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Father impressed with ubuntu, thinks it's Vista

degredo.net — How to make money with Ubuntu :)!

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  • Fixe, on 10/12/2007, -134/+43Owned.
    • tehubersheezy, on 10/12/2007, -112/+8Linux if for G's
    • chatmasta, on 10/12/2007, -78/+25hahaha thats so priceless
    • hater2win, on 10/12/2007, -214/+48This guy is doing his father a disservice. Office 2007 is such a robust suite, it's incredible. As far as the vista thing, I think he would think Bill Gates was even better if he used the actual thing. Vista a truly good software, and the way it communicates with Office 2007 and functions in general is great.
    • Oxygen, on 10/12/2007, -289/+44Until he tries to open a Word document and smacks you.
    • jacobmp92, on 10/12/2007, -18/+235Oxygen:

      OpenOffice can open Word documents.
    • themastersb, on 10/12/2007, -33/+8I think I'll order some free CDs of the older version now.
    • wolf08, on 10/12/2007, -3/+82FYI, MangoFresh is NOT linking to duggmirror, but to dugqmirror (notice the q, not g). Yuck!
    • Klowner, on 10/12/2007, -6/+36Also note that MangoFresh's link goes to some worthless page full of AdSense adverts, nothing creative like a Paint-drawn penis like we've seen in the past... So, it's not worth checking out

      *clicked link expecting a purple penis*
    • Negyxo, on 10/12/2007, -3/+10@Oxygen

      ARCH NEMESIS !!!
    • bias, on 10/12/2007, -42/+22well, dumb ass father has a retarded son, what a jolly family!
    • diggamer, on 10/12/2007, -14/+37He should have disguised Firefox as Internet Explorer for that final convincing touch:
      http://www.digg.com/software/How_to_Make_Firefox_Look_Exactly_Like_Internet_Explorer
    • aloe, on 10/12/2007, -5/+6MangoFresh, get the hell outta here with your spam
    • luketabor, on 10/12/2007, -8/+15Do NOT click on mangofresh's link. I did, and my virus scan instantly showed that i got a trojan. *****.
    • HalFTW, on 10/12/2007, -2/+59"Do NOT click on mangofresh's link. I did, and my virus scan instantly showed that i got a trojan. *****."

      http://www.firefox.com
    • bart9h, on 10/12/2007, -0/+21just block him, like I did months ago
    • Frebis, on 10/12/2007, -20/+8Q. So what happens when his Dad downloads a program, and he cant get it to install?
      A. He will hate Vista more than you ***** Linux fans.
    • Ahnteis, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7Instead of 30 bizillion replies to the spammer, just digg up the first "SPAMMER!" reply and then block him. When everyone replies, it makes a mess of the discussion.
    • sv650touring, on 10/12/2007, -9/+13ohhh yes, "***** linux fans". Quite a burn there.

      and don't forget when he tries to play Vista protected content, but his crappy Linux box won't because he doesn't have all the DRM stuff.

      and what about when he tries to sync his Zune?

      and what about when his bank account isn't missing the hundreds of dollars?
    • Frebis, on 10/12/2007, -20/+2@sv650touring

      When you get out of highschool you will realize a few hundred dollars isnt that much. Perhaps you should ask your Dad for an allowance raise, or ask your mom why you werent aborted 16 years ago.
    • jpeisen, on 10/12/2007, -0/+18@Frebis

      And when you're working 9-5 for "the man", paying bills, saving for your retirement & kids' educations, etc., you'll realize that a few hundred bucks is a lot of money.
    • MindReaver, on 10/12/2007, -4/+3Who is this MangoFresh of whom you speak? Oh yeah, blocked him LOONG time ago.
    • angers, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2This is actually kind of funny due to the fact that an identical situation happened to me earlier, I was demonstrating Beryl to my roommate, and he though that it was Vista the whole time. Once I slipped the word Linux, he was in complete shock. Now I wouldn't necessarily say owned, but it definitely felt very satisfying.
  • metalhead3767, on 10/12/2007, -178/+22Your dad is retarded. Dosen't he see the word linux everywhere?
    • Phocion55, on 10/12/2007, -12/+132Actually....you're retarded.

      Any chance that he has no idea what "Linux" is whatsoever?
    • naio21, on 10/12/2007, -17/+187"Any chance that he has no idea what "Linux" is whatsoever?"

      Like 99% of world's population?
    • metalhead3767, on 10/12/2007, -22/+77It says this guy is bragging that Bill Gates is better then Jobs and he can't even tell Windows from Linux.

