Ubuntu
thunderbird package

Application installation

Asked by Ben

I have been diligently attempting to find some comfort level using Ubuntu as primary operating system on my primary internet PC. At this point I am absolutely disgruntled and frustrated. Let me say up front that I have used MS Windows since 3.1 and am reasonably adept. In my background are many programming, analysis, and management hours on mainframe and down machines.

Not since the Apple III's programming language have I found anything more down right frustrating and obscure than Linux and the Ubuntu implementation of it. An issue - I have used Thunderbird for more than a year. Initially for RSS and later as an email client. For the moment all that Ubuntu recognizes as acceptable is the 1.5.xxx release. Mozilla recently posted 2.0--6. The extant implementation is erratic, unreliable, and frustrating. It does not properly request, receive, display, or ??? the RSS feeds. The same RSS feeds on a MS machine are nearly overwhelming -- the 1.5 I am forced to use here misses the majority.

My attempted solution in an ideal world would be to upgrade to the latest released version of T-Bird from the Mozilla site. Ubuntu does nothing to assist that; somewhere I found how-to install using a debian installer. First, it refused to install because Thunderbird was currently installed. What the heck is that all about --- I did not want to uninstall ---- I wanted to upgrade.

I surrendered and used Synaptic to remove Thunderbird (twice). Now when I attempt to use the debian install I receive an error that the libc6 cannot be resolved, or some such inanity.

I suspect that there are a whole lot of you out there who think that my issues are trivial and all I need to do is spend weeks becoming proficient in the use of terminal and a plethora of other arcane technologies. Then I can do exactly what I want - when I want - and how I want. To which I reply; ain't gonna happen. Not now - not later - not never. If the Linux community wants to become mainstream and a realistic alternative to the MS disasters - it has to be a whole lot more user friendly.

I consider myself reasonably technically capable. The vast majority of personal computer users are far less likely to struggle with Linux than I --- and certainly will abandon the OS in a heartbeat when someone tells them - " all you have to do is ---- terminal --- and sudo --- and --- ". The man behind the desk trying to stay competitive is not going to deal with that!

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Dmitry Mityugov (dmitry-mityugov) said : 		#1

Hello Ben,

I am sorry if Ubuntu did not match your needs, but if there is a Debian installer for the program you like, and you get no help from Ubuntu, please try to install Debian, and install your program in it.

You don't have to pay anything from your own pocket for this migration, contary to Windows 3.1 and later versions of it

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Ben (ben-j-dover) said : 		#2

Thanks Dmitry,

I think the point that I am attempting to make --- not too well, obviously --- is that doing something as mundane as updating an application ought not to be as complicated as it appears to be here.

One of the advantages of the Linux approach versus the MS approach is that it is not a costly alternative. Not costly in terms of currency expended. If one takes into consideration the amount of time that is spent attempting to solve trivial application issues - then the Linux alternative at this time is much too costly.

Suggesting another distro is not a valid response either, in my opinion. What is needed is an approach similar to Synaptic that includes software that the user wants to install. Waiting for 6 months - hoping that the desired application is in the next distribution of ___________ (your favored distro) is counterproductive when the application in question is not meeting the current needs of the user.

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Andrew C. (sumguy231) said : 		#3

For stability purposes, it's not practical for the Ubuntu packagers to keep their packages up to date. The good news is that many software vendors (Skype, Opera, Last.fm) are providing their own Ubuntu packages of the latest versions of their software. Mozilla has just not done this, though it's not actually difficult to install a newer version of Firefox if you follow instructions.

What I think you need to realize is that you're expecting two completely different operating systems to behave similarly, and that is a common fallacy. There's good reading here:
http://linux.oneandoneis2.org/LNW.htm

Also, I really don't believe that this kind of discussion belongs here on Launchpad - this is for support questions. If you want to discuss OS philosophy, there are Ubuntu forums for that:
http://ubuntuforums.org

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Linux Convert (thepeatfieldsinbox) said : 		#4

What's being missed here by Ubuntu/Kubuntu is the fact you use your own version and distribution of common system files like "LIBC6". Because the applications are looking for this name and not, " Libc6 x.x-xUbuntu.14". This prevents the installation of programs that ARE! from outside authors providing there software in Debian format so as to be installed with GDEB or GDEBi. I have many apps I would like to use but can't because GDEBi thinks LIBC6 IS !NOT! Installed! So Andrew C.'s comments and frustration should not be so easily dismissed!

Revision history for this message
Andrew C. (sumguy231) said : 		#5

Regarding "Linux Convert"'s message:
"I have many apps I would like to use but can't because GDEBi thinks LIBC6 IS !NOT! Installed!"
All of the software I mentioned (and Frostwire, to add another) have specifically-tested Ubuntu packages, whereas some generic Debian packages might fail if they're for a version of Debian which uses incompatible versions of libc6 and other packages (This is not entirely related, but I should add that a popular place to get third-party Ubuntu packages seems to be http://www.getdeb.net/ Obviously these are not officially supported, so use caution, etc etc.)

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