[PCWorld]

Post your comments for If You Want to Laugh All the Way to the Bank, Pick Linux here

[Grr8008]

Or, if you want to laugh all the way to the part where you can't figure out what to do since you are a non-technical user, then choose Linux.

[Evildave]

That's easy. Google it!

Whatever the problem is, someone already asked, and someone else answered.

And unlike a Windoze problem, the answer will be on the first page, not after three or four pages of hits to "PAY FOR AN ANSWER" clowns.

Include Your PC (or piece of hardware - ID number and strings from lspci or lsusb if you're really clever), your Linux distro and version, and the symptom you have. A few tries and you get highly proficient fishing the answers out.

MOST of the time, you'll get your answer with step-by-step instructions.

If running Ubuntu (or Mint, or even some other Debian distros), the ubuntu forum is a goldmine. Try adding this to your search: site:ubuntuforums.org

If all else fails, log in and ask the question.

[Grr8008]

I know but some people just like things to work, you know? I don't mind going through the steps, but some do. That is why I said a "non technical" user.

[bbvammy]

I laugh, I Linux.

[Evildave]

The thing is, when a 'non-technical' user buys a Linux machine, and just uses it, there tend to be no 'technical issues', just as someone who buys a windoze PC pre-configured from the factory will generally just have the PC boot (eventually) after they switch the power on. The only difference is, six months to a year down the line, the Linux machine will still be working perfectly, and the Windoze machine will be a basket case, because they don't practice 'safe SEX' (software exchange), don't know what 'defrag' is, and the 'anti-virus' they installed was one that a web site prompted them to install with a report of 'viruses found', so they're just a node in a big bot-net.

Most non-technical noobs don't even have the knowledge/experience to look for Linux, let alone download an ISO, burn it and boot it. They just keep running whatever they had, and buying whatever they got last time, even if it sucked.

Others, well they just respond to the eternal FUD storm of "It's too complicated & technical!", and fear Linux.

Still others have the 'Oscar Meyer' mentality. They'll eat as much baloney as they can get, so long as it's spelled M-i-c-r-o-s-o-f-t. For them, anything that isn't spelled that way is a threat to their personal self-worth. After all, if the giant collapses someday, they'll have to learn something new, and they haven't willingly done that in YEARS.

[bbvammy]

@Evildave

I am gonna save this post into my collection.

You are killing me here. :^0

[Evildave]

Oscar Meyer has his way with b-o-l-o-g-n-a!

[WinTard]

Some Windows users also laugh at these hilarious (and ridiculous) anti-Microsoft rants, and yet smile at the benefits provided with Linux+Windows together!

Why not use the best of everything? Certainly beats being limited to either one alternatives... ;)

Anyone only picking one or the other is a fool only hurting and limiting themselves...