      You people digg down anything that remotely supports MS.
    • wazaw, on 10/12/2007, -3/+79@metalhead3767 - I'm sorry that's not a hair question.
    • Langford, on 10/12/2007, -3/+120@metalhead3767
      The prank really has little or nothing to do with Linux vs Windows. It does have to do with some people's silly obsession with having the latest thing advertised, whether they know what it is or not.
    • IareKEVLAR, on 10/12/2007, -1/+33Have you used ubuntu? This just in... you can change the stock desktop!!
    • Excessive, on 10/12/2007, -7/+14@metalhead3767

      Do you think this is Windows? Linux doesn't have "Linux" logo everywhere, unlike Windows. Hell, there are three Microsoft logo on boot screen.

      "At least one person switched from Windows to Linux. See the event viewer for details."
    • selphishnerd, on 10/12/2007, -7/+56One time in high school, this girl at my lunch table said "Who's Linux?"
    • davdav, on 10/12/2007, -4/+104Don't lie. You never had girls at your lunch table.
    • wvdavis, on 10/12/2007, -9/+4One time... at band camp....
    • Guard, on 10/12/2007, -1/+18For some reason I think this is *****.

      #1) Most linux builds say what build you're launching on startup (at least ones I've used).
      #2) It's obvious he doesn't now too much about computers, since all of the familiar windows command wouldn't work.
      #3) If he doesn't know anything about computers, he'd be wanting to use Internet Explorer. My mom knows how to do enough on a computer, and IE7 scares the hell out of her. And firefox just confuses her on why it doesn't have the "little e internet" icon
      #4) Since he doesn't know too much about computers, why would he care about upgrading, or even know what Mac OS X is and how it compares (just because his son has a macbook doesn't mean he'd automatically play with it).
      #5) You would think if you wanted to upgrade to something, you would find pictures of it online.

      Don't get me wrong, I think it'd be great if it were true, but it doesn't seem plausible to me.
    • kryptobs2000, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I'm running slackware and it may say something on the terminal when it's booting up, but I'm pretty sure ubuntu hides that, and no where else do I ever see the words linux. Why would you? In windows other than maybe a little windows icon on the start menu and windows updates or something, where do you even see windows logo's at?
  • maximumsteve1, on 10/12/2007, -35/+130i'm sorry, I want to like this story. I use ubuntu. But... the dad was a retard.. sorry
    • clickwir, on 10/12/2007, -4/+96so maybe he's never seen or heard of Ubuntu. It's very likely that he has never opened a terminal and typed uname -a and wondered where his NT kernel was.

      Hell. Most windows users don't even know they are using windows untill there is a problem.
    • jsully, on 10/12/2007, -22/+8It's easy to make it look enough like Vista so that you wouldn't know the difference:
      http://www.newyorkhatesyou.com/ScreenshotX.png
      If I got rid of one of the menu bars your average parent would never know.
    • TheAttacks, on 10/12/2007, -3/+24Jsully, the provided screenshot actually looks NOTHING like Vista. . . here's a better one:

      Still not exact, but you can actually get EXACTLY the same "theme" as Vista, with little to no effort, but finding the right theme files/packages.

      http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/1277/screenshot01yr9.png
    • tkstock, on 10/12/2007, -8/+3@jsully

      Yeah, but you would have to change the boot splash screen - Billy is famous for his MS splash screens!!
    • 81v3d07g0d, on 10/12/2007, -12/+7Yeah this really doesn't prove ***** except for the ineptness of the guys father. Ive said it many times that most people need little more than a glorified web TV in fact if it wasn't for a few minor things I would have installed Sabyon Linux or Ubuntu on my families computers simply because they make so little use of any of the other features of windows and don't install any programs that its not really an issue for them because they can simply do all the things they want to with the average Linux install. But still this guy is an idiot, and this story is really pretty disappointing because there isn't much of a story or details here. By the way I am a windows user, but I feel like when it comes to the right OS for the right person you should use whatever works for you.
    • binarymelon, on 10/12/2007, -5/+29@81v3d07g0d

