Originally posted by: Inspector Jihad
I wanna put linux on one of my old pc just to see how it is and fvck with it. I have no use for that pc, so i think this is a good project. Where do I start if I know nothing about the subject. Also, arent there a whole bunch of 'linuxes'(dont laugh) out there?
Originally posted by: Rapidskies
Let me start you off right, when you have a whole bunch of linuxes it is pronounced LIN-NIGH.
Originally posted by: Inspector Jihad
i dont want to spend too much time with this...i got school and mcats coming up. just something to pass some time on...i'll check out the various suggestions over the next few days and get back to you guys. Thanks
Originally posted by: pkme2
I just fixed a client's Win Xp computer that was overrun with spyware and trojans. Naturally he let his coverage lapse and his problems overwhelmed him. My point for him afterwards since he justs surfs the web, writes and gets emails and watches dvds; was that he should go with Linux. The yearly cost of AntiVirus and Spyware removal programs + additional work maybe prohibitive. I recommended Ubuntu for his first computer startup system.
The individual has used his Dell 4550 for the past 3 years, and so far his total repairs are more than his original purchase price. A LINUX machine will have all the necessary programs without the extra expenses like a windows system because its free. This fact may have another convert to LINUX. My client definitely was impressed with my Linux rigs when I showed him the ease of use. Well, lets see what comes next.
Originally posted by: Looney
Originally posted by: pkme2
I just fixed a client's Win Xp computer that was overrun with spyware and trojans. Naturally he let his coverage lapse and his problems overwhelmed him. My point for him afterwards since he justs surfs the web, writes and gets emails and watches dvds; was that he should go with Linux. The yearly cost of AntiVirus and Spyware removal programs + additional work maybe prohibitive. I recommended Ubuntu for his first computer startup system.
The individual has used his Dell 4550 for the past 3 years, and so far his total repairs are more than his original purchase price. A LINUX machine will have all the necessary programs without the extra expenses like a windows system because its free. This fact may have another convert to LINUX. My client definitely was impressed with my Linux rigs when I showed him the ease of use. Well, lets see what comes next.
Well lets hope he doesn't play mp3s... or that people don't email him quicktime or wmv files... or he doesn't go to flash sites. That he does emails through webmail... because i can guarantee, that there isn't an ISP technical support out there that supports Linux and will walk him through his mail set up. And does he have a printer, scanner, digital camera, ipod, etc etc?
If somebody is so inexperienced that they don't know how to keep their computer virus and spyware free, they're not going to be able to do linux on their own... even if it's 'just internet and mail'. Linux is good if he has somebody like a family member that he can rely upon, but if he's spending hundreds or thousands of dollars on simply somebody to clean his computer of spyware and viruses, then he obviously doesn't.
Well lets hope he doesn't play mp3s... or that people don't email him quicktime or wmv files... or he doesn't go to flash sites.
That he does emails through webmail... because i can guarantee, that there isn't an ISP technical support out there that supports Linux and will walk him through his mail set up. And does he have a printer, scanner, digital camera, ipod, etc etc?
If somebody is so inexperienced that they don't know how to keep their computer virus and spyware free, they're not going to be able to do linux on their own... even if it's 'just internet and mail'. Linux is good if he has somebody like a family member that he can rely upon, but if he's spending hundreds or thousands of dollars on simply somebody to clean his computer of spyware and viruses, then he obviously doesn't.
Originally posted by: pkme2
Originally posted by: Looney
Originally posted by: pkme2
I just fixed a client's Win Xp computer that was overrun with spyware and trojans. Naturally he let his coverage lapse and his problems overwhelmed him. My point for him afterwards since he justs surfs the web, writes and gets emails and watches dvds; was that he should go with Linux. The yearly cost of AntiVirus and Spyware removal programs + additional work maybe prohibitive. I recommended Ubuntu for his first computer startup system.
The individual has used his Dell 4550 for the past 3 years, and so far his total repairs are more than his original purchase price. A LINUX machine will have all the necessary programs without the extra expenses like a windows system because its free. This fact may have another convert to LINUX. My client definitely was impressed with my Linux rigs when I showed him the ease of use. Well, lets see what comes next.
Well lets hope he doesn't play mp3s... or that people don't email him quicktime or wmv files... or he doesn't go to flash sites. That he does emails through webmail... because i can guarantee, that there isn't an ISP technical support out there that supports Linux and will walk him through his mail set up. And does he have a printer, scanner, digital camera, ipod, etc etc?
If somebody is so inexperienced that they don't know how to keep their computer virus and spyware free, they're not going to be able to do linux on their own... even if it's 'just internet and mail'. Linux is good if he has somebody like a family member that he can rely upon, but if he's spending hundreds or thousands of dollars on simply somebody to clean his computer of spyware and viruses, then he obviously doesn't.
