On Sun, 08 Jun 2008 20:54:05 -0400, jim wrote:

> Dammit! I want so badly to get the hell away from Windows, that I am
> spending ALL of my spare time trying out different Linux distros.
>
> I tried xubuntu for a day or so - bad graphics.
>
> I tried backtrack - not all that it's cracked up to be.
>
> I am now trying Ubuntu 8.04 and I'll just be ****ed if the simple stuff
> isn't still hard in Linux!!
>
> This is what I would like.... With my XP Pro laptop, connecting to a
> wireless network and browsing shared folders was as easy as clicking
> "Connect to network" slecting the wireless network and clicking
> "Connect". If there was a required key or password, Windows asked for
> it. You supply the info and Windows simply connects to the network.
>
> You can then open Windows Explorer and browse any shared folders that
> are not password protected.
>
> This is BASIC functionality that ALL Windows users NEED. What the hell
> is this samba configuration crap?
>
> I must be missing something here.
>
> PLEASE tell me I am missing something here and that connecting to a
> network and browsing shared folders really IS just as easy in Linux as
> in Windows.
>
> jim

1) Linux is NOT MS.
2) have you tried 'linneighborhood' - that used to do what you asked
though I have not tried for several years.