Why Linux is so complex ?

Which is best OS for a user who know only how to operate a particular s/w, nothing else. If the answer is Windows, then why we switch to the Linux ?Why today also a operator person likes windows than linux, rather we can say the person doesn't know what is linux and how it looks like ? I can't understand why the owners of different distribution make the control panel of the linux as simple as windows which can touch the heart of root people like like clerk's of different offices.
I am using Linux for 4 years but now also I am facing may problems which r unknown to 99% people when I try any new distribution.
So, I have a request to the owners to make home distributions easy,simple & for all.

 

This post made my head hurt. You should rearrange it because I'm not sure I see what you are trying to say.

 

I'm a little confused too. Earlier he said he was a Linux beginner and here he said he has 4 years experience.

 

After rearranging: Which is best OS for a user who know only how to operate a particular s/w, nothing else. If the answer is Windows, then why he switch to the Linux ? Why today also a operator person likes windows than linux, rather we can say the person doesn't know what is linux and how it looks like ? I can't understand why the owners of different distribution make the control panel of the linux as simple as windows.
I am using Linux for 4 years but now also I am facing may problems which r unknown to 99% people when I try any new distribution.
I still found that my range of knowledge is very small compared to many of our forum members, that's why I represent myself as a beginner. I join this forum 10/3/2009 .

 

I would say that linux is much simpler, actually. You're mistaking "easy to use" with the concept of "simple." I admit that linux might be hard to use for you, if your only experience is Windows. But believe me, the Windows registry system alone is exponentially more complex than /etc.

 

Werd. Windows installation is a also a massive pain in the butt if an install guide is not given with instrtructions on where to get the drivers etc.

 

Windows is infinitely more complex....you get a windows crash, and serious data loss can result if you're not backed up

 

Try keeping a network connected Windows machine virus free - now thats complicated.

 

I don't mind reinstalling Linux but Windows makes me nervous. The part I am nervous about is if they will play games with me with activation and not allow me to activate my copy. I have read stores of this where people have bought legal retail copies of Windows and reinstalled too many times(at least in the minds of MS), and they were not allowed to reactivate their copy of Windows or had to atleast call many people at MS to get past it.

 

After rearranging I still can't understand you.
I'll try to make sense, though.
Trust me...Windows is much more complex, just look at the install process's steps it tells you, in linux it just copies an image and applys a few settings, then reboot with a usable system(no use for drivers, though they are optional if you want some functions). The Windows registry is also an example, in Linux/unix most settings are stored in text files with some being in databases for more complex stuff....Windows uses odd setting names and values in the registry, offering no help to configure them.

 

My work colleagues and friends who use MacIntosh would not be surprised by those words (as they anticipate Windows users would say such a thing) but they would SERIOUSLY disagree with you. Mac users can be quite fanatical in their view.

I'm an openSUSE Linux user myself. I have not used a Windows PC at home on a regular basis since 1998. At work I'm required to use winXP, but its locked down by the administrator such that one can not do much on it, so I have not learned much about it.

I find Windows PCs completely bewildering and incredibly frustrating, compared to the simplicity of Linux based PCs. Its likely a matter of familiarity on my part.

Reference "control panels", did you ever look at YaST on openSUSE ?

 

Linux *appears* to be complex in comparison to Windows because everything it does is completely transparent to the user; you can thank open source software for that. The advantage is that troubleshooting Linux tends to be easier than Windows due to the access to information detailing the nature of the error, where Windows gives you a rather cryptic BSOD.

 

Just do phone registration. Call up, they'll re-activate your copy.

 

Right, but if they feel you don't have a good enough reason they can say no.

 

I've had to do that with an XP copy because of many VM installations....they asked how many computers and said ONE Only ONE...I use VM's on the same computer, and they said OK and gave me a number.

 

If you just do the automated service, they ALWAYS just revalidate. I've been using the same disc for years. It has actually been for the same desktop, but I've reformatted tons of times. Had to reactivate it 3 times already.