I just finish playing my mp3 disk in Realplayer when I read this reply. Flashplayer is available for Linux and I never had email in Quicktime or wma and I will check into that. I believe that Linux is a lot easier to learn without the need to keep messing around with viruses and spyware. You don't give credit where credit is due, a lot of people can use Ubuntu without any problems and do it with little instruction. I've fixed a lot of windows machines and never a Linux rig. Must be they hardly have problems like windows, or none so far.
Originally posted by: Nothinman
Well lets hope he doesn't play mp3s... or that people don't email him quicktime or wmv files... or he doesn't go to flash sites.
Odd, all of those things work fine for me. It did require some software installation, but none of those things work out of the box in Windows either.
That he does emails through webmail... because i can guarantee, that there isn't an ISP technical support out there that supports Linux and will walk him through his mail set up. And does he have a printer, scanner, digital camera, ipod, etc etc?
Thunderbird works exactly the same in Linux as it does in Windows, the ISP doesn't even need to know that he's using Linux. And there are tools out there that support digital cameras (a lot show up as USB mass storage devices, but there's gphoto2 to handle those that don't) and managing your iPod. I can't speak to how well they work since I don't have them, but I do know people that use them. Printers are a completely seperate beast, some work great and some are just plain crap.
If somebody is so inexperienced that they don't know how to keep their computer virus and spyware free, they're not going to be able to do linux on their own... even if it's 'just internet and mail'. Linux is good if he has somebody like a family member that he can rely upon, but if he's spending hundreds or thousands of dollars on simply somebody to clean his computer of spyware and viruses, then he obviously doesn't.
They're obviously not able to handle Windows on their own either and the difference is that once Linux is setup and work, it'll stay that way indefinitely and it'll probably be harder for him to break.
I never said that these things DON'T work... i'm just saying these things don't come out of the box, and are much harder to install than you would on Windows
Windows, if you go to a site that doesn't have quicktime, then you can click on the 'install now' where the video would be... and a couple of steps later, you have it installed.
With Ubuntu, you'll need to use synaptic, adept, or apt-get to install it. If somebody is so inexperienced that they can't run an AV, spyware scanner, and need to hire somebody to clean their computer of this... they're not going to be able to use Linux.
If you guys really think that somebody who can barely use windows and have problems with spyware and viruses can set up Linux on their own... then you're soooo far out of touch with reality.
Originally posted by: Looney
Originally posted by: pkme2
Originally posted by: Looney
Originally posted by: pkme2
I just fixed a client's Win Xp computer that was overrun with spyware and trojans. Naturally he let his coverage lapse and his problems overwhelmed him. My point for him afterwards since he justs surfs the web, writes and gets emails and watches dvds; was that he should go with Linux. The yearly cost of AntiVirus and Spyware removal programs + additional work maybe prohibitive. I recommended Ubuntu for his first computer startup system.
The individual has used his Dell 4550 for the past 3 years, and so far his total repairs are more than his original purchase price. A LINUX machine will have all the necessary programs without the extra expenses like a windows system because its free. This fact may have another convert to LINUX. My client definitely was impressed with my Linux rigs when I showed him the ease of use. Well, lets see what comes next.
Well lets hope he doesn't play mp3s... or that people don't email him quicktime or wmv files... or he doesn't go to flash sites. That he does emails through webmail... because i can guarantee, that there isn't an ISP technical support out there that supports Linux and will walk him through his mail set up. And does he have a printer, scanner, digital camera, ipod, etc etc?
If somebody is so inexperienced that they don't know how to keep their computer virus and spyware free, they're not going to be able to do linux on their own... even if it's 'just internet and mail'. Linux is good if he has somebody like a family member that he can rely upon, but if he's spending hundreds or thousands of dollars on simply somebody to clean his computer of spyware and viruses, then he obviously doesn't.
I just finish playing my mp3 disk in Realplayer when I read this reply. Flashplayer is available for Linux and I never had email in Quicktime or wma and I will check into that. I believe that Linux is a lot easier to learn without the need to keep messing around with viruses and spyware. You don't give credit where credit is due, a lot of people can use Ubuntu without any problems and do it with little instruction. I've fixed a lot of windows machines and never a Linux rig. Must be they hardly have problems like windows, or none so far.
Um, or perhaps there's like 1% of the population using Linux... and those that do, and for a long enough time to have problems, are experienced enough to know how to fix their own problems?
Nah, that couldn't be it... that makes too much sense.
