Marathon ginormous reply mode on, :biggrin:
I hate that. I just want to double-click a setup executable and move on.
I can do that on Ubuntu now with a *.deb package, just prefer to work within the package manager to be more assured of getting tested packages. But it's always an option. For example when I read the review linked to in the first post of this thread, I learned about the pinta graphics software, downloaded the deb package, double-clicked it and installed easy as pie.
Linux -
1) Open a terminal.
2) [OPTIONAL] I run 'apt-cache search xyz' if I dont know the exact name of the software package I'm looking for.
3) Type 'sudo apt-get install zyx'
4) I enter my password and press y.
5) Without any further intervention it downloads and completes.
You were saying something about a certain OS needing a better software installation procedure?
apt-get is pretty nice, but I still tend to be lazy and like some degree of a GUI so usually use the synaptic package manager. It's fortunate for me though that Ubuntu has command line options. When I screwed up my GUI by running out of disk space during package updates, I was able to go to the command line and upgrade to 10.04 by typing:
sudo apt-get update; sudo apt-get upgrade; apt-get dist-upgrade
After that everything worked fine.
Software package management is very different on linux when compared to windows.
YMMV of course, but I have had good luck. Instead of searching the internet for drivers and software packages like I do for windows, I use synaptic or apt-get to access a software package database. If its in the repo, and theres lots of stuff in the repos, I click and install.
I use both linux and windows, and really, its hard to beat apt-get for software management. Now, you could say that the software that is available for linux is ****. And I suppose to a certain degree that would be true; things like autocad, photoshop and other advanced apps are not available for linux. Thankfully, I don't use those apps so its not like I am missing out.
But thats not the fault of linux. It would be up to the software vendor to write the app so it runs under linux. That is a whole nother story though.
Just for clarity, the only reason I even use windows (XP in a vm) is because the applications I do use are only available for windows and are needed by me to program the phone switches I work on. The past few years have brought some relief as the programming interfaces can now be accessed via a web browser.
I think the apt-get is great. I do recognize though that not everyone is comfortable with a command line, although some love it. To me it's a matter of what you are used to & comfortable with. This can easily become a religious debate and I don't want to go there. I can swing both ways myself, :wink:. Synaptic is better for GUI oriented folks, or lazy folks like myself. Folks should check out the Ubuntu Software Center covered in the review linked to at the start of this thread. It's even more GUI oriented.
I agree, if Linux has an Achilles heel, it's the lack of some software packages, like Micro$oft Office/Visio, VPN software and Outlook which hamper it's widespread adoption as a desktop platform. There are good alternatives like Open Office, Dia diagram editor, GIMP for Photoshop, Evolution or Outlook, etc. This is some great software but might not cut it in a corporate environment although more than likely fine for most home use.
Suggesting someone is cheap for buying Belkin (just an example) which happens to be a reputable company which manufacturers decent quality products is ridiculous.
Well, first it was me I was suggesting was cheap, :wink:. It wasn't necessarily because the card was made by Belkin, any vendor can make a good or bad product. It was because I bought it on sale without checking if one of the drivers I needed was available. That's what I meant.
The WRT54 family is like the Model M of wireless routers...
My main bone of contention with Belkin was their customer service... Oh dear God...
Unfortunately bad customer service seems epidemic now. Fortunately I haven't needed it much. I try to buy routers I can load good open source firmware on and never look back. My first (wired) home router was a Netgear which I loaded Zyxel firmware on. This was my first experience with hacking router firmware although it wasn't linux open source based. Then I got a WRT54G wireless router, followed by a Motorola WR850G which was basically the same hardware, then an Asus, etc. With the exception of that first router, now retired, they all run 3rd party open source linux code. I now have 5 wireless routers running in my house, different brands, all happily playing nice with each other. One, the Asus 802.11n router is my primary WAN router and access point. The others really just supply Ethernet ports around the house where I need them as my house isn't wired.