      I think that is exactly the point. Millions of people are paying out the ass for something they do not need. Whether they are buying a Windows operating system outright or they are paying for when the computer they buy is marked up for the OEM license. A base Linux (well at least Ubuntu and a quite a few others) install will give the majority of PC users an environment that will do everything they need and for the rest of us who are so inclined, we can make it do everything else we want. Microsoft has always gone on the basis that they think they know what's best for everyone. Now here is where I get myself in a little bit of trouble, I am a huge Apple fan and I would say they are just as guilty of the previous remark, but in my opinion they do a much better job of it. Microsoft has always felt they deserve a piece of whatever lucrative markets are currently available. The Xbox [360], Zune and (rumoured) Zune Phones are all examples of that. I seem to get into one of these rants every time there is an anti-ms article, but Microsoft has begun to scare me the last few years. I just wish we could get everybody to take a step back and take a look at them as a company, not necessarily swear them off, just realize that no matter what they tell you, you actually do have a choice.
    • culbeda, on 10/12/2007, -2/+8New bumper sticker... "My honor school student is smarter than your dad"
    • cry187, on 10/12/2007, -3/+2Some people don't even know that there are other OS other than windows. Some people think that mac is only hardware that runs windows too. This are the people who are not tech-savvy, only uses computer at work and for internet, etc.
    • BlackAdderIII, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1"""Hell. Most windows users don't even know they are using windows untill there is a problem."""

      This is true. In my experience, the majority of end users on windows who will respond with "I don't know" when you ask them what OS they're running.

      Out of the slice of in-betweeners who know they're running "windows", lots of won't even know what version of windows they're running and have to check "system info".

      Of course, none of this matters, it's the tech world that matters - where we lead, they will follow, if only to stay warm and safe where the app support and the tech support are.
    • dvfreelancer, on 10/12/2007, -0/+9"But... the dad was a retard.. sorry"

      Then he's got a lot of company. Many people have seen my Linux desktops and asked if it was OS X. If I say no they ask what version of Windows it is. My usual answer is "the one that actually works." Once they find out it's Linux they're surprised it's so nice and plays music and videos...just like a real computer. ;) I'm not sure what they were expecting. The impression it leaves is that most people don't know Linux even exists and those that do think it's some black and green terminal OS.

      Without a multi-million dollar advertising budget and massive PR machine it shouldn't be a surprise that people don't know a lot about Linux. And it certainly doesn't make them a retard.
    • EvlD99, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1What happens when the dad tries to download and install his favorite web game or open his quicken documents. I don't buy this story for one second.
    • Waterrat, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1 Ive read about other people sneaking some flavor of Linux onto someones computer and them not knowing..Of course,they will find out as soon as they try to download some Windows app off the net or install a Windows game.
  • nohone, on 10/12/2007, -14/+4LOL!

    Pretty good :)

  • imperium69, on 10/12/2007, -18/+2lololololol
  • idigo, on 10/12/2007, -8/+1You should tried at least to put the look & feel similar:)
  • MaxwellEPad, on 10/12/2007, -6/+31That is REALLY funny. Instead of giving him his money back, why not use it to start a business selling to your friends' parents?
    • digggggggggg, on 10/12/2007, -1/+67That kind of reminds me of this one time I installed Firefox on a friend's computer without telling her. But since I knew that she would go for the blue "e" as always, I changed its icon to IE's, and named it "internet extreme". It turns out that to this day she's still using it, but STILL has no idea it's not IE (nor does she care, to be fair).
    • plunkettt, on 10/12/2007, -17/+66because that's illegal.
    • npsken, on 10/12/2007, -21/+66That's not illegal.
    • kurish, on 10/12/2007, -15/+67That is illegal.
    • noreturn, on 10/12/2007, -5/+38Yeah, actually, telling something they've bought one thing when you give them something else is called "fraud." Go figure the federal government would make that illegal.

      Damn you, America!!!!!1one
    • shinynew, on 10/12/2007, -7/+22I dugg up all the legal/illegal because its funny watching it go back and forth.

      Its legal as long as he doesnt say its vista, or any way related to microsoft
    • moonshn, on 10/12/2007, -10/+3@Shineynew

      you missed the point of that exchange
    • TSSaloic, on 10/12/2007, -0/+13As Long As You Don't say anywhere that you are installing Windows you may be in the clear.
      Go Internet Extreme... (Firefox)
    • idonthack, on 10/12/2007, -2/+22Duck season
    • justdbc, on 10/12/2007, -0/+22rabbit season
    • jerichobp, on 10/12/2007, -0/+11Fire!
    • mehworld, on 10/12/2007, -7/+3water?
    • panguin, on 10/12/2007, -0/+21By your powers combined, I am CAPTAIN PLANET!
  • ZehdaBoina, on 10/12/2007, -3/+15Yeah! I'd like to see the look on his face when he finds out... LOL you could start a pool betting on how long you can keep the prank going!
  • fwave, on 10/12/2007, -5/+4that's very good ideas, I will think about it.
    • TSSaloic, on 10/12/2007, -7/+2Next time Install my favorate Distro- PClinuxOS.
      It looks a lot like the real windows and has all you need on 1 livecd on boot.

      http://pclinuxos.com
      (they have a .net and .org but they all point back to .com)
  • EbenieRosa, on 10/12/2007, -24/+14personally I think it's mea, what are you going to do when he buys a hardware upgrade or decides to get a game...


