HELP!!! My desktop is not friendly

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#21

Hi lasterror,

I don’t know if you’ve tried the suggestion of using the latest NVidia driver, but it might be a good thing to try.

Also give KDE3 and GNOME a try to see if it’s not maybe a issue with KDE4 and the hardware/setup you have.
I might have missed if you already mentioned it… but the bad fonts are in every program, or just certain bits of KDE4?

There are many here that use Linux on a daily base, fonts and layout are fine… I would have wasted my eyes long ago if not :wink:

Wishing you luck!
Wj

#22

> Ok, maybe i didnt myself clear,
>
> I have opensuse11 with KDE 4.1,

and i have 10.3 with KDE 3.5.7, BECAUSE it is more stable and MOST of
the glitches which caused folks trouble six months are have been worked
out by folks who loaded it in the first few days of it release…

and, in about six months i’ll give v 11.0 a try…

> I have 1680x1050 wide LCD, thats the resolution, is a problem with font
> rendering, if i disable antialias fonts looks really really bad, if i
> enable antialias fonts look a bit nicer, but bluried, i tried the other
> settings hitting/subpixel, everything, i still have the same problem,
> fonts looks like crap.

well, the FIRST response you got said:

>Have you setup your monitor to the correct refresh rate, aspect,
>dimension size etc and running the nvidia driver?
>http://en.opensuse.org/Nvidia

i wonder, which driver are you running?
is your monitor correctly detected by YaST? (not almost correctly
detected, but EXACTLY detected?)

see, you can fiddle with antialias fonts and hinting and all of that
will have to do it all again (maybe) AFTER you “setup your monitor to
the correct refresh rate, aspect, dimension size etc and running the
nvidia driver”

AFTER your monitor is set up correctly, then if you still have the need
to, have a look at:

http://opensuse-community.org/SubpixelHinting

see, what you are fighting here is the aftermath of 90% of the world
running MS software…and, monitor and video board makers falling all
over themselves making sure the drivers are tuned to perfection for MS
operating systems (i’m not saying that is bad, it is SMART to be able to
sell monitors to the 90%, which i also might wanna call ‘sheep’)…but,
the problem is a 1680x1050 LCD monitor might be released a month ago
WITH a perfectly tuned driver for Windows™ and a half-baked one for
Linux, if ANY is even offered…

that is why there are hardware compatibility lists for Windows™ and
Linux…the hardware compatibility list for SuSE is at
http://en.opensuse.org/HCL/ is YOUR monitor listed?

if not, you still do not have to GIVE UP because there is a great chance
that someone before you HAS figured out how to get good service from
what you had when you came to try Linux with hardware NOT supported…

so, what is the brand and model number for your monitor…

and tell us if you have yet loaded the GeForce with THE driver from
Nvidia, see http://en.opensuse.org/Nvidia

so do these things:

  • load that driver
  • properly set up you monitor
  • revisited font hinting, if needed
  • AND then, if still looks bad go here http://forums.opensuse.org/search.php
    and run a search on (maybe on terms like: font fuzzy ugly small) and
    i’ll bet can find advice already given to someone else with a problem
    similar to your own…BUT, before you charge off changing stuff READ
    the ENTIRE thread…because SOME advice ends in DISASTER, and some ends
    in “problem solved”…

all the advice here cost you the same amount of money…but, avoid the
bad advice like the plague!

and, you DO know that you can BUY real help, from Novell employees…
(almost everyone here is just like you, a private user…but, unlike
you HAS climbed the mountain of learning that now frustrates you)…

good luck–and, let me tell you why i take MY time to write all this to
you: because i think when you get your box set up you are gonna be a
CONVERT from that other operating system…AND, in 10 years you will
drop by here and see that some new guy has written: I have openSuSE
v33.0, KDE14…Now, the problem is my desktop looks UGLY, I cant do
anything, even the fonts looks ugly…HELP before i quit trying here and
have to SELL my private jet to get Mega$oft to sell me their update pack…

and, you will help that person… :slight_smile:

–
DenverD (Linux Counter 282315)
A Texan in Denmark

#23

Let me start by saying that the out-of-the-box fonts experience for all openSuSE 11.0 users has been a great disappointment.

