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networx

jape

Fri Nov 25, 2016 4:21:06 pm

Hi, new to Linux after decades of Windows and chose Zorin after trying a good few flavours and reading far too many reviews. Getting some hiccups but the crash reports should be going in so we shall see what happens.
Customising isn't as 'easy' or 'intuitive' as Win but I am getting there ... how come it is so 'hard' to simply put a plain colour desktop background on? Lol.
Overall, I really like this and it doesn't have the constant freezes Mate had so I can actually get on and do some work. So thanks to devs and supporters.

Present problem is that Networx, a favourite Win app of mine has a .deb package at long last, installs Ok from Software but then ... nowt when I click on it. Probably something simple but how do I get the graphic interface up and even better, get the graph in toolbar I want?
Thanks
jape

Swarfendor437

Fri Nov 25, 2016 8:08:40 pm

Whilst it is a .deb package it might be more debian centric than Ubuntu/Zorin centric.

Try this:

1. Open a Terminal (Ctrl+ Alt+ T)

2. At the prompt enter:

Code:
networx


or

Code:
networx.desktop


Keep us posted! ;) :D

jape

Sat Nov 26, 2016 9:07:31 am

says code command not found whether i do it in caps or lower, whether I allow a space before select or not

Swarfendor437

Sat Nov 26, 2016 12:12:54 pm

OK it could be a dependency issue. Open a terminal (Ctrl+ Alt+ T) and enter:

Code:
sudo apt install gdebi


This will install Gdebi Package Manager.

Once installed right click the networx.deb file and from the context menu 'Open with... Gdebi' - this will let you know if any dependencies are missing. Bear in mind that Zorin is using the newer kernel than what networx might have written their package for. If it still does not work all I can suggest is install the Windows version under WINE. ;) :D

jape

Tue Nov 29, 2016 11:19:17 am

tried again and again and finally got the gdebi installed. It opened the .deb package and ran. It says network is installed with a list of files but I have no idea what to do next to run or open it!
I think sometimes people don't realise how much 'newbies' don't know. For example your posts ask me to type into terminal, well i can do that AND DID SO PRECISELY but it took two days to realise the (code: select all) line was not required.

star treker

Tue Nov 29, 2016 11:27:10 am

Im a newbie to Linux as well, and sometimes it really frustrates me on how overly complicated everything has to be. Now I will admit when compared to other Linux distrobutions that I have been hearing about on youtube, Zorin is the most user friendly and perhaps least complicated OS. But still because it is Linux, there is an element of complication, which is just the nature of Linux in general. I highly suggest that when you get things how you want them and your OS is running fine and all ready to go. I would download Backup Redo and burn your LIVE CD disk. Then boot your computer on the live CD, and backup your entire drive. I've learned the hardway that its far too easy to make one mistake then you loose your whole OS. And at least with Redo, if something back happens, you can use Redo to restore your backup image and get your machine going again without having to reinstall Zorin.

Swarfendor437

Tue Nov 29, 2016 12:47:55 pm

jape wrote:tried again and again and finally got the gdebi installed. It opened the .deb package and ran. It says network is installed with a list of files but I have no idea what to do next to run or open it!
I think sometimes people don't realise how much 'newbies' don't know. For example your posts ask me to type into terminal, well i can do that AND DID SO PRECISELY but it took two days to realise the (code: select all) line was not required.


Hi, I think I did post a sticky once about this - Code select all copies the line to your clipboard so all you have to do is paste into terminal - avoids typos! ;) :D

jape

Tue Nov 29, 2016 1:12:08 pm

I do appreciate the help and ideas from any and all.
I am not lazy, just cannot see (despite the obvious volunteer open source basis) how Linux hasn't evolved yet to a user friendly platform for simple OS without any terminals or particular special knowledge. I am nowhere near getting this thing setup as i like it as much requires specialist knowledge, three days to get a printer working? I recently watched a friend got the other way for work and learn Windows and they had no real problems (after Mac).
But I got finally fed up with Windows intrusion on my privacy and the Google Android nonsense where they read my email and txt message content and try and 'help' me. I thought Linux Zorin would be easy!
I was writing machine code back in the '80's for traffic lights ... but these days I want visual menus and right hand mouse clicks and stuff to just work.

