The Brads - Buying a Computer
January 30th, 2012
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Brad Colbow is an independent web designer and illustrator living in Cleveland Ohio. He is the owner of Colbow Design and creator of the web comic, The Brads. If you’re looking for fun and practical website design Contact Me.
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Kurofune
January 30, 2012 at 9:25 pmI’m going to be sharing this with friends. I love linux mint (linuxmint.com)
Ahsan
January 30, 2012 at 9:48 pmSetting up a new linux pc? i guess
1. Buy a linux laptop
2. Install fresh favourite distro
3. Update all packages
4. Start working :D
Calvin
January 30, 2012 at 11:02 pmha ha ha ... wait *unplugs webcam*
Tim
January 30, 2012 at 11:34 pm1. Buy Linux.
2. Spend a week trying to get wireless working.
3. Start working.
chris
January 31, 2012 at 1:17 amBuy Linux laptop.
Oh sh…, not this rubbish distribution again.
Install favourite distribution.
Start working.
Although I still prefer this way.
OverIt
January 31, 2012 at 4:23 amBuy a Linux laptop? Really? Don’t you mean buy a windows or Mac laptop, wipe it, install a distro, update packages, spend a week fixing wireless and external displays. Update packages again, and hopefully start working ... Assuming a package update didn’t break something
mmaluco
January 31, 2012 at 5:22 amSorry, but this isnt reality YET. There are tons of laptops who got big problems with linux (Wifi, fingerprint, bluetooth). Thats why Im using Win 7 since my new laptop doesnt give a shit activating those things with Linux. Someday I will find a solution and frickle my way to freedom.
Vendetta
January 31, 2012 at 7:36 amIf you buy a Linux machine, it has working linux on it.
No need to try and fix something that already works.
Maxi
January 31, 2012 at 8:23 amVendetta’s got it right, if you buy hardware meant to be used with linux, it cuts the fat.
Heathz
January 31, 2012 at 10:46 amMy HP laptop came with windows… wiped it installed Linux and everything worked really fine… wireless, figerprint, function keys… ^_^
Morgan Cox
January 31, 2012 at 12:01 pmYou seem to have forgot these vital stages ...
Windows:-
————-
- Pay a patent troll money for them to lobby governments to support PIPA/ACTA.
- Reboot about 80 times whilst installing drivers.
- Catch Virus / reinstall / give up/ jihad against MS
Mac:-
————
- Have brain removed so you think Mac’s are cool.
- Mortgage house in order to pay for Mac.
Ariel
January 31, 2012 at 12:16 pm“- Mortgage house in order to pay for Mac.” this is getting old…
Linux Lover
January 31, 2012 at 12:34 pmDownload Ubuntu ISO, spend 15 minutes installing it and configuring on new laptop and enjoy the freedom!!!
code-chimp
January 31, 2012 at 12:39 pmI call BS on that Linux example! You never trim your neckbeard while working because the trimmings will mix with the cupcake crumbs you were saving for later.
Alex
January 31, 2012 at 3:09 pmSaying Linux is hard to use is like saying they don’t like people of the opposite sex because they’re too hairy and swing from trees.
Make sure you’re staying up to date so as not to sound like a goof.
lucb1e
January 31, 2012 at 3:57 pmCoincidence! I was going to install Linux Mint 12 today, the only thing keeping me from it is that it’s still copying my files. When I get to it I wonder if it will be as easy, especially with my quite uncommon soundcard.
konaya
January 31, 2012 at 4:05 pmSure, there is hardware that is not compatible with Linux. That’s why you check out the hardware before buying it, just like you would anyway. At least if you are at least one notch above a complete novice…
Pigwrangler
January 31, 2012 at 5:28 pmOh Timmy, much too learn young padawan.
“Give a man Ubuntu, and he will learn Ubuntu. Give a man Slackware, and he will learn Linux. Give him Gentoo, and he will be Linux”
Jon
January 31, 2012 at 5:57 pmThanks to all that beta-testing all those unsuspecting Ubuntu users did for us over the years, RHEL 6.x runs with 99% of “everything just works” on a large number of laptops now.
I know a lot of people using CentOS on laptops now because CentOS is now laptop friendly (not just server friendly) and they know that their software updates will contain only bugfixes.
theotherme
January 31, 2012 at 6:22 pmDON’T INSTALL LINUX! THERE IS NO INTERNET EXPLORER FOR LINUX!!! HOW YOU PREPARED TO ABANDON THOSE 12 VERY USEFUL IE TOOLBARS?
brummbaer456
February 1, 2012 at 2:28 amawesome comic. did anyone else notice that window-user-guy and mac-user-guy are reversed? or are windows users the hip ones now?
Dan
February 1, 2012 at 11:07 am@Ariel - How so? I just built a new PC that benchmarks twice as high on nearly every measurable metric than the best Mac desktop available. I did that for 1/3 the price of said Mac. Apple makes good products, but there is no denying they are expensive for what they are.
Sam
February 1, 2012 at 1:17 pmI love the comic-strip though there are some good things about Windows and Macs. I think what the others said about Linux hardware configuration problems is also true. But .... LINUX RULES (in my view).
Mackenzie
February 2, 2012 at 11:53 amIf you’re wondering how this “buy Linux laptop” (as opposed to “buy Windows laptop and reinstall”) thing works, check out System76.
Bent Stamnes
February 3, 2012 at 5:39 amThere seems to be a tiny error in the comic—here, I fixed it: http://f.cl.ly/items/2s2o3D2o3H0x381N0S3E/buying_a_computer_real.png
Stuart Ward
February 3, 2012 at 1:27 pmOn the windows side you forgot to add.
Install the basic software you need. Word processor, browser, database, spreadsheet, drawing program, photo editor,...
Reboot
Install security fixes
Reboot
Install application updates
Reboot
Run a virus scan… oops install a virus scanner… Reboot..
Run virus scanner…
Start work
Ying
February 6, 2012 at 3:50 pm@Bent Stamnes: You are mixing something up. The comic says “Buy a Linux Desktop” -> preconfigured Linux System. So you can be sure that everything works out of the box.
web designer
February 6, 2012 at 8:07 pmlove the linux ubuntu. eveything is hassale free
Ariel
February 7, 2012 at 12:04 pm@Dan Sure they are expensive… but I am not rich and I have 2 Macs… and my finances are pretty good
sites e logos criativos
February 7, 2012 at 5:35 pmhahaha very good =)
Lynn X.
February 18, 2012 at 12:21 amYou forgot one -
1.) Buy any pc, fast or slow, new or old
2.) Boot with Puppy Linux cd or usb
3.) Kick some ass
Massagem Terapeutica
March 5, 2012 at 10:36 pmThats why Im using Win 7 since my new laptop doesnt give a shit activating those things with Linux. Good Work ! Thanks for sharing !
Emaar mgf new project
March 30, 2012 at 4:21 amResources like the one you mentioned here will be very useful to me!
Roberto
April 15, 2012 at 5:19 pmOne day Linux, one day!