MkIII_Supra
07-06-2003, 01:00 AM
[B]DISCLAIMER[B/]: This is a RANT and a VENT. And I am sure that someone will jump on this and start flaming away. So before you do keep in mind I am not a newbie by any means, I am just pressed for time and frustrated. Now on to my RANT!!!
Nope not yet! That's right even though I am now enjoying my new SuSE 8.2 Linux system (5th time installed...) I am here to say that I believe that it is still not ready for the average user. Corporate desktops, sure, they have support in place to resolve the numerous issues that will arise as they always do. They also have the $$$ to pay for support. But for the average schmo at home, Linux is still not ready. And here are 3 of the many simple things I have found as to why:
1.Changing cursors
2.Install VPN software
3.Configuration of VMWare (my Win2K partition on my laptop, click, click done!)
Sure you can do all the neat things that you do in windows, but that isn't all. Users like to install things either to make their desktop theirs or to make it easier for them to do their thing. And that is where Linux is still lacking. A simple thing as changing the cursor look and size. Windows it's a couple of clicks and done. Don't like what came with the system? Install new mouse theme and use it, simple as that! I have been reading and working and modifying and reading some more just to make my mouse a bit larger... guess what! It's the same size it was when I installed the system! Even though I have followed every instruction and tutorial that I could dig up from the internet, I still can't get a simple thing like my cursor to change.
I have a 21? monitor set to 1280x1024 at 16 bit (since Linux 3D can't run at a 24bit or better resolution, another area of contention!) anyhow at this resolution the mouse pointer is about the size of a fleas ***! Really hard to see, some times I will spend over a minute trying to find the stupid cursor. Now in Gnome, you can change the mouse pointer to a larger size and it will even show you where it is when you press the CTRL key! But I use KDE 3.1.1 because sound works and so does the power save and then even though it's not a high pri thing for most, I can run either the KDE multi-background or I can use CHGB to do that. I have a lot of pictures of my daughter, which is in another state with her evil mother (another story another time...)
What I am getting at is the fact that simple little things like installing different mouse cursors and setting them up should be easy, but in true UNIX and Linux fashion, it's a royal pain in the ***! And I have yet to get it to work. So I am, reading more and reviewing the edits I have made to the many different files to see if maybe I missed something.
Other things that I am peeved about, I still can't get Vmware to configure itself. I keep getting the same error. So I am a little ticked about that! I mean a $300.00 license and neither SuSE or VMWare tech support has been able to help me get this silly thing to configure. But I am still working on it! Now I am totally terrified to even fathom the nightmare that awaits me with the VPN set up! I tried once and, well let's just say that now before I make any changes to any configurations or install any software that I am new to I create a back-up that I can roll my system back to when I end up screwing it up like last time. Now that SuSE has finally made that an easy process. Took 3 install attempts to finally get a working install after that fiasco!
These things I am complaining about, granted I am not an average user but just think if I were! You can pretty well bet that with the success rate I have had lately, Linux would not be on my desktop for very long! Then there is the inconsistant printer identification between applications and then the inability to copy text between some apps... I can keep going but my woman is calling and quite frankly, she is more enticing than this stupid computer! Goodnight and who know's maybe tomorrow I will finally get one of my 3 tasks completed! But I am not holding my breath for that!
Peace out...
Linux User 147560_
Nope not yet! That's right even though I am now enjoying my new SuSE 8.2 Linux system (5th time installed...) I am here to say that I believe that it is still not ready for the average user. Corporate desktops, sure, they have support in place to resolve the numerous issues that will arise as they always do. They also have the $$$ to pay for support. But for the average schmo at home, Linux is still not ready. And here are 3 of the many simple things I have found as to why:
1.Changing cursors
2.Install VPN software
3.Configuration of VMWare (my Win2K partition on my laptop, click, click done!)
Sure you can do all the neat things that you do in windows, but that isn't all. Users like to install things either to make their desktop theirs or to make it easier for them to do their thing. And that is where Linux is still lacking. A simple thing as changing the cursor look and size. Windows it's a couple of clicks and done. Don't like what came with the system? Install new mouse theme and use it, simple as that! I have been reading and working and modifying and reading some more just to make my mouse a bit larger... guess what! It's the same size it was when I installed the system! Even though I have followed every instruction and tutorial that I could dig up from the internet, I still can't get a simple thing like my cursor to change.
I have a 21? monitor set to 1280x1024 at 16 bit (since Linux 3D can't run at a 24bit or better resolution, another area of contention!) anyhow at this resolution the mouse pointer is about the size of a fleas ***! Really hard to see, some times I will spend over a minute trying to find the stupid cursor. Now in Gnome, you can change the mouse pointer to a larger size and it will even show you where it is when you press the CTRL key! But I use KDE 3.1.1 because sound works and so does the power save and then even though it's not a high pri thing for most, I can run either the KDE multi-background or I can use CHGB to do that. I have a lot of pictures of my daughter, which is in another state with her evil mother (another story another time...)
What I am getting at is the fact that simple little things like installing different mouse cursors and setting them up should be easy, but in true UNIX and Linux fashion, it's a royal pain in the ***! And I have yet to get it to work. So I am, reading more and reviewing the edits I have made to the many different files to see if maybe I missed something.
Other things that I am peeved about, I still can't get Vmware to configure itself. I keep getting the same error. So I am a little ticked about that! I mean a $300.00 license and neither SuSE or VMWare tech support has been able to help me get this silly thing to configure. But I am still working on it! Now I am totally terrified to even fathom the nightmare that awaits me with the VPN set up! I tried once and, well let's just say that now before I make any changes to any configurations or install any software that I am new to I create a back-up that I can roll my system back to when I end up screwing it up like last time. Now that SuSE has finally made that an easy process. Took 3 install attempts to finally get a working install after that fiasco!
These things I am complaining about, granted I am not an average user but just think if I were! You can pretty well bet that with the success rate I have had lately, Linux would not be on my desktop for very long! Then there is the inconsistant printer identification between applications and then the inability to copy text between some apps... I can keep going but my woman is calling and quite frankly, she is more enticing than this stupid computer! Goodnight and who know's maybe tomorrow I will finally get one of my 3 tasks completed! But I am not holding my breath for that!
Peace out...
Linux User 147560_