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Linux: The Mom & Pop's Operating System
Linux Gazette ^ | July 2010 | Anderson Silva

Posted on 07/06/2010 7:12:48 AM PDT by ShadowAce

This month's article isn't much of an article, but more like an interview. It's not very technical, but potentially satisfying. True or False? If you have been around Linux for a few years, you may have been called an open source advocate, a computer guy or just a plain and simple nerd. Probably true, right? For years, that's how Linux has been seen by many outside the open source community, and even a few within it. This article, I mean interview, is a living example that this stereotype does not stand true any longer.

About 15 years ago, when I first arrived in the US as an exchange student, I met a family in a small town called Hampden, ME. Over the years, I became friends with this family, saw their kids graduate from High School and College, and even lived as neighbors to their parents for about three years of my life. The person I am writing about is my good friend Brenda McCleary, a mother of two college graduates who decided to give Linux a try.

I also want to emphasize that I have done very little editing on this interview because I want to show the reader that one must not have to know all the right terminology or Linux versions and distributions to be able to start using it.

Anderson: Hi, Brenda, tell us a little bit about yourself.
Brenda: Hi, Anderson. I've been married 31 years to husband John. I am the mother of two adult sons: Patrick (26) and DJ (24). I live in Simpsonville, SC. I have worked cleaning homes, been a church secretary, an administrative assistant in a denturist office, and currently in the food service industry as dishwasher/baker/prep person.

A: When was the first time you heard about Linux?

B: I heard about Linux from you Anderson.

[Note: Yes, I've been using Linux since 1996, and virtually every time I hear someone complaining about their Windows machine being infected with whatever destructive technology is out there, my reply is usually: You should give Linux a try...]

A: What made you want to switch from Windows to Linux?
B: I switched to Linux because you recommended it and because I was tired of Windows not running properly. I often dealt with viruses and having to buy a new computer more often than I should because after a few times of trying to restore Windows it would no longer work. You convinced me that Linux was user-friendly and that I wouldn't have to worry about viruses like I did with Windows. You also explained that there would be some learning curve in using this new Operating System and that some applications or hardware that I currently use may not be compatible.

A: What Linux distribution and version are you using?

B: I am currently using Ubuntu 10.4?? It is the latest upgrade that Update manager offered. Is this right Anderson?

[Note: Ubuntu 10.04]

A: Tell me about your biggest frustration with Linux.
B: My biggest frustration with Linux is the simple things like trying to upgrade my Garmin. I did research on-line to try and see how to fix the problem but because of my lack of education concerning words like bzip, tarballs, source codes and such. It may as well be Greek or Latin and I gave up not knowing what to do. I finally had my son upgrade it on his computer with Windows.

[Another problem that I had, but not related to Linux itself, but more of a vendor support issue was:] When I first received my computer from Dell with Linux OS I was so excited. I could not however get the DVD to work. I called Dell and after many conversations, being transferred to different sections of the company and was asked to reinstall the OS system twice, that didn't fix the problem, I hung up angry and frustrated. Dell does not give customer support for Linux. I finally sent my husband and my computer to your home and you had it fixed in less than a hour. If the fix was that easy why couldn't they help me?

A: Have you ever used the Linux terminal? If yes, what did you do with it?
B: I have tried to use the Linux terminal using step by step instructions based on on-line articles by other Linux users. To be honest I don't remember what it was I was trying to fix, but I do remember when the terminal accepted my codes, copied line for line from the article, I was tickled pink!

A: Have you ever had to upgrade your computer by yourself? If yes, what was the experience like?
B: I recently upgraded my computer through the Update manager which automatically lets me know when there are updates and upgrades to be installed. Just a few clicks of the mouse and the update or upgrade is finished. So much easier than Windows! After the upgrade there were a couple annoying glitches, but they were soon worked out with new updates.

A: Tell us a bit about what you do with Linux at home? Anyone else in the family use it? What do they do?

B: The two major reasons I use my computer is to access e-mail and Facebook. I also do on-line searches, upload pictures from my camera with F-Spot photo manager, listen to music on Rhythmbox, type documents on Open Office, and create CD's on the CD/DVD creator. Synaptic Package Manager has also been a useful tool..as well as Users and Groups. I especially enjoy it that I can log into my own account and not have to deal with family members bookmarks or icons that they choose to use on their desktop screen. My husband also uses Linux for e-mail and Facebook, paying bills on-line and doing on-line searches to read news from our home state, Maine.

