OS Reality

**Deckard** · 02-11-2002

Originally posted by Justin W
By the way, how do you pronounce Linux? lin, leen, line, or lother?

ftp://ftp.funet.fi/pub/Linux/PEOPLE/...nds/english.au

Now you know ;)

**Brian** · 02-11-2002

LOL, thanks deck. You solved one of life's great mysteries.

**vasanth** · 02-13-2002

Ok if you are all right, in Supporting Linux.. Why is it that majority of computer users around the world use Windows.. Almost everyone wont use it because it is ****, dumb or anything.... Linux is hard to use .. I am not saying linux is Dumb... What i mean to say is that Linux is not fit for a desktop.. But i do agree that it's the best for a server...

**~~Troll_King~~** · 02-13-2002

Personally I don't have any reason to use Linux. I can do everything with Microsoft Windows including running the most powerful enterprise servers. Look into MCSE to learn what your operating system can really do.

**vasanth** · 02-13-2002

I agree with you

**Deckard** · 02-13-2002

Originally posted by vasanth
What i mean to say is that Linux is not fit for a desktop.. But i do agree that it's the best for a server...

I almost agree ;)

I think that Linux is fit for the desktop, but Linux just doesn't have what it takes to be a leader in the desktop realm. However, I feel Linux is hard to be beat in a server environment.

Why should you (or anyone) run Linux at home? I can think of a couple of reasons. One is that it is a great way to learn *nix and the details of TCP/IP and their related services (DHCP, DNS, etc). Another reason is it allows control of your system at a very detailed level. This would be useful if you had a need to do something Windows won't allow you to do (raw sockets, for example).

If you tried Linux and you didn't like it, or you don't see a benefit in running Linux, you should certainly run something else. On the other hand, let's not run out and bash a perfectly good operating system just because it doesn't suit your particular needs. :)

**klausi** · 02-13-2002

Linux is fit for the desktop! Especially the new Gnome desktop is very powerful.
But there are still to less applications and drivers for Linux.
This is why there aren´t so many Linux user for desktops yet.

klausi

**adrianxw** · 02-13-2002

>>> Linux is fit for the desktop!

Not when my customers specify a Windows based solution in their tender documents. No Windows = non-compliant = no contract.

**Invincible** · 02-13-2002

What free Linux OS would everyone reccomend for a beginning Linux user? And how hard would it be to set up a dual boot system? I have 2 drives. One would contian Win95, the other, Linux.

Also, how does Linux compare to Unix?

**Deckard** · 02-13-2002

Originally posted by invincible
What free Linux OS would everyone reccomend for a beginning Linux user?

I would recommend the Red Hat distro for anyone brand new to Linux. Red Hat comes with numerous additional utilities that can help a beginner, such as 'setsound'. I also hear good things about Mandrake, but I don't have any experience with that flavor. Perhaps someone else could chime in on that.

Originally posted by invincible
Also, how does Linux compare to Unix?

In my opinion, Linux and Unix are remarkably similar. I spend my weekdays on HP/UX and my weekends on Linux. With the exception of a few differences in file locations (startup scripts, etc), they have the same look and feel.

**~~Troll_King~~** · 02-13-2002

There is nothing that Linux can do that Windows can't do and infact Windows can do a lot more. If you want the source code for Windows than you just need a special licence. I think that the big difference is that some people with no money turn to Linux.

**ggs** · 02-13-2002

with the exception of troll king (and a few others), most lunix bashers never really have seemed to have used lunix (perhaps some have installed and failed.)

instead, they just stick by winblows... btw, I do use winblowsme.

and then there are the openbs freaks....

and some people have no argument whatsoever...

I like both operating systems, really... it's hard to bash one down completely, or even just say 'it's only good for such and such...'

btw, lunix is no longer hardcore. instead, many seem to see it as lame.. I guess you need to do something more crazy to be a rebel os user..

**Ken Fitlike** · 02-13-2002

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by invincible
What free Linux OS would everyone reccomend for a beginning Linux user?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

and

I would recommend the Red Hat distro for anyone brand new to Linux. Red Hat comes with numerous additional utilities that can help a beginner, such as 'setsound'. I also hear good things about Mandrake, but I don't have any experience with that flavor. Perhaps someone else could chime in on that.

Ah! Where was your helpful advice when I asked this last week in the Linux forum?

Cheers anyway, i've taken a note. Perhaps this particular question+ answers can be added to a FAQ?

And if you don't mind me asking, Deckard, would you care to express any opinions on Debian Linux?

**novacain** · 02-13-2002

>>Windows won't allow you to do (raw sockets, for example).

Not so true anymore with XP and 2000 both fitted with raw sockets.

Only XP has no restictions (priveliges) so all apps have root level access.
Now we can all run 'timato' bots.

Good one M$.
Bottom line, most PC users don't want / need to know the way the OS / PC works as long as it does and they don't have to click their mouse more times than absolutely needed.

Unregistered · 02-13-2002

>>Look into MCSE to learn what your operating system can really do

I thought they gave those away with every happy meal at mcdonalds??

But for real I like to know what my os does which I never be to sure with windows. I remeber having a windows computer serve as both my gateway and server and had to restart it almost daily until I replaced it with linux which took a good 10 minutes to setup and haven't needed a restart since.