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Best Linux build for noobs?

Started by Davka, March 01, 2013, 05:08:34 PM

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Davka

Windows 8 is a fucking nightmare. I build and repair PCs for a living, and I'd love to start selling Linux boxes, but unfortunately the Linux community seems to build for geeks, not the average user. Has anyone here encountered a Linux build that can be used by the typical clueless Windows user, without having to use Terminal or an emulator?

wolf39us

Ubuntu for user experience all day long!

_Xenu_

Ubuntu or Mint. If you go with Ubuntu, you may want to install another interface so you dont have to use Unity. Of course, it may not be possible to install on your computer thanks to secure boot. Thank MS.
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Johan

RFT! (Run From This). Giving linux to typical windows end users who are paying you for your services is a sure fire recipe for disaster that will lose you customers so fast it will make your head spin. Linux is not ready for prime time when it comes to typical windows users. If you sell it to them, they will hate it. And then they'll hate you. Tell them Windows 8 is a poorly designed product and sell them on Windows 7 instead and leave it at that.

Keep macs in mind too. If they're at all interested, encourage them to make the switch and then sell them tutoring for learning the new os. I used to make a ton of money from that and all of my clients loved me and recommended me to others. A goldmine that.
Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false and by the rulers as useful

_Xenu_

I really do think pretty much anyone can handle Mint: Its designed entirely for non-technical users. Having said that though, ordinary users tend to be extremely resistant to change. I would stick with Windows 7 If I were you, at least with the boxes you sell. Now for your own personal system though...
Click this link once a day to feed shelter animals. Its free.

http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/ars/home

Johan

Quote from: "_Xenu_"I really do think pretty much anyone can handle Mint: Its designed entirely for non-technical users. Having said that though, ordinary users tend to be extremely resistant to change.
Yeah that's it exactly. Linux is like dark beer. Its one of those things you will only enjoy if you decide to try it on your own. If you're only trying it because someone else talked you into it, there is simply no way you will ever like it.
Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false and by the rulers as useful

Seabear

Ubuntu is super-easy to use, install, maintain, is very stable, etc. Not to mention totally free. It also runs quite well on older HW, so it's a great choice for an affordable PC for college students and such. There is also a large online repository of all sorts of SW, especially educational.

I agree that the Unity desktop leaves a bit to be desired, but it's not all that bad. That said, it's really not difficult to change the desktop environment to Gnome or KDE. And once you do that, there are free custom desktop themes based on them that looks and functions almost exactly like Win7, if that's what makes you comfortable.

There are extensive online support communities as well. I run Ubuntu on one of my home PCs, and so far I haven't had a problem to which I could not find a solution via Google search.

The only thing that kept me anchored to Windows for years was PC gaming (and the lack thereof on Linux). However, with the rise of consoles like Xbox 360 and PS3 (and soon to be PS4), PC gaming has become a relatively small niche, and far less of a reason to stay on Windows that it used to be.

QuoteLinux is not ready for prime time when it comes to typical windows users.
Ironically, neither is Windows. But at least it's $$. And given the functionality of Win8, a more accurate name would be "Window".
"There is a saying in the scientific community, that every great scientific truth goes through three phases. First, people deny it. Second, they say it conflicts with the Bible. Third, they say they knew it all along."

- Neil deGrasse Tyson

Johan

Quote from: "Seabear"Ubuntu is super-easy to use, install, maintain, is very stable, etc. Not to mention totally free. It also runs quite well on older HW, so it's a great choice for an affordable PC for college students and such. There is also a large online repository of all sorts of SW, especially educational.

I agree that the Unity desktop leaves a bit to be desired, but it's not all that bad. That said, it's really not difficult to change the desktop environment to Gnome or KDE. And once you do that, there are free custom desktop themes based on them that looks and functions almost exactly like Win7.
This is all 100% true. But as easy as it is, it still requires WAY more effort to install, configure and maintain than typical end users want to invest. And before you disagree, you need to remember that if you even know what linux is, you're NOT a typical end user.

Iphones and ipods have only one button for a reason. That's what typical end users want. They want it to work and they only want to have to push one button to make it happen. That ain't linux. That will never be linux.

I think my dark beer analogy was good. Another good analogy is Tom Waits. Linux is the Tom Waits of operating systems.
Linux and Windows are both operating systems. There is a reason one is more commonly known than the other.
Tom Waits and Justin Bieber are both musicians. There is a reason one is more commonly known than the other.
Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false and by the rulers as useful

Davka

Quote from: "Johan"RFT! (Run From This). Giving linux to typical windows end users who are paying you for your services is a sure fire recipe for disaster that will lose you customers so fast it will make your head spin. Linux is not ready for prime time when it comes to typical windows users. If you sell it to them, they will hate it. And then they'll hate you. Tell them Windows 8 is a poorly designed product and sell them on Windows 7 instead and leave it at that.

