If you're comfortable enough to reinstall an OS, why the hell would you blow away his XP? Why not just use a LIVECD and make sure everything works for you BEFORE you inflict your pain onto your friend.
I do not quite think you're a power user my friend. If YOU're the one installing it on a friends computer, it defeats the purpose. Do you build a 2-wheel bike for someone who doesn't know how to ride them? Then give them back their tricycle and blame the bike you built? What sound card? Refuses to play with the USB router? Windows has the same problem my friend, but you probably already know that since I'm responding to an AC and your post is rated properly.
Gnucash is the most common, but there's another one....grisbi.
I'm currently evaluating (and by this I mean just installed and looked at) both, though Gnucash is winning on the startup look/feel. It actually asked me for the QIF file to get started!
I'm hoping I can "import" it from Quicken and not have to reinvent the wheel.
Well aware, but I'm a newbie and haven't started READING how to use the command prompt more efficiently.
Context searching the man pages, what the "1 page at a time" command is for ls, learning how to tell a directory apart from an executable...these are things that will come with time.
I just haven't dedicated the time to it yet....and I think I admitted that. But I'll get there when necessity dictates.
For those who read Slashdot regularly, the subject may sound familiar. I was the window user who commented on why the average user DOESN'T switch.
I'm full time Ubuntu at home now.
I have everything working that I had on my windows box. I may have a learning curve when it comes to using new apps, but the point is, I switched almost painlessly.
Hardawre worked out of box? Check Re-installed all needed software? Check Printer installed? Check Kick ass support system in #ubuntu-support? Check kick ass add/remove program clone? Check Plays Movies? Check P2p? Check Finance software? Check Remote administration? Check Virtual Machine Capable? Check Free Free Free? Check
Best of all is the performance. I've heard that Gnome is slow overall, but man o man, my xp box always BOGGED down after about a year of use to the point I have to reinstall. Hope that doesn't happen with Ubuntu, but in Xp, I was getting "buffer" errors with windows due to too many tcp/ip calls. I had 8 apps that used the internet open. I had mysterious IDE errors with no resolution...I had explorer and svchost issues, Now, I have NO problems and my speeds are incredible.
While it's STILL not ready for primetime for mom and dad (cept for simply browsing...can you believe my wife found firefox, surfed and printed without even knowing I had switched the pc?), I would recommend it for anyone who remembers how to use limited command line options, can follow instructions and who is interested in change.
Sure I had to Sudo apt-get this, and tar xvf that (still don't REALLY know what I'm doing when I use these options, but I'm sure there's a HOWTO when I get a moment) but like I said, I'm HAPPY with ubuntu, the first distro I've found to satisfy my curiosity of Linux and delight me with it's power and ease of use.
This script just makes it LEAPS and BOUNDS simplier than it already is.
Kudo's!
Yo Grark
P.S. Completely separate topic, I'm looking to hire a website developer/programmer to implement a backend to a new e-business, any idea on where to start looking?
No I'm talking about a small 3-ft one on my house. I live in a "wind tunnel" and want to take advantage. And as for being north of the city, you probably won't get a hotspot so the point is moot isn't it?
This is the same company that went to the regulators and begged to have a "debt repayment" charge added to every consumer regardless if you were part of the original debt problem. Imagine being able to charge customers for your incompetance and making it clear you were doing so!
You may think that having Toronto as one huge hotspot, and I might even think it was cool too if these weren't true:
1. It's illegal to go off the grid. 2. I'm paying for Toronto Hydro's "debt" which consisted of millions of dollars in self-appointed executive bonuses, even when they had severly unbalanced budgets. 3. Toronto Hydro has blocked a lot of "green" ideas, every step of the way. Including subsidies to alleviate power problems. 4. We pay almost almost 10.00 per kw solar power/panel to make sure it's not a viable option. 5. Powering your house by Wind Power is illegal through "sound governance bilaws" even though the noise is quieter than an air conditioner. 6. They artificially "Froze" prices because of public pressure only to raise prices overall to MORE than it would have cost in the first place.
