Comments on: Return of the Linux Gal

By: Dan

Dan — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 00:28:36 +0000

Nice article Anna I enjoyed it, we still have to get you to talk about all this on the show, I know people will want to hear that. I’m ridiculously late to this sorry, just opened my feed reader for the first time in about 3 weeks, it wasn’t pretty to say the least. Looking forward to hearing more about this. Keep going we’ll make a Linux lover of you yet ;)

By: iReact (Ed)

iReact (Ed) — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 04:23:28 +0000

Ah yes, the first step. I like to see how other people first come to Linux. Thanks be to Canonical for giving us a product that is fairly intuitive for ~most~ users.

I find your insights particulary intriguing as you are coming at it from the Mac perspective. I myself was a Microsoft freedom hater when I first took the plunge. Please do go into detail with your journey! I’m reading along and enjoy your perspective.

Also, of note, there is an ubuntu related “one click” site for installing software, http://www.appnr.com – I have found it rather nice for new users (myself included) for shopping new software.

Kudos for your efforts, and I look forward to experiencing this with you (vicariously).

Yours in open source
iReact

By: ana

ana — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 20:52:03 +0000

cheers. I’m loking forward to that! I’m actually thinking about switching the whole experiment to Mint, having spoken to few people.

By: Jackie Plage

Jackie Plage — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 13:54:13 +0000

The sharing is messy even on a straight install. Easy enough to put right I think but it involves the command line which strikes fear in the hearts of many linux newcomers. :)

Going to try a and write a review of my experiences with 64 bit Mint in the next day or two (it’s my first time using a 64 bit distro). If I think of any other pointers inbetween time I’ll let you know.

By: ana

ana — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 12:35:16 +0000

oh right. yes, the sharing is a bit of a mess especially with virtual machine, but that might be a vmware problem. I assume that migrating person is installing straight onto the hardware, so I skipped all the virtual machine-related problems.
These are all very valid points. If you have any more please let me know, as I’m focusing exactly on what is and isn’t newbie-friendly.
I presume there is as much opinions on this as there is distros, but it’s good to gather as much as I can.
My idea is basically that there should be a migration-friendly version of distros, with all the solutions that advanced users might find annoying, like little popping up messages telling how to use different features, what the first steps to configure new system should be etc.

By: Jackie Plage

Jackie Plage — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 12:25:19 +0000

The portal is slightly different as it contains some apps (such as skype) that aren’t in the ubuntu repos. Though of course http://getdeb.net is also good for that too.

I was just using it as an example though, it has other stuff by default, such as network folder sharing and access (which ubuntu messed up horribly in the last 2 releases), mintBackup to make a backup of your home dir easily – that kind of thing.

Small stuff, but things that for a beginner are welcome. Not that I don’t like Ubunutu, I love it and have used it for years, but I think Mint is slightly better for the linux beginner. :)

By: ana

ana — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 12:14:08 +0000

Agreed, Abul, but how is it superior to the add/remove in Ubuntu? Is the software portal updated more often? As I remember you used to have to go to the portal (i.e. via the browser) in Mint 5, but now you can do the installs from the system in Mint 6. Surely, that is a better option?
I feel like I’m missing a point here…

By: Adonis

Adonis — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 12:10:42 +0000

Anna – The key difference for Mint when it comes to repositories is not that it can use Ubuntu’s too, but there is also a software portal http://linuxmint.com/software/ where one click installs can be had.
I agree with the many different versions of Mint is confusing.

By: ana

ana — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 11:53:58 +0000

Jackie: oh no, i wasn’t implying Mint is less newbie friendly. I really think it depends on personal habits, actually. One thing for sure is that on the download website Mint has 6 not-properly described versions, which is slightly discouraging.
Ubuntu also has an equivalent of software portal, how is the Mint’s one superior? I’d be interested to hear your opinion on that, as I’m writing the next article about it.
I personally would have gone for Mint, but I imagine most fresh starters will go for Ubuntu, as it is the more publicised one. It also, as I understand, has a bigger communities in non-English speaking countries; support forums are very important when switching to Linux.

By: Jackie Plage

Jackie Plage — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 11:48:11 +0000

Nice intro, look forward to the next part.

I’m not altogether sure you got the description of Mint right. I’d say it’s even more ‘newbie friendly’ than Ubuntu, it’s not just about looks. They provide things to get those less used to linux up and running a little faster (such as the software portal/mintinstall for example). Nice analogy though, even if I don’t agree 100% with it. ;)