A: What's your favorite part about using Linux?
B: My favorite part about using Linux is not having to deal with viruses, cookies and not having to worry about when the OS is going to die. It is a stable, trustworthy system that I hope in time will be more and more compatible with Windows so that many other simple people like myself can enjoy the many benefits of using Linux without the frustration of certain things being incompatible. Although I do have to say that the upgrades to newer versions of Linux seem to fix some problems automatically which means Linux is aware of the incompatibility issues and is taking action.

A: Do you feel you've learned more about computers using Linux? Why?
B: I do not regret moving away from Windows as the benefits of Linux far outweigh the frustrations experienced in some things not being compatible and how to fix them. Of course it is especially helpful when I can Facebook you, Anderson, with questions.

A: Well, Brenda, thank you so much for taking the time to share with us about your Linux experience. One final question, if you had to recommend Linux to another mother like yourself, how would you 'sell' it?
B: I would definitely recommend Linux to other mothers because of the many benefits I have explained in this interview. I would however recommend to them that they do their research concerning compatibility issues of hardware and software they are currently using to make sure the change would best fit their needs. I would also recommend that they also find a current Linux user that could help them through the transition in case they run into the same problem I did of no customer support from the seller. You are welcome.

My friend Brenda McCleary has been a Linux user for a little over two years now, and every once in a while I check in with her via Facebook to check out her level of satisfaction with it, and even though I, myself, am a Fedora user, I try to make myself available for her when she has questions about how to get something working. But I have to confess that Brenda has been flying solo with her Linux install for several months now without any major incidents.

The Linux Operating System has definietly grown up, and so have its users. We are not all just College kids with nothing better to do than hack on our computers trying to solve a programming problem. A lot of us are ordinary folks with a simple wish: when I get in front of a computer, I want to connect with others, share media, and even work without having to keep fighting viruses, malware, trojans, etc. Not to say, that Linux is a safe haven, yet, in comparison to Windows, it is safe enough.


TOPICS: Computers/Internet
KEYWORDS: linux
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To: daniel1212

I have to agree with you, from an end-user perspective, Ubuntu and Mint are the best. (Mint is a debian/ubuntu derivative). I administer unix and linux systems for a living, and i think Redhat/CentOS are the best enterprise linux distros.

I think Mint is better than ubuntu 10 because they have made it even easier to to get flash playing.

While the linux OSes are getting closer and closer for mom and pop use, its not there yet. But the latest releases are getting closer and closer. If owned my own business, it would be CentOS (free) servers and probably Redhat desktops (free, but support costs).

I think Windows is a fine operating system, and is the most widely supported. Its just not as glossy or reliable as a Mac (because they use BSD for the kernel). Macs just aren’t worth the money to me. I do like the iPhone and the iPad. But i wouldn’t fork out the $$$ out of my own pocket. The boss pays for those, you know, the digital leash.


21 posted on 07/06/2010 8:16:50 AM PDT by ChinaThreat (3)
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To: ATLDiver

I see your appraisal as honest, but yet the potential is still there, If Linux could do with an OS what Firefox has done with the browser (far far superior to IE8) then it would be more used.


22 posted on 07/06/2010 8:23:28 AM PDT by daniel1212 ("Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out " (Acts 3:19))
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To: perfect_rovian_storm

“It’s been quite a few years since I’ve seen Linux not work with any piece of hardware.”

Good for you, but that is not my experience, and the Linux forums also attest otherwise, and that the percentage of Linux users with such problems is far higher than with Windows users, which make up about 90% of the market.

Presently, my RealTek sound card will not work on my Sony RA-840G PC, nor my Lexmark printer, despite installing all drivers and attempts to configure them.

This is not meant to bash Linux, but to balance what i see as too positive a promotion of it as desktop ready.


23 posted on 07/06/2010 8:47:07 AM PDT by daniel1212 ("Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out " (Acts 3:19))
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To: ShadowAce

I never install Linux on the same hard drive as Windows.

I have a separate 40gig drive devoted strictly to Linux (Mint).

What I don’t like about Linux, is every time you want to access something on the drive or even do updates, you have to put in your password.