End Rant. Sorry, but it seems like a really cool thing, but like every other cool thing, this will come on the backs of those consumers who have no other choice but to allow them to spend money frivilously.
Yes I have options to go to "brokers", yes I have options to go "all gas", but when I investigated thouse routes, believe it or not, Toronto Hydro was the lesser of all evils.
Least then he'd have something to bitch about. "The FCC is...wait...no more fines...Oprah is...wait....she's on satellite too?....my wife is....wait...I'm divorced for no good reason....my kids are...wait not my responsibility......Actually I got it pretty good now!"
Have to say that based on some people's responses I gave the live cd of Ubuntu a whirl. My god, they have it right! I may just have to recant my last few posts and all the struggles I've been going through!
There's a menu system that logically leads me to being able to change things, Under applications, there's an ADD APPLICATION, it booted on my laptop with NO problems (even got the sound driver which was always a problem)
I have to say, I think I might give this Disto a run at my home pc. Anyone know of anything to watch out for with Ubuntu?
Anyone want to sing Ubuntu's praises when introducing it to window-friendly people?
Just a very quick note. I do like computers. I do like WINDOWS because it's what I grew up on.
Bet if I take your points to any set of Windows power users, they'd find your tone very condesending, and not showing you in a very good light even though what you say has some validity.
MY most recent install was Suse 9.2, and a bootup into Ubuntu live cd.
I guess when I take my stock of PC apps for the xbox, finance, dvd authoring, website authoring, backup utilities, defragging utilities, filesharing, webserving remote administrating, etc and I try to start building that functionality into a linux machine, I get confused quickly as to what works where, what's the best etc. Research is the key, but alas I'm a working schmoe and don't have more than 10 min a day.
So why don't people like me switch? Because Linux isn't there yet without the research. BTW I read a lot when I'm dealing with Linux. It's how I learn a hell of a lot of other things. But like any language, if you don't use it consistantly, you lose it. Sure you remember some points, but the 4 commands I needed to use to get my wireless working I had to keep looking up.
When Linux can replace my box with minimum of understanding and more importantly, no need to compile, build apps etc, then it will be ready for prime time.
"But that's not linux" you say? Exactly why more people are switching, and linux is enjoying it's status as an elite OS.
Should Grandma need to know how to comile a BINGO game? No.
So you use IceIM or whatever, how the hell would I know how to set that up? Do I have choice of Windows Manager when I install distro? How about they give me an option for "Performance" or "pretty" when I install so at least I have a fighting chance:)
Until then, I'll keep trying until I get it right, or until my wife doesn't need to use my computer for her surfing/entertainment.
I'm an average power user. I troubleshoot my own machine, and extend my knowledge to friends and family. Not stupid...til you put me infront of linux box. Ok I'm more than a little scared. BUT I've tried Linux a total of 8 times in the last 5 years or so. Why? Because I WANT to use linux on my desktop.
Here's what's stopping me.
1) Growing up I had a lot more time to diagnose/fix windows machines. That same knowledge is not easily ported to Linux. When something doesn't work quite right, it takes a degree of programming (yes altering text files I consider programming) to fix. It's not just hidden somewhere in a clickable interface.
2) Linux is not giving me a huge speed performance over Windows. Sure you can show me the specs, but at the end of the day, if it doesn't load up apps like openoffice fast as lightening consistantly, I can't say the learning curve is worth it.
3) Apps. Ok here's where I'm lazy. I don't really know where to get GOOD equivalant (and free mind you) software apps to things like quicken. I have already bought my Quicken 2002 years ago and don't want to rebuy.
4) True plug and play. Same problem I have for windows I have for linux. Guess which one's easier to find drivers for? And don't give me crap about "buy LINUX HCL". Linux is free, and my parts are cheap. It's my reason.
