[Ham-Linux] Anyone using . . .

[Bob McConnell]

Nate Bargmann wrote:
> 
> Why hasn't Linux taken over as the OS of choice for hams?
> 

Because Microsoft still controls what software the major Manufacturer's 
can install on their hardware. If they offer anything but MS-Windows, 
their profit margin will dissappear. It's not legal, but since it 
appears they bribed their way out of the anti-trust conviction, nothing 
is going to be done about it.

The only way to get real choice is to buy a system from one of the 
little guys, or white box computer shops. But that requires planning and 
thought, which is too much like work, so it's a lot easier to go to the 
Dell web site and select one of their standard packages.

If Walmart even sold their Linspire package in the stores, instead of 
just on line, there might be more movement toward Linux.

I currently have three Slackware servers, one with 7.1 (firewall), one 
9.1 and one 10.1. I also have two Slack 10.1 workstations, one with KDE, 
the other with Gnome. I have a Win98SE desktop running Agent, for which 
I have not found an acceptable replacement. Finally, I have a Dell 
Latitude XPiCD Laptop (M166) running Win98SE that I occasionally use as 
a remote console for the servers. I need to build and hang a 2M j-pole 
for an APRS repeater. I have everything else ready.

At work I have one Devil Linux box that is occasionally used on a test 
network as the DHCP server, and a FreeBSD 5.4 system where I am 
developing a test system to emulate a few hundred credit card terminals 
to exercise our transaction servers. We also have a line of products 
running on RedHat EE servers (www.webfood.com).

Movement to open source is slow but inescapable. Keep up the good work.

Bob McConnell
N2SPP

"When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro."
                            Jerry Pournelle