Why I Love Linux -- Part I (Preamble)

[sleddog]

There's been lots of buzz about this operating system (OS) called Linux and how it's challenging Microsoft for the desktop operating system of choice.

I don't see it that way.

This is my view: Linux is Linux. Windows is Windows. Use both for their particular strengths, but for god's sake don't dual-boot. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

MS Windows is the desktop operating system of the vast majority of computer users. Various software packages are designed to run on MS Windows, and do not work on other OS's. There's Microsoft's own Office suite, and many other popular software applications.

You use MS Windows software. Your friends, relatives and co-workers use it as well. It's more-or-less easy for you to pass a Word document, or a CorelDraw file to someone else -- as long as their running MS Windows with this software installed.

That's a strength -- though some may see it as a monopoly http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif but it's not my intention to debate that point.

Where does Linux figure into this? Some software companies are actively developing Linux versions of there software -- Corel is an example: a Linux version of Corel WordPerfect is available. But this is the exception rather than the rule.

In my (humble) opinion there are three truths regarding Linux as a desktop operating system:

1. Linux and its desktop graphical systems (xwindows and desktop managers such as KDE) are maturing at an incredible pace. In terms of functionality they today far outstrip the comparatively paltry MS Windows.

2. Native Linux software exists that can accomplish anything do-able in MS Windows.

3. Compatibility with MS Windows applications is poor-to-non-existent, meaning that the Linux desktop user will have constant headaches sharing formatted data files produced by MS Windows users. And this situation is not going to change very fast.

"East is east and west is west, and never the twain shall meet."

I've looked at Linux as a desktop OS. I've said "no"... why? Linux presents a wonderful, flexible, powerful, stable windowing system. I've said no because I work with other people -- people who use software applications developed for the MS Windows OS -- and I have to have 100% compatibilty with their data formats.

Coming soon: Why I Love Linux -- Part II


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sleddog
[sleddog.f2s.com] (http://www.sleddog.f2s.com)

[This message has been edited by sleddog (edited 03-24-2001).]

[Fish]

All this talk of Linux made me go to e-bay and buy Mandrake for .99 Hope there are some Linux savvy people on here. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

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Pretend you see an evil wizard here, this scares you. It is wicked-
This is my avatar. And now I'm happy because I have one.

[Ghost_Hacker]

I just have to put in my 2 cents.

I love computers and every OS that runs on them. Recently I've begun to play around with Linux and I like it. It's brings out the "geek' in me because it's allows you to configure everything the way you like it. Some people however ( not sleddog) still like to throw eggs at Microsoft and declare linux the new king. These people have forgotten one thing. Microsoft's is,was,and will be, about "ease of use". Sure there are better OS for networking (Netware) and better desktop OS (Linux) and better enterprise OS (Unix) but none of the above is as easy to install and run. Anybody can install NT server drop IIS on top and have a presence on the World Wide Web. The evil Bill Gates http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif has always pushed ease of use as his main calling and on that Windows is number one.

Sure a lot of people have trouble with Windows here on this site but have you noticed that most if not all are not computer professionals.

That is what makes Windows so "cool". Linux was made for the Professional and Professional's love it. (I do) but unless it can be as easy as Windows it will never be number one.


And If Steve Jobs had let people clone the Mac and let his Macintosh OS be ported to other platforms we would all be using a MAC OS instead of Windows. The MAcintosh OS is the only OS easier than Windows.

Thats my take anyway
http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

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Comment heard from a Klingon programmer.

"Debugging? Klingons do not debug. Our software does not coddle the weak"

[This message has been edited by Ghost_Hacker (edited 03-25-2001).]

[Fish]

Hi Ghost_Hacker,
I was wondering if someone with a little experience ,but not much, with computers could run Linux. I (hopefully) am getting it from e-bay for 99 cents. Mandrake 7 I believe. I only got it to maybe dual boot on my other PC I have. I figured if I couldn't I would only be out a buck.

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Pretend you see an evil wizard here, this scares you. It is wicked-
This is my avatar. And now I'm happy because I have one.

[Ghost_Hacker]

If you like to "fool" around with computers then Linux should be a fun project. It won't be as easy to configure and install as Windows,( the learning curve could be real long if your new to computers) but it's a lot more fun to use and I would recommend it.

Be sure to download some of the free Linux documentation that's on the Web.
Here's a link to one: Linux Documentation Project (http://www.ibiblio.org/mdw/index.html)
This link is to Red Hat's site but it still has some good basic documentation on Linux: Red Hat's Linux Docs (http://www.redhat.com/support/docs/howto/)


Another good thing about Linux is that alot of Linux software is free.(including the OS). You can find free "packages" for download all over the net. But unlike Windows, where you can read the readme file last, with Linux reading the readme file first is mandatory. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif


Good Luck!!

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Comment heard from a Klingon programmer.

"Debugging? Klingons do not debug. Our software does not coddle the weak"



[This message has been edited by Ghost_Hacker (edited 03-26-2001).]

[Fish]

Ghost_Hacker,
You think I should just do a reformat on it and just have Linux only on there? This other setup won't be used except when I take my classes in PC Repair in a while. Also am I biting off more than I can chew? lol. I am pretty illiterate when it comes to this stuff. I only reformatted once before and I can't even remember how to do it anymore. If you were a noob, what would you do is what I'm asking I guess? http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

[Ghost_Hacker]

For a newbie I would recommend just having Linux on the computer. That way you don't have to fool with LILO or someother dual boot manager.

