1. RE: Linux Replies(was WinXPActivation)
- Posted by eugtk at yahoo.com
Sep 15, 2003
Al Getz wrote
:...
> I'm a little confused now though, since
> it sounds like there are quite a few versions?
Anyone can create their own version if they wish. There are dozens.
Some, like Slackware, are oriented for the "super-geek" who knows
(or thinks he knows) everything and who is happy working from the
command line.
Others, like Mandrake, are designed to be easier for the average person,
(like me) to set up and use.
BSD is not Linux, but is also a Unix variation. I have never been able
to
set up a running version of BSD. I put this in the "uber-geek" category.
> From what you guys are saying, it sounds like
> Mandrake is the most stable?
They're all stable. Mandrake seems (to me, at least) more
Windows-like, so it makes for an easier transition. Plus Mandrake's
setup program recognizes hardware better than the others I have
tried (and is actually easier than setting up Windows).
> Mozilla is a free browser? Will it run with Windows
> so i can get a chance to see how it works before
> switching to Linux?
Yes, for Win, Linux, Mac, see http://www.mozilla.org
> What's the difference with (i think it's called)
> 'Red Hat' ?
Little, Mandrake is an offshoot of Red Hat, with a different
and (IMHO, easier) installation and setup program.
> (Of course i'd use Euphoria when possible,
> so i'd have to make sure the Linux version
> worked well with Euphorias interpreter for Linux).
They all do.
> Is there an open source Linux where you can
> modify the Linux system itself? I thought i heard
> something about that somewhere?
They all are. You get the source code for the Linux kernel with the
CD's, and are free to modify it as you wish. You probably won't want to
(I know it's WAY beyond my capabilities!)
> If so, what do you use to compile with?
> The only C C++ compiler i have right now
> is MS's for Windows?
gcc. Comes free with all Linux distributions, along with dozens of
programming languages.
> Is it possible to run two versions of Linux
> on the same machine?
> Is it possible to boot to, which with the addition
> of Linux (1 or 2 versions) would end up
> being, three to four operating systems
> on the same system? (three hard drives)
Yes. You can do that with one drive, if there's enough space.
> Very important would be:
> I would have to be able to use CD recording (R disk minimum)
> and possibly DVD recording drives.
Most CD-R is supported. I don't know about DVD.
The single most important thing I would recommend is this:
Do not try to download and install Linux until you know what you're
doing. It is _so much easier and cheaper_ to buy a ready-to-use set
of CD's from someplace like cheapbytes ($6.99 + postage)
There are two reasons for this:
1. You will no doubt want to re-load Linux more than once, either
because you mess up, or because you want to see what the different
types of setup look like. Mandrake, for example, offers to set up your
pc as a server, as a desktop, as a development system, etc. etc. and
each type loads a different suite of programs.
2. There are literally thousands of programs supplied with most
distributions which aren't loaded by default, but you'll be wanting
to try those eventually.
If you are the type of person who benefits from having written
instructions, it may be a good investment to buy a boxed set from
Mandrake, Red Hat or SuSE. (I think the SuSE manuals are the best).
Regards,
Irv
2. RE: Linux Replies(was WinXPActivation)
> From: eugtk at yahoo.com [mailto:eugtk at yahoo.com]
>
> The single most important thing I would recommend is this:
> Do not try to download and install Linux until you know what you're
> doing. It is _so much easier and cheaper_ to buy a ready-to-use set
> of CD's from someplace like cheapbytes ($6.99 + postage)
>
> There are two reasons for this:
> 1. You will no doubt want to re-load Linux more than once, either
> because you mess up, or because you want to see what the different
> types of setup look like. Mandrake, for example, offers to
> set up your
> pc as a server, as a desktop, as a development system, etc. etc. and
> each type loads a different suite of programs.
> 2. There are literally thousands of programs supplied with most
> distributions which aren't loaded by default, but you'll be wanting
> to try those eventually.
>
> If you are the type of person who benefits from having written
> instructions, it may be a good investment to buy a boxed set from
> Mandrake, Red Hat or SuSE. (I think the SuSE manuals are the best).
