GUI's are for the weak

[psybintea]

before everyone flames me, let me explain. this is what a geek my my C class told me. He exlained i shouldn't install a gui so that it may force me to learn the command line.

My question is, would the majority of you guys agree?

[X_console]

I would agree that using the command line would help you learn how Linux works better. Personally I use both. I have X running and then I have an Eterm running. Most of the time I'm using the Eterm, but there are some things that can only be had from the GUI, mainly a nice browser that can display pictures, Flash, etc, programs for watching movies, xmms, licq, gimp, etc. So I would say stick with the GUI if you want, but try to practice on the command line to learn more, if that's what your intention is.

[Derango]

In my experience, there are times when a GUI is useful, and then there are times where the command line is the only way to go. Your friend is partialy correct (at least in my opinion, everything that follows is my opinion) in that you need to learn the command line to apprecate the power of linux. However, the command line is not all of it. I started in a GUI as well with mandrake 7.0. Just make an effort to use the command line whenever you can, and use the GUI for what you don't know how to accomplish through the command line, or for what is easier than using the command line. Just make sure you use both

[psybintea]

for now i only want to use linux for programing in C and learning linux in general. It's sad,but i use win2k for internet and printing. I wish i knew enough so that wasn't the case.

[nopri]

hello

I think GUI is important for any task like browsing, watching movie, opening microsoft word document, etc.
But you don't rely on GUI for all tasks you need. You can always rely on command line. GUI just help you by giving a easier and nicer support....
If you really wan't to learn linux, try to do the most task on linux :)

[slacker_x]

Originally posted by psybintea:
<STRONG>for now i only want to use linux for programing in C and learning linux in general. It's sad,but i use win2k for internet and printing. I wish i knew enough so that wasn't the case.</STRONG>

Don't use windows as a crutch. I did that for a year and I barely learned anything. You might want to keep windows, but try to do everything in Linux. That is of course if you are wanting to learn how to do everything in linux.

[psybintea]

i tried using linux for web browsing and for star office and i found it to be,"not smooth" feeling. and for picture viewing, i couldnt figure a way to browse through thumbnails like in windows. I'm sure there is a way, but again, it felt clunky and the response was definity slower. this could be because i was using Mandrake 8.0.I'm not going to give up on linux though.

[Dark Ninja]

Actually, that "not smooth" feeling you are talking about - I understand what you are saying there. There are just some things that Windows still handles better. The top one for me, being, it prints better. Oh, I'm not sure what it is that is causing it, but I suspect it is the printer drivers. Thus, even the text looks nicer coming out of the printer (not to mention the pictures).

On the other hand...there is so much fun power in Linux. And power...is fun... :D


Dark Ninja

[WilliamWallace]

i used to use windows to browse the net too (dont know why) i guess i was a little hesitant to enter the new waters. but one day i started using linux for everything, and now i cant see myself without it. along the way youll run into trouble but youll learn more trying to fix it then you ever did using windows. now when i boot into windows to play madden or age of empires i feel like im enclosed in a box...and besides playing games...theres nothing to do. ive learned more about computers and how they work by using linux then i ever did in a class or in a book.

[DMR]

Hmm... while I agree that Grokking the CLI should come first, isn't this thread tilting a little towards "Off-Topic"?
;)