    ...It's wrong. I'm sorry.
    • synchestric, on 10/12/2007, -5/+68Office

      and

      Solitaire.

      I don't think he'll be interested in playing Neverwinter Nights 2 or Bioshock any time soon.
    • tkstock, on 10/12/2007, -12/+37"Son, how do you install software on this? I used to just download it an run it!!"

      Uh....
    • clickwir, on 10/12/2007, -1/+10One does not simply ASSUME that he'll actually buy any hardware or a game, ever.
    • crimson117, on 10/12/2007, -7/+70@tkstock

      Corrected:

      "Son, how do you install spyware on this? It used to just download and run itself!!"
    • idonthack, on 10/12/2007, -2/+10@tkstock
      Oh, it's easier. You don't even have to look for it on the web. Just check "install" in this "Add Programs" window, and you've got it.
    • mercurysquad, on 10/12/2007, -2/+9"Son, how do you install software on this? I used to just download it an run it!!"

      "Father, they disabled being able to download and install software from random sites, due to security reasons. Now you can only install trusted software available in the repositories from this Add/Remove programs window."
    • srg13, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2""Father, they disabled being able to download and install software from random sites, due to security reasons."

      In SuSE you can double click an RPM and it will install. Isn't it the same in Ubuntu with .deb files?
    • EnderTheThird, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1@srg13:

      Yes, with Ubuntu you can double-click a .deb file to install it. But you can still find most software through Synaptic & Add/Remove Programs. For the average user, the slightly older versions found in the repositories are just as good as a newer version you'll find when Googling for the .deb.
  • airencracken, on 10/12/2007, -10/+4Nice.
  • scrivner, on 10/12/2007, -10/+3You RULE!!!
  • simaosoares, on 10/12/2007, -11/+3LOL, long live to ubuntu!
  • izmit, on 10/12/2007, -9/+1You Rock!!
    • Rice, on 10/12/2007, -9/+4As Ken Ray would say, "You Rock. You Rock. You Rock!"

      Heh.
  • nyx210, on 10/12/2007, -15/+21No pics, no vids, didn't happen...
    • fwave, on 10/12/2007, -2/+21Saturday when I arrive home I send you a picture.
    • civilwarlord, on 10/12/2007, -5/+14What good would sending a pic do? All it would be is a picture of a computer with ubuntu on it. How is that proof?
    • garg, on 10/12/2007, -0/+55Change the desktop to the Vista wallpaper that clearly says WINDOWS VISTA and then have your dad do a thumbs up in front of his vista PC
    • clickwir, on 10/12/2007, -0/+23... with 5 pennies 2 quarters and a cupcake. (chocolate)
    • fwave, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5I can do some of that, I will use €.
    • Klowner, on 10/12/2007, -0/+66include some squirrels in the photo
    • allenu, on 10/12/2007, -0/+12... while holding up today's paper!
    • abyssknight, on 10/12/2007, -0/+12Klowner, you just made my day. I remember that post, and it was awesome. Nicely played!
    • burke, on 10/12/2007, -2/+9Pidgeons will have to do if there's no squirrels where you live. Just don't forget the pidgeons.
    • krinthekuz, on 09/16/2008, -0/+3if you don't include a ninja, a lumberjack, a pirate, and a pink fluffy unicorn, it didn't happen.
    • ZeroMP, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4The Squirrel reference:

      http://www.attrition.org/postal/z/033/0871.html
  • DrBeaverhausen, on 10/12/2007, -0/+15The dad will probably have his son install any software he get anyway, so its possible he could never find out.
    • clickwir, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6Exactly, just like all the stories of people installing Firefox in place of IE and noone ever knowing the difference. It just works, why would he want to bother poking around to find out it isn't?
  • Urusai, on 10/12/2007, -3/+16Son installs GEM on father's Atari ST, father thinks it's Vista. Film at eleven.
  • ImTheDarkcyde, on 10/12/2007, -14/+6so linux fooled an idiot, so?

    just wait till he tries to load up minesweeper
    • naio21, on 10/12/2007, -22/+3Hasn't linux fooled the entire FOSS community?
    • skywake, on 10/12/2007, -1/+13Kmines?

      seriously, the only reason most people would notice Windows over Linux are
      -windows like apps have a different name
      -it looks a bit different
      -I can't play that game I like (no... not minesweeper/solitaire/hearts)
    • antiNeo, on 10/12/2007, -2/+12Uhh, minesweeper? Gnome comes with a minesweeper clone... and Ubuntu even has it installed by default. By utilizing state of the art open source technologies, our modern Linux desktops are able to run popular, graphic intensive games such as minesweeper, although with some bottlenecks because they need to emulate DirectX10. /sarcasm
    • Chordonblue, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I'm about to pull a similar stunt on a relative who simply can't keep the spyware off of her computer. She has kids...

