Thus the problem is not one with the technology, its a problem with the documentation. If when you install a copy of Linux there was a 'hello and welcome to Linux' telling you things like that it would not be an improvement in technology. I have not used LinSpire (I think formerly WinSpire) but I have heard it provides a pretty nice interface.
Unfortunately, I develop, exclusively at this point, in MS (VB, .NET, ASP & C#). If not for that, I probably could make the transition to Linux much faster.
Well ASP runs fine through chillisoft, but C# and the like require mono which is far from production ready. Basically after MS lost a suit to sun about their hijacking of Java the started C#. MS does alot of crap like this SQL server is not ANSI99 compliant for no other reason than Microsoft wants to have 'their own thing'. Example: the 'is' statement does not work in sql server 2000, you have to use '=' which is not a huge thing but as the 'is' clause is what every other database uses (Informix, Oracle, DB2, ...) it is a nagging problem for someone like me.
And you are the exception, n3wbi3, I've looked around on other help sites and most Linux "gurus" give very generic, non-specific help. Typical answer: "I figured it out and you can too".
Im sorry you ran into that, I can honestly tell you I started out like you three years ago (maybe a little better off on the *nix side). I found good help from people until I got comfortable troubleshooting myself. When I set up my first sendmail server with a squirrelmail interface I was drowning in problems, one of the developers started mailing me off the forum to get the problem fixed quicker.
Your constant claims that Linux is standard or consistent in any way are hilarious. Here's a more realistic description of the state of the Linux chaos as it exists today, from an article right on Linux.com:
http://enterprise.linux.com/article.pl?sid=05/03/01/2248250
"every distribution of Linux sucks in its own special way. Some just suck less. However, eventually, no matter what distribution you use, something about it will drive you insane, and you'll try another distro to see if it's any better. What you'll then realize is that, while it may handle what drove you crazy before much better, it handles something else in a way that drives you even more crazy."
LOL
Very good point and I think you are 100% correct. Better documentation would help solve a LOT of these problems. What is needed is a good repository for Linux FAQ run by someone who can help out the Linux-challenged.
I have no problems with the way Linux runs or it's stability, my gripe all along has been getting up and running as easly as possible.