The Linux Problem

[starsthatshine]

I'm really interested in installing Linux/SuSE on my computer I have at home. The last time I installed or reinstalled or whatever the computer was back in 2002, which is a really long time ago and well... Linux is a very shiny program which I like. The only problem is that the version my dad uses is a little bit weird because it doesn't allow us to install any programs or play media files. Which is sort of what is necessary for me in order to function in Internet world. But Linux is so shiny and a lot more safe than Windows. And if I install Linux, I won't be able to go back to Windows.

What am I going to do? I really want to have Linux, but if I can't play media files or install anything, I might just die. Basics such as Firefox or Opera or anything like that would be gone.

What do you think? Any ideas of what might cause this inability to install programs or play media files? As far as I know, we've tried everything.

Oh, I forgot to tell you all, the last couple of days I've spent either watching Criminal Minds (I bought season one :D) or having my nose pressed against a psychology book reading about Freud and all these interesting things. I don't even have psychology until next semester, but I love the idea of understanding people.

Do you have any good suggestions as to what kind of books that are a good read if you're interested in Psychology? Like... text books and stuff.

Comments

I understand your Dad

[kozmcrae.livejournal.com]

Note: Firefox crashed precisely when I clicked "Post Comment". If this is a double post I apologize.

I'm a Dad and a Linux user so I understand your problems with Linux. The reason you can't run any "media" or install any programs is because Linux was designed from the first line of code to be connected to the rest of the world safely. The key word there is "safely". Unless you know the root password, you will not be able to change anything on your Dad's computer outside of your own user space. If you encounter a web site that needs a certain application, like Flash Player, you will need to ask him to install it. It's a real pain for users without root access but it's heaven for the administrator (your Dad). That's one of the reasons I switched to Linux. Somehow (snicker), my (then) 14 year old step son kept infecting the family computer with viruses and unknown init entries. I installed Linux (Fedora Core 3) and guess what? Not a single infection since (it's now running PCLinuxOS 2007). Peace and quite at last. Your Dad is very smart, or very tired of "fixing" his computer.

When you install Linux on your own computer maybe your Dad will give you root access. It's a big responsibility because you can totally hose your system with one arrant command. I don't know what distribution your Dad is familiar with but in addition to the "Most Famous Linux of All" Ubuntu, he may want to try PCLinuxOS and SimplyMepis which are KDE based Linuxes. KDE is a lot more configurable than Gnome, which is the default desktop for Ubuntu. What ever the case, tell your Dad I wish him luck.

Re: I understand your Dad

[aliasagent.livejournal.com]

The problem with the Linux thing that my dad has is that even though he knows the root password and tries to install things, the installation never seems to work. Like it doesn't "stick", you know? Not even the media players that came together with the installation work (I think we managed to get mp3 files working but avi files and wmv and other files didn't work)

We have some sort of version called 10 or something (I can't really remember right now). Linux is something I really want to have on my computer but if I can't play music or watch .avi files, I'm pretty certain I would die of boredom :P I myself have no idea what all these PCLinuxOS, KDE, Gnome and all that means (except that you can choose to use Gnome and stuff when you log into Linux or something, if I'm not mistaken). I'm usually quite comfortable around computers and stuff but Linux is unchartered water and it's difficult to get a general grasp of how basic things work sometimes.

A little start part 1

[kozmcrae.livejournal.com]

Linux is as different from Windows as Oz was from a black & white Kansas. It's just a different world. There are some similarities though. In fact there is a kind of Linux that looks just like XP (yuck!). It's still new so I can't recommend it. That brings to mind one of the differences that really turns people off. We (the public) have been used to one operating system (That's the thing that gives your computer its personality, without it it's a large paperweight.) and only one, from one vendor, Microsoft. So people think that there should only be one operating system. Sort of like they used to think the Earth was flat and the Sun revolved around the Earth. But that's ridiculous. They make up reasons to fit their logic but nobody has ever proved that they are right. So what am I getting at? You better sit down. There are hundreds of different distributions (distros) of Linux. And calling it Linux isn't even technically right, it should be referred to as GNU/Linux. That's because Linux is just the kernel (the heart) while the GNU part represents tens of thousands of programs, applications, utilities, and libraries. This fact is often used by Linux bashers as a "problem". No, it's not a problem. There are only about 10 distros that are "public ready" and of them the top 5 are usually the only ones considered. How do we know which ones are the top 5? Go to Distrowatch http://distrowatch.com/ and take a look. That list scares the heck out of people considering Linux. It shouldn't. The distributions are more alike than they are different. Basically they're the same under the skin. They all use the same kernels and all that software from the GNU part. It makes for a healthy ecosystem, like a diverse species of animal. Unlike a monoculture which is what we have with Microsoft. One well crafted virus and they're all become zombies.

