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Technology Stocks : All About Sun Microsystems -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: cfimx who wrote (62750)	2/16/2005 2:28:16 AM
From: QwikSand	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 64865

is there any linux out there that just works without having to learn a lot of commands? I mean simple. Yes, absolutely. It's called MacOS X, based on an open-source Unix-like kernel every bit as good as Linux. The Linux hackers write software mainly for themselves; then they flatter themselves as benefactors of mankind if their work is usable by determined people who can't read code. It has been said that Linux is put together by "white males with a superiority complex". That about sums it up. The Apple hackers write software for you. They make it easy and fun to use. Everything just works. You don't have to learn how to install kernel modules or learn what /etc/rc.d is or use two-letter Unix commands--but you can if you want. And about 90% of their GUI stuff is better-designed and more fun to use than the best of Linux and MSFT put together. The only Microsoft thing you need is Office for Mac OS X, probably the best piece of software Microsoft has ever produced. You can't beat Mac OS. Why try? What's the problem? My gut tells me you can probably afford the few extra bucks. Linux is for geeks and servers, and will remain so for quite a while no matter what anybody says. Just forget it. --QS

To: cfimx who wrote (62750)	2/16/2005 12:26:34 PM
From: I_Banker	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 64865

Actually, having played around with a lot of Linux distributions, trying to find one I could use I have found 2 that would likely fit your requirements: Xandros (you can try for free) and Linspire. Now a lot of Linux zealots will rant and rave that Linspire is a rip-off cause you have to pay $50 a year for free programs (i.e. their download warehouse), but for ease of use for grandma and anyone else who has better things to do with their time it is a no brainer. Xandros is similar, with a download warehouse that has programs that just work. No commands, no figuring out anything, simply select and install. Linspire usually has some sort of free trial as well. Good Luck.

To: cfimx who wrote (62750)	2/16/2005 7:48:48 PM
From: Thomas C. Kimmel	Respond to of 64865

I recently replaced W2K Server with the Libranet distribution of Debian and have been impressed by it. I went that way because the old disk crashed and there was no point in reinstalling a dead OS on the new one. I downloaded the distribution and burned it to 2 CDs, booted from number 1 and took all of the defaults (except disk partitioning, which I have strong feelings about, but still could have lived with the suggested, since it's all on one drive). A short while later, I brought up a GUI administrators interface and did a one-click full system upgrade. I had my trepidations but it ended up fine. It was similar to a cygwin upgrade on Win32. The worst aspect of it, and this is my biggest beef with open source in general, is that there are too many of everything. But I guess that the market will decide the winners. This system is my 11-year-old's machine. I can assure you that he does not use command line. (Of course, neither does he use Quicken.) Libranet++ -tck