So how in heaven do i get Networx to run?

star treker

Tue Nov 29, 2016 2:00:33 pm

Don't feel bad there Jape, I know how you feel man. I myself have been struggling with Zorin lately, its not a perfect OS by any means. And most certainly Windows 7 was easier to use and more reliable, well, until the OS got corrupted after 4 years, then it was a unreliable mess lol. But like you said, we don't have much choice. I too will not allow Microsoft to infringe upon my constitutional rights to privacy, and in my home no less! Basically, Microsoft has put themselves in a position where they say, "if we want to turn on your notebook camera while your child is changing, we will!" They think they are above the law, I am here to say different. I will never ever put that evil Windows 10 OS on my computer, no sir!

Now as I said, Zorin is not perfect. But I am impressed with what it can do, and I do think that what it can do will fullfill most people. And Jape, you did your bit for king and country, now its time to sit down, relax to some fancy graphics that make you go ahhh lol. I do agree, wishing there was less terminal BS, but that is not Zorin's fault, that is the fault of Linux in general, I've learned that pretty much all Linux distro's require the use of terminal at one point or another. So I do agree that its going to be time yet before they have matched what Windows does without terminal code use.

But something else you have to think about. With Microsofts evil choices to spy on you and share your information with everyone, you gotta wonder just how many more Windows users are going to be switching to Linux? Its in my humble opinion that Microsoft will loose a huge amount of market share on Windows 10 within 5 years, and within 10 years, I think that most people won't be using Windows OS's of any kind by then, and most will be using Mac OS, Linux, and Android. So I guess my point is with more people switching to Linux distro's, I think it might make things serious enough to want to improve upon Linux that much quicker.

Ideally, we as users want the convenience, easy to use, automated style of Windows, but without all the malware! In other words, our computer's obey us, not the other way around. But the one thing I really love about Linux, is that its software by members for the members. And knowledge is sharred in the Linux community, not kept hidden to be used for evil corperate gains and ways to screw the consumer. I know many will have the view that Linux has had what 20 years to get where Windows 7 was today. But you have to realize that only a small percentage in these past 20 years actually used Linux.

Back in the day Linux was known as a OS that only Linux geeks could operate. And it was a nice way of calling them geeks rather then hackers, cause thats what they really were. With Windows being the largest selling mainstreem OS, there was no pressure or interest in the Linux OS. But now with Microsofts BS regarding Windows 10, I think that now the pressure is on and now people are seriously considering Linux. Which means, if there ever were a time that Linux got better to the point of being at least as good as Windows 7, now would be the time to start.

So don't get me wrong, I love Zorin OS 12, its even better then Zorin OS 9 in many ways. It might not be a perfect OS, but when it comes to an OS for beginners who are previously Windows users, I think that Zorin is the best distro in that regard. I know this was long but I felt it needed to be said. Also, I have been enjoying Cup Of Linux from Spartry on Youtube, he has a lot of knowledge on Linux, has many wonderful topics on Linux, and he created his own distro, pretty neat stuff. :)

Swarfendor437

Tue Nov 29, 2016 6:37:23 pm

Whilst a Graphical User Interface is more friendly, it is one of the areas that makes a computer less secure:

http://7poundbag.com/2012/09/14/when-yo ... born-sick/

There was an interesting article in Linux Format discussing the very issue and that whilst a GUI is pretty it is not as powerful as the command line - and the same applies to Windows. The one area that is a security issue across all platforms is 'Flash' though not so much for Macs these days as they stopped allowing Flash to be installed on their OS. ;) :D