      Anyway, other than iTunes, they'll all be good to go for what they need it for. I love Ubuntu but hate loading up what should be included in the first place. Linux Mint to the rescue!
  • Slipknotic, on 10/12/2007, -11/+1He's using a free css theme.. odd...
  • bitdamaged, on 10/12/2007, -20/+5Smells like *****
  • vtlunchbox, on 10/12/2007, -5/+33i got my parents on firefox by changing the icon from the internet explorer default icon to the firefox one.
    • jasonsfakename, on 10/12/2007, -0/+34I did the exact same thing. They cant tell the difference and I don't have to fix their computer as often.
    • Waterispoison, on 10/12/2007, -2/+45Wait, wouldn't they still be using IE then? Do you mean changing the firefox icon to the IE icon?
    • mrASSMAN, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4I think he means he changed Windows default browser to Firefox, which would cause the Explorer icon to be replaced with Firefox within the start menu..
    • dvsbastard, on 10/12/2007, -0/+10For the extremely stubborn use a theme such as this:
      http://johnhaller.com/jh/mozilla/firefox_internet_explorer/screenshot/
    • mtxe, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7My dad got mad at me for downloading firefox on his laptop. A few months later I see it back on his computer, after he noticed the IT guy at work used it.(this was pre1.5 and now he gets on to my mom and my sister for using IE)
  • RetroEvolute, on 10/12/2007, -10/+7His father must be slow.

    Good thing he didn't show his dad that box. Looks like he could use some Photoshop lessons.
    • fwave, on 10/12/2007, -0/+11The image was just for the post,and I will love the lessons
    • jhshukla, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2In this particular case it would be Illustrator lessons.
  • DeadPenguin, on 10/12/2007, -43/+9I'd like to be there when he tries to play a dvd - Listen to an mp3 - Look at a flash website. - Play a wmv video - Or install a win app.




    • civilwarlord, on 10/12/2007, -1/+26Not that I'm defending ubuntu, but you can do all that in Linux, with the exception that you can't install every windows app.
    • fwave, on 10/12/2007, -2/+8I take care of that, and for the win app we allways call me for install,so no problem
    • DeadPenguin, on 10/12/2007, -20/+4I use linux also. But doesn't installing the codecs put Dad in a legal gray area he probably would not have put himself?
    • Shootfast, on 10/12/2007, -2/+19Erm... Linux can do all that
    • fwave, on 10/12/2007, -13/+1he allways, sorry.
    • gremlinchief, on 10/12/2007, -1/+14"he allways, sorry."

      You still didn't get it right.
    • BlackCow, on 10/12/2007, -16/+6Yeah linux can do that but not after you find the codecs for it and then figure out how to install a codec. I hate bashing Ubuntu because its free and I like it and all but its NOT user friendly.
    • clickwir, on 10/12/2007, -3/+28"I'd like to be there when he tries to play a dvd - Listen to an mp3 - Look at a flash website. - Play a wmv video - Or install a win app."

      And pick your jaw up when you watch each and every one of those work perfect?

      Yea, they do.
    • crimson117, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7@BlackCow

      "Yeah linux can do that but not after you find the codecs for it and then figure out how to install a codec. I hate bashing Ubuntu because its free and I like it and all but its NOT user friendly."

      There's nothing user friendly about codecs in the first place, regardless of OS's. The closest you can get (imho) is the K-Lite Codec Pack: http://www.free-codecs.com/download/K_Lite_Codec_Pack.htm

      But still... it's one of those things that should be transparent and preinstalled for the average user.
    • digitalme, on 10/12/2007, -7/+8@BlackCow
      I argue the reverse, Windoze is non-user friendly. Whenever I'm forced into windows, I have to use inefficient gui tools to do things that I can do in easily 1/3 the time on the command line.
    • klawz, on 10/12/2007, -12/+2@digitalme
      You can perform almost everything in command line on Windows, you just have to learn how to do it, just like someone going to Linux will have to learn how to do it. I mean, I like ifconfig, and netconfig, but sometimes the GUI is easier, sometimes it's not. You can do the same with Window CLI, quit bashing something you know nothing about.
    • idonthack, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7@klawz
      Are you kidding? I can't download stuff, I can't install stuff, I don't have access to grep or ANY string-recognition tool, deleting directories that have contents is a pain in the ass, I can't eject hardware, the editor sucks ass, and there's no tab completion.

