Ask HN: Has Linux become too easy to use ?

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=958769

by vineet7kumar • 17 years ago

2 10 17 years ago

news.ycombinator.com

Do you also feel that the new Linux distros, in the race of getting popular among the masses have become too easy to use, too heavy on the hardware and no more offer the hard - do it yourself way of learning?

stonemetal2• 17 years ago

Who really enjoys futzing with their computer all day because the OS is so totally broken that they can't get work(or play) done? Really why would you want to spend six weeks configuring X so that you can have a usable system for two weeks before the next upgrade comes along and breaks your config file.

No thanks I'll take Ubuntu that gets out of the way and lets me play with whatever I find interesting over that configure arcana crap.

javert4• 17 years ago

That's not really an accurate depiction of [insert all other distros besides Ubuntu].

stonemetal2• 17 years ago

It directly speaks to the ease of use issue weather I choose Ubuntu or suse or whatever doesn't really make that much of a difference. Besides the non easy to use distros still exist for the people like the OP who want the added control and added time.

anigbrowl• 17 years ago

No. There is nothing virtuous about it being difficult. If you need to feel clever, write some code.

vineet7kumar• 17 years ago

Agreed. There is of course nothing virtuous about anything being difficult. I personally just feel that Linux has its charm in its rawness. No offence meant !!!

JCThoughtscream• 17 years ago

There is NO such thing as too easy to use. The whole point of an operating system is to be functional - in every aspect of that word. The more intuitive it is, the /better/ it's been designed.

javert4• 17 years ago

Not necessarily. The simplest systems are the most intuitive, but they ultimately limit the power of the user to do a wider scope of things that he/she might want to do.

Really, you want your "intuitiveness" to scale inversely with the scope of things the system can do.

If you have a large system, it doesn't need to be intuitive, but it needs to be conceptually coherent---that is, it needs to limit accidental complexity.

I think it's accurate to say that good Linux distros follow these principles.

vorador• 17 years ago

This is not necessarily right. Take for instance a pen.

javert4• 17 years ago

Different distros are good for different people and different things.

If you want to face a challenge, choose Gentoo (or one of many others).

If you just want a system that works and is free, use Ubuntu (or one of many others).

If you are a power user who gets more practical value out of a more customized system, choose Arch Linux (or one of many others).

Having more diversity in distros (which implies having some that are easier to use) can only be a good thing.

Also, you have to remember that Linux itself is not an operating system. Trust me, the Linux kernel has not gotten any easier to use from anyone's perspective.

Ask HN: Has Linux become too easy to use ?

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