onebadmofo
Repost These Nuts In Your Mouth.
Premium
join:2002-03-30
Reading, PA
 ·Comcast
| Thinking of uninstalling UBUNTU
And maybe installing openSUSE or something else. Just not sure which version of Linux will give a more user friendly experience.
I've grown a little tired of things not working correctly in UBUNTU. Video doesn't play right, certain animated or video images (ex: the youtube player) are not shown in the web browser, FX isn't displaying webpages correctly (text is either super small or super big). And then to correct these issues I have to either type or copy and paste a bunch coding to have something function correctly. Why can't it just, well...work?
It's just too much coding for me. So could anyone recommend a version that would suit me more. Or, are they all like that?
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Photoshop these nuts in your mouth. |
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happylurk
@look.ca
| While I love my OpenSuSE boxes dearly, switching distros won't solve the problems you describe.
The main FEATURE of any computer is configurability. No one font size or theme is going to suit all people. At least Linux gives you the option to adjust these to your liking. Hell even a M$ Windows install looks pretty tacky right out of the box.
I don't really have any issues with multimedia with SuSE but then again I've hacked out those paths cutting my teeth on the previous ten distros.
All I can say is, take the time to find out where and what needs tweaking, do so, and then backup your home directory so the next upgrade will be relatively painless. |
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onebadmofo
Repost These Nuts In Your Mouth.
Premium
join:2002-03-30
Reading, PA
·Comcast
| reply to onebadmofo
Well I'm still uber freakin new to Linux. So my patience is running thin. Mainly because I'm so busy at work I don't really have time to keep going through the continuous different settings (which is all codes) If it was say a GUI interface then it would be much easier.
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Photoshop these nuts in your mouth. |
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happylurk
@look.ca | Then maybe try Kubuntu or OpenSuSE with KDE.
KDE is a much more intuitive and graphical interface than Gnome anyday. At least in my estimation. And personally I've never liked Gnome. Too spartan and ugly for my tastes... |
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yock
TFTC
Premium
join:2000-11-21
Fairfield, OH
| reply to onebadmofo
If you could specifically detail what isn't working right, we might be able to keep you from feeling like you need a new OS. For instance, Youtube works perfectly on my Ubuntu installs. It's probably an issue we can fix. The font problems may also be correctable. |
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DannyZ
Gentoo Fanboy
Premium
join:2003-01-29
Erie, PA
| reply to onebadmofo
Another vote for toughing it out. You won't learn anything by flipping distros other than Linux doesn't work like windows.
Seriously, If you want an OS that holds your hand, Linux isn't it.
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Out the 10BaseT, through the router, down the co-ax, over the fiber, across the backhaul, past the edge router, off the network...nothing but net |
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RobNyc
Premium
join:2002-03-06
New York, NY | reply to onebadmofo
Just went through .. both 32bit and 64bit versions
Fedora 8,9
OpenSuse 10.3, 11
Sidux
Arch
Linux Mint 4 & 5
Ubuntu 8.04 and 8.04.1
Currently happy and satisfied with Linux Mint 5..
Would vote for Sidux and Arch.. |
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JohnInSJ
Premium
join:2003-09-22
San Jose, CA
·Comcast
| reply to onebadmofo
PClinuxOS was supposed to be "xpish" in its preconfiguredness. But really, ubuntu is pretty easy to get going.
"pasting coding" really is changing config settings, mostly. Heck, even building the nvidia driver from source, while somewhat challenging for a novice, isn't really CODING... it's compiling other people's code.
For a really really simple *nix experience (sure, BSD, but it is still *nix) you can always hop over to the dark side and get an Apple.
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My place : »www.schettino.us |
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Derspankster
Premium
join:2003-02-12
Marion, OH | reply to onebadmofo
Maybe you should just stick with Windows. |
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onebadmofo
Repost These Nuts In Your Mouth.
Premium
join:2002-03-30
Reading, PA
·Comcast
| said by Derspankster  :Maybe you should just stick with Windows. I've been tempted to just reinstall it. The only thing is, with windows the laptop gets all BSOD on me at random times. I think it's a memory issue. And since installing UBUNTU, I've seen no issues other than the "issues" I mention. Which aren't really issues, just my lack of knowledge (and patience) in the system. |
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onebadmofo
Repost These Nuts In Your Mouth.
Premium
join:2002-03-30
Reading, PA
·Comcast
| reply to JohnInSJ
said by JohnInSJ :PClinuxOS was supposed to be "xpish" in its preconfiguredness. But really, ubuntu is pretty easy to get going. "pasting coding" really is changing config settings, mostly. Heck, even building the nvidia driver from source, while somewhat challenging for a novice, isn't really CODING... it's compiling other people's code. For a really really simple *nix experience (sure, BSD, but it is still *nix) you can always hop over to the dark side and get an Apple. Yeah I guess my terminology is not really accurate. But the fact that you MUST change settings by going through all those steps is just not for me. I love the ease of use when things work. And it's quick and responsive.
It's just that I don't care for the "hard labor" of getting it to work the way I want it.
I do enough thinkin at work...I don't want to have to think at home. 