Yeah, I was afraid that might be the answer. It's fucking annoying, since Mac OSX is a Linux build, proving that a Linux OS for idiots is possible.

QuoteKeep macs in mind too. If they're at all interested, encourage them to make the switch and then sell them tutoring for learning the new os. I used to make a ton of money from that and all of my clients loved me and recommended me to others. A goldmine that.
interesting. I've stayed away from recommending Macs because the goddam OS doesn't fuck up all the time like MS, thus making me obsolete. But teaching folks to use a Mac is a real possibility.

I seriously wish Apple hadn't stopped making their OS available as a standalone.

Davka

Quote from: "Johan"Iphones and ipods have only one button for a reason. That's what typical end users want. They want it to work and they only want to have to push one button to make it happen. That ain't linux. That will never be linux.
Except it is Linux, at least the version of Linux that Apple put out.

QuoteI think my dark beer analogy was good. Another good analogy is Tom Waits. Linux is the Tom Waits of operating systems.
Linux and Windows are both operating systems. There is a reason one is more commonly known than the other.
Tom Waits and Justin Bieber are both musicians. There is a reason one is more commonly known than the other.
As a musician and a homebrewer of dark beers, I'll take the dark beer analogy, but not necessarily Tom Waits. I'm more of a Beatles/Pink Floyd/Yes/Spirit/Led Zep kind of guy, myself.  :wink:

_Xenu_

Quote from: "Davka"Yeah, I was afraid that might be the answer. It's fucking annoying, since Mac OSX is a Linux build, proving that a Linux OS for idiots is possible.
Actually, OSX is a fork of Free BSD. In other words, actual UNIX.
Click this link once a day to feed shelter animals. Its free.

http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/ars/home

Seabear

Windows takes just as much as effort, if not more, to install and maintain. The ONLY difference is that it comes pre-installed on virtually every new PC, so the "average" user never has to deal with it.

Which is EXACTLY what the OP is proposing; pre-installing and configuring the OS. So stipulating  that the average end user won't be installing or configuring the OS in either scenario, doesn't that eliminate that advantage of windows, really?

Every argument I ever hear for windows amounts to little more than an appeal to tradition. Windows is just what everyone is used to. That doesn't make it better, and it sure doesn't make it simpler. Or cheaper.
"There is a saying in the scientific community, that every great scientific truth goes through three phases. First, people deny it. Second, they say it conflicts with the Bible. Third, they say they knew it all along."

- Neil deGrasse Tyson

Davka

Quote from: "_Xenu_"
Quote from: "Davka"Yeah, I was afraid that might be the answer. It's fucking annoying, since Mac OSX is a Linux build, proving that a Linux OS for idiots is possible.
Actually, OSX is a fork of Free BSD. In other words, actual UNIX.
Really? I wasn't aware of that. Dammit, I'm such a *nux nooblet.  :oops:

_Xenu_

#13
If you're new to the *nix world, install Ubuntu and use it. (but do yourself a favor and get rid of Unity- it takes two minutes) Your knowledge will increase over time. Having said that, you are correct to point out that OSX is a user friendly version of *nix. The difference in market penetration comes down to marketing and simple economic principles.

Linux users tend to solve our own problems, so there's not much money to be made from us in terms of charging for support. Same thing on the software front: Why should I pay for anything when there's almost certainly a free alternative in the repos? And Linux doesn't tend to push hardware sales either. To the contrary, it keeps systems running and useful long after they would be obsolete by Windows standards. In the end, its just not profitable to cater to us, so companies largely don't. Because there's little money to be made, Linux doesn't tend to get any marketing support.
Click this link once a day to feed shelter animals. Its free.

http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/ars/home

Johan

Quote from: "Davka"interesting. I've stayed away from recommending Macs because the goddam OS doesn't fuck up all the time like MS, thus making me obsolete. But teaching folks to use a Mac is a real possibility.
Trust me its a real goldmine. The Apple customer by definition is someone who feels spending more money generally equates to getting more value. And Steve Jobs and Johnny Ives are(were) both absolutely in love with buttons/functions that aren't labelled or otherwise obvious to the uninitiated.  Which equates to tons of billable hours for typical windows users who convert to OSX.

How do I add a new contact to my address book? How do I delete a contact from my address book? How do I install Chrome? How do I delete Chrome? Goldmine. Trust me.
Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false and by the rulers as useful