I would never tell anyone not to try something. I belive the best way to learn something is to dive right in and start making mistakes http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif
( that's how I've learned..install,screw up,reinstall,screw up..... I wouldn't recommend this method with say oh....deep sea diving but it works for computers)

Since this computer sounds like it's used for learning, that's all the more reason to install Linux and play around with it before you begin your other classes. If it becomes more of a heartache then it's worth you can always reformat it and install someother software. At the very least you'll learn if Linux is for you or not http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

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Comment heard from a Klingon programmer.

"Debugging? Klingons do not debug. Our software does not coddle the weak"

[This message has been edited by Ghost_Hacker (edited 03-27-2001).]

[Fish]

Thanks. I'll go for it. It's good to know there's a Linux guru here tho. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif
You'll know when I try to get it all set up. lots of questions will be asked lol. I agree that trial and error are the best way to learn. I'll be learning alot I guess. Besides, you can't break a comp by screwing up the software, so nothing to lose. Thanks for your help Ghost_Hacker!

[monkeyboy]

If the version of Mandrake that you're getting is the retail box version, then it should come with a trimmed version of partition magic. This will help you to set up a partition for Linux on your hard drive without having to redo your windows partition or re-install anything. Dual booting should be no problem since Linux seems to be pretty friendly about sharing a hard drive with another OS. The Linux newsgroups are always very helpful if problems come up when you're playing with the OS and daemons. Good Luck!

[Fish]

It said in the description that it was the full version, not retail. Does that have a better Partition Magic in it?

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I bet I can screw up more PC's faster than you can fix 'em!

[monkeyboy]

Hi Fish,

I believe the full version and the retail version are the same, which basically means that it comes in a box. The partition magic will be a special edition version which will only help you set up partition room for Linux.

The other version is what they call the "download" version which you can get for free if you have the time to down the iso cd image(about 650MB). The download is the Linux operating system without some added features like the partition magic and tech support from Mandrake. You should be pretty happy with the Mandrake Linux, very easy install process and does a great job of detecting devices during the install...and for a buck, you couldn't go wrong. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif

Have a great day!

[Fish]

Thanks Monkeyboy,
I was thinking for a buck it was worth a try. I hate M$ and the whole concept. But, it is easy for beginners. I would like to get away from it when Linux supports more software tho. I'm not really sure what all comes with Mandrake7 because they made a point saying "This is the full version, not a retail version" so we'll see. I wouldn't know the difference anyways. lol Can you point me in the direction of some good newsgroups?Thanks.

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I bet I can screw up more PC's faster than you can fix 'em!

[This message has been edited by Fish (edited 03-28-2001).]

[sleddog]

comp.os.linux.hardware
comp.os.linux.misc
comp.os.linux.networking
comp.os.linux.security
comp.os.linux.setup
comp.os.linux.x

And fish, the is *tons* of Linux software; what Linux doesn't support is Windows software!

http://freshmeat.net/
http://fundy.linuxberg.com/
http://www.linuxapps.com/
http://www.icewalk.com/
http://www.fokus.gmd.de/linux/

Should keep ya goin' for a while http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif


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sleddog
[sleddog.f2s.com] (http://www.sleddog.f2s.com)

[This message has been edited by sleddog (edited 03-28-2001).]

[Fish]

Sleddog, that will keep me for a while. Thanks my friend! Just what I was looking for. Keep up with the good work on the preambles too. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

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I bet I can screw up more PC's faster than you can fix 'em!

[Kalle]

Fish!
Take my advice, from a Linux newbie to another. If you want any work done on your computer, make a dual boot, since Lin isn't "easy" in the way Win is. To avoid Lilo- messing in the hd I use a boot-floppy, really easy to use, and I dind't have any problems starting Win nor Lin.

[Malfisher]

Hello all, I just happened on this place, and appreciated the thoughtful comment on Linux as opposed to Windows, which I have to say I find myself agreeing with.

Also, had a good laugh at the comment about just getting in there and screwing up as a good way of learning, (I loved the deep sea diving bit, LOL) It reminded me about how I got into being a trainee geek, I got my first computer 2 years ago, due to illness that took me out of work, had never plugged one in till age 40. So I got this 486 with a 540 hdd, and when it started filling up, I started deleting with extreme predudice, all the files I thought we would not "use or need"........in the Windows 95 folder, LOL.

Well from there on, I can do pretty fair with them now, have built 4 machines, and get paid occaisionally to fix problems for others, and it was all due to ignorant arrogance, but curiosity for these wonderfull machines, it was reading about mhz that really sucked me in.

I drove an 18 wheeler truck for 19 years, but computers have become a huge part of my life now. (I spose it's all over then! http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif Looks like a great forum by the way. Regards, Mal.

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I've got to be an expert at SOMTHING......err, no I aint actually.

[Fish]

Welcome to the boards Malfisher!
Kalle, thanks for the advice! I'm not sure what to do. I'm only going to use it for Linux to play around with. So that's ok if it screws up. I'll just put 98 back on there if it does. How does one find out if evrything on your PC is compatible with Mandrake7? It's a Gateway 366 onboard sound/video. It's been so long since I've used it, can't remember much more, but can find out if you need to know. What else do I need to know to find out about compatibility?

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I bet I can screw up more PC's faster than you can fix 'em!