Still as I have the patience that DenverDane talks about and have a longtime love for my (open)SuSE OS, I do not blame GNU/Linux just myself for not having found the right setting yet.

As I compiled a new machine with a 24" screen just before the release of openSuSE 11.0 I also did not know what the effect would be with 1920x1200 pixels @59,95 Hz.
OK, it took me about 10 days and I read a lot and tried all the setting that I could.
Specially font size & dpi setting to 120 helped a lot. Also installing some fonts like Verdana.
Now I have a nice looking large screen that my old eyes can read from ~110/120cm, I am happy, very happy.

The OP’s remarks about Linux not having a nice looking GUI… ?? A well configured GNU/Linux box can do things that windows and Mac cannot do.
Actually I used my sons HDD as data/back-up, it has windowsXP on it so I gave that a spin (for the first time since ME in 2001).
What a complete disaster ! Windows users are such unfortunate people…
I had no internet, my DVD drives were not recognised, screen res was awful, nothing worked OotB, I even had to phone M$ to get a new key within 3 days as too much hardware had been changed… none of your business Billy !

Anyways after having installed all the drivers (in the right order!);

  1. Mobo drivers, this gave me internet (I never have had to do this in GNU/Linux)
  2. Grapfic card (OK the NVIdia driver is the one thing I install in GNU/Linux as nVidia does not want to give the source code to the open source community).
  3. Samsung screen driver.
  4. Wireless driver.
  5. Printer driver.
    Pfffft the list is endless.

And most annoying is the re-boot each time you change something.
Then there is the defragmentation on a regular basis. The bizar way windows uses my 4GB of RAM, it seems each program on the system wants to sit in the systray (I refuse to use programs in GNU/Linux that place an icon in the systray without asking). All these progs want a piece of your RAM in windows as they all want to be known as “fast starters” this way badly written code is masked.

No, my windows experience was only good to realise that it is an OS from the stone age and very user unfriendly.

With great relieve I booted back into Freedom !! :wink:

#24

OK:

driver is latest from nvidia:

x11-video-nvidiaG01-173.14.09-0.1 - nvidia GL drivers
nvidia-gfxG01-kmp-default-173.14.09_2.6.25.5_1.1-0.1 - NVIDIA gfx driver kernel module

Monitor is supported, in fact, i tried another LCD wide with same resolution 1680x1050. Btw, those LCD monitors works totally different that CRT ones, so, you rarely can find incompatibilities with them.

Ok, i said, is KDE4 with bugs, i have updated to KDE4.1, nothing changed, i tried all possible settings, nothing.

I start to think that freetype2 have some bugs, or that resolution wasn’t really tested, or i really dont knwo what to say, i dont want to switch to gnome for several reasons, i still try to solve that problem.

… until next time, peace.

#25

@lasterror
I think the first error you made was to use KDE4.0 as your DT-manager.

KDE4.x is highly experimental, a technical release to play around with if you are a (very) experienced KDE & GNU/Linux user.
By the end of this year when openSuSE 11.1 comes out hopefully with KDE4.1.x you may start using it as your main -production- system.

Until that time the best combination to be had in this and many other worlds is: openSuSE 11.0 with KDE3.5.9 !
Rock solid and easy to use, even for ex-windows users.

#26

On Sun, 06 Jul 2008 15:36:06 GMT
lasterror <lasterror@no-mx.forums.opensuse.org> wrote:

>Monitor is supported, in fact, i tried another LCD wide with same
>resolution 1680x1050. Btw, those LCD monitors works totally different
>that CRT ones, so, you rarely can find incompatibilities with them.
>
>Ok, i said, is KDE4 with bugs, i have updated to KDE4.1, nothing
>changed, i tried all possible settings, nothing.
>
>I start to think that freetype2 have some bugs, or that resolution
>wasn’t really tested, or i really dont knwo what to say, i dont want to
>switch to gnome for several reasons, i still try to solve that problem.

