Making The Move To Linux

[Shade Everdark]

So I've finally taken the plunge and installed Linux (Ubuntu 7.04) on one of my PCs at home. In fact, I'm posting from that very machine. I must say it's wonderfully refreshing and invigorating learning a new way of doing things, and one that isn't horribly crippled by DRM or filled with annoying pop-ups reminding me of things about which I've been reminded 1,000 times before.

On the other hand, I'm finding that it's often terribly frustrating, in part because it is a new way of doing something. The 'dependency hell' I seem to be familiar with from my previous, limited experiences with Linux is substantially reduced, but other mysterious problems have cropped up that I have had to (sort of) work my way through, such as the application installer not reading from the install disc I just inserted, or not knowing that I needed to download a firmware package to make my wireless card compatible; just little things that become monumentally aggravating when you've not the first clue how to fix them.

...just like Windows.

[Msterbeau]

Brenda's still on Linux after her Windows install fried. She hates it....

Me... I'm working on a fairly fresh install of OSX86 (Mac OS-X on generic PC hardware). Works flawlessly most of the time. The other day I installed Parallels Desktop which allows me to run Windows (Through virtualization.) at the same time.

[Troy Spiral (13)]

You'll be back.... they all come back... *cackles*

(grumbles , damn traitor, how dare you have independent thought)

Hamlet Act III , Scene I

"...bear those ills we have Than fly to others that we know not of"

[Brenda Starrr]

Oh GOD! I hate it!!! I can't upload any of my pics to myspace anymore. I HAAAAAAAAAATE it.

[Dubh Aingeal]

So I've finally taken the plunge and installed Linux (Ubuntu 7.04) on one of my PCs at home. In fact, I'm posting from that very machine. I must say it's wonderfully refreshing and invigorating learning a new way of doing things, and one that isn't horribly crippled by DRM or filled with annoying pop-ups reminding me of things about which I've been reminded 1,000 times before.

On the other hand, I'm finding that it's often terribly frustrating, in part because it is a new way of doing something. The 'dependency hell' I seem to be familiar with from my previous, limited experiences with Linux is substantially reduced, but other mysterious problems have cropped up that I have had to (sort of) work my way through, such as the application installer not reading from the install disc I just inserted, or not knowing that I needed to download a firmware package to make my wireless card compatible; just little things that become monumentally aggravating when you've not the first clue how to fix them.

...just like Windows.

If you have any questions or need a tip to point you in the right direction, you know how to get a hold of me.

You'll be back.... they all come back... *cackles*

(grumbles , damn traitor, how dare you have independent thought)

Hamlet Act III , Scene I

"...bear those ills we have Than fly to others that we know not of"

They do not. I haven't.

Oh GOD! I hate it!!! I can't upload any of my pics to myspace anymore. I HAAAAAAAAAATE it.

PM me. I can probably help you out.

[Msterbeau]

If you have any questions or need a tip to point you in the right direction, you know how to get a hold of me.

They do not. I haven't.

PM me. I can probably help you out.

*Sniff*

*Feels left out from the Duhb I.T. love*

[Dubh Aingeal]

*Sniff*

*Feels left out from the Duhb I.T. love*

Sorry dude, but you would be the guru of the Mac in comparison to me. Outside looking at (and test use) in a store I have no knowledge of the mac. Even if the new OS is based on Linux.

[Msterbeau]

Sorry dude, but you would be the guru of the Mac in comparison to me. Outside looking at (and test use) in a store I have no knowledge of the mac. Even if the new OS is based on Linux.

Ha! i was kidding.

I imagine if I opened up the terminal and sat you down in front of it, you'd be right at home.

[Dubh Aingeal]

Ha! i was kidding.

I imagine if I opened up the terminal and sat you down in front of it, you'd be right at home.

Very likely. It was a hard decision last year between getting a Macbook Pro and my Alienware laptop. Which kept windows on it for a whole 3 months before being converted.

[Brenda Starrr]

I don't know if I can be saved. Unless someone drops off a Windows disk. Then, I might have to make a cocktail for you.

[Scary Guy]

Sorry dude, but you would be the guru of the Mac in comparison to me. Outside looking at (and test use) in a store I have no knowledge of the mac. Even if the new OS is based on Linux.

IT'S BASED ON UNIX, THERE IS A DIFFERENCE!

[Msterbeau]

I don't know if I can be saved. Unless someone drops off a Windows disk. Then, I might have to make a cocktail for you.

I'll try to find time to make a copy of mine you can have. See ya Friday night!!

[Troy Spiral (13)]

Me i really couldn't care less what the particular OS is , as a political statement. I just like stuff to work, and i also like variety of choice. If it works, with minimal hasle, and does what i need it to do, so be it. Its just a tool, not a lifestyle or worldview statement , at least not for me.

The Zealots of one particular OS religion kind of scare me. If they even THINK you might be blaspheming against their scriptures you might incur the wrath of the zealot. Reminds me of the kind of patriotism that leads to hatred of the "other" just for the sheer fact that its not one of "us".

