Try not to get your panties in a wad. If you read my post carefully you'd see that my point was Linux provides the same or more functionality out the box than OSX, is just as stable, is just as easy for a non-technophile to perform her daily tasks on, had equal or greater device support, etc., etc. I did install a new browser, there are plugins for multi-desktop use, and I enjoy learning new OS's and how to customize them.
If you would have read the parent to my post the validity would have been clear:
"Personally, I would never be so cruel as to tell encourage any of my friends to use BSD or Linux."
---> Mac is no more "user friendly" than any other OS AND you get less power for the money of a x86 platform.
I am running OSX 10.3 default install. I went to setup the printer at http://localhost:631/admin. No Canon printer drivers are listed. Period. I know what ppd's I must install to get Canon drivers and it takes 5 minutes. However, someone not familar with cups, ppd's, or remote printing would have been just as miffed at the Mac install as that of any other OS. I find it highly probable that the drivers are supposed to be there...that is why it's called a "problem".
"Have you tried plugging it into the wall and then into the computer?"
The printer is on a network which I have no wish to disassemble when it's not necessary, as I stated. I know exactly how to fix this problem without disconnecting my printer from the network. But most people would not. They'd probably call someone like me and if I responded by saying "Tough, that's what you get for buying a Mac. Don't call back till you've installed linux....than you wouldn't have these problems." There'd be no doubt that I was being an ass. ..just like the original poster.
In case your Mac zealotry is still blinding you to the plain English in front of your eyes I'll interpret:
Mac is a good operating system. Linux is a good operating system. Even Windows has it's strong points. The "average user" has NO problem with either, UNLESS something out of the ordinary happens. And finally, something out of the ordinary ALWAYS happens and I have yet to see any evidence that it happens less on a Mac than on anything else. Nor have I seen anything that a Mac can do that Linux can't that matters to the average user...(except for iTunes which is without a doubt pure sweetness). So not helping someone because something out of the ordinary happened is being a pompous, elitist ass.
I tired of supporting my girlfriend's Windows machine and installed Linux on it for her. It does everything she wants and needs with no problems. Why Linux? It didn't necessitate purchasing an overpriced underperforming proprietary machine nor does it suffer from the constant problems of Windows and viruses. Every device she has was detected without problems including usb etc. The only time I've ever had to do any maintenance at all is when I would fiddle around with things and break something (yes it's a sickness).
I use linux myself (x86), but also have Panther installed on my Mac. The Linux setup was as simple enough and in some cases easier than the Mac. For example, I don't have to worry about installing an entire other OS just to run some applications (OS9), my Linux box had a driver for my printer installed by default (CanonS750), whereas the Mac does not...(no canon drivers at all as far as I can tell). I know they both use cups. I know I can get the printer working, but I'll have to run down the ppd's and do it manually. I do not like the web browser packaged with OSX, nor do I like the "single desktop" model it uses by default.
Linux is prefectly ready for the average user. The single greatest problem with common users and Linux is hardware selection. Since both windows and Linux run on similar platforms people expect to simply install linux and it just works. This is ridiculous. Try to install OSX on a x86 machine and see how far you get, or Windows on a PPC. Extreme examples, but if you buy a printer that is clearly listed as unsupported, don't complain when it doesn't work. (lists of unsupported/poorly supported hardware are easy enough to find with ANY OS...my scanner has never worked with windows, but does fine in Linux).
By sheer averages alone, 91% of people asking for help will not be OSX....pompous elitism is just that, pompous elitism.
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I must agree.....Har Mar is the best. His music is incredible, but his live show just can't be beat. http://www.harmarsuperstar.com/
It was Benjamen Franklin:
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."
-- Benjamin Franklin, quoted in Suzy Platt, Respectfully Quoted: A Dictionary of Quotations (Barnes and Noble, 1993), p. 201.
Try not to get your panties in a wad. If you read my post carefully you'd see that my point was Linux provides the same or more functionality out the box than OSX, is just as stable, is just as easy for a non-technophile to perform her daily tasks on, had equal or greater device support, etc., etc. I did install a new browser, there are plugins for multi-desktop use, and I enjoy learning new OS's and how to customize them. If you would have read the parent to my post the validity would have been clear: "Personally, I would never be so cruel as to tell encourage any of my friends to use BSD or Linux." ---> Mac is no more "user friendly" than any other OS AND you get less power for the money of a x86 platform. I am running OSX 10.3 default install. I went to setup the printer at http://localhost:631/admin. No Canon printer drivers are listed. Period. I know what ppd's I must install to get Canon drivers and it takes 5 minutes. However, someone not familar with cups, ppd's, or remote printing would have been just as miffed at the Mac install as that of any other OS. I find it highly probable that the drivers are supposed to be there...that is why it's called a "problem". "Have you tried plugging it into the wall and then into the computer?" The printer is on a network which I have no wish to disassemble when it's not necessary, as I stated. I know exactly how to fix this problem without disconnecting my printer from the network. But most people would not. They'd probably call someone like me and if I responded by saying "Tough, that's what you get for buying a Mac. Don't call back till you've installed linux....than you wouldn't have these problems." There'd be no doubt that I was being an ass. . .just like the original poster.
In case your Mac zealotry is still blinding you to the plain English in front of your eyes I'll interpret:
Mac is a good operating system. Linux is a good operating system. Even Windows has it's strong points. The "average user" has NO problem with either, UNLESS something out of the ordinary happens. And finally, something out of the ordinary ALWAYS happens and I have yet to see any evidence that it happens less on a Mac than on anything else. Nor have I seen anything that a Mac can do that Linux can't that matters to the average user.. .(except for iTunes which is without a doubt pure sweetness). So not helping someone because something out of the ordinary happened is being a pompous, elitist ass.
I tired of supporting my girlfriend's Windows machine and installed Linux on it for her. It does everything she wants and needs with no problems. Why Linux? It didn't necessitate purchasing an overpriced underperforming proprietary machine nor does it suffer from the constant problems of Windows and viruses. Every device she has was detected without problems including usb etc. The only time I've ever had to do any maintenance at all is when I would fiddle around with things and break something (yes it's a sickness). I use linux myself (x86), but also have Panther installed on my Mac. The Linux setup was as simple enough and in some cases easier than the Mac. For example, I don't have to worry about installing an entire other OS just to run some applications (OS9), my Linux box had a driver for my printer installed by default (CanonS750), whereas the Mac does not...(no canon drivers at all as far as I can tell). I know they both use cups. I know I can get the printer working, but I'll have to run down the ppd's and do it manually. I do not like the web browser packaged with OSX, nor do I like the "single desktop" model it uses by default. Linux is prefectly ready for the average user. The single greatest problem with common users and Linux is hardware selection. Since both windows and Linux run on similar platforms people expect to simply install linux and it just works. This is ridiculous. Try to install OSX on a x86 machine and see how far you get, or Windows on a PPC. Extreme examples, but if you buy a printer that is clearly listed as unsupported, don't complain when it doesn't work. (lists of unsupported/poorly supported hardware are easy enough to find with ANY OS...my scanner has never worked with windows, but does fine in Linux). By sheer averages alone, 91% of people asking for help will not be OSX....pompous elitism is just that, pompous elitism.