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from the it's-already-perfect-is-not-the-right-answer dept.
We all know about Microsoft's latest OS, so I won't rehash. A lot of us intensely dislike it, to put it politely. Those of us who can, use other operating systems. This is Soylent, so let's focus on the one that is the most important to us: Linux.
I have been using Windows as my OS since right after Atari times. A few years ago I bought an ARM (ARMHF/ARMv7) netbook and put Lubuntu on it. I had problems with my first Linux experience, mainly in the area of installing software: missing packages in Synaptic, small dependency hells, installing a package at a time by hand, some broken stuff. I put it down mainly to the architecture I have been using, which can't be supported as well as x86-64.
Now, we all know that no software is perfect, and neither is Linux, even though it is now my main OS. We support it in spirit and financially, but there is always room for improvement.
So, the question is: What are your problems with Linux and how can we fix them? How do we better it? Maybe it's filesystems, maybe it's the famous/infamous systemd. Let's have at it.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by stretch611 on Wednesday February 22 2017, @10:41AM
I've been dabbling with linux for a little under 20 years now, pretty much exclusively linux for 9 years now. I have use red hat back around RH 5/6 before Advanced Server and fedora. I used Mandrake (during the change to Mandriva) for a while, a little SUSE too, followed by Ubuntu, and now Mint. I typically use CentOS when building a server though.
My biggest problem is hardware compatibility... especially on laptops. I buy a new laptop every 2 years or so and each time I do it seems to be a crapshoot if all the hardware will work or not. It does seem to be better now, but having to deal with all the proprietary video cards, wireless network drivers, and others sure makes getting a new laptop hell.
There used to be a bunch of linux laptop compatibility sites out there... but they are all outdated now with many not updated in 5-10 years. Manufacturers will not support linux still (with the exception of dell on a very few models, and linux only vendors... but even they generally only support Ubuntu.) While you may get lucky on a support forum for the manufacturer, you are more likely to get some idiot saying that "the system has windows, why would you want something different?" and an actual official support response is unheard of.
Of course, right now, all the nightmares of the past are returning, as my current laptop is getting older and I will be replacing it in the next few weeks. I remember the *fun* I had with it due to the nVidia Optimus graphics card inside, which was new and had very poor support at the time I purchased it. What new "wonders" will the next laptop hold...
Now with 5 covid vaccine shots/boosters altering my DNA :P
(Score: 2) by mmcmonster on Wednesday February 22 2017, @11:09AM
Have you tried System76 laptops? Maybe check their forums and see if there's any issues with your preferred distribution.
Another option is MacBooks (Air, Pro, Whatever). There's enough hands pounding away at them that if there's a problem, there's likely to be a quick fix.
Again, check the forums before you buy. (But you already know that, I'm sure. :-))
(Score: 2) by stretch611 on Wednesday February 22 2017, @11:34AM
I have considered a System 76 laptop... But they are a little out of my budget. I do get a machine with decent specs, and I am willing to pay more than just bargain basement prices, but System 76 is a bit expensive in comparison.
For example, I have been looking at prices lately... A 15.6" laptop with a quad core i7, 16gb ram, 256gb SSD, 1tb HD, nVidia 1060/3GB ram, 1920x1080 display... I can get it for $999 (after a $100 rebate), a different brand with the same specs and a 17" display for $1100 and no rebate... However a similar laptop on system 76 I just priced was $1593. Thats a 50% price increase which is a bit too steep for me... especially since I really don't want ubuntu at this time and will have to re-install the OS in either case.
And lets just say I know without looking that the price for an apple notebook would be worse.
Now with 5 covid vaccine shots/boosters altering my DNA :P
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday February 22 2017, @03:22PM
https://shop.libiquity.com/product/taurinus-x200 [libiquity.com]
If you want a free machine, this is your best bet at the moment.
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Wednesday February 22 2017, @05:14PM
Good concept, great price. But, isn't that just a little underpowered, for this day and age? Yeah, it's a laptop, and most people don't need real fast CPU, and truckloads of memory. But, still . . . with an i7 and 16 gig of memory, you can do more, and do it faster.
Ehhh - I guess it depends on taste, budget, and personal preference. I prefer to have a lot more CPU and memory than I'll ever need, than to find that I just don't have quite enough power to do what I want to do.
Abortion is the number one killed of children in the United States.
(Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday February 22 2017, @04:58PM
how do you expect hardware support to improve when you keep funding the enemy? you have the money to buy laptops every two years but you buy nvidia, etc? no wonder companies don't give a shit about what i want when i only buy laptops every ten years. You are the problem. Stop being a whore and buy the most free things you can.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday February 23 2017, @02:44AM
Was the single word "whore" what caused that?
The questions and conclusion seem to be on the mark:
It the MANUFACTURERS who provide device driver support.
That's the way it works--no matter what OS you're using.
Linux has an additional wedge with the Linux Driver Project, but if those guys can't even get a proper set of specs from the manufacturer, how are they expected to provide support for the item?
Just keep shooting in the dark until they hit something??
The question stands:
Why are you giving bucks and mindshare to manufacturers who refuse to make the effort to support you?
-- OriginalOwner_ [soylentnews.org]