Unless you're already familiar with at least some flavor of Unix, I'd
personally recommend getting a book on Linux. I got RH8.0 with a book, and
although it's maddening silent on some of the errors I got in installation,
etc, it's still invaluable for referring to when you're trying to remember
how to put a process into the background, or some obscure vi command (aren't
they all) or whatever.
Matt Lewis
3. RE: Linux Replies(was WinXPActivation)
> Mozilla is a free browser? Will it run with Windows
> so i can get a chance to see how it works before
> switching to Linux?
Sure. Also try Mozilla Firebird and Opera. Any number of browsers can
be installed, but of course only one of them can be the default.
You might end up having so much fun with Windows that you won't want
Linux anymore.
4. RE: Linux Replies(was WinXPActivation)
Al,
Not only does euphoria work well on linux, with Irv's GTK wrapper
porting your win32lib programs over to linux is almost painless. It may
not be an IDE but its amazing how simple writing GUI apps are with it.
- Steve
P.S. Once you are up and running, don't forget to register....
http://counter.li.org/
5. RE: Linux Replies(was WinXPActivation)
- Posted by eugtk at yahoo.com
Sep 15, 2003
--- Al Getz <Xaxo at aol.com> wrote:
<snip>
> I dont like the activation policy at all and i know
> other
> people dont either. I also dont like what im
> hearing about
> MS trying to get their os software leased out in the
> USA.
> Instead of buying it, it would be 'rented'.
> I imagine this would mean a monthly charge like a
> utility bill.
<snip>
> Dont they think they have made
> enough
> money already? I dont know, but something is wrong.
Bill Gates has plenty of money already, but the
stockholders want a foolproof way to make more. The
only sure way to do that is to charge monthly fees.
Nice, predictable, and not likely to be affected much
by the economy, or even by the quality of the
software.
As it stands, in tight economic times,
companies are likely to put off upgrading to the
latest and greatest software - after all, what they've
already got is working. They might try to postpone
those expensive purchases for years, if necessary.
If XP gets bad reviews, people can avoid buying it.
This is no good. With monthly "rentals" Microsoft will
have a guaranteed income regardless of the economy. If
people don't pay, well, *poof* there goes their data.
Simple, foolproof.
Irv
6. RE: Linux Replies(was WinXPActivation)
>
> P.S. Once you are up and running, don't forget to register....
>
> http://counter.li.org/
>
By register I, of course, mean get on the user register. The bigger the
numbers, the more likely commercial software will finds its way to the
linux platform. Not that linux has any shortage of great opensource
apps.
Steve
7. RE: Linux Replies(was WinXPActivation)
- Posted by eugtk at yahoo.com
Sep 15, 2003
--- Al Getz <Xaxo at aol.com> wrote:
> The thing i totally forgot about which is probably
> most
> important is the monitor on my system. I managed to
> find the Mandrake site and checked and didnt see my
> monitor
> listed. Another monitor with the same manufact name
> was listed, but not mine exactly. The model listed
> was
> 70 and mine is 75.
> The monitor would absolutely have to work, so i
> wonder
> if i would have any problems there?
It's not at all likely. You could choose a similar
model, or worse case scenario, you could just get
the specifications (horizontal refresh rate, etc)
and type them into the config file that controls
such things. (XF86Config-4)
Irv
8. RE: Linux Replies(was WinXPActivation)
- Posted by eugtk at yahoo.com
Sep 15, 2003
--- Al Getz <Xaxo at aol.com> wrote:
> I have a feeling i might dig out my older system and
> set that
> up first exclusively with Linux. I think that may
> be the best
> way for me to get used to it a little.
<snip>
Unless that old sytem is *really old*. Linux, or at
least the GUI part, is like anything else - it needs
a reasonably fast processor and memory, plus disk
space.
It's hard to state minimums, because it mostly depends
on what you want to do with it. And what distribution
you choose. There are some distributions which are
designed specifically for "lesser" machines.
And some window managers which use only a small amount
of resources. That's one of the advantages of Linux,
you have a choice.