I guess the only thing to do is try other versions and see if any of those are more my taste. (which is why I posted this to begin with...) |
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Ctrl Alt Del
Premium
join:2002-02-18
| reply to onebadmofo
You can try installing the ubuntu-restricted-extras package which will pull in support for MP3 playback and decoding, support for various other audio formats (gstreamer plugins), Microsoft fonts, Java runtime environment, Flash plugin, LAME (open source MP3 codec), and DVD playback.
That may help with the font issues you have, as some websites use the Microsoft fonts. It will also install Flash (YouTube player).
To install, go System > Administration > Synaptec Package Manager, search for ubuntu-restricted-extras, click the check box, Mark for Installation, and install. (Not currently in front of an Ubuntu machine, so this is from memory).
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less talk, more music |
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yock
TFTC
Premium
join:2000-11-21
Fairfield, OH
| reply to onebadmofo
said by onebadmofo :But the fact that you MUST change settings by going through all those steps is just not for me. But that's just it, you really don't. Can you give us an example of what you've been instructed to do this way?
Old *nix types tend to give command-line instructions because, quite frankly, it tends to be faster and less ambiguous. This doesn't really help you if you're not comfy with the command-line though. These days there are really very few things you need to control via command-line, and virtually none of them should come up in your average situation. |
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onebadmofo
Repost These Nuts In Your Mouth.
Premium
join:2002-03-30
Reading, PA
·Comcast
| said by yock :said by onebadmofo :But the fact that you MUST change settings by going through all those steps is just not for me. But that's just it, you really don't. Can you give us an example of what you've been instructed to do this way? Well, the one feature for changing the way you interact with the desk top and some of it's cool features aren't available to me unless I copy and paste some coding in to the terminal. And then when I do so, nothing has changed except for the amount of time I spent looking for a fix (that didn't work in the first place).
If I want to change the way the mouse pad functions... I have to copy code in the terminal in order for it to have that ability. And that's just 2 I can think of off the top of my head. |
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yock
TFTC
Premium
join:2000-11-21
Fairfield, OH | Can you be more specific? What desktop interactivity? What mouse functions? |
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visitor_
@proxad.net
| reply to onebadmofo
said by onebadmofo :Well, the one feature for changing the way you interact with the desk top and some of it's cool features aren't available to me unless I copy and paste some coding in to the terminal. Why don't you just come right out and say what you're trying to do? 
My best guess is that you're trying to install the Compiz settings manager (compizconfig-settings-manager or CCSM) from the command line. But you don't need the command line for that. You can use Synaptic, a graphical interface for software installation.
Here's a wiki page that tells you all about how to use Synaptic in Ubuntu, with pictures:
»https://help.ubuntu.com/community/SynapticHowto |
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yock
TFTC
Premium
join:2000-11-21
Fairfield, OH
| That was my impression as well, but I didn't want to assume.
The cool thing about Ubuntu is the last couple of versions have had desktop effects enabled by default, unless you don't have the hardware to make it work. Chances are good that if you have a default Ubuntu install and no desktop effects, your PC can't handle them. |
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onebadmofo
Repost These Nuts In Your Mouth.
Premium
join:2002-03-30
Reading, PA
·Comcast
| said by yock :That was my impression as well, but I didn't want to assume. The cool thing about Ubuntu is the last couple of versions have had desktop effects enabled by default, unless you don't have the hardware to make it work. Chances are good that if you have a default Ubuntu install and no desktop effects, your PC can't handle them. Well that's where it's weird. I had some shitty "Real Desktop" software added when it was Windows, and it handled that ok. I've had the Rotating tabs feature within Firefox and that worked fine in Windows. So I assume, the laptop can handle any such things that UBUNTU has to throw at it. |
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onebadmofo
Repost These Nuts In Your Mouth.
Premium
join:2002-03-30
Reading, PA
·Comcast
| reply to visitor_
said by visitor_ :said by onebadmofo :Well, the one feature for changing the way you interact with the desk top and some of it's cool features aren't available to me unless I copy and paste some coding in to the terminal. Why don't you just come right out and say what you're trying to do? My best guess is that you're trying to install the Compiz settings manager (compizconfig-settings-manager or CCSM) from the command line. But you don't need the command line for that. You can use Synaptic, a graphical interface for software installation. Here's a wiki page that tells you all about how to use Synaptic in Ubuntu, with pictures: » https:// help.ubuntu.com/community/SynapticHowto I can't come right out and tell you cause I'm too new to even remember what errors where being displayed.
But what you say about compiz seems to ring a bell.
I have no CLUE how to use that Synaptic feature. I added packages to the list, and couldn't do anything further. I HAD to be doing something wrong..but what? I couldn't figure that out.
It started to frustrate me so I figured maybe there is a version out there for people who would rather NOT copy and paste coding, but would rather have it function some what like Windows (It's good right out the box), but without the usual Windows headaches.
I'm sorry I can't give anything more as far as what's happening or what I'm trying to do, cause I don't have the laptop here with me, I guess I'm just too new at it. |
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yock
TFTC
Premium
join:2000-11-21
Fairfield, OH
| reply to onebadmofo
Desktop effects in Compiz are 3D accellerated. They rely on the OpenGL performance of your graphics card so that they don't stress 2D performance (typing, drag and drop, etc). If you don't have a 3D card, you will be left with fewer, or entirely without, desktop effects. |
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