Oh and I google everything, never require paying for any technical support, Windows included.

~~~~~~~~~~
A man who knows four languages is worth four men.
~ Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor

Those who do not read are no better off than those who cannot.
{Old Proverb}

[rasmasyean]

If you want to laugh all the way to the bank until you realize that you are laughing at yourself, pick Linux!
Penny-wise, Pound-foolish!
You won't be alone, it's OK.
You'll get to join the "Pioneers of the Era of the Linux Desktop"...currently in the 10-year-long startup phase (so far...).

[quackadilly]

Oh come on......windows boots just fine. Mine boots in well under 30 seconds.

And six months down the line the only difference will be that the Linux box will be replaced with a Windows machine due to user incompetency.

Does anyone ever do enough with Linux to need a defrag? From what I've always heard from Linux users is "I can't find drivers for my stuff", "The software doesn't suppor Linux" and "It's not Microsoft......it doesn't work".

"non-technical noob".......kinda redundant eh? If you're non-technical, I automatically consider you a noob.

Linux really isn't complicated, it's under-supported.

You know......it's funny you compare Microsoft to baloney...... baloney has been around for how long and no matter what it's made of, the customers keep coming? Maybe baloney (Microsoft) isn't so bad......

[quackadilly]

And for your sig.....



"Ubuntu 8.10 boot on 16GB USB thumb drive. Virtualbox Windows XP Pro. Can Windows do that? "



Why would I need to run XP Pro virtually when it's my main OS? Every computer I touch has XP Pro or Vista on it......and they all do what I need them to do.....though I do have a portable HDD to keep all of my files in sync.

[bbvammy]

@quackadilly
The only thing my Ubuntu can not do is play Yu Gi Oh online stable.

Otherwise, I don't need Windows. PERIOD.


P.S. I carry my Ubuntu on my key chain. Can Windows do that?




> Why would I need to run XP Pro virtually when it's my main OS? Every computer I touch has XP
Pro or Vista on it......and they all do what I need them to
do.....though I do have a portable HDD to keep all of my files in sync.
[/quote]
I don't need portable HDD.

I can use ANY computer to boot off my USB thumb drive and have all my personal setting, software with me. Can Windows do that?

[Evildave]

Been using the same Linux machine for going on the third year, booted every day. Needless to say, without anti* B.S. or any problems.

The file systems aren't based on antiquated principles like the Windoze file system, which is why it doesn't need the defrags, and also why the file systems are considerably faster and safer against corruption.

I'm certain the kind of Linux 'experts' you exclusively hear from are ones just like you. In other words, people who don't use it, don't know anything about it, except that it's not made by their favorite abusive monopoly.

Bologna sausage is generally made from low value scraps (trimmings from steaks, roasts or other meat cuts). Yum. Faces & feet & other leftovers. Dee-licious! The FDA also regulates the amounts of rat feces, hair, insect bits, etc. that are allowable in sausage. Of course, a great many sins can be hidden in finely ground and packed ('comminuted') meat.

[bbvammy]

@Evildave
eeeewwww .... I think I just quit eating bologna sausage.

[quackadilly]

"I carry my Ubuntu on my key chain. Can Windows do that?"



I never needed to....I don't know if it can.
-----
"I can use ANY computer to boot off my USB thumb drive and have all my personal setting, software with me. Can Windows do that?"



Again....never needed to.....just like 99% of the world.

[quackadilly]

"Been using the same
Linux machine for going on the third year, booted every day. Needless
to say, without anti* B.S. or any problems."



Fine....but you're not everyone.
-----
"The file systems aren't
based on antiquated principles like the Windoze file system, which is
why it doesn't need the defrags, and also why the file systems are
considerably faster and safer against corruption."



If you know what you're doing, you'll never have a problem.
-----
"I'm certain the kind of
Linux 'experts' you exclusively hear from are ones just like you. In
other words, people who don't use it, don't know anything about it,
except that it's not made by their favorite abusive monopoly."



It's possible. But then again.....I'm not a Microsoft fan, it's just the best option for me and 89% of the world.
-----
I don't eat bologna.....I know what goes in it.

[WinTard]

It appears Unix/Linux/BSD/OS X defragmentation isn't that unnecessary after all...

Google: Results 1 - 10 of about 187,000 for unix defragmentation. (0.32 seconds)
Google: Results 1 - 10 of about 44,100 for unix defragmentation inodes. (0.37 seconds)

Who would have thought inodes could ever get into trouble?

Superior filesystem to NTFS? HA!

[Evildave]

Nope, the only option that 87% of the world (and steadily dropping) are aware of.

Lick poo. 100 trillion flies can't be wrong.

[Evildave]

Don't forget the quotes. You don't need a bazillion hits for windoze file fragmentation, mentioning how other OSs, like UNIX, don't suffer from this malady.

http://www.google.com/search?q="UNIX+defragmentation" (158 hits)
http://www.google.com/search?q="UNIXdefragmentation"inodes (5 hits)

Anyway, you don't run into a problem with file fragmentation until you let the volume get nearly full.

Saying 'UNIX' is a bit like saying 'Computer'. There are a lot of flavors of it. OS X is one.

Besides Linux is not UNIX, just as GNU's not UNIX. You're talking about quite a collection of file systems. Most Linux distros use EXT2, EXT3 or EXT4, though some use Reiser. Mac uses HFS.

It's not that you CAN'T defrag it, if you're anal retentive about it, either. You can use e4defrag. You just generally don't need to. It won't make a noticeable difference until the volume's almost full, and at that point you're probably looking for another hard drive, anyway.

To follow those developments, use this search...
http://www.google.co...EXT4+defragment (10,100 hits)