My guess is that you’ve changed things that probably should not have
been changed, at least until other things were done first. I know
that’s not a lot of help, but just a few days ago I installed 11 and
selected KDE4 to see what it had. Right after the install was finished,
I ran Online Update until there were no more updates available and then
I added the nVidia repository and updated the driver.

I have a 20" LCD at 1680 x 1050 and the default fonts were crystal
clear, sharp and easy to read. Even the very tiny bootup text is
beautifully clear and sharp. I played with various fonts and found
almost all looked good. This is only the second time I’ve not had to
fight to get good text (the other one being 10.3). There were some
areas of KDE4 that I didn’t like at this time and switched back to KDE
3.5.9. My home machine is really a second work machine, so I need
certain things – I can experiment a little more on SWMBO’s machine but
not a lot since she needs it for her business, too.

So, all in all, I don’t see any of the font problems of which you
speak. I didn’t do any ‘secret knowledge’ tweaking, just ran with what
was setup – the fonts were not too bad but got much better after I
installed the nVidia driver.

I’m still on 10.3 and boot into 11 when I have time for testing and and
tweaking, but will be switching to 11 for good next weekend (when I get
back from some high-altitude camping). They did a very good job on
openSUSE 11, IMNSHO . . . :slight_smile:

If I were in your position, I’d re-install 11 and select KDE 3.5.9 and
nothing else; run all Online Updates and then add nVidia repository and
install their driver and see if you don’t have a better experience. But
that’s just me – I usually install a new version several times, so I
can break it a few times and not worry about it. :wink:

–
Kevin Nathan (Arizona, USA)
Linux is not a destination, it’s a journey – enjoy the trip!

Linux 2.6.22.18-0.2-default
8:39pm up 1 day 2:12, 21 users, load average: 0.42, 0.47, 0.55

#27

> nothing changed, i tried all possible settings, nothing…bugs…
> i still try to solve that problem.

you may be on to something, there is speculation about the fonts
themselves…you are not the only one with some problems…in the forum
named General there is a thread with the subject “Wretched fonts”… i
think there might be some useful info in there for you…

–
DenverD (Linux Counter 282315)
A Texan in Denmark

#28

On 2008-07-07 08:09:45 -0400, DenverD <spam.trap@Texan.dk> said:

> > nothing changed, i tried all possible settings, nothing…bugs…
>> i still try to solve that problem.
>
> you may be on to something, there is speculation about the fonts
> themselves…you are not the only one with some problems…in the
> forum named General there is a thread with the subject “Wretched
> fonts”… i think there might be some useful info in there for you…

That thread was moved to Applications. General is not intended for
Linux help questions. :slight_smile:

–
Keith Kastorff

#29

> That thread was moved to Applications.

maybe it was moved in the web forum, but there continues to be a
conversation going on in the nntp/General forum…because it is
impossible for those entering via nntp to KNOW the thread was moved (on
the web side only)…

and, there are some interesting posts to the thread, in General…as late
as five hours ago (at 1 PM, Copenhagen time on 7 July…)

–
DenverD (Linux Counter 282315)
A Texan in Denmark

#30

Anything posted to the thread in its old location by NNTP users will be merged into the thread in it’s current and proper location. If you have further commentary on the location of the thread, please either refer to it’s current and proper location or move your commentary to the PM system and contact staff directly.

#31

> Anything posted to the thread in its old location by NNTP users will be
> merged into the thread in it’s current and proper location.

great…happy to hear…

> move your commentary to the PM system and contact staff directly.

tell me about the PM system please…how do i access that?

