[Elecraft] Elecraft's linux utilities - somewhat OT, or maybe not

[Doug Person via Elecraft]

He didn't know me but I knew him.  Computers have been and to a large 
extent still are my life.  When I'm done building another receiver, I 
build another computer and install another linux variation.  I push them 
to their limits.  Windows, in many ways, is always easier for main 
stream things.  However, the other day, I pushed then "Scan" button on 
my multi-function printer to scan a photo, and Windows 8.1 Enterprise 
simply stopped responding to user actions.  I couldn't even tell it to 
reboot.  I had hit the power switch and restart it.  Windows, regardless 
of the version, still has lots and lots of problems.  It really is very 
unstable.

It has gotten better, but has a LONG way to go to catch up to OS/X for 
example - which exemplifies "Stable".  Apple really does have a higher 
focus on stability and ease of use than Microsoft.  Windows 8 is the 
biggest disaster Microsoft has ever managed to pull off. Makes Vista 
look like a success story.  Windows 9 is due out the end of next year.  
Your guess is as good as mine what their plans are.

Linux is a work of art produced by thousands of programmers across 
decades.  It belongs to no one and everyone.  When I use it, which is 
often, I feel a sense of pride that we, the elders, the senior of the 
most senior programmers, as a worldwide movement brought this incredible 
thing to life.  It continues to grow and mature.  Its vastly better than 
it was 10 years ago.

Nothing is perfect.  Driver problems are just as bad on Windows.  If you 
got a printer to work on Windows - consider yourself lucky. There are 
now about 5 categories of drivers for Windows.  You guess if your 
printer is supplied with the right driver for your version of Windows.

To me linux is easy compared to Windows.  I can find everything. There 
are no "hidden" databases of configuration information.  And I'm not 
constantly assaulted by programs installing other programs that 
eventually clog up memory to the point where booting takes 10 minutes.

Its my opinion that linux is the OS that every ham should learn and 
love.  Its consistent and compatible with the spirit of ham radio. The 
do-it-yourself, build-your-own mentality that makes the hobby what it 
is.  Linux is not hard and with a little patience it does everything 
that's important.  Consider that Android is linux and that OS/X, for all 
its glory, is based on just another open source unix derivative.  The 
unix-based OS base is winning and Windows is losing.  The web is largely 
run on linux machines.

So I vote for 64 bit ready Elecraft software because it is rapidly 
becoming the future of computing.

73, Doug -- K0DXV

PS: Make that 16.  I just built another one this afternoon.

On 5/27/2014 7:43 PM, Fred Jensen wrote:
> At sometime in the 50's, the President of IBM is alleged to have said, 
> "The worldwide market for computers is probably about twelve." 
> Apparently he didn't know Doug.
>
> 73,
>
> Fred K6DGW
> - Northern California Contest Club
> - CU in the 2014 Cal QSO Party 4-5 Oct 2014
> - www.cqp.org
>
> On 5/27/2014 1:29 PM, Doug Person via Elecraft wrote:
>
>> I probably have 15 working computers.
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:Elecraft at mailman.qth.net
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to k0dxv at aol.com
>