linux/zorin is rubbish

tonybony

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Oct 11, 2013
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I've recently decided to give linux, specifically Zorin a go, being a long time windows user....
Jees, i wish i'd never bothered. This thing is supposed to be a good windows alternative.
I click on an icon & nothing happens. I've tried messing with all the settings to no avail.
After pulling my hair out i've decided to never even attempt to use this crap ever again.
How can they possibly call this rubbish a good windows alternative. Unless you're some sort of programing expert, linux is crap.
Such a shame because i hate money grabbing microsoft.
 
Solution

It's not compulsory to use Linux. Sorry that you're not up to the task, but life's like that sometimes.

JOHNN93

Honorable
it looks like windows but it is not windows.
windows programs are not compatible with linux distros if thee is where you stumbled.
you can use ubuntu that has stam support and play linux gmes that ae available on steam.or use linu office alternatives that come with linux in most distros or downlaod them.like libre office for example.
people ae most used to windows because that is where the market has gone.and programs like office and phtoshop and gaming reside.a change is always dificult especialy when you have learned that way.i would advise ubuntu because of steam support and its ubuntu software center. and give it some time.if you do not like it you can go back.
here is a link that can help you with your frustration and clear things out for you.
http://linux-bible.com/
hope this helps.
 

It's not compulsory to use Linux. Sorry that you're not up to the task, but life's like that sometimes.
 
Solution

dmroeder

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Jan 15, 2005
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<mod edit> <user edit>Don't use it then, I really don't see much use for your post. Troll somewhere else.

I personally use Mint KDE and it works great. Much better than Windows in many cases. My 6 year old uses it and so does my Mom who is NOT a very experienced user of any OS. I know about 10 people around me that are in no way shape or form computer experts that use it day to day just fine.
 

JOHNN93

Honorable


no of course not.
but when such skills become valuable in lunix is when you open a shell sesion and start using the ls and cd commands in oreder to navigate insid....
hey wait a minute thats not programing.
 

tonybony

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Oct 11, 2013
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That was one of my problems, clicking icons did nothing. Tried to install a couple of programs & couldn't. My first attempt was even worse, couldn't even get firefox working so i went on the forums, it was like being back at school again, a lesson in coding just to get firefox working. No thank you.

 

dmroeder

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Jan 15, 2005
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It's strange that so many people use Zorin with no such issues. I've never used it personally but it often comes pretty highly recommended.

I suggest you try Mint KDE. Everything I have installed it on worked right out of the box without having to do anything extra.
 

randomizer

Champion
Moderator


I won't lie to you, I have a list of things which I think are small but serious usability flaws. Some are distribution-specific, others are not. One of them is caused by developers being "smart" and writing code related to user input that cannot be configured and is filled with magic numbers. Another is caused by developers making stupid decisions to fix a non-issue at the expense of ignoring Fitts' Law. Some problems are deep in core pieces of software used across a wide range of Linux distributions and that means they manifest themselves everywhere. Of course they don't bother everyone, but they bother me and that's what matters :p

Given that all but a handful of Linux distributions are completely free (in terms of cost; most are only partially Free Software), I encourage you to play around with a few more of them. The only thing you can lose is time. Most notable distributions have Live CDs that you can run without any impact on your existing system as long as you don't actually install it, it just won't run lightning fast. Many are bootable from USB flash drives too, either by converting the Live CD image (typically with something like UNetbootin) or using a dedicated flash image. These will give you a good idea of whether your hardware is supported and if the distribution is just plain terrible. VMs are also a possibility and much more likely to Just Work since their virtual hardware is generally well supported.

As a final note: I think it's important to state that no matter how much a distribution claims to be a Windows alternative, or Windows-like, or anything of that sort, it is simply an illusion. Windows and Linux are similar on the surface, but go below skin-deep and you'll have to face the fact that they are two very different operating systems that behave nothing like each other. Expecting any distro to behave like Windows will end in frustration. Accepting that it is Linux will free your mind a little so that you can start learning it properly. Of course there is never any obligation to use Linux in the first place.



It's not strange at all. An operating system is a highly complex mixture of software with a thousand points of failure that may only be triggered under very specific conditions and with specific hardware.
 

ImpliedConsent

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Aug 2, 2006
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This is with any OS, but if you've given Zorin a try, you might see this differently. I've installed it on old x86 (1.84GhZ, 80GB IDE) to current 4670k without issue. They are varied in their hardware. Not once have I had to go CLI for a basic install. As it is, Zorin was so simple to use, that my 11yr old daughter has no idea she's not using Windows (not that she cares), just point and click.

I use Kubuntu 14.04LTS on my personal computer and I have not had any issues (including a dual boot secure W8 scenario using UEFI only).

 

randomizer

Champion
Moderator
You've tried it on two configurations. I'd hardly call that a sufficient sample size to dismiss other peoples' problems as nonsense. I don't understand where people get this idea that because they don't have any issues that nobody else must be either. The same tired arguments using anecdotal evidence happen when Windows 8 and just about any web browser are discussed too.