5) People Don't read. Get over it. This is probably the single biggest breakdown of any OS. People don't read the boxes before they click ok, they certainly are not going to read which is better for them KDE or GNOME...heaven forbid install both on the same system and get their head around it. Options overwhelm users. I read to understand quickly, not to relearn how to simply install an application each and every time I want to update it.
6) ADD REMOVE SOFTWARE. I'm a tinkerer. YAST drove me NUTS because I couldn't find an easy way to install and uninstall apps. Even when I did, the changes didn't stick. Apparently I wasn't smart enough to tell the system the hardware I was installing and it would tell me what I was installing (issues with NIC) Sure the system comes with everything I could possibly want....except for what I go looking for.
7) Naming conventions. For gods sake, someone give me an OS that has it's options INTUITIVELY named. YAST for adding/removing hardware software/libraries? Wha? I don't know what the hell anything does! Oh yeah, READ the manual eh? Check out #5 and talk to me again.
8) Disruption. I have to say that my experiences with linux have seriously disrupted my time. 31 hours Time not worth the struggle to get a USB wireless adapter working on a laptop. Even after I got it working and then wanted to somehow have it in that state everytime it boots up, I couldn't find the proper text files to do so.
9) Complexity. Linux is beutiful. I love the fact that opensoftware is finally giving Microsoft a run for it's money. But as complex as microsoft is, they give end users a half fighting shot at fixing things themself through graphical tools. All my experiences (just trying to change the desktop resolution!) have been having to do complex things which should have been easy. A list you ask?
Changing Desktop resolution Installing a USB Wireless card Getting my camera to work Finding some half decent financial software Installing ANY linux on an old laptop (insert another set of issues here) Setting up shares to windows box
Summary? I'd love to switch full time. But until there's "definitely a way" to fix most problems graphically, and I can remember how to spell the distro I just installed, and it's semi-intuititve, it will be stuck being for the "not faint of heart". And I'll be stuck envoying people who make Linux work flawlessly for them and their families.
My wife and I takle problems completely in different ways.
I'm more the emotional type that makes decisions without knowing WHY I made them...it just felt like the right decision.
She is one who analyzes things to deal, but can always offer clear consise, sequential steps for solving problems.
Interestingly enough, I'm usually the one that ends up appeasing everyone involved instead, as opposed to her method which seems to technically get the problem solved, but leaves people not so happy around her.
Now I have some FACTS as to why my way works for me.
Ok maybe I'm just jaded about having to pay for a console then pay MS for essentially just a NETWORK CONNECTION to other players, but why NOT make it free? (as in air) I know it would make my decision simple when it came to xbox 360 or PS3.
Actually when I heard you had to PAY to change the skins, I backed off completely. Where are the days when you paid for a product and just enjoyed it without a constantly being nibbled to death by Credit Card Ducks?
No sir, I will still to my "alternatives", as offline as they may appear to MS, Sony or Nintendo until one day one of these companies gets a clue stick and sets up their system to be more P2P in nature then B2B.
GIMME MY FREE MULTIPLAYER ONLINE! (not like the game, the console the internet connection cost me anything eh?:| )
The more money you make the less you do. The less you do the more you think. The more you think the more you oversimplify since you have no formal training. The more you oversimplify the more you chat about "sky-high" goals. The more you chat about "sky-high" goals, the more management likes you. The more management likes you the faster you move up, the faster you move up the more opportunities present themselves...the more opportunities present themselves, the more CEO, CFO, COO positions get created, the more positions created, the more people who know nothing get into those positions because it's less dangerous then putting someone in who WILL rock the boat.
I had HORRIBLE experiences with the last round of drivers and quite frankly after 2 rounds of "software" driver problems *civ4, cough cough* I'm ready to hand in my ATI AIW9700.
Trouble is I've been out of the loop so long and I don't know what a good card is from the "other" manufacturers. All tech-specs and benchmarks aside, anyone have any good recommendations for the $200-$300 video card that will take me into the next 3 years?
Yeah yeah, I'm lazy and not geeky enough to do the research, consider me an average joe.
