Windows vs. Linux [my usage]

[Qqmike]

Now speaking in general, psycho-social-philosophical terms only ...


--> People do what they want to do. Period.

No matter the story, no matter the challenge, no matter the odds or the requirements or details, "you" will find a way to not only make "it" work, but you will likely excel at your task at hand..

That's how humans behave. If you want to do it, you will.

On topic here, the world is filled with countless thousands of people who use Linux at a high-competency level, expert, near-expert, or dedicated hobby-est doing every kind of computing task you can think of and some tasks you have never thought of.


Aside, re "average Windows users" ...
Speaking of average users, have you spent time with any who use Windows? We all have. Talk about being lost. Most average Windows users have no clue about their system, how to tweak it, how to fix it, how to adjust things (like printing or photo management), how to use the Windows filesystem (which is a real mess, imo, look at 8.1 with its redundancies--the average user has no clue what all those folders are for), how to use the Control Panel, on and on and on. They're afraid of their PC, they've learned to fear it. The average Windows users I've known through the past 15+ years just accept and live with their Windows systems, no matter how broken or bogged down or limited or quirky it becomes--they have a whole list of questions and to-do's, things to fix "someday."


As for the above-average user experience in Linux, clearly the Linux world is alive and well.

[GreyGeek]

+1
The last eleven years of my working career was spent at a state dept of revenue office that had 30 servers and 450 Windows workstations. Even employees with 15+ years experience using Win95, Nt4, W2k and XP had no understanding of Windows. They could not distinguish between the OS, Explorer (FM), Explorer(browser) and applications. Very few of them understood the similarities or the differences between them. Developers were constantly being blamed for OS crashes. If the clerk inadvertently hit multiple, or the wrong, keys and ended up in an unfamiliar place they were completely lost as to what to do next. Detailed instructions for the steps to take to get from power up to an app's main menu are posted on the wall next to the terminal, but if they lose their way they are lost and either reboot or call for help.

Age doesn't matter. Recent HS grads are just as computer illiterate, even among game players, whose one and only recovery technique is a warm reboot.

Is it any wonder that the majority of the Joe & Sally Sixpacks have dropped laptops for smartphones and "app's".

[Teunis]

As mentioned, I teach how to run a computer system.

Among my pupils/students are some that have very little in theoretical skills but also some of the finest engineers and even computer scientists/ academics you can find.
Since a few years some are suffering the iShiny syndrome, they have a tablet and phone and don't know the difference between RAM and storage, don't even think about asking what 'The Cloud' means...
The reason they know there is a difference between WIFI and 3 or 4G is because of the price
Only the adventurous installed a file manager, the rest thinks a photo comes up because you opened the relevant app.

At times it is quite frustrating but I'll persevere

Since recent I like to send them to https://www.digitalliteracyassessment.org/ and only show up in my classes once they've successfully completed a couple of those tests.

Oh yes, a Hard Disk is probably the reason you need a screen protector.

[life0riley]

...

So my question to you is... where do you mount stuff like a CIFS/SAMBA mount? If you don't want to put it under /home? Also, when I put a CIFS mount in FSTAB, I get all these errors at startup and in the end it gets mounted anyway. I know it is possible to mount it anywhere and then it gets listed in the "devices" section and then you can add that device to places.

...

I suggest trying Smb4K if you are not looking for a permanent mount. I only connect to Windows shares on my network when there is a need. Smb4k creates a subdirectory in a user's home folder, and Windows shares are mounted as subdirectories within.

[GreyGeek]

"iShiny syndrome" - I like that.

The literacy site won't be of much use to iShiny users because those devices don't have Java installed.

[Qqmike]

"iShiny syndrome" - I like that.

Somehow I missed that. That's good. In fact, many iShiny users not only don't know about computing, they are not the sharpest pencil in the box when it comes to money, costs of owning and using their iShiny's. Talked to a gal I know pretty well who keeps up with every iShiny, she proudly brought her latest iPhone over for me to see, asked her what it cost. "She says happily, just $30 a month." "What?" I say. "Yeah, $30 a month," she replies. "That's it?" "Well," she says, "yeah, for 24 months." Ok, I'm thinking that over $600 right there, must be the cost of the device? (This gal makes just $10/hr as a caregiver, doesn't own a place yet, drives an older car.) "And do you pay for data or anything?" "Yeah, that 'part' is just $65-$80 a month." What! Well, this IS America, whatever flips your switch, you are free to pay and play ...

