Well, Linux is a multi user OS. And one that has a certain focus on security. You can't compare that to a toy like Windows.
Oh yes, security. How is Ubuntu secure? All I have to do is insert the live CD, mount a drive and have full access to all files. Yeah, all the sacrifices of having to sudo everything and enter root password for every damn thing really make up for that level of security.
(Also, is there really a need - in 2009 - for a desktop computer to be multi-user? Computers now are cheap enough for everyone to have their OWN computer. I think it's time to bring back the concept of the single user desktop OS - where user experience is top priority.)
Sounds like broken hardware to me. If you can't power your system off by pressing the power button for a few seconds then something is seriously wrong.
The thing that is seriously wrong is the whole concept of software controlled stateless buttons. The power button is software controlled (OS). If the software screws up (as in crash), the button doesn't work. Notice the setting in Ubuntu that asks what to do when the power button is pressed? (sleep, ask, shutdown) Most modern electronics have these stupid software controlled power buttons - where you press the switch and then IT decides what to do (and may refuse your request). I'd much rather be back in the days of big shiny switches - on means ON, off means OFF! NOW!
Nah, you just need to know how to use it. PS: It nicely boots Aros aswell ;-)
Why is it every time I complain about something, somebody says something like "you just need to learn how to use it"?? I know
exactly how to use it. I've read manuals, web pages, endless forum help threads. I've installed GRUB about 50 times. (many different settings, multi-booting Windows, BeOS, BSD, Haiku...). I'll have to say this again, GRUB IS SHIT.
You need a usable /boot partition and a correct GRUB config
Think about what you said there, then think about what I said.
If the partition you install GRUB from gets corrupted, you will not be able to boot from ANY partiton. This totally defeats the entire purpose of having multiple boot partitons.
(BTW: you can edit the boot options on the fine by pressing 'e' and 'ctrl-x' after your changes.)
I know. That's one of the first things I learned. It doesn't help when GRUB won't even load.
Again I suspect bad or badly supported hardware (e.g. a monitor that has no / incorrect EDID output).
I got the same results on 4 different monitors - popular monitors from IBM and ViewSonic.
Are you REALLY really sure that your hardware wasn't broken? I just measured with a stop watch. My ~5 years old Toshiba notebook (Centrino 1.6) with Ubuntu 9.04 boots within 27 seconds (with fully encrypted hard disk!) to the login screen. Another 15 seconds to a fully working desktop.
No, I'm not REALLY really sure. I'm willing to accept that maybe something hardware related is screwed up. Ubuntu 9.04 took about 1 minute 30 seconds. 8.10 took a bit longer. 8.04 took anywhere from 1 minute 40 seconds to 2 minutes to fully working desktop (add 30 seconds to each for the regular FSCK). I consider all those times to be unbelievably long. BeOS (multiple partitions) on the same computer (which never crashed or has any of the problems I experienced in Linux) boots in around 6 seconds - fully working desktop.
If people like Linux, then that's fine and I'm happy for you. I would like to like Linux too, but unless there are radical changes in the way Linux works (and their entire concept of what makes a good OS), I'm not going to be happy using it.