I'm completely at a loss for linux. I spent 4 hours installing suse 9.3 on an older laptop and expected everything to be "auto-configured". Ok not everything, but when I needed to, just go out and get the drivers.
Ok so Linux doesn't have the support, I can handle that, but DAMN is it NOT INTUITIVE to try and install applications/drivers!
So here's the choice. Either have University Level people only using Linux and stop touting it as an alternative to MS, or get it into your heads that the current line of thinking regarding drivers is flawed.
Now to play devil's advocate it's a chicken/egg senerio, but I'm about to leave linux behind for a second time in the last 5 years because I can't make my USB device (isn't usb based on open standards already?) work.
I'm in a position to push it as an alternative, but only when it's easy enough to sink my teeth in to begin with.
Oh and the usb device is AWLL3026 if anybody cares.
Slashdot Mirror
Well there's a definite difference between QUICKBOOKS and Gnucash.
:)
My experience is moving from Quicken to gnucash. Apples and Oranges.
I haven't found any good Business/accounting oriented software...yet.
But gimme a day
Yo Grark
I already admitted it wasn't ready for primetime.
If you're comfortable enough to reinstall an OS, why the hell would you blow away his XP? Why not just use a LIVECD and make sure everything works for you BEFORE you inflict your pain onto your friend.
I do not quite think you're a power user my friend. If YOU're the one installing it on a friends computer, it defeats the purpose. Do you build a 2-wheel bike for someone who doesn't know how to ride them? Then give them back their tricycle and blame the bike you built? What sound card? Refuses to play with the USB router? Windows has the same problem my friend, but you probably already know that since I'm responding to an AC and your post is rated properly.
Take Care.
Yo Grark
Gnucash is the most common, but there's another one....grisbi.
I'm currently evaluating (and by this I mean just installed and looked at) both, though Gnucash is winning on the startup look/feel. It actually asked me for the QIF file to get started!
I'm hoping I can "import" it from Quicken and not have to reinvent the wheel.
Yo Grark
Well aware, but I'm a newbie and haven't started READING how to use the command prompt more efficiently.
Context searching the man pages, what the "1 page at a time" command is for ls, learning how to tell a directory apart from an executable...these are things that will come with time.
I just haven't dedicated the time to it yet....and I think I admitted that. But I'll get there when necessity dictates.
Yo Grark
This is the internet, it doesn't matter what state/country I'm in!
And right now it's listed in ifreelance.com
But thank you for the suggestion!
Yo Grark
One word. Ubuntu.
For those who read Slashdot regularly, the subject may sound familiar. I was the window user who commented on why the average user DOESN'T switch.
I'm full time Ubuntu at home now.
I have everything working that I had on my windows box. I may have a learning curve when it comes to using new apps, but the point is, I switched almost painlessly.
Hardawre worked out of box? Check
Re-installed all needed software? Check
Printer installed? Check
Kick ass support system in #ubuntu-support? Check
kick ass add/remove program clone? Check
Plays Movies? Check
P2p? Check
Finance software? Check
Remote administration? Check
Virtual Machine Capable? Check
Free Free Free? Check
Best of all is the performance. I've heard that Gnome is slow overall, but man o man, my xp box always BOGGED down after about a year of use to the point I have to reinstall. Hope that doesn't happen with Ubuntu, but in Xp, I was getting "buffer" errors with windows due to too many tcp/ip calls. I had 8 apps that used the internet open. I had mysterious IDE errors with no resolution...I had explorer and svchost issues, Now, I have NO problems and my speeds are incredible.
While it's STILL not ready for primetime for mom and dad (cept for simply browsing...can you believe my wife found firefox, surfed and printed without even knowing I had switched the pc?), I would recommend it for anyone who remembers how to use limited command line options, can follow instructions and who is interested in change.
Sure I had to Sudo apt-get this, and tar xvf that (still don't REALLY know what I'm doing when I use these options, but I'm sure there's a HOWTO when I get a moment) but like I said, I'm HAPPY with ubuntu, the first distro I've found to satisfy my curiosity of Linux and delight me with it's power and ease of use.
