I thought linux was a complex "geeky" OS?

d_brennen · 6 Nov 2012 at 09:11

SmellyFingers said:
People still waste time with linux...

Eh? I'm amazed so many professionals are still using Windows tbh

Sp00n · 6 Nov 2012 at 14:28

blahblahblah winblows LOL AMIRITE?

Dunks · 6 Nov 2012 at 16:01

OP fails horribly.

d_brennen · 6 Nov 2012 at 16:04

Sp00n said:
blahblahblah winblows LOL AMIRITE?

10-4 princess

Windows has a place in this world. Not on anything critical though

MaxP779 · 6 Nov 2012 at 17:24

PermaBanned said:
I don't know how good your eyesight is, but i can not read any of that. Seems like a horrible way to arrange a menu though, far too many options in one place.

If there's something you want to do then you can ask about that and we can try to help you, but you can't just come up with this vague criticism that really means absolutely nothing and expect to be taken seriously.

Yeah my overall point was the windows GUI is more fully featured than linux GUI's which surprised me based on what i had heard about linux.

deadite66 · 6 Nov 2012 at 17:36

you have to delve into conf files in linux to configure the technical stuff, it does make things harder to do but has much more versatility and efficiency.

Dunks · 6 Nov 2012 at 17:52

MaxP779 said:
Yeah my overall point was the windows GUI is more fully featured than linux GUI's which surprised me based on what i had heard about linux.

Linux doesn't really have a GUI the same way windows does though. Especially when it comes to system configuration.

There's various desktop environments, a multitude of window managers and decorators.

Also, to somewhat reply to one of your problems in your OP.

hdparm -S240 /dev/sda

This would spin your drive down after 20mins of inactivity.

MaxP779 · 6 Nov 2012 at 19:20

Dunks said:
Linux doesn't really have a GUI the same way windows does though. Especially when it comes to system configuration.

There's various desktop environments, a multitude of window managers and decorators.

Also, to somewhat reply to one of your problems in your OP.

hdparm -S240 /dev/sda

This would spin your drive down after 20mins of inactivity.

Thanks

Im really looking to get into linux atm, i want to move away from windows completely but gaming keeps me from doing that. xen + vt-d and using the VGA passthrough looks very promising but its configuration is beyond me at the moment.

I suppose there are advantages to using the command line, write the commands to set up everything in a text file, save text file, copy/paste next time i need to reinstall or set up something else.

My only point to this thread was that i thought there would be a GUI option for everything that there is in windows, it surprised me to see there wasnt. Maybe in time the GUI will become fuller or ill just get used to the command line and it will become a non-issue

Dunks · 6 Nov 2012 at 20:15

My guess is the command line will continue to take precedence

Only with Ubuntu and similar distros like Mint (based off Ubuntu) will you see full blown 'Control Panel'-esq GUIs.

jellybeard999 · 6 Nov 2012 at 20:16

Back to the original question... I'm pretty sure that the HDD setting is in power options (power manager?) via the GUI

badcompany · 7 Nov 2012 at 19:27

MaxP779 said:
So basically i have to resort to a CLI to do anything beyond the basics?

dont think of it as resort! its the power tool of choice!!!!!

fobsta · 14 Nov 2012 at 16:20

do a search for hard disk or disk drive in the Software Centre

You will hopefully find programs with a GUI that will let you tweak a lot more

Antowns · 15 Nov 2012 at 14:05

It used to be geeky, now it's gone all commercialised, like Ubuntu with this whole Unity Desktop.

JonJ678 · 15 Nov 2012 at 14:13

Don't slur the entire field with Ubuntu!

Last I heard Arch had scrapped their installation program because no one could be bothered to update it. FreeBSD needs to be installed by remembering a series of cryptic command lines if you want to use ZFS on the root drive. Gentoo persist in thoroughly bugtesting gcc. There's still plenty of barely-usable geeky options out there.

slylittlefox · 17 Nov 2012 at 00:35

Oxy said:
or arch linux or gentoo,

Ubuntu is for noobz, it's like all commercial and evil as it splits away from the community.

Ubuntu is nearly as evil as windows.

Yawn - you are the 'noob'.

Cromulent · 23 Nov 2012 at 16:48

Linux can be whatever you want it to be. You can run Ubuntu if you want a no fuss easy to use operating system or you can use something like Arch Linux if you want to tailor the operating system to your specific requirements.

For instance on my Linux desktop I just run Fluxbox for my GUI because it is ultra fast and doesn't come with a boat load of stuff that I will never use. All I really use my computer for is programming so I have no interest in pointless things like photo software or note taking apps. With Arch I can just have what I want and nothing else.

Just decide what you want from your computer and customise Linux to meet those requirements. That is something you have never been able to do with operating systems like Windows or Mac OS X.

Illusion · 1 Dec 2012 at 11:49

Linux seems complicated until you get your head round it. Once you become proficient it's great. Like a lot of things there is obviously a learning curve involved.

I think linux and it's derivatives are great for servers and workstations where bespoke software isn't required. Windows serves a purpose for said software and gaming of course.

Number_25 · 7 Dec 2012 at 11:03

Linux is as complicated as you want it to be.

Easy = Ubuntu / Linux Mint

Hardcore = Arch / Gentoo.

I use the easy option, gives me a clear GUI and I can still fiddle around in the terminal.

Xelene · 12 Dec 2012 at 19:46

Linux has a GUI? Sod that for a game of soldiers.

W7 is a fine Desktop OS for managing lots of Linux machines. At a pinch OSX.