      Windows CLI has nothing on bash.
    • Chordonblue, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3"Yeah linux can do that but not after you find the codecs for it and then figure out how to install a codec. I hate bashing Ubuntu because its free and I like it and all but its NOT user friendly."

      Try Linux Mint. All the plug-ins you need to video, audio, Flash, etc. Hell, I even got compositing working on my old i810 onboard graphics without too much command line!
    • gravity71, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5@ DeadPenguin and @BlackCow:

      'I'd like to be there when he tries to play a dvd - Listen to an mp3 - Look at a flash website. - Play a wmv video - Or install a win app.'

      please take the time to read this:

      http://www.digg.com/linux_unix/Feisty_Fawn_Codec_Update_Now_Autosuggests_codec_pack_when_clicking_on_file

      (just yesterday on Digg.)


      and second, i'd like to be there when you get a spyware/troyan/worm/virus/dialer/BSOD!

      Cheers!
    • gravity71, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2http://www.digg.com/linux_unix/Feisty_Fawn_Codec_Update_Now_Autosuggests_codec_pack_when_clicking_on_file
    • dwhitbeck, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0"You can perform almost everything in command line on Windows, you just have to learn how to do it, " Huh?
      Either I am missing something or you don't know anything about CLI on either system.
    • leeg, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1For those with problems loading codecs just install Automatix (http://www.getautomatix.com/). It has most of the common apps that a windows user may need installed on an Ubuntu machine. Even the mildly retarded can figure out how to install the codecs and most common programs you need with this bad boy.
    • BlackCow, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1@gravity71
      ha, only noobs, who download every attachment and free game they can find, get virus'.

      @Chordonblue
      Thanks for the Linux Mint tip, that should help me a lot.
    • elnerdo, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1"...deleting directories that have contents is a pain in the ass..." - idonthack

      The command you probably don't know is

      rd /s

      (Delete directory and everything underneath it)
  • beers, on 10/12/2007, -3/+7it maybe that the father isn't savvy, and ubuntu may look good and all, but the story smells like a farce.

    the website's only page is the story.

    sounds to me like creating your own site and then posting it on dig. i give it a bury.
  • toolow, on 10/12/2007, -5/+5This never happened.
  • Takuro, on 10/12/2007, -5/+25This was a waste of 10 seconds of my life. How'd this make it onto Digg? If I convince my dad that Digiorno is really delivery pizza, do I get a trophy?

    If he still didn't realize the word "Vista" is found no where on the operating system, that's sad. You could pass off Windows RGE (Really Good Edition) as Vista to somebody like that.
    • jhshukla, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3If you cook it while your father is away, yes.
  • fredxor, on 10/12/2007, -0/+18don't forget to install beryl and tell him it's the new Aero interface
  • gdragon, on 10/12/2007, -2/+7The dad and son are both better off. The father can still do what he used to and the son doesn't have to fix the computer every time it gets a Windows virus. I don't use Linux myself but I know my parents would be better off using it. Linux is perfect for people who just need word processing, email and internet. If this guy's dad Does find out it's not Vista, I'm betting he won't be willing to part with Ubuntu.
    • tkstock, on 10/12/2007, -11/+0You know what the difference between a windows virus and a Linux virus? You'll never know you have the Linux virus.
    • coredump0x01, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Linux has viruses?
      Or if you're worried about rootkits, download rkhunter http://www.rootkit.nl/projects/rootkit_hunter.html
    • tippmann1, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5in linux you have to intentionally install a virus via some other program that you install in root or you have to be using the root account at all times. Of course I have heard that wine "emulates" windows so good that you can install some windows viruses on linux.
    • bob7, on 10/12/2007, -0/+18Actually, Linux has 7 viruses. I counted. None of them work with any remotely recent Ubuntu release.
    • burke, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Last I heard, there were 40 Linux viruses, all quite limited in their ability to reproduce.
    • srg13, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Linux_computer_viruses
      14 on that list, and most are proof of concept.
    • lpcustom, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1@tkstock
      You know the difference between GNU/Linux and Windows Operating Systems. You never know when someone at MS is watching what you are doing or whether your OS is calling home. Since it's closed source, the only people that know are the programmers at MS. Open Source, however, means that all the source is available for everyone to look at.
    • Seifey, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_virus
      Operating system | Creator | Known viruses (including variants)
      Windows | Microsoft | about 140.000
      Linux | GNU Project | 30
  • Mactard, on 10/12/2007, -9/+8This is BS.
  • civilwarlord, on 10/12/2007, -11/+6If people will stop digging this ***** story, then maybe the poster won't be encouraged to post more ***** ubuntu spam.
  • Uberdork, on 10/12/2007, -3/+7I got my father to switch to Firefox by showing him its features and explaining its benefits. If one has to resort to deception, the product isn't worth it.