This script just makes it LEAPS and BOUNDS simplier than it already is.
Kudo's!
Yo Grark
P.S. Completely separate topic, I'm looking to hire a website developer/programmer to implement a backend to a new e-business, any idea on where to start looking?
No I'm talking about a small 3-ft one on my house. I live in a "wind tunnel" and want to take advantage. And as for being north of the city, you probably won't get a hotspot so the point is moot isn't it?
Yo Grark
This is the same company that went to the regulators and begged to have a "debt repayment" charge added to every consumer regardless if you were part of the original debt problem. Imagine being able to charge customers for your incompetance and making it clear you were doing so!
You may think that having Toronto as one huge hotspot, and I might even think it was cool too if these weren't true:
1. It's illegal to go off the grid.
2. I'm paying for Toronto Hydro's "debt" which consisted of millions of dollars in self-appointed executive bonuses, even when they had severly unbalanced budgets.
3. Toronto Hydro has blocked a lot of "green" ideas, every step of the way. Including subsidies to alleviate power problems.
4. We pay almost almost 10.00 per kw solar power/panel to make sure it's not a viable option.
5. Powering your house by Wind Power is illegal through "sound governance bilaws" even though the noise is quieter than an air conditioner.
6. They artificially "Froze" prices because of public pressure only to raise prices overall to MORE than it would have cost in the first place.
End Rant. Sorry, but it seems like a really cool thing, but like every other cool thing, this will come on the backs of those consumers who have no other choice but to allow them to spend money frivilously.
Yes I have options to go to "brokers", yes I have options to go "all gas", but when I investigated thouse routes, believe it or not, Toronto Hydro was the lesser of all evils.
Yo Grark
---Coming soon, Howard Stern on HAM radio.
Least then he'd have something to bitch about. "The FCC is...wait...no more fines...Oprah is...wait....she's on satellite too?....my wife is....wait...I'm divorced for no good reason....my kids are...wait not my responsibility......Actually I got it pretty good now!"
Yo Grark
Have to say that based on some people's responses I gave the live cd of Ubuntu a whirl. My god, they have it right! I may just have to recant my last few posts and all the struggles I've been going through!
There's a menu system that logically leads me to being able to change things, Under applications, there's an ADD APPLICATION, it booted on my laptop with NO problems (even got the sound driver which was always a problem)
I have to say, I think I might give this Disto a run at my home pc. Anyone know of anything to watch out for with Ubuntu?
Anyone want to sing Ubuntu's praises when introducing it to window-friendly people?
Yo Grark
Just a very quick note. I do like computers. I do like WINDOWS because it's what I grew up on.
:)
Bet if I take your points to any set of Windows power users, they'd find your tone very condesending, and not showing you in a very good light even though what you say has some validity.
MY most recent install was Suse 9.2, and a bootup into Ubuntu live cd.
I guess when I take my stock of PC apps for the xbox, finance, dvd authoring, website authoring, backup utilities, defragging utilities, filesharing, webserving remote administrating, etc and I try to start building that functionality into a linux machine, I get confused quickly as to what works where, what's the best etc. Research is the key, but alas I'm a working schmoe and don't have more than 10 min a day.
So why don't people like me switch? Because Linux isn't there yet without the research. BTW I read a lot when I'm dealing with Linux. It's how I learn a hell of a lot of other things. But like any language, if you don't use it consistantly, you lose it. Sure you remember some points, but the 4 commands I needed to use to get my wireless working I had to keep looking up.
When Linux can replace my box with minimum of understanding and more importantly, no need to compile, build apps etc, then it will be ready for prime time.
"But that's not linux" you say? Exactly why more people are switching, and linux is enjoying it's status as an elite OS.
Should Grandma need to know how to comile a BINGO game? No.
