[Elecraft] Firmware upgrades using Ubuntu 12.04

[Alan Jump]

As I just pointed out on a local discussion that was in the middle of a
Windows vs. Mac debate:
Linux is for technicians.
Windows is for management and accountants.
Macs are for artists.

All three can do some serious number-crunching. But Linux, especially in
the command-line mode, is best described as "user-antagonistic". I
happen to like command-line operation for certain tasks; it's actually
faster than waiting for a graphic environment to open, especially if I'm
doing something like network setups or troubleshooting. And I've been
doing it long enough that I can (and probably have) worked through
network problems in my sleep. Others aren't as comfortable typing in
long, arcane strings of commands, options and arguments. For them, there
are graphics-oriented packages that do the same job.

We now return to our regularly-scheduled forum, already in progress...
--
73 de N5ILN/6
Alan

On 7/10/2012 4:14 PM, Guy Olinger K2AV wrote:
> One of the comments attributed to Kernigan or Ritchie, forget which,
> was "If I had known that it [Unix] was going to become a widely used
> system instead of the narrowly targeted in-house tool first imagined,
> I would have named programs and functions more carefully.  I was just
> having fun with the names."
>
> Unix-ish systems like Linux are remarkably non-intuitive, until you
> have learned it.  It does not extend off anything else that is well
> known.  It does not suit appliance-user level OS purchasers.  I have
> used Unix and variants since 1973, and have watched 10 struggle to get
> going for every 1 who got it easy.  The mental mindset of a person
> commonly called a "computer geek" is very useful for learning Unix
> variants.
>
> There are many advantages to the Unix system. The only more scalable
> system on the planet is IBM's mainframe ZOS, and even that now has a
> complete "Unix services subsystem" as an integrated part of the OS.
> Lot of huge stuff simply could not be done without it, including apps
> I managed at SAS Institute before I retired.
>
> BUT, it will never be the general population OS, and for good reason.
> That doesn't make Linux good or bad, or OSX good or bad.  But a Linux
> K3 utility will never be the mainline device as is the Windows
> version.  But the Linux version is likely to be a favorite of a
> professional who uses some Unix variant all day, and is just thinking
> in that frame of reference when he gets home.
>
> 73, Guy.
>
> On Tue, Jul 10, 2012 at 6:37 PM, Bill K9YEQ <k9yeq at live.com> wrote:
>> Don,
>>
>> I couldn't echo your comments more perfectly!  I run it for fun but it is
>> only an email handler and toy for me... besides I haven't the time.
>>
>> 73,
>> Bill
>> K9YEQ
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>>
>>
>> Let me give one OT "RANT", and then I will shut up on this subject.
>> Suffice it to say that I have been extremely disappointing in all Linux
>> distributions because of the lack of any organized support fort the users -
>> the attitude seems to be "if you don't already understand the nuances of
>> Linux, we will shame your questions and be very unhelpful.
>> Check out the various forums and "FAQ" lists to verify this attitude.
>>
>> I have tried Ubuntu, Linux Mint, and Debian in the recent past, and have
>> found that unless you wish to spend a loot of time in "geekdom study", the
>> terms are cryptic and not logical acronyms, and  the user groups are useless
>> unless one is already fluent in their brand of "geek-speak".
>> Yes, I am computer fluent in Windows and peer-to-peer networking - I have
>> worked with PCs since the Apple II days and the IBM PC DOS systems are no
>> stranger to me, but the Linux groups are just not helpful at all to those
>> who do not understand their peculiar cryptic language.
>>
>> In other words, there are no clear and concise instructions for Linux.
>> The "Man pages" are supposedly the answer, but they offer geek-speak
>> explanations for those who are not initiated and expert into the Linux brand
>> of geekdom.
>>
>> I know, there are many who will disagree, but you will have to point me to a
>> (non-on-line) manual that I can use as a reference book and is similar to
>> those like "Mastering Windows XP Professional", Linux in any distro is just
>> not going to "make the grade".
>>
>> For those who simply want to do email and surf the web, Ubuntu is great, as
>> is Linux Mint - it has all the tools those users need, but for those who
>> want to do such things as network a Linux workstation into a Windows peer to
>> peer network, there is just not enough explicit information about how to set
>> it up and make it work. Windows peer-to-peer is native, but with Linux, it
>> is a complex "add-on" that I have not been able to master after several
>> attempts with Samba configuration.
>>
>> I once thought Linux would be my road to salvation without buying
>> Windows7 for 7 computers on my home network, but it just does not work
>> consistently, so I guess I will have to spend the upgrade fees for Win7.
>>
>> So until Linux gives up its superior "I am geek and I want it to stay that
>> way" attitude, it will never fly properly.  Ubuntu and Mint have come a long
>> way in making installation easier, but there is a long way to go in
>> usability.
>>
>> Linux will also have to give up using "cute" names for applications to make
>> sense to users - for instance, Photoshop has a relevant name for photo
>> editing, but GIMP might mean something like "geeky image manipulating
>> program" to Linux fans, but it has no obvioous meaning to the average user.
>>
>> Until Linux "gets real" instead of continuing to be "geeky", it will never
>> fly - meaningful names are important - at least that is my opinion
>> - I equate abstract naming to "geeky", and by saying "geeky" it means
>> exclusionary, and not to be understood by the general user.  And that is
>> what is wrong with Linux.
>>
>> 73,
>> Don W3FPR
>>
>> On 7/9/2012 11:38 PM, Dick Roth wrote:
>>> FYI...to get to manage users and groups one needs to install
>>> "gnome-system-tools".  This can be done via the gui Ubuntu Software
>>> Center.  Once installed you can get to Users and Groups through the
>>> Dash.
>>