Why New Linux Users Are Frustrated
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Users by the truckload fill various user forums with problem topics in Linux despite widely available support documents available online. Today, I will talk about a few key areas that would solve a number of problems if they were to be addressed in the open.
Stop Pretending, It’s Time to Accept What Works With Wireless. One of the immature things I have seen on an ongoing basis is those distributions that dilute themselves into offering imaginary support for wireless drivers with terrible luck. Broadcom and Ubuntu are the two biggest offenders. If a simple warning popped on a LiveCD, after detecting the presence of a Broadcom chipset, stating that you are going to be getting geeky in a 50/50 effort to get that card working, you could save a lot of wasted time with NDISWrapper.
When a User Visits a Forum for Help, Leave the Attitude At Home. One thing that I see in some Linux forums is a real attitude like the beginner ought to know they are going to need to find the answer themselves. Again, this is a lot less of an occurrence these days, but this elitist nonsense still exists.
There’s nothing more disheartening than seeing new users coming into a messageboard with a relatively common question, only to be answered by some jerk who’s only comment is to tell them to use their brains and search the archives for the answer. It’s tired, unneeded and tends to drive people away.
As true as the original point may be, being a decent person and elaborating to the new user might be in order. Because the chances are good this person who just received the cold shoulder will not be coming back to that messageboard for help. And perhaps even worse, they will eventually give up on Linux altogether.
Last But Not Least, Choices vs. Consistency. The biggest area that the Linux desktop still needs to overcome is settle on a means of providing choice, yet also considering the adoption value of a consistent desktop as well. On top of this, users in the US find themselves at odds with the legalities behind what is known as “restricted codecs.”
If we can find some common ground between GNOME and KDE, in addition to more promotion for free codecs, things will become a lot less convoluted for users trying to use Linux full time.
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5 Comments
greywizard
January 31st, 2008
at 4:21am
Linux and attitude. Those terms go hand in hand. Always has and it is still that way today. It is a shame that so many people are driven away from a nix OS just because they cant find help that is actualy helpfull. This is the sole reason I did not convert my 4 windows domains to Linux/open source when I took my job 2 years ago.
The two things that the Linux community could do to really support Linux is to provide courteous, professional help. And write their how to’s/help/man instructions in a language that a non Linux user could understand. Seems to have worked pretty well for the “I am a dummy series of books”.
Larry in Houston
January 31st, 2008
at 10:10am
Amen to the comments re: attitude. I tried Red Hat Linux several years ago, with KDE desktop. After experiencing the Linux elitist snob mentality, I formatted, installed MS, and moved on happily with my life. Linux still piques my interest from time to time, but not enough to undertake the headache that configuring it with no real help will entail.
echolink
January 31st, 2008
at 6:22pm
I agree Matt, I agree the elitist issue is a very common practice among more experienced users. I am always bringing that topic up on my blog, and made a mention of it in the first episode of my podcast. This issue with this elitism in a way stems from the fact that a lot of Linux users, get that notion that Linux is theres and that it shouldn’t be shared with the outside world. I don’t think that it is as big a issue as it used to be with the likes of Ubuntu. But you still see a lot of new users when they step into source based distributions like Slackware of or Gentoo it is more common. That is the nature of something unique I guess though. As far as choice vs consistency I prefer that choice is better, The desktop environment is my issue has never been a issue. However with that being said, package management, and codec is a issue that needs to be overcome. Anyway just wanted to drop my view Matt, thanks and keep up the work. Check out my blog sometime..
manny
February 1st, 2008
at 10:30pm
most linux community tech helpers are very friendly, but at times they get fed up with their personal problems, tire from work and too many new comers needing a fast answer and each asking the same question over and over.
I dearly appreciate their efforts.
but yes, as u stated, this happens once in while and should be addressed.
overall i think the linux community is very friendly, polite and work extremely hard, sometimes even more than actual “paid support”
TucsonMatt
February 2nd, 2008
at 3:48pm
Although I make my living working on Windows computers as an independent consultant for the last 20 years, I want to be able to switch to Linux so badly! I keep trying and trying, but I can never quite make it over the hump for one reason or another.
My latest attempt involved an HP Pavilion laptop given to me by a customer who didn’t want to replace the hard drive because he wanted an excuse to buy a new model with a larger screen.
I put in a new 100GB Hard drive, ran Spinrite 6.0 on it and then put in an Ubuntu 7.1 Live CD. It booted up and I ran the install. When it rebooted, it went to a black screen and just sat there. Put the Live CD in and it works fine. Install from that same CD - black screen!
I downloaded the DVD version thinking it might have additional drivers, etc. Same problem.
I’ve seen a lot of posts extolling the virtues of Linux Mint so I downloaded version 4.0, burned the CD and booted it up. 2 hours later, it was still sitting there at the splash screen with its Knight Rider light going back and forth but never moving beyond that.
So… I installed Windows XP Home Edition and it installed just fine. It’s up to date with all the drivers and updates and is running fine. I’m glad I have a nice laptop for free, but I am very frustrated that I once again cannot use Linux. And, that is the problem with my clients as well. They aren’t willing to pay me or to take the time themselves to research the problems that come up when Windows will install just fine and they already have paid for the license.
One of these days, it’s going to happen for me though. I really, really want it to.