So you use IceIM or whatever, how the hell would I know how to set that up? Do I have choice of Windows Manager when I install distro? How about they give me an option for "Performance" or "pretty" when I install so at least I have a fighting chance
Until then, I'll keep trying until I get it right, or until my wife doesn't need to use my computer for her surfing/entertainment.
Yo Grark
I'm an average power user. I troubleshoot my own machine, and extend my knowledge to friends and family. Not stupid...til you put me infront of linux box. Ok I'm more than a little scared. BUT I've tried Linux a total of 8 times in the last 5 years or so. Why? Because I WANT to use linux on my desktop.
Here's what's stopping me.
1) Growing up I had a lot more time to diagnose/fix windows machines. That same knowledge is not easily ported to Linux. When something doesn't work quite right, it takes a degree of programming (yes altering text files I consider programming) to fix. It's not just hidden somewhere in a clickable interface.
2) Linux is not giving me a huge speed performance over Windows. Sure you can show me the specs, but at the end of the day, if it doesn't load up apps like openoffice fast as lightening consistantly, I can't say the learning curve is worth it.
3) Apps. Ok here's where I'm lazy. I don't really know where to get GOOD equivalant (and free mind you) software apps to things like quicken. I have already bought my Quicken 2002 years ago and don't want to rebuy.
4) True plug and play. Same problem I have for windows I have for linux. Guess which one's easier to find drivers for? And don't give me crap about "buy LINUX HCL". Linux is free, and my parts are cheap. It's my reason.
5) People Don't read. Get over it. This is probably the single biggest breakdown of any OS. People don't read the boxes before they click ok, they certainly are not going to read which is better for them KDE or GNOME...heaven forbid install both on the same system and get their head around it. Options overwhelm users. I read to understand quickly, not to relearn how to simply install an application each and every time I want to update it.
6) ADD REMOVE SOFTWARE. I'm a tinkerer. YAST drove me NUTS because I couldn't find an easy way to install and uninstall apps. Even when I did, the changes didn't stick. Apparently I wasn't smart enough to tell the system the hardware I was installing and it would tell me what I was installing (issues with NIC) Sure the system comes with everything I could possibly want....except for what I go looking for.
7) Naming conventions. For gods sake, someone give me an OS that has it's options INTUITIVELY named. YAST for adding/removing hardware software/libraries? Wha? I don't know what the hell anything does! Oh yeah, READ the manual eh? Check out #5 and talk to me again.
8) Disruption. I have to say that my experiences with linux have seriously disrupted my time. 31 hours Time not worth the struggle to get a USB wireless adapter working on a laptop. Even after I got it working and then wanted to somehow have it in that state everytime it boots up, I couldn't find the proper text files to do so.
9) Complexity. Linux is beutiful. I love the fact that opensoftware is finally giving Microsoft a run for it's money. But as complex as microsoft is, they give end users a half fighting shot at fixing things themself through graphical tools. All my experiences (just trying to change the desktop resolution!) have been having to do complex things which should have been easy. A list you ask?
Changing Desktop resolution
Installing a USB Wireless card
Getting my camera to work
Finding some half decent financial software
Installing ANY linux on an old laptop (insert another set of issues here)
Setting up shares to windows box
Summary? I'd love to switch full time. But until there's "definitely a way" to fix most problems graphically, and I can remember how to spell the distro I just installed, and it's semi-intuititve, it will be stuck being for the "not faint of heart". And I'll be stuck envoying people who make Linux work flawlessly for them and their families.
Yo Grark
That's ok.
In this case, I really don't mind her be aggressive about sex.
Take that Nerd!
Dood, they have these things called SPELL CHECKS and PREVIEW!
Yo Grark
I HEAR THAT!
My wife and I takle problems completely in different ways.
I'm more the emotional type that makes decisions without knowing WHY I made them...it just felt like the right decision.
She is one who analyzes things to deal, but can always offer clear consise, sequential steps for solving problems.
Interestingly enough, I'm usually the one that ends up appeasing everyone involved instead, as opposed to her method which seems to technically get the problem solved, but leaves people not so happy around her.
