OpenEuphoria

Re: {OT} Interesting view on Windows/Linux+Wine

• Posted by Jason Gade <jaygade at yahoo.com> Mar 08, 2006
• 688 views

Al Getz wrote:
> 
> Hello again,
> 
> 
> In a pm a friend wrote this:
> 
>  Emulators usually suck because they run at a fraction
>  of the speed of the real thing and when a weird interrupt call is
>  initiated they choke... I have also heard some emulators want money
>  to give you ability to use some software. If I had to choose between
>  windoze and putting up with wine etc.... I choose windoze because
>  that is less time I spend messing with trying to make something work
>  I could be doing something useful. If I were poor I could save about
>  $150 or less going the linux/wine thing but having to deal with
>  compatibity every time you want to use a new piece of softare will
>  quickly undo any savings that you could just get a part time job to
>  buy windoze with.
> 
> 
> Interesting view?  Should i even bother getting Linux since i already
> have Windows?
> 
> 
> Al
> 
> 
> My bumper sticker: "I brake for LED's"

I think Ken's reply is a *little* over the top. MS isn't as bad as all that.
While they have done some unsavory things, I still think they make relatively
good software. Definitely not comparable to the actions of the Third Reich.

The Freedom of Linux, and Free Software in general, is a value-added
proposition. You know that you, or anyone, can modify the source code to fit your
needs. You do not just have to rely on the originator of the Software like you do
with proprietary software. In addition, you can share your changes freely without
worrying about royalties or infringing on someone else's "intellectual property".

This is a good thing even if you don't personally modify any Free Software. You
still get the benefits of a community doing this for you, as well as intensive
peer-review.

Now, if Windows is good enough for you then that is fine. Use Wine only if you
use Linux mostly but need a few Windows tools still. Linux is a little difficult
to administer, but I love the command-line tools for normal work. Even though I
use Windows mostly, I still install Unix Command Line Tools when I do. Guess I
just got used to typing 'ls' instead of 'dir' at work! Plus, X Window System is
awesome if you like to have your own custom GUI.

Link for Unix Command Line Tools http://unxutils.sourceforge.net/

There are other stuff, but this is my favorite so far.

PS I've never tried Wine, but I think your friend might be wrong in this case
about emulation. Wine stands for 'Wine Is Not an Emulator'. And it isn't. I
believe that it is a re-implementation of the shared libraries of Windows (which
are what make Windows Windows) under Linux/*BSD.

--
"Any programming problem can be solved by adding a level of indirection."
--anonymous
"Any performance problem can be solved by removing a level of indirection."
--M. Haertel
"Premature optimization is the root of all evil in programming."
--C.A.R. Hoare
j.