Posted by: Anonymous Coward
on February 11, 2004 05:32 AM
Ok.
I read warthawgs review and a few others before I installed Lindows 4.5 . I am not trying to be troll bait here, but I would like some answers or comments from Lindows users/peoples on what I have to say. I am testing Lindows and (soon) Xandros to see if, as a computer shop owner, I can start dropping a linux distro on Joe Sixpacks machine instead of Win98 ( I try to stay away from ME and XP ugh).
All that said here's my real comments.
1) I installed lindows 4.5 and it didn't work with my Nvidia GeForce 2 AGP card. The re-detect logs reported finding the Nvidia card but still it didn't work. All I got was a blank black screen after start-up. No messages no way to know what went wrong, no nothing. What is up with that. This is a very very very very common card.
To fix that problem I pulled the card and had lindows re-detect again with my video plugged into the onboard. That worked and I got my desktop. However IMHO this shouldn't have happened since Lindows makes bones about how easy and compatible it is.
2) Some of the multi-media software that was included in the install has got to be the poorest examples of software available for linux. Especially the MP3 player and the Image Viewer. What were you guys thinking when you chose those programs.
This is a big issue. Why you may ask, when the CNR warehouse is there? Because a new user is going to try to use this software first, and if it doesn't work easily and intuitively they won't bother and I will get the machine back and have to put Win back on. Especially ones who have dial-up.
3) File management was pitiful. The "Konquerer" file manager has to be one of the worst file management tools for people who don't know that much about file structure.
For example: to make a link anywhere you have to type in the url by hand. What joe sixpack is going to know how to type in a url to a file on their computer much less how to find it or understand anything about linking.
Another example: Media file previews take up the entire pane. You cant "link" (the other kind: which is also a point of confusion for a new user) a preview pane and a list-o-files pane.
Another example: Insert a CD and then close the automatically opened window. Then go to konquerer and try to find the CD drive. Unless you know where to look (And believe me Joe Sixpack doesn't know what the heck<nobr> <wbr></nobr>/mnt is) you will never find it.
In conclusion I have to say I was dis-satisfied and dis-appointed. I expected better. Lindows is marketed as an alternative to Windows and easier than Linux. I don't think that in its present incarnation it is either.
Maybe I am trying to hold lindows to too high of a standard for as young as it is, however, when starting from a base OS like Linux with all the great Linux software out there, the Distro and included software should have been better and more intuitive.
Johnny B.
Whooooaaahhhh MAMA!!!!!!!
P.S. to the guy who wonders why anyone cares about joe sixpack. Joe sixpack is the fastest growing market for computer sales and service out there. Thats why.
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Lindows: Not Quite Ready for PrimeTime
Posted by: Anonymous Coward on February 11, 2004 05:32 AMI read warthawgs review and a few others before I installed Lindows 4.5 . I am not trying to be troll bait here, but I would like some answers or comments from Lindows users/peoples on what I have to say. I am testing Lindows and (soon) Xandros to see if, as a computer shop owner, I can start dropping a linux distro on Joe Sixpacks machine instead of Win98 ( I try to stay away from ME and XP ugh).
All that said here's my real comments.
1) I installed lindows 4.5 and it didn't work with my Nvidia GeForce 2 AGP card. The re-detect logs reported finding the Nvidia card but still it didn't work. All I got was a blank black screen after start-up. No messages no way to know what went wrong, no nothing. What is up with that. This is a very very very very common card.
To fix that problem I pulled the card and had lindows re-detect again with my video plugged into the onboard. That worked and I got my desktop. However IMHO this shouldn't have happened since Lindows makes bones about how easy and compatible it is.
2) Some of the multi-media software that was included in the install has got to be the poorest examples of software available for linux. Especially the MP3 player and the Image Viewer. What were you guys thinking when you chose those programs.
This is a big issue. Why you may ask, when the CNR warehouse is there? Because a new user is going to try to use this software first, and if it doesn't work easily and intuitively they won't bother and I will get the machine back and have to put Win back on. Especially ones who have dial-up.
3) File management was pitiful. The "Konquerer" file manager has to be one of the worst file management tools for people who don't know that much about file structure.
For example: to make a link anywhere you have to type in the url by hand. What joe sixpack is going to know how to type in a url to a file on their computer much less how to find it or understand anything about linking.
Another example: Media file previews take up the entire pane. You cant "link" (the other kind: which is also a point of confusion for a new user)
a preview pane and a list-o-files pane.
Another example: Insert a CD and then close the automatically opened window. Then go to konquerer and try to find the CD drive. Unless you know where to look (And believe me Joe Sixpack doesn't know what the heck<nobr> <wbr></nobr>/mnt is) you will never find it.
In conclusion I have to say I was dis-satisfied and dis-appointed. I expected better. Lindows is marketed as an alternative to Windows and easier than Linux. I don't think that in its present incarnation it is either.
Maybe I am trying to hold lindows to too high of a standard for as young as it is, however, when starting from a base OS like Linux with all the great Linux software out there, the Distro and included software should have been better and more intuitive.
Johnny B.
Whooooaaahhhh MAMA!!!!!!!
P.S. to the guy who wonders why anyone cares about joe sixpack. Joe sixpack is the fastest growing market for computer sales and service out there. Thats why.
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