    It's these apologist tactics of obfuscation and rhetorical trickery that prompts criticism of Linux as a "religion"--more concerned with merely spreading by any means than triumphing through technological superiority. The former is how we got Windows. You want to repeat that?
    • trogdoor, on 10/12/2007, -1/+10I saw this more as a practical joke than OS evangelism.
  • jsully, on 10/12/2007, -7/+2It's easy to make your Linux look like Vista thanks to the magic of Beryl:
    http://www.newyorkhatesyou.com/ScreenshotX.png
    • coredump0x01, on 10/12/2007, -1/+10"Theres no getting around the fact that until they stop using that weird font on their taskbar etc, they aren't going to look good."
      Ugh, you can CUSTOMIZE everything, even down to the fonts of window decorations.
    • Virak, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7@robertcamb5:

      You could've just said "I don't know ***** about Linux" instead of being so indirect about it.

      If you don't like the way it looks, you can change the theme (though it isn't even the default for GNOME); that single image does not represent the entirety of Linux distros and GUIs. Would you care to explain what exactly about the font is 'weird'? And they do have skill and creativity; a wide variety of original themes exist for Linux GUIs, many of which are better than the themes of other OSes. And people have already made OS X themes for Linux, many times.
    • stalefries, on 10/12/2007, -3/+3jsully, if you can't tell the difference between Vista and that cheap knock-off crossbreed of something Vista-ish and something OSX-ish, then there's something wrong with your eyes.
    • uberdesigner, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1yeah man, that does look pretty *****. their taste is all in the mouths of linux designers.
    • jsully, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1@stalefries - not going to disagree with you there, I was just saying that it's totally possible to make it look enough like Vista that you could easily fool the right type of person. And all, I posted the wrong screenshot :/ This is the theme before any customization:
      http://gnome-look.org/content/show.php?content=42875
  • oceanbourne, on 10/12/2007, -0/+11I find it amusing how Jobs and Gates are always compared to one and the other and people seem to think they actually sit there and design OSX and Vista by themselves . . . of course, the dad seems pretty clueless in any case. It's a cute story though.
  • tkstock, on 10/12/2007, -11/+1"Son, how do you install software on this? I used to just download it and run it!!"

    Uhhh....
    • tkstock, on 10/12/2007, -9/+0Sorry, bury this, dupe post!
    • lpcustom, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2@tkstock
      First off, you're a moron. You've posted quite a few times in this thread trying to spread your anti-linux ideas. I'd like to point out that anyone can install programs in Linux with a couple of clicks. This isn't 1995. The great thing is they won't be installing Bonzi Buddy or some other ***** like that. Sure the dad could Google search for a program he wants to install in Windows....then he could install it with a few clicks of the "next" button. The problem is all the closed source solutions for Windows. You never know what you are going to get bundled in that Windows program you download and install. Within 2 months most users have their computer filled with a lot of junk. That's when they call their computer literate friends to fix it because it's running so slow.

      You can put down the OS all you want. When it comes down to it, it's the quality of user working with the OS. You are closed minded and show it. Just STFU, you aren't making yourself look smart for spreading complaints about Linux dating from 1995.
    • tkstock, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0Actually, I run Ubuntu 6.10 and Windows XP at home. And, if you're saying that Linux is as easy to use as Windows for novice users, you're the uneducated moron. Windows was created to appeal to the mass of users - users that ARE computer illiterate and can't tolerate learning an OS - they just want to DO. While the added functionality of Windows does inherently add some security risks, the user-friendliness and software/driver installation support can't be argued, unless of course you're blind to the truth, which you probably are.

      Open Source - Closed Source - what's the difference to the novice user (other than price)? Do you think the novice user is going to go looking through code to see if it is malicious? Get real.
  • BlackCow, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3Ha ha, he probably would be impressed with Microsoft Bob
  • weizbox, on 10/12/2007, -7/+2Either this story is BS, or his dad doesn't know much about any OS to begin with if he didn't know he was running Linux, and therefore makes his opinion completely useless. Poor Photoshopping as well.. slacker :p
    • clickwir, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7Actually his opinion is more useful than yours. After all, Ubuntu was made to be used by people just like him. And the fact that he can sit down, use it, and get done what he wants to get done, speaks mountains.

