Os Dilemma

[Shade Everdark]

I recently acquired a new hard disk on the cheap. I intend to use it as a platform to run a second OS from my main PC.

That said, of course I managed to get my hands on copies of three different OSes that I would like to play around with, and no I don't want to bother with partitioning the second disk for multiple installs; too much hassle for too little reward (not to mention that when I'm done playing with one I can just blow it away and install another, which is kind of the point). My problem is my natural indecisiveness: I can't decide which I would like to try first. Here are my choices:

Sun Solaris 10

Ubuntu 7.10

Leopard

So, opinions? Suggestions? OSes you think I should prioritize ahead of the three I currently have available? Don't leave me stuck in the loneliness of one OS computing any longer than I need to be, my geek friends!

[Gaf The Horse With Tears]

Well, which one do you think you have the highest probability of ever using outside of this venture in self torture?

[Msterbeau]

You need reasonably up to date hardware for Leopard...

[Shade Everdark]

You need reasonably up to date hardware for Leopard...

It's not bleeding edge, but I'm pretty sure Leopard will run on it.

[Shade Everdark]

Well, which one do you think you have the highest probability of ever using outside of this venture in self torture?

I think that would undoubtedly be Solaris.

We use it extensively at my workplace; there isn't much left in any other varieties of Linux/UNIX now that our AIX servers are going away. Leopard might be useful, if (stereotype alert) I were thinking about landing myself in publishing or graphics (in terms of my current company, read that as advertising).

Truth be told, though, it's not solely (though it is in part) about learning skills specifically to be useful for where I am right now. I just want to try out some new ways of doing things, broaden my horizons, and tinker.

[Gaf The Horse With Tears]

Rock on, totally understand where you are coming from.

I learned everythign I know about computers that way.

DOS 3.3 is where I really started... I bought a small book with every command, even "undocumented" ones, in DOS it. Each had a one line description of what it did, but not what it was really for. I sat down and did everything at least 3 times... no mater how devistating, and took mental note of what it did, what it affected and what i could think it would be used for...

It's why I can remeber: Debug C:800

[Msterbeau]

It's not bleeding edge, but I'm pretty sure Leopard will run on it.

99% sure you need SATA harddrive and a high end P4. Core Duo or better, prefered.

This is where you want to check out how-to's, problem solving and hardware requirements: http://www.osx86project.org/

I have an OSX86 copy of Leopard if you don't feel like chasing the download yourself. There will very likely be other patches and such required to make it fully functional. Depends on your hardware. Typically things like networking, high-speed USB and sound don't always work straight out of the box. Make sure your graphics card is supported. The last time I checked, AMD processors were not supported for Leopard but were OK for Tiger.

That's all I got for now...

Oh... You will need to know your command line stuff, or at least be able to read instructions on how to use it. ;-)

[Shade Everdark]

99% sure you need SATA harddrive and a high end P4. Core Duo or better, prefered.

This is where you want to check out how-to's, problem solving and hardware requirements: http://www.osx86project.org/

I have an OSX86 copy of Leopard if you don't feel like chasing the download yourself. There will very likely be other patches and such required to make it fully functional. Depends on your hardware. Typically things like networking, high-speed USB and sound don't always work straight out of the box. Make sure your graphics card is supported. The last time I checked, AMD processors were not supported for Leopard but were OK for Tiger.

That's all I got for now...

Oh... You will need to know your command line stuff, or at least be able to read instructions on how to use it. ;-)

Seriously? It's recommended to have Dual Core? Criminy. I'm still running a single-processor machine (it's only two years old, it's not that far gone), though I have a decent amount of RAM, and yes, I have completely abandoned IDE for SATA the primary PC.

I already have the download complete (assuming it works, haven't tried it yet). And if AMD processors aren't supported, it sort of makes everything else moot.

[Msterbeau]

Seriously? It's recommended to have Dual Core? Criminy. I'm still running a single-processor machine (it's only two years old, it's not that far gone), though I have a decent amount of RAM, and yes, I have completely abandoned IDE for SATA the primary PC.

I already have the download complete (assuming it works, haven't tried it yet). And if AMD processors aren't supported, it sort of makes everything else moot.

They may have gotten AMD support running. It wasn't when i last tried after Christmas.

You should be OK with a recent single core. I think the more important part is the SATA drive. I'd go do some reading first..

[Gaf The Horse With Tears]

I dind't know that Apple and AMD had a lic. agreement.

[Troy Spiral (13)]

Although it seems you've already moved passed the Initial decision...Solaris is the only one of the 3 I've even heard spoken of in real life anytime recently. I'm at least reasonably "aware" of the existence of the more obscure OSes (although i tend to ignore them since there's a lifetime of learning even in just a single OS or even the top 3).

I poked around the Internet and looked up the other two.. Solaris wins , at least in terms of any even remotely transferable skills that are likely to be of use, unless you have some uber-specific job in mind that is in dire need of somone literate in the other two. I'm sure you'll still get the "ohh this is different" feel from Solaris with the side-effect of it (however remotely) having a higher chance of actually being of some actual use.

Random aside... i got my computer-tinkering teeth cut on V20 / C64 programming back before dirt was invented. DOS didnt come into play for me until around 89? DOS 4.0 ish and i got on board with the BBS craze.

[Msterbeau]

I dind't know that Apple and AMD had a lic. agreement.

They don't. The people hacking the OSX install have figured a way to make it work with AMD processors even though the official version only runs on Intel.

[Dubh Aingeal]

Sun Solaris 10

Ubuntu 7.10

Leopard

I'm running 7.10 on one system, and 8.04 on another. Have used x86 Solaris 10, and it can be a pain to get installed. Once installed its pretty solid, but its getting it installed and booting thats the real trick. But thats been a few years ago, so maybe any recent updates has made that easier. I've been fighting with getting Leopard installed for about 2 months now with no luck.

They may have gotten AMD support running. It wasn't when i last tried after Christmas.

You should be OK with a recent single core. I think the more important part is the SATA drive. I'd go do some reading first..

As long as the processor is SSE2 and SSE3 enabled your processor should be ok. You can use a CPU with just SSE2, except you will need to do some hacking to get only some PowerPC applications running, and your general computing experience will be slower with SSE2. If you don't have SSE2 and you try installing OSX86: when you bootup your computer it will lockup after it gets to the gray Apple logo.

Random aside... i got my computer-tinkering teeth cut on V20 / C64 programming back before dirt was invented. DOS didnt come into play for me until around 89? DOS 4.0 ish and i got on board with the BBS craze.

Right there with ya. First experience was with a C-64 running a 300 baud modem (which I still have and working).

[Msterbeau]

I have an option. Throw the computer away and go back to an abacus.

[jadnifer]

I have an option. Throw the computer away and go back to an abacus.

There's been times when I have wanted to throw my computer out the window and go back to the old days when I DID use an abacus in math class. LOL!