The difficulty your Dad may be having (stress 'may') is something that I did when I first switched to Linux. In Windows when you want to add a program or driver, you go to the vendor's (company who makes the program) web site an click on "Download" and then click next, next, next until it stops asking and says "ok, you're finished please reboot the computer". People new to Linux try to do things the same way. Big mistake. In linux we use the Package Manager. It's often maligned by those who haven't seen the light but it's really just envy. I believe your Dad is using openSUSE. If that's so then the package manager is call YaST. It does many other things besides populating your installation, so it can be daunting but those who use it swear by it and I'm not going to argue with them. The way it works is, you open the Package Manager (in my case it's Synaptic) and start browsing through about 2,500 or so applications, programs and so on, like a kid in a candy shop. Every time you see something you like, you check the box next to it. When you're done, click Apply and sit back and watch as dozens or even hundreds of cool (and not so cool) stuff gets installed onto your computer. When it's done, no reboot (except if you updated the kernel). You know how in Windows it's called "Add and Remove Programs"? Have you ever seen anyone actually "Add" non-Microsoft programs using that utility? They should get sued for false advertising.

I could teach you a lot about Linux, but that would be reinventing the wheel the hard way. I will try to point you to some web sites that you and maybe your Dad might find helpful.

A little start part 2

[kozmcrae.livejournal.com]

Lobby4Linux. Ken Starks has been helping people in Central Texas say good bye to Microsoft for years. He's done hundreds (maybe more now) of coached installations himself. I think it's safe to say that no other person on this Earth knows more about helping people leave Microsoft. Take a look, he's a great writer too.
http://www.lobby4linux.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=16&Itemid=38

Distrowatch, just to give you a good idea what's out there.
http://distrowatch.com/

This is a forum post I stumbled upon. It has a lot of information in a condensed format. Don't let it scare you. Your Dad might find some of this helpful. Just skip over anything (maybe all of it) that starts putting you to sleep.
http://www.evga.com/forums/tm.asp?m=175951&mpage=1&key=&#

I could read stuff like this all day... hey wait, I do.
http://www.cognitivecombine.com/?p=206

[lostopenwindows.livejournal.com]

I've never been such a huge fan of Freud, personally I prefer cognitive psychology and behavourism because it feels like it "makes more sense" to me, if you know what I mean. :P So I'd rec anything related to that, especially since cognitive-behavioural therapy is pretty big right now.

Love the Paige icon!

[aliasagent.livejournal.com]

Personally, the whole humanist aspect of psychology (psychoanalysis and that part) makes more sense to me than the biological aspect, but the cognitive aspect works for me too, in certain situations. I guess there's no "truth" in Psychology, only certain explanations that work best in certain situations.

It's an awesome icon *nods*

[sneaky-minx.livejournal.com]

Oh, move away from Freud! I cringe everytime I see his name. He was high on opiates half the time and only came up with the stuff as it went along. Plus, the whole misogynistic aspect is cringe-worthy in itself. And over 90% of people in the field of psychology reject Freud. I saw in a previous comment that you were a bigger humanist fan, if I read that right. And I have to agree. I'm in a Criminology course right now, so we started out with different theories - many rooted in sociology and psychology, which gave me a nice look at some philosophies that I didn't get to learn about in Psychology 101. If you know which kinds of theories you like, ie Humanistic ones, I may be able to recommend you some texts and stuff that deals with both those philosophies and their adaptation to criminal studies. Best of both worlds kinda thing. :)