Too much of a pain for me. So I just run WinXP.


24 posted on 07/06/2010 8:49:56 AM PDT by Bigh4u2 (Denial is the first requirement to be a liberal)
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To: ShadowAce
I like linux because it's free, it's very easy to install, and I can install it on as many machines, as many times as I want. I don't have much recent MS Windows experience, probably that's to my advantage (don't know what I'm missing?).

Installing is easy and when you're done, it's a complete system, with most of the apps you'd need. The hardest part of installation would probably be partitioning the disk. If you do a clean install on a disk by itself, it's pretty easy.

I use my Ubuntu desktop mainly to rip my DVD and CD collection to disk, and it's been great for that. All the applications I use are free open-source. It'd cost me probably several hundred dollars using a windows machine.

25 posted on 07/06/2010 8:57:01 AM PDT by shorty_harris
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To: ChinaThreat

What do you think about PCLINUXOS? It is the codec issue that i find troublesome. As for Windows, it actually can be made more user friendly than it is. For instance, I use AutoHotKey which enables me to write scripts to launch individual or multiple applications at once, or access Windows components. Window key and F1 launches my 2 main Bible programs, and Thunderbird, OpenOffice. and Firefox. I could put them in the Start up folder but this is better. Windows key and U launches the Uninstall programs (appwiz.cpl) while many more such can be done with the Run command (who knows about running dxdiag ?)

What Linux needs is a better Control Center.


26 posted on 07/06/2010 8:59:05 AM PDT by daniel1212 ("Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out " (Acts 3:19))
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To: CAluvdubya
I'm still skeptical about it being compatible with all things Windows

Are you expecting to pick up a windows program and run it under Linux?

That will be rare...

But on a functional basis ...there are the basic programs available for Linux...other than in the Games arena.

Open Office will supply 80% of the capability of MS Office for example.

If you are a '"Facebook fan there are two relatively new distributions available that are aiming to focus on such cloud applications....( Zorin and Peppermint )

27 posted on 07/06/2010 9:02:19 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach ( Support Geert Wilders)
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To: ShadowAce

I like Linux and currently use Mint, however, I run it in a dual boot with my windows OS because Netflix(which I use extensively since I got rid of my TV service)won’t run on my PC. While I can watch Netflix movies on my TV, I like to retire to my bedroom at night and watch movies on my computer. Therefore, until Netflix recognizes linux and makes their player compatible(fat chance since silver light is Microsoft)with it, I will continue to use XP for large parts of the day. Other than that I see no advantage of using Windows over Linux.


28 posted on 07/06/2010 9:04:20 AM PDT by calex59
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To: MODELSHIPS
So you are doing dual-boot?

Do you have two drives?

29 posted on 07/06/2010 9:05:23 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach ( Support Geert Wilders)
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To: CIB-173RDABN

Linux users are usually smart enough not to click every hotlink or open every PDF/ZIP file they get in their inbox.


30 posted on 07/06/2010 9:07:37 AM PDT by Doohickey ("It Takes A Spillage." - Mark Steyn)
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To: MODELSHIPS
I can’t find out just where I can go with the Linux company for the answer to this problem

Did you try the Forums for that Distro?

31 posted on 07/06/2010 9:17:08 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach ( Support Geert Wilders)
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To: Doohickey

So you are saying it is the users fault. Following your logic, the safest machine to have is one that you don’t use.

Yeah, that is the ticket, keep it in the box, don’t plug it in, and certainly do not access any site on the internet.

Your answer is silly. I ask a serious question and the clowns come out.


32 posted on 07/06/2010 9:20:09 AM PDT by CIB-173RDABN
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To: CIB-173RDABN

The straight forward answer to both questions is yes.

It’s less of a target because there are fewer units out there (that the world knows about ... places like google’s search engines are entirely Linux based, i.e. likely a million instances right there.)

It also has design features that make it less of a target. It is derived from a model that was inherently more secure than where Windows came from historically. It doesn’t have a central registry. It’s email clients, and browsers don’t execute codes that can typically get root access. (It can be done -but we’re back to the top paragraph, fewer people bother.) Note - root access means GOD mode - you can mess up anything of choice as root.

So you don’t find virus protection utilities, etc. being necessary for Linux.