 

It feels complex to use because you are comfortable with another OS. However, Linux is a lot more complex to use than Windows for someone who has never used either. Both would be a learning curve, but at least you have help buttons and other visual cues/explanation in Windows today. And it's also more difficult to install things if you're used to the download-open-install method seen in Windows and Mac OS. There is a GUI frontend that tries to lessen the confusion for Linux newbies, but with a name like 'Synaptic Package Manger' you'd be hardpressed to find any new Linux user going "Hey, that must be the easy way to install things!" or more importantly, even coming across it.

If there's anything Linux distro's should focus on to get a wider audience, they should be as newbie friendly as possible. I tried Ubuntu a few years ago, and while I felt comfortable, I had to do a lot of researching on how to install my favorite apps and whatnot. If they really want to gain a larger audience, they should make it a snap for Linux newcomers to install things; chances are, they used Windows before and only know to download and click the .exe file to install. But getting a universal installer on Linux is a complex problem in itself.

Until they become more user-friendly -- and they have been making great strides in the past few years in this regard -- they will only be able to keep the open-source advocates and developers on ship.

 

That isn't right. My parents never used a computer for more than 30 seconds until I bought my dad a laptop. They don't game or anything, so I wasn't going to put them through the hoops of learning Windows. I installed Ubuntu on it, updated it. Other than having to do a manual install for the Atheros card I put in it, everything was detected correctly out of the box. That was almost two years ago. The machine has only been reformated once, and that was because I stole his 160GB hard drive and replaced it with a 60GB. It has never been infected with a virus, and if it ever had a problem, I could fix it over the phone.

Because Linux is a lot simpler in nature, my dad understands it much better than he would have if he had Windows on his machine instead. And if he wants to know exactly how something works, I can tell him. Updates are also a helluva lot easier, and don't require constant restarting, plus they can be done while the system is hot, not while it is unusable. It doesn't bloat either. My parents have yet to use an ounce over 10GB of space, and this includes music for 2 iPod nanos.

 

It's true. Linux systems can just run for months and years at a time with no problems. Windows will bsod and get random errors or viruses. Once you get a linux box running, you can just use it...which is why I always distro hop. hahahah

 

^^ That being said, I do prefer Linux; however, my experience with Windows has been great for the most part. While I'll agree that it did get slower over time, never got one virus (to my knowledge) or one BSOD.

I was reluctant to use Windows XP over the summer, but due to a iwl4965 bug which caused kernel panics, I had little choice as the house I was living in had wireless only. I was fine, but it just wasn't home.

The difference for me is driving a fully owned customized ride rather than leasing a stock factory ride.

 

You get viruses from from surfing and downloading from 'random' sites without protection. BSOD's are typically caused by bad drivers or hardware, and random errors? Errors pop up usually because of a third party application that messes with some critical system files or simply bad code.

Anyhow, I will have to try Ubuntu out again. Is that the best Linux distro available at the moment? I know that's really up to preference as well.

 

hahahhahahahaahahahahahahahahahahahahah

haha

hah

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You're kidding right? Try leaving a windows machine running for the entire year, no restarts ever. Please tell me how this goes sir. While it's true, most viruses come from "bad sites," they still exist more prevalently and do damage, because of huge flaws in the way windows works. And that's just it, a third party driver should not have as much control over the kernel as windows lets it. Check the thread on kernel panic. Even in the "Worste case" you can pull a linux box out of the error without mashing the power button.

Best?That depends on your preference. I'm starting to like openSUSE a lot.

 

Really, I was under the impression you had to hardboot with a kernel panic...

How do you recover from a kernel panic without restarting Bungalo Bill?

 

You do restart, this is still better than simply holding down the power button.

 

I would contest that Ubuntu makes it easier to add new software than Windows in regards to a new user. It has an "Add/Remove Software" button, with a search box.

 

I don't think installing software is easier; sure, there are many more methods of installing programs which makes the whole process more flexible, but not easier.

However, I would say that the *accessibility* of programs in Ubuntu or other repository distros is light years ahead of Windows or Mac OS X; the search bar is right there with tens of thousands of programs available. This makes it an attractive option for that reason.