[life0riley]

...I'm thinking that over $600 right there, must be the cost of the device? ...

What is a good price for an iShiny alternative? My wife got a Samsung Galaxy S5 for about the same price.


-posted from my iShiny 4S because it still works and I'm too cheap to buy a new one

[Qqmike]

Probably should start a new thread on that long, messy issue! (An S5? AT&T just offered me a free one, with a 2-yr contract.) But that's another subject.

[claydoh]

Yeah, I plan on getting an LG G4 when my contract expires, Big Red offers no interest monthly payments, so with zero down, I'd pay approx 23 bucks a month for the phone, offset by a similar reduction in the line fees.

I haven't paid up front for a phone ever, but I think the carriers are beginning to ween us off the subsidy thing, yay!

sent via tapatalk

[life0riley]

I'm not in a contract and my wife's Samsung S5 wasn't purchased in a contract. It is no interest monthly payments. I figure when her S5 is paid off I can start looking for my replacement. I've had it since 2012 and it just works, so I'm not in a hurry.


Sent via Tapatalk from my iShiny 4s because it still works and I'm too cheap to buy a new one

[Qqmike]

Interesting:

Adwww.att.com/SamsungGalaxyS5Get the Samsung Galaxy S5 Free at AT&T® w/ 2-yr Agmt. See Offer Dtls.
Ratings:Sign-up 10/10 - Reception 8.5/10 - Website 8.5/10

It's at the top of my page here:
https://www.google.com/search?client...utf-8&oe=utf-8

But I don't see it or find it when I click the link and search. I got the offer yesterday by snail mail.

[GreyGeek]

A big difference between Apple and Android products is the ability of the consumer to replace the battery. With Most (all?) Android devices when the battery gets weak or fails you can buy a replacement battery from just about any battery vendor and replace it your self. If your iPhone battery fails you must send it to Apple along with ~$150 and wait a couple weeks to get it back. that is one reason why my iPad 4th gen has been setting in my desk drawer unused for the last three years.

Being able to remove the battery yourself is a significant security feature. Even with the cellphone turned off conversations within the sensitivity range of the mic can be remotely monitored. The GPS is active as well. Removing the battery restores privacy.

[life0riley]

A big difference between Apple and Android products is the ability of the consumer to replace the battery. With Most (all?) Android devices when the battery gets weak or fails you can buy a replacement battery from just about any battery vendor and replace it your self. If your iPhone battery fails you must send it to Apple along with ~$150 and wait a couple weeks to get it back. ...

Yes that sucks.

I have been lucky so far. My wife wasn't so lucky. Her iPhone 4s wifi went out. It is exactly as you say. We were told we have to send it to Apple and pay $200 for a refurbished iPhone 4s. Why would we do that with only 5 months left on the contract?

[SteveRiley]

With Most (all?) Android devices when the battery gets weak or fails you can buy a replacement battery from just about any battery vendor and replace it your self.

In theory. Some manufacturers have eliminated removable covers and batteries in an effort to make their phones thinner. My Nexus 4 was built this way. The back doesn't remove easily; I was able to replace the battery by partially disassembling the phone. Samsung has historically offered easy user replacement; however, the new Galaxy 6 eliminates this feature. There is speculation that the forthcoming Note 5 will follow the same path.

[Teunis]

Don't get me wrong with this derogative iShiny.
I'm talking about a certain 'class' of users not necessarily about all users or the hardware.
I do talk as the user of an 4S and it's great hardware with sometimes brain dead software, a simple example is the keyboard with only capitals.

Privately I have a Nexus 4 and it's (for me!) so much more logic than the Apple.
Plus there is no KDEConnect for iOS

In my opinion, with interest at the bank below 1%, there is no reason to hire a phone so I bought it off the Dutch version of eBay and just got a contract for minutes and MB's, I'm paying €10 for 300 mins + 750 MB /month.
To put it in perspective, there are many months I have 0 use because there's usually WIFI and VOIP.