I’ve had a couple of systems “rooted” over the 17+ years I’ve been using Linux. This was on systems that were 24/7 and had typical uptimes measured in years. They were rooted because they were older distributions that over time got hacked, and people found my boxes. So the simplest way to stay protected is to upgrade your OS environment about once a year. Usually this is painless under Suse or Ubuntu. This tends to keep in front of the idiots that do aim for Linux based systems. Following this simple expedient I haven’t had troubles for 8-9 years.


33 posted on 07/06/2010 9:21:19 AM PDT by fremont_steve
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To: CAluvdubya

It isn’t compatible with all things Windows. That is sort of the point and the problem. ;-)

There are emulators that let it run a significant amount of Windows software (see Codeweavers for an idea of such stuff.) However, the idea is to use Linux native applications that substitute for what you find on Windows. Examples: Evolution, or Thunderbird as an email client, Firefox instead of IE, OpenOffice instead of Word/Excel/Powerpoint, etc.

I have two machines at home. One has Linux the other has XP. I boot the XP machine (a laptop) once every 2-3 weeks. The Linux box is net connected 24/7 behind a hardware firewall. Never has problems.


34 posted on 07/06/2010 9:26:42 AM PDT by fremont_steve
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To: CIB-173RDABN
The old addage of Linux/Unix being more secure from the ground up isn't really true as it once was. Microsoft has worked diligently to improve security to the point where while each has it's strengths and weaknesses, neither is significantly more secure. Conversely, Linux distributions have been suffering from the same bloat that they used to mock Windows about, and the more crap you have on your computer, the more likely it is that you will have software with a vulnerability in it.

Obviously more malware writers tend to target the biggest pool of users. However, a lot of malware is delivered by fooling users into running software on their own systems and giving it permission to run.

While Linux is attracting more users that are less technically knowledgeable, the biggest pool of security oblivious users is by far still on Windows.

Even well designed security doesn't help if the malware writer can confuse the user into thinking that they are installing an important patch from a trusted source.

35 posted on 07/06/2010 9:30:39 AM PDT by untrained skeptic
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To: Bigh4u2

Then you get the security you asked for!

You CAN set up Linux to boot without a password. But you wouldn’t be clever if you did so!


36 posted on 07/06/2010 9:31:22 AM PDT by fremont_steve
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To: fremont_steve

Never ran any Windows OS (3.1, 95, 98, 98se, XP, Vista) with a password, and never had any problems (except one virus i found and deleted myself) in 10 years of extensive Internet use, for which i thank God. I am the only user and want to use the PC for the Lord’s work, and avoid porno places, where i think much malware comes from.

I wish many Linux distros had less security, so that i could easily get full R+W privileges in NTFS Windows drives or even other Linux drives without trying different suggested scripts.


37 posted on 07/06/2010 10:13:33 AM PDT by daniel1212 ("Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out " (Acts 3:19))
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To: ShadowAce

Anderson Silva..
MMA champion aaand Linux guru.

Who knew.


38 posted on 07/06/2010 10:18:28 AM PDT by Vinnie (You're Nobody 'Til Somebody Jihads You)
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To: perfect_rovian_storm

Well because I like challenges and making something work that isn’t always supported. My point is that not everyone is going to have current, main-stream peripherals after all we’re not talking Apple owners here. Many people still have that old sound card or video card that likely won’t have a Linux driver for it. One of the problems that MS had with Vista is that along with the core OS code, they built in a LOT of old drivers. Linux doesn’t have near the driver support that say Win 7 does built-in and vendor drivers for *nix is hit or miss.

Your question as to why I installed it without running a compatibility test is moot. The average user most certainly won’t do that either, in my case I knew I had a challenge on my hands, the average user will expect it to just work. I’m glad you like the UI of Ubuntu but the average user does not and will not but again you and I are not the average user.


39 posted on 07/06/2010 10:31:13 AM PDT by ATLDiver
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To: sionnsar

Then you’re not really getting the full-power of the platform then. Yes I know the project has done a good job here of late with cleaning up the interface a power user still has to use command shell. Sometimes it’s faster to modify something in VI or setup/modify a cron job the old fashioned *nix way. ;)


40 posted on 07/06/2010 10:34:45 AM PDT by ATLDiver
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