Not that it applies to anyone in this thread, but its a common tone I've noticed over the years, its a bit disconcerting.

[Scary Guy]

Me i really couldn't care less what the particular OS is , as a political statement. I just like stuff to work, and i also like variety of choice. If it works, with minimal hasle, and does what i need it to do, so be it. Its just a tool, not a lifestyle or worldview statement , at least not for me.

The Zealots of one particular OS religion kind of scare me. If they even THINK you might be blaspheming against their scriptures you might incur the wrath of the zealot. Reminds me of the kind of patriotism that leads to hatred of the "other" just for the sheer fact that its not one of "us".

Not that it applies to anyone in this thread, but its a common tone I've noticed over the years, its a bit disconcerting.

No shit, almost all the Mac idio... I mean users freaked when they switched to Intel chips, and half didn't even like the fact that they switched to a UNIX core way back when. They really are becoming more PC like every day.

However if you want something to "just work" Apple is still your best bet for that. Most just can't afford it.

[Msterbeau]

Most just can't afford it.

Go do your homework before you say stuff like that. That was the old days... Nowadays (Thanks in part to using Intel processors and more industry standard components) Mac hardware is as inexpensive, or more-so, then comparable PC hardware. (I'm talking brand-name here, not home built. Home built might save you money but you potentially lose some reliability due to the nature of the beast..)

Anyways... this article spells it out pretty well:

http://arstechnica.com/journals/apple.ars/...ac-vs-pc-prices

Beyond just price... you get amazing costumer service, when things go wrong. That alone is worth good money to many people. I've heard amazing stories firsthand. Dell had good service years ago, but they pissed it away somehow.

[Scary Guy]

"But first, let me say to all those people who have ever bought a Packard Bell or eMachines PC and believe that great value in a computer means any model that sells for $600 or less: I agree—Apple doesn't have an answer for you. In fact, I suggest that you skip this article entirely. You're not going to find anything of interest in it.

In other words: Apple chooses not to compete in the lowest market segments."

Back in the day I did own a Packard Bell and it wasn't a bad machine, eMachines really are pieces of shit though, but I'm getting off track.

We're poor these days (I say we as a society) and most people are going to get a computer they can afford and hope that it lasts them 5-10 years. I'm unfortunately not on the bleeding edge of technology anymore which is a pain. But these days you can get a pretty similar system if you DIY for way cheaper. Anyone with the knowledge to roll their own system (which isn't hard to do compared to the old days) and can save some cash that way probably should.

Mac < PC in terms of price

Then again when talking about these things they really should be put in the "religion and philosophy" forum.

[Head Wreck]

all packard bells need to be burnt and thier employees need thier eyes and tounge burnt out with a poker. i fucking hate them. nearly as much as i hate Dell's at current (and to think i used to like dell PC's for ease of work hardware wise).

mac's. i'd have one anyday if the games i played ran on them and though i hate intel architecture and much prefer mottorolla architecture, the inted core 2 duo macs are faster than the motto equivelant.

right now i am on a brand new machine (online this monday, lanfear has been decomissioned to the parts bin now) which is running vista ultimate with a backup partition of linux (just incase vista goes tits up) and its great. but it comes at such a high financial cost to me (trust me it cost me a fair chunk! i could buy that triumph gt6 or reliant scimitar i always wanted to restore for the price), and it could have paid for a mac easily.

[Dubh Aingeal]

mac's. i'd have one anyday if the games i played ran on them

This might help you out HW (or anyone who games on a non M$ OS). While I might not be a big fan of the monthly fee the linux version is what I use for all the games I play, and have never had a issue setting up any game to run on it.

[Scary Guy]

all packard bells need to be burnt and thier employees need thier eyes and tounge burnt out with a poker. i fucking hate them.

They haven't done anything here since 2000, but they got bought out by John Hui (former owner of eMachines) last year.

All I know is the three I have sitting behind me still work and they're over 10 years old.

Then again those 486's were like tanks back then and still run like tanks today (not that many have use for such antiquated technology these days).

[Dubh Aingeal]

(not that many have use for such antiquated technology these days)

Make for great DHCP/DNS/Firewall servers.

[Head Wreck]

they just fell over and died over here and they were sold by currys/dixons/pcworld who serviced them themselves. and they were utter shit. i'd hire fujitsu over them anyday

[Shade Everdark]

It seems I've run into my first real snag (other than needing the text-based installer).

I can't seem to get rid of a copy of Pidgin that I installed. Whenever I do a package search for the Pidgin package, I'm told that the search can't find it, and I'm looking right at it.

To quote the orc peons from Warcraft, "Work work".

[Dubh Aingeal]

It seems I've run into my first real snag (other than needing the text-based installer).

I can't seem to get rid of a copy of Pidgin that I installed. Whenever I do a package search for the Pidgin package, I'm told that the search can't find it, and I'm looking right at it.

To quote the orc peons from Warcraft, "Work work".

How are you doing the search?

[Scary Guy]

Why even look for it, if you know it's there just remove it.

pkg_delete pidgin_2.0.x is how I would do it on BSD, which wouldn't give me any problem.