I’m not much of a computer geek, despite having completed a information technology degree. For me, computers are like cars. If it can get me from point A to point B, then I’m happy. Windows XP has always, in one way or another, done the job for me - however, I’ve been getting rather annoyed at the spate of virii and malware that plagues the OS. Therefore, I recently installed Ubuntu Linux in the hope of avoiding these problems. I’ve tried linux once or twice before and I always seem to run into the same problem - networking. Ubuntu is no exception. My wireless card simply will not work - and for no apparent reason. In XP, my wireless card takes about 2 seconds to set up and get working. I’ve spent several hours trying to solve my wireless problem in Ubuntu - including fiddling with configuration settings and scouring internet forums in the hope of finding the answer. No cigar.
Some may say ‘you haven’t really made that much of an effort to solve your problem’, but I riposte with ‘Why should I have too?’. Its ridiculous to expect that first time, or novice users, have to go to so much trouble just to get their hardware to work with their choice of operating system. This is a very valid reason why Windows dominates the PC operating system market. *Grumble* I guess its back to XP again.
Great blog! I’ve added a link to your blog on Blog of the Day under the category of Computer. To view the feature of your blog, please visit http://blogoftheday.org/page/112580
Rob
October 9th, 2006
Rob. Many thanks for your comment. I think a lot of ‘techies’ miss these kinds of POVs. Not that I’m a layman when it comes to technology by any definition of the word, however, I think I have a valid grievance with Linux.
After discussing this very issue with a friend, I do realise some sympathy lies with the Linux / Unix community due to hardware manufacturers simply not bothering to consider open source as a viable market. Writing drivers for non-supported hardware must be a frustrating thing.
If I had more time (and patience) I would sit around for hours trying to get my Ubuntu install to work correctly, but unfortunately I don’t, therefore I will take the path of less resistance, and go back to Windows.
daz
October 16th, 2006
The vendors don’t just withdraw support; they actively block access to the information required. Nobody is really sure why; it’s a similar sort of intellectual-property-paranoia we see from record companies.
Wireless networking is one of the worst areas at the moment for poor hardware compatibility. Not least because of the powerful encryption that is usually employed. (Did you try turning off all forms of encryption, or fall back to WEP? Insecure, but 100 times easier to set up.)
I do agree that linux is disappointing as a Desktop Environment, though. For games, movies, IM, and “calendaring”, it just doesn’t compare to Windows XP. However, it is important to remember that although Ubuntu concentrates on the Desktop, it is for enthusiast and IT professional usage that linux was built for, and there it leaves XP for dust.
David Young
November 3rd, 2006