Originally posted by: Nothinman
I never said that these things DON'T work... i'm just saying these things don't come out of the box, and are much harder to install than you would on Windows
Frankly I find it much more of a hassle to deal with installing software and codecs on Windows than on Linux. All I need to do on Linux is install a few packages via apt or synaptic and I'm done, there is no equivalent to w32codecs or gstreamer on Windows so you have to hunt down seperate installs for each codec.
With Ubuntu, you'll need to use synaptic, adept, or apt-get to install it. If somebody is so inexperienced that they can't run an AV, spyware scanner, and need to hire somebody to clean their computer of this... they're not going to be able to use Linux.
If you guys really think that somebody who can barely use windows and have problems with spyware and viruses can set up Linux on their own... then you're soooo far out of touch with reality.
Reality is overrated anyway.
[/quote]But if you look back to the post you originally replied to, pkme2 said he set up the box for a client. You're the only one who mentioned having the inept user install Linux by himself.
Originally posted by: pkme2
Originally posted by: Looney
Originally posted by: pkme2
Originally posted by: Looney
Originally posted by: pkme2
I just fixed a client's Win Xp computer that was overrun with spyware and trojans. Naturally he let his coverage lapse and his problems overwhelmed him. My point for him afterwards since he justs surfs the web, writes and gets emails and watches dvds; was that he should go with Linux. The yearly cost of AntiVirus and Spyware removal programs + additional work maybe prohibitive. I recommended Ubuntu for his first computer startup system.
The individual has used his Dell 4550 for the past 3 years, and so far his total repairs are more than his original purchase price. A LINUX machine will have all the necessary programs without the extra expenses like a windows system because its free. This fact may have another convert to LINUX. My client definitely was impressed with my Linux rigs when I showed him the ease of use. Well, lets see what comes next.
Well lets hope he doesn't play mp3s... or that people don't email him quicktime or wmv files... or he doesn't go to flash sites. That he does emails through webmail... because i can guarantee, that there isn't an ISP technical support out there that supports Linux and will walk him through his mail set up. And does he have a printer, scanner, digital camera, ipod, etc etc?
If somebody is so inexperienced that they don't know how to keep their computer virus and spyware free, they're not going to be able to do linux on their own... even if it's 'just internet and mail'. Linux is good if he has somebody like a family member that he can rely upon, but if he's spending hundreds or thousands of dollars on simply somebody to clean his computer of spyware and viruses, then he obviously doesn't.
I just finish playing my mp3 disk in Realplayer when I read this reply. Flashplayer is available for Linux and I never had email in Quicktime or wma and I will check into that. I believe that Linux is a lot easier to learn without the need to keep messing around with viruses and spyware. You don't give credit where credit is due, a lot of people can use Ubuntu without any problems and do it with little instruction. I've fixed a lot of windows machines and never a Linux rig. Must be they hardly have problems like windows, or none so far.
Um, or perhaps there's like 1% of the population using Linux... and those that do, and for a long enough time to have problems, are experienced enough to know how to fix their own problems?
Nah, that couldn't be it... that makes too much sense.
It seems that we have a difference of opinion and your slant on Linux users seem to be a little off. There are a lot more Linux users today and will be more tomorrow. Your statements need a little more foundation when you make assertions that Linux can't do whatever.
Originally posted by: Inspector Jihad
I wanna put linux on one of my old pc just to see how it is and fvck with it. I have no use for that pc, so i think this is a good project. Where do I start if I know nothing about the subject. Also, arent there a whole bunch of 'linuxes'(dont laugh) out there?
Or you can use VLC... or a codec pack.
VERY few technicians offer support for Linux. So if something does break or not work, they'll need to take it back to the original technician... and if it was something that was still under warranty or had a technical support number, then they could at least contact them for free help.
I work at an ISP, and quite a few people there know Linux (we use ALL linux there, from the servers to the workstations), but we don't provide technical support for it. I'll like to know which companies do provide linux support.
Ok...
He didn't say that he set up the client in the original post. He said he showed him his Linux box.
Not very many offer OS X support either, but would you recommend against getting a Mac too?
Most of the people I know don't pay 'technicians' to fix crap for them anyway, they have friends and family that support them 90% of the time and only use crap like Best Buy's geek squad as a last resort.
If it's under warranty and died it's hardware and the OS being used is largely irrelevant and the company will require they run some diagnotic CD before they'll RMA them a replacement.
And chances are, the user will call their friend, cousin, technician, etc to come look at the thing before they call any support numbers anyway.
I can't say which ISPs support Linux, but I do know that when I've dealt with my ISP every technician that's seen that I ran Linux didn't care at all. Of course not all of them knew anything about it so they might not be able to help, but they won't proactively shut you down for running it either.
Either way that's beside the point, nowhere did pkme2 say he was going to hand him a Linux CD and run off. Since pkme2 is already this guy's 'technician' one would assume he would do the initial install and support his Linux installation.