Comments on: Searching for the Linux of Mass Appeal http://jehurst.wordpress.com/2009/01/07/searching-for-the-linux-of-mass-appeal/ Theory and Practice of Morality Tue, 10 Nov 2009 01:22:40 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Boycott Novell » Do-No-Evil Saturday - Part I: OpenSUSE Trials, Packaging, YaST2 Video http://jehurst.wordpress.com/2009/01/07/searching-for-the-linux-of-mass-appeal/#comment-60 Boycott Novell » Do-No-Evil Saturday - Part I: OpenSUSE Trials, Packaging, YaST2 Video Sat, 10 Jan 2009 20:50:49 +0000 http://jehurst.wordpress.com/?p=246#comment-60 [...] Searching for the Linux of Mass Appeal So far, no distro is a shining star. SUSE is just barely enough better than Windows I have some [...] [...] Searching for the Linux of Mass Appeal So far, no distro is a shining star. SUSE is just barely enough better than Windows I have some [...]

]]> By: Ed Hurst http://jehurst.wordpress.com/2009/01/07/searching-for-the-linux-of-mass-appeal/#comment-59 Ed Hurst Sat, 10 Jan 2009 14:14:11 +0000 http://jehurst.wordpress.com/?p=246#comment-59 Bob, Lexmark has decided not to support Linux. There is a driver out there for it, goes by the name <code>pbm2l2030</code> and it allows the printer to work rather poorly, at about 300dpi. That was after a mountain of work by some guy who wrote the driver using complex reverse engineering. I'm guessing it's either in Ubuntu itself, or the the upstream Debian packages. It's included in the package named "foomatic-db" (no kidding). If you can figure out how to install that in Xubuntu, you may have some useful results. If not, perhaps you can run the setup utility for the printer and pick it out of the list. At any rate, for future reference, I highly recommed you join the Ubuntu forums. Smart people with a decent attitude about Linux newbies. I searched the forum for the Lexmark printer, and one or two people actually got it working, so there's hope. http://ubuntuforums.org/ Bob, Lexmark has decided not to support Linux. There is a driver out there for it, goes by the name pbm2l2030 and it allows the printer to work rather poorly, at about 300dpi. That was after a mountain of work by some guy who wrote the driver using complex reverse engineering. I’m guessing it’s either in Ubuntu itself, or the the upstream Debian packages. It’s included in the package named “foomatic-db” (no kidding). If you can figure out how to install that in Xubuntu, you may have some useful results. If not, perhaps you can run the setup utility for the printer and pick it out of the list.

At any rate, for future reference, I highly recommed you join the Ubuntu forums. Smart people with a decent attitude about Linux newbies. I searched the forum for the Lexmark printer, and one or two people actually got it working, so there’s hope.

http://ubuntuforums.org/

]]> By: Bkprbob http://jehurst.wordpress.com/2009/01/07/searching-for-the-linux-of-mass-appeal/#comment-58 Bkprbob Sat, 10 Jan 2009 03:45:47 +0000 http://jehurst.wordpress.com/?p=246#comment-58 I have been playing around with Xubuntu linux for about 2 weeks. Web surfing works great with Firefox. I can open many tabs with no problem. The CD player will list the songs in my CD but refuses to play. I thought I was close to getting my printer to work. I have a Lexmark X2580 but haven't found the right driver. I ran the wizard provided in the linux system and it was showing series 2500 but nothing would print. I would then off and on get a pop up saying the printer was not connected. It is. If it wasn't why would it detect series 2500? I will need to keep searching. I have been playing around with Xubuntu linux for about 2 weeks. Web surfing works great with Firefox. I can open many tabs with no problem. The CD player will list the songs in my CD but refuses to play. I thought I was close to getting my printer to work. I have a Lexmark X2580 but haven’t found the right driver. I ran the wizard provided in the linux system and it was showing series 2500 but nothing would print. I would then off and on get a pop up saying the printer was not connected. It is. If it wasn’t why would it detect series 2500? I will need to keep searching.

]]> By: No Paradise « Just Passing Through http://jehurst.wordpress.com/2009/01/07/searching-for-the-linux-of-mass-appeal/#comment-57 No Paradise « Just Passing Through Fri, 09 Jan 2009 16:32:49 +0000 http://jehurst.wordpress.com/?p=246#comment-57 [...] usable thing, but I don’t consider any desktop environment (DE) “good” just yet. As noted previously, the major point behind choosing GNOME is the adaptive technology. Since I don’t have the [...] [...] usable thing, but I don’t consider any desktop environment (DE) “good” just yet. As noted previously, the major point behind choosing GNOME is the adaptive technology. Since I don’t have the [...]

]]> By: MattB http://jehurst.wordpress.com/2009/01/07/searching-for-the-linux-of-mass-appeal/#comment-56 MattB Thu, 08 Jan 2009 14:47:42 +0000 http://jehurst.wordpress.com/?p=246#comment-56 Good article. I agree with quite a few of your points though I will say that most of the reasons people (regular types), do not adopt Linux is herd mentality. Apple has made inroads here by playing to the those that want to be trendy and hip, but they are still part of the herd. Linux use has been more by iconoclasts and it showed when answers used to be RTFM. Users of Linux and help Forums have made a big effort to improve how they interact with people that show interest in their choice of distros. However this can be difficult with somethings being in a constant state of flux. What worked in SUSE version XX is now broken/different in version XX.1. Developers of Distros can not seem to help themselves from changing things. This introduces difficulty for those not willing to tinker with their setup. It would be better to have some form of consistency that ordinary people could get used to and then be able to help their friends/relatives, just like Windows has been able to achieve by being the standard for so many years. At any rate thanks for the read. Good article. I agree with quite a few of your points though I will say that most of the reasons people (regular types), do not adopt Linux is herd mentality. Apple has made inroads here by playing to the those that want to be trendy and hip, but they are still part of the herd. Linux use has been more by iconoclasts and it showed when answers used to be RTFM.

Users of Linux and help Forums have made a big effort to improve how they interact with people that show interest in their choice of distros. However this can be difficult with somethings being in a constant state of flux. What worked in SUSE version XX is now broken/different in version XX.1.
Developers of Distros can not seem to help themselves from changing things. This introduces difficulty for those not willing to tinker with their setup.

It would be better to have some form of consistency that ordinary people could get used to and then be able to help their friends/relatives, just like Windows has been able to achieve by being the standard for so many years.

At any rate thanks for the read.

]]> By: Selling Linux to the Masses - openSUSE Forums http://jehurst.wordpress.com/2009/01/07/searching-for-the-linux-of-mass-appeal/#comment-55 Selling Linux to the Masses - openSUSE Forums Thu, 08 Jan 2009 13:21:27 +0000 http://jehurst.wordpress.com/?p=246#comment-55 [...] On the way, I wrote a bunch of articles for my ezine (OfB.biz) and even more on my blog. As noted here, I've finally arrived at a solution based on what I honestly believe I can "sell." [...] [...] On the way, I wrote a bunch of articles for my ezine (OfB.biz) and even more on my blog. As noted here, I’ve finally arrived at a solution based on what I honestly believe I can "sell." [...]

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