[Ham-Linux] Which Distro/Apps/Apps development software to use?

[Bill Smith]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: kd4e
To: Bill Smith
Cc: Dan Nelson ; Ham Linux mail list
Sent: Tuesday, February 17, 2009 2:01 PM
Subject: Re: [Ham-Linux] Which Distro/Apps/Apps development software to use?


Actually, the last time I loaded Puppy Linux it came up 100%, used
a fraction of the space of Windows XP or Vista, ran faster, and worked
fine.

And that was?  Probably very recently.  What happened to all the email and
html addresses, archived notes, letters, lists and other information that
are commonly stored on a computer?  You do *use* it, (as opposed to
configuring it) don't you?

I have been able to add multiple apps to it for - free - and without
having to deal with going online to find MS-proprietary drivers.

As for the RARE device for which a specialized proprietary driver is
needed I generally only need to ask on the Puppy Forum and someone
will pop up who has it or finds it, compiles it, then adds it to the
repository of drivers that are click-once-to-install (.pet files).

Try installing a HP 2600n color printer.  Then do it again as part of the
upgrade to the latest distribution release.  BATS!

Don't know what Linux distro you base your experience on, or how
distant in the past, but your experience does not represent many of
the modern Linux distros - despite Microsoft's best efforts to bully
the industry into creating barriers to compatibility.

Try SuSE.  I started with 7.2, and have 10.2, 10.3 and 11.1 currently
running on various machines.  Started with Red Hat versions a long time ago,
have an (old) puppy linux runtime CD, have tried Debian, Ubuntu (several
versions) etc.  Good thing I have a test machine or two.  This isn't unique
to SuSE.  Untold Hours have been spent just configuring the operating
system.  Meanwhile, through all of the effort, Windows 98 and XP have been
rolling along nearly without complaint.  Of course W98 is getting a bit long
in the tooth, but still handles email, word processing, spreadsheet, and
basic list managment quite well, even with 2GB partitions.  It is still
waiting for a replacement.

Considering the huge competitive imbalance between Linux and MS
it is simply amazing how superior Linux is to MS on almost every
level.

Note I am not comparing Linux to Windows.  I am only pointing out that it is
very difficult to *use* a Linux distribution as a desktop resource for an
extended period of time, over three years for example.  At least with older
versions of Red Hat, and SuSE, upgrades don't work, it is necessary to
completely reformat a hard disk and reinstall a new version.  Any personal
data is lost if not backed up, and it is very hard to indentify necessary
data to back up and backed up data is also difficult to restore.  All must
be done manually, file by file, and requires advanced planning and advanced
computer skills.  Back up utilites exist as a cover, but require careful
configuration and attention to each application.  Then, toss in network
configuration, a little dash of mysql mixed with samba, top it off with
security authorization and you have quite a maintenance project on your
hands!  Just for starters.


BTW:  I know many many people who have, and continue to have,
problems with MS XP & Vista, with stability, drivers, security, and
incompatibility with older MS app-generated docs.  MS is hardly a
sound point of reference for terrific code - despite a billion-dollar
corporation.

It is amazing to me that we are working with main-frame strength computers
yet still have response times of the original 8080 floppy-disk-based IBM-PC
and still have to muck around with identifying files with applications and
manual back up procedures.   That is, if the application has been first
configured to work at all.  Haven't tried Vista.  Hardly a productive
environment!

Bill


 > Bill Smith wrote:
>  Try running a professional soundcard
>  under Linux, such as Audio Sciences cards, or external device
>  controllers without compiling the driver.  Then, once you have pulled
>  yourself through that maze, all you have to do is wait, the kernel
>  will be updated and your application will crash.  The remedy is
>  simple to the initiated, just recompile the driver again.  Of course
>  this scenario is impossible in a production environment but a regular
>  scene if you use Linux.  Not satisfied?  Try another Linux version.
>  Or just wait a couple of months and a new version of your choice
>  among myriads of Linux variants (did I say that correctly, don't
>  think so) will require you to wipe your system clean of any and all
>  information just to reinstall the "operating system."  Only takes
>  about six hours, minimum, plus a great number of additional number of
>  hours piecing back the system to where it was before you reinstalled.
>  There is one benefit to this curse, you are fully non-productive.  Am
>  I bashing Linux?  No, but I am bashing how it has been implemented.
>  It can never be a widely accepted desktop "operating system" in its
>  present, unstable state.  Remember, an "operating system" is supposed
>  to be a common base upon which applications can be written against so
>  that compiling and configuring and parameterizing can be eliminated
>  or at best minimized.
>
>  When was the last time you were able to download and install a new
>  Linux application without spending at least an hour getting it to
>  work?  How long has your revision of your version of Linux been
>  installed in your computer?

-- 

Thanks! & 73, doc, KD4E
FS/Swap/Wanted: http://kd4e.com/swapn.html
Free OS : http://www.PuppyLinux.com
Personal: http://kd4e.com
            |_|___|_|
            | | & | |
       /\      {|
      /  \     {|
     /    \    {|
    /   @  \   {|
    |   |~_|~~~~|
    |   -| |    |
============\ # KD4E
Have an http://ultrafidian.com day!