The OS ran out of the box. My experience with installing Linux was comparable to my experience installing Windows, except that with Windows, I was infected by a worm before I could finish the installation (I had neglected to disconnect the Internet connection). I had to reinstall Windows after a very difficult time trying to remove the worm.

I have not personally had a chance to examine or use any of the computers that come with Linux already installed; however, I am told that those computers do actually run right out of the box, but I can't claim to know this personally.

As for my experience with installing Linux - I did not need to select anything outside the defaults. I put the CD (or DVD) into the drive and rebooted. I followed the prompts without thinking, and the installation program chose appropriate defaults for me. Only when it came to user names and passwords, did I have to actually come up with something semi-creative.

The main reasons people have trouble with Linux, IMNSHO, are: 1) Most manufacturers deliberately choose to use BIOS, drivers, etc. that cater to Windows, and software-emulated hardware such as "WinModems", which saves more money and ensures Microsoft gets its licensing fee, even if someone will later remove Windows; and 2) once Linux is installed, it offers the unwary user a huge amount of power to do things, including wiping out the entire directory structure if you're not careful.

Linux is not for everyone. If you just want to play a few video games, get some e-mail, surf the net, maybe write a few letters - Windows is OK for this. No need to use anything else. The occasional crash isn't really that much of a problem. Most Windows programs save your work on an ongoing basis, so that when Windows crashes, you can recover most of your work. Buying the firewall, antivirus, and anti-spamware programs isn't that much of an expense, and these days those program will automatically update. So will Windows, if you need patches.

Still, I rather like my Linux boxes, and find they're no more difficult to use than Windows; and as I noted above, I had no more difficulty installing Linux, than Windows.

And as always: YYMV.

In reply to Re^8: Perl 6 Module manager by spiritway
in thread Perl 6 Module manager by zer

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