Linux-Misc Digest #86, Volume #24 Sun, 9 Apr 00 10:13:01 EDT
Contents:
Re: How Microsoft inhibits competition & innovation ("Peter T. Breuer")
Re: WP8 d'load install to Linux? (Ralph C Blach)
Re: How Microsoft inhibits competition & innovation ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
Linux printing inadequate. (Ralph C Blach)
Re: acrobat for linux (ps -> pdf) (J Bland)
Re: Image tool to grab image from the screen (J Bland)
Re: Linux printing inadequate. ("Peter T. Breuer")
Re: Autofs does not work as expected (Uwe Malzahn)
Re: Linux printing inadequate. (Ralph C Blach)
xmms+esound output problem ("Catilina")
Re: How do I write man pages? (Marc D. Williams)
Re: Ditto Tape Drivers? (Marc D. Williams)
Re: how to back up a linux system (Bastian)
Re: Windows 2000 has 63,000 bugs - Win2k.html [0/1] - Win2k.html [0/1] (Scott E.
Regener)
Re: How Microsoft inhibits competition & innovation ("Robert Moir")
new hdd (Arash)
/etc/fstab and NTFS drives (Alex Kaufman)
Re: Linux printing inadequate. ("Peter T. Breuer")
Re: Where to get setuser? ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
Re: Linux printing inadequate. (Ralph C Blach)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: "Peter T. Breuer" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Crossposted-To: comp.lang.java.advocacy,comp.os.ms-windows.nt.advocacy
Subject: Re: How Microsoft inhibits competition & innovation
Date: 9 Apr 2000 11:13:41 GMT
In comp.os.linux.misc btolder wrote:
: The cost of M$ software is incredibly reasonable. It's running about $90
: every 3 years for an OS upgrade. That's $30 per year. Most companies budget
: more for office supplies and copies per employee per year.
Can you be quite so naive and unaware of economics! The cost to YOU is
not the cost of the software you receive, but the cost in unreceived
software. Billy is quite happy for you to pay zilch for his software
if it keeps the opposition out. Then he can reap the licence fees from
people who want to sell on add software for his platform, and the
payments from the assembly shops who sell you the computer WITH the
O/S on it already (and charge you for it in their margin even if
you don't get it). And so on ... have you played monopoloy (the board
game)?
Peter
------------------------------
From: Ralph C Blach <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: WP8 d'load install to Linux?
Date: Sun, 09 Apr 2000 07:27:30 -0400
Well, as I recall, there are instruction on the CD.
Look for a file called Readme or install.txt or something like that.
Chip
Trawler wrote:
> I am a very big newbie trying to install Corel WordPerfect 8 to Winlinux
> (pausing for laughter to die down) and I need detailed instructions. I
> downloaded the full file butI just don't think I unzipped or tarred it
> right and I don't know where to put the files to run install. As I am so
> new to Linux I need very simple and thorough instructions as you would
> give to a child or maybe a clever pet.
>
> Thank you,
>
> Trawler
> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
> --
> Posted via CNET Help.com
> http://www.help.com/
--
Ralph "Chip" Blach
KF4WBK
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
------------------------------
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Re: How Microsoft inhibits competition & innovation
Crossposted-To: comp.lang.java.advocacy,comp.os.ms-windows.nt.advocacy
Date: Sun, 09 Apr 2000 11:33:35 GMT
In comp.os.linux.misc btolder wrote:
>> Not very good at maths, are you? Even if you get the full priced distro
>> of, say, SuSE at 25 quid, you can install that legally on as many
>> machines as you want. Yours, your companys, your friends, all at no extra
>> cost.
>>
>> Try that with M$ windows, and see how fast you get accused of software
>> piracy.
> The cost of M$ software is incredibly reasonable. It's running about $90
> every 3 years for an OS upgrade. That's $30 per year. Most companies budget
> more for office supplies and copies per employee per year.
Nope. That's $30 per year, PER machine. A company with 50 machines would
have to pay $1500 (using YOUR costing, which is WILDLY inaccurate).
--
| |What to do if you find yourself stuck in a crack|
| [EMAIL PROTECTED] |in the ground beneath a giant boulder, which you|
| |can't move, with no hope of rescue. |
| Andrew Halliwell BSc |Consider how lucky you are that life has been |
| in |good to you so far... |
| Computer Science | -The BOOK, Hitch-hiker's guide to the galaxy.|
=============================================================================
|GCv3.12 GCS>$ d-(dpu) s+/- a C++ US++ P L/L+ E-- W+ N++ o+ K PS+ w-- M+/++ |
|PS+++ PE- Y t+ 5++ X+/X++ R+ tv+ b+ DI+ D+ G e++ h/h+ !r!| Space for hire |
------------------------------
From: Ralph C Blach <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Linux printing inadequate.
Date: Sun, 09 Apr 2000 07:34:45 -0400
After using Linux for a number of years, I can truefully say that Linux
printing is totally inadequate.
Lpr simply does not have the options and flexability that a modern
printer system needs.
1) I should be at least able to control the duplex nature of a duplex
printer from the lpr statement ,
but I cant.
2) I should be able to attach different print filters through the
configuration menus to the same device.
Lets take redhat 6.1 for example.
I have a deskjet 712c attached to my linux system. It can print in
black an white or color. I want throught the configuration menus to be
able to specify two totally different print filter mechanisms to the
printer,
but I cant. I had to manually edit the printcap and create a new hand
written filter.
We need to get an industrial strenght printing mechanism here.
--
Ralph "Chip" Blach
KF4WBK
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
------------------------------
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (J Bland)
Crossposted-To: comp.text.tex
Subject: Re: acrobat for linux (ps -> pdf)
Date: 9 Apr 2000 11:43:55 GMT
>> Ditto, highly embarrassing to recommend ps2pdf to a colleague and then find
>> the output is highly irregular. It just doesn't work properly. The font
>> problem is a bad one. (How often do we here that in Linux?)
>>
>> JB
>
>With using
>
> dvips -Ppdf -G0 foo.dvi -o foo.ps
> ps2pdf foo.ps foo.pdf
>
>I get perfect pdf files with type 1 fonts only.
If I add \usepackage{pslatex} to the LaTeX source then the above works
(haven't tested the maths yet...), well, it works without but the onscreen
bitmapped fonts are yucky.
So if you're in a position to use latex it's fine. Unfortunately the person
I recommended it to was using Windows and Word. Heaven knows what sort of
output you would get from postscript generated from that.
JB
------------------------------
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (J Bland)
Subject: Re: Image tool to grab image from the screen
Date: 9 Apr 2000 11:46:45 GMT
On Sat, 8 Apr 2000 17:06:05 -0400, Andrew Shiue <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>Does anyone know this kind of program in the Linux?
>
>Thanks,
XV. Can grab areas of the screen or the contents of windows.
JB
------------------------------
From: "Peter T. Breuer" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: Linux printing inadequate.
Date: 9 Apr 2000 11:55:55 GMT
Ralph C Blach <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
: Lpr simply does not have the options and flexability that a modern
: printer