmd.exe deserves nothing less than open hostility.
Easy Wine tutorial, right now:
Open Terminal.
Type "sudo apt-get install wine" and type password. Press enter. (A suggested step: "sudo apt-get install msttcorefonts" for better fonts)
Once the process is finished, right click on any exe. Go down to "Run in Wine." Install and use as usual.
If it does not run, google the software's name plus wine. If the software is known at all, there should be a solution.