Irv
9. RE: Linux Replies(was WinXPActivation)
FWIW,
I installed Red Hat 9 this summer on my PC. The partitioning was
straight-forward, the hardware detection was 99.9% right and the darn
thing never crashes! (The .1 % hdw problem was a monitor setting and
I'm not sure I selected the right model).
The only issue I'm having with RH9 is I can't get the Palm sync
working... :( ...otherwise I'd be making the permanent switch!
Jonas
jbrown105 at speedymail.org wrote:
>
>
> On Tue, Sep 16, 2003 at 06:31:06AM -0500, C. K. Lester wrote:
> >
> Hmm... I've never used FreeBSD, so I can't fairly compare and contrast
> the
> 2.
>
> I'm interested in how your experiences with Linux compare with your
> experiences
> with FreeBSD, tho. Maybe it is better. (I've heard that FreeBSD tends to
> be
> smoother under heavy system load but doesnt have as good hardware or
> multi-
> media support.)
>
> jbrown
>
> --
> Outlook Users, please don't put my email address in your address book.
> That way,
> my email address won't appear in forged emails sent by email viruses.
> (Which are
> technically worms btw :P)
> --
> Linux User:190064
> Linux Machine:84163
>
>
10. RE: Linux Replies(was WinXPActivation)
- Posted by eugtk at yahoo.com
Sep 16, 2003
--- Al Getz <Xaxo at aol.com> wrote:
<snip>
> Dont get me wrong, i dont mind companies making big
> bucks
> IF they also make a very good product that is
> reasonably
> priced--that's not Microsoft is it? I dont think
> most
> people feel that it is these days.
I don't mind them making money, either. I am
willing to pay for a good OS and useful programs.
The problem is, Microsoft has taken their (our)
billions and, instead of using some of it to make
Windows better (more stable and secure) they have used
it to devise ways of extorting more and more money
from their customers.
If they wanted, they could have been the
"good guys" in all of this, and would probably have
enjoy an even larger percentage of the market.
The fact that they choose to abuse their customers in
every way possible indicates a serious character
flaw on the part of someone (whose initials are
Bill Gates, I think)
Irv
11. RE: Linux Replies(was WinXPActivation)
Hey, check it out!
One of the M$ alternatives is my beloved iSeries!
Probably won't happen though, I recently read (according to an insider
at IBM) that IBM doesn't want to market the iSeries, which is an
extremely stable, secure and scalable system. Why? iSeries doesn't
sell services! IBM makes lots of $$$ of supporting M$ software.
Maybe that's the key to financial success! Write really bad software
and then make people pay you to fix your own problems. Wait a
minute...hasn't that been done already?
Jonas
kbochert at copper.net wrote:
> On 16 Sep 2003 at 0:08, Greg Haberek wrote:
>
> >
> > > http://www.aaxnet.com/editor/edit029.html#longhorn
> >
> > mmmmmmmm.... k that was a very good read if i say so myself. just to
> > recap for those who
> > didn't read that, Microsoft willrelease its new project "Longhorn" as an
> > entirely new product,
> > therefore avoiding any issues that may arise around their anti-trust
> > suit around "Windows".
> > They're also designing an entirely new file system, which is database
> > driven, based on SQL.
> > Your 'files' will be stored on aM$ server or another server I guess.
> > (Hmmm.... Napster again?)
> > There'll be a new GUI and API for us programmers to learn, too. Not
> > that'd we'd want to.
> > Microsoft may even start to feel empathetic for us, since they've got to
> > rewrite as much software
> > as we do I guess.
> >
> > I feel really good about starting to learn Linux now... Microsoft is
> > gonna bite the big one if they
> > follow through with this. I can't wait. Like they say, "what goes up,
> > must come down" and M$ has
> > been at the top for awhile. I knew one day they'd run out of "good"
> > ideas.
> >
> > ~Greg
>
> OOPS: I sorta messed up that link. Try
>
> http://www.aaxnet.com/editor/edit029.html
>
> for the other 80% of the bad news!
>
>
> Karl Bochert
>
>