Now I have some FACTS as to why my way works for me.
Thanks Slashdot!
Yo Grark
So here's a quick question, how do you "cheat" on an authenticated console? PC I can see, but Console?
Yo Grark
Ok maybe I'm just jaded about having to pay for a console then pay MS for essentially just a NETWORK CONNECTION to other players, but why NOT make it free? (as in air) I know it would make my decision simple when it came to xbox 360 or PS3.
:| )
Actually when I heard you had to PAY to change the skins, I backed off completely. Where are the days when you paid for a product and just enjoyed it without a constantly being nibbled to death by Credit Card Ducks?
No sir, I will still to my "alternatives", as offline as they may appear to MS, Sony or Nintendo until one day one of these companies gets a clue stick and sets up their system to be more P2P in nature then B2B.
GIMME MY FREE MULTIPLAYER ONLINE! (not like the game, the console the internet connection cost me anything eh?
Yo Grark
In HIS defence, he spelled intoxicated wrong too, it's D-R-U-N-K and only applied liberally to the eastern & northern provinces and territories!
Geez, not all us Canadians are Hosers eh?
Yo Grark
Sure it's simple.
The more money you make the less you do. The less you do the more you think. The more you think the more you oversimplify since you have no formal training. The more you oversimplify the more you chat about "sky-high" goals. The more you chat about "sky-high" goals, the more management likes you. The more management likes you the faster you move up, the faster you move up the more opportunities present themselves...the more opportunities present themselves, the more CEO, CFO, COO positions get created, the more positions created, the more people who know nothing get into those positions because it's less dangerous then putting someone in who WILL rock the boat.
Yo Grark
I had HORRIBLE experiences with the last round of drivers and quite frankly after 2 rounds of "software" driver problems *civ4, cough cough* I'm ready to hand in my ATI AIW9700.
Trouble is I've been out of the loop so long and I don't know what a good card is from the "other" manufacturers. All tech-specs and benchmarks aside, anyone have any good recommendations for the $200-$300 video card that will take me into the next 3 years?
Yeah yeah, I'm lazy and not geeky enough to do the research, consider me an average joe.
Yo Grark
Wind power's illegal in canada unless you go by stict goverment guidelines.
They actually make it prohibitive to install solar and more specifically Wind Power.
Creeps.
Yo Grark
I'm completely at a loss for linux. I spent 4 hours installing suse 9.3 on an older laptop and expected everything to be "auto-configured". Ok not everything, but when I needed to, just go out and get the drivers.
Ok so Linux doesn't have the support, I can handle that, but DAMN is it NOT INTUITIVE to try and install applications/drivers!
So here's the choice. Either have University Level people only using Linux and stop touting it as an alternative to MS, or get it into your heads that the current line of thinking regarding drivers is flawed.
Now to play devil's advocate it's a chicken/egg senerio, but I'm about to leave linux behind for a second time in the last 5 years because I can't make my USB device (isn't usb based on open standards already?) work.
I'm in a position to push it as an alternative, but only when it's easy enough to sink my teeth in to begin with.
Oh and the usb device is AWLL3026 if anybody cares.
Yo Grark
I have to admit I tried several times to convince customers to switch. In the end, the ability to not "set and forget" was a killer for me.
Avant & Maxthon just WORKS based on IE. No compatibility issues, no mess, no fuss. Has tabs, clean and fast. Blocks bad ads and scripts.
I might get back to firefox one day, but for all it's cool addons and flexibility, it was just too slow for simple webpage loads and views.
Yo Grark
Actually I was referring to the latest, "it's illegal to download copyright material" ammendment going into the copyright act.
Effectively eliminating our "I pay a tax, so I can do it" logic.
Here's the bitch. The tax stays in, our rights just get cancelled.
Yo Grark
Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhh........
the last time we said "HAHA you american's, we can legally do X in Canada" the CAD arms of the MPAA and RIAA lobbied to change our laws...and WON!
Yo Grark