–
DenverD (Linux Counter 282315)
A Texan in Denmark

#32

DenverD wrote:
>> Anything posted to the thread in its old location by NNTP users will be
>> merged into the thread in it’s current and proper location.
>
> great…happy to hear…
>
>> move your commentary to the PM system and contact staff directly.
>
> tell me about the PM system please…how do i access that?
>
Log into the HTTP side and click on the link at the top that says
private messages.

#33

> Log into the HTTP side and click on the link at the top that says
> private messages.

i go to http://forums.opensuse.org/ and log in…a new page comes up
that does not have a link at the top saying “private messages”…what do
i do now?

i do have a link saying “Login” thought i just did…and, if i click
on the Login nothing happens…

i close firefox and open konqueror, go to http://forums.opensuse.org/
and it bypasses the log in page and puts at the same page (with no
private messages, but Login at the top)…i click on Login, up pops a
log in page, let the KDE wallet fill in the secrets, and get:

Login failed. Please try again.
Please Note: repeated failed login attempts may cause this account to
reject subsequent logins for up to one hour.

hmmmmm…this id/pass worked a couple of days ago…what has changed??

this is a lot of fun, not.
nntp is a LOT easier, and faster…maybe there is a way to “pm” via email?

–
DenverD (Linux Counter 282315)
A Texan in Denmark

#34

On 2008-07-07 14:35:42 -0400, DenverD <spam.trap@Texan.dk> said:

>> Log into the HTTP side and click on the link at the top that says
>> private messages.
>
> i go to http://forums.opensuse.org/ and log in…a new page comes up
> that does not have a link at the top saying “private messages”…what
> do i do now?
>
> i do have a link saying “Login” thought i just did…and, if i click
> on the Login nothing happens…
>
> i close firefox and open konqueror, go to http://forums.opensuse.org/
> and it bypasses the log in page and puts at the same page (with no
> private messages, but Login at the top)…i click on Login, up pops a
> log in page, let the KDE wallet fill in the secrets, and get:
>
> Login failed. Please try again.
> Please Note: repeated failed login attempts may cause this account to
> reject subsequent logins for up to one hour.
>
> hmmmmm…this id/pass worked a couple of days ago…what has changed??
>
> this is a lot of fun, not.
> nntp is a LOT easier, and faster…maybe there is a way to “pm” via email?

If you need help using a forum feature, post in Forums
Support/Information, don’t hijack someone else’s thread.

–
Keith Kastorff

#35

This thread got me thinking…openSUSE already includes proprietary software, why dont they just throw in the microsoft fonts and configure them by default? The default fonts are horribly awful.

#36

bjb nyj101 wrote:
> This thread got me thinking…openSUSE already includes proprietary
> software, why dont they just throw in the microsoft fonts and configure
> them by default? The default fonts are horribly awful.
>
>
That would be because it would become a legality issue. Unless you
really want them to test the deal they struck.

#37

I start to think the same, the fonts sux… thats the word. Rendering engine, fonts, something smell here.

#38

lasterror wrote:
> bjb_nyj101;1834697 Wrote:
>> This thread got me thinking…openSUSE already includes proprietary
>> software, why dont they just throw in the microsoft fonts and configure
>> them by default? The default fonts are horribly awful.
>
> I start to think the same, the fonts sux… thats the word. Rendering
> engine, fonts, something smell here.
>
>
Care to fill us in on what you are “smelling”?

#39

since your first post, there have been several threads started here
about fonts…i hope you are reading them…especially the one from 7
July, subject “Terrible fonts . . .”

–
DenverD (Linux Counter 282315)
A Texan in Denmark

#40

Denver,

I sent you an email to your registered email address, which looks like it may be one you don’t monitor regularly. I’d appreciate if you could look at that and contact me directly, or use the PM function of these forums to contact me, or just email me directly: kgroneman at novell.com as I’d really like to talk to you and since you are an NNTP user it’s hard to get your privately. :slight_smile: Thanks!