      He's probably not a tech person. Probably didn't even know what version of XP he was running before anyway. So what does it matter if he can just use it?
  • uberdesigner, on 10/12/2007, -3/+5Why you rascal!
  • toolow, on 10/12/2007, -10/+2Do your Dad a real favor and tell him to keep XP for a little longer.
  • scabbers, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1718 years ago: father impressed with new baby son, despite being away for 10 months.
    • combatchuck, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Aw, honey, I'm so glad I'm a father now! Gosh, he's the spitting image of my best friend!
  • wily6, on 10/12/2007, -0/+8i want proof
  • TD_Birds, on 10/12/2007, -0/+17Sounds like my mom... she thinks her system is running AOL.
  • SpaceBass, on 10/12/2007, -13/+7like...seriously...open source is so l33t and if you dont run it your a douche...honestly. I mean, my uncle is a total idiot b/c at his office he has a windows 2000 server which is stupid b/c with samba you can be just as cool and it doesnt get viruses (which I know isnt a word, but still,I'm l33t) and my mom is an idiot because she cannot check email...awesome...i just wish we all used ogg vorbis so that songbird would take off b/c drm is broken anyway (yo dvdjon, sup?!?!)...
    • darkyoshi, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1dugg up because I didn't want to read that block of poorly written opinionation.
    • SpaceBass, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1I guess my late night 1/2 drunk sarcasm didn't fly....
    • aragami, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1hey man i dugg you up :) i found that funny
  • m00gg, on 10/12/2007, -3/+2The one good thing about MangFresh trying to pull a fast one on the diggers by linking to a purple penis site, was that I found out about tremulous...
    Digg this Story: http://digg.com/gaming_news/Tremulous_-_Awesome,_free_hybrid_FPS_RTS_multiplayer_game_
  • gadgetsguy, on 10/12/2007, -3/+6If you actually LOVED your father ... you would have explained to him that Vista is a total piece of ***** and he does not want it ...

    http://www.hotubuntunews.com/blog_7.shtml

    Once you Show him the ways of Linux, he would probably gladly pay you for your efforts! :P

    (BTW ... my mother just turned 68, and she LOVES Ubuntu Edgy Eft!! Having not alot of online time until I built her a computer last summer, she learned Linux as easily as a child learning to walk or speak .. and not having to exorcise her machine of viruses and adware is a blessing!!)
  • tlianza, on 10/12/2007, -7/+3I love Linux, but would never subject a family member to such a thing. Sure, OpenOffice "opens" MS Office documents, although the layout will be broken on almost anything except a basic letter, and even in that case you're unlikely to have the correct fonts installed. And wait until he browses to a website with an embedded video in it, and if the crappy mplayer plugin is even installed, good luck having it work correctly. And, hopefully he doesn't use Quicken or Quickbooks.

    The flash criticisms are unfair though - Flash 9 works great (although other platforms enjoyed it for months before Linux users, and Linux users never saw Flash 8).
    • mercurysquad, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1"although other platforms enjoyed it for months before Linux users, and Linux users never saw Flash 8"

      So bitch about it to Adobe!
  • Jergens, on 10/12/2007, -7/+6This is the most retarded thing I've ever seen on the front page of Digg. It's basically a dumb two paragraph story.
    Here's my submission to Digg:
    Yesterday, my mom asked for Vista. I said No! She said why. I said it costs to much.

    HA HA HA HA! Funny....now post me to the front page!

    The overblown fandom is killing digg slowly.
    • fwave, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3lol. why don't you try? it worked for me
  • ECas123, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Thats it im installing Mac OS on my dads computer and telling him its OSX!
  • Achilles, on 10/12/2007, -3/+5Made up *****
  • Darcy, on 10/12/2007, -3/+6If your Dad is as clueless about computers as he sounds then I don't think he's going to have much fun with Ubuntu.
    • coredump0x01, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5I know 2 mentally challenged (literally, 80 or below IQ) people that successfully use Arch Linux. One uses it to burn old records to CD's the other for general email/surfing. Why did I switch them over? Because i got tired of them breaking stuff in Windows (or applications breaking/changing). The way I see it, Since they're not installing the latest 3D games or installing anything, they have an easier time with Linux as long as I preconfigure it for them. I'm convinced they don't even know I switched them over ^^
  • zxof, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0his/her daddy sounds very smart! well... for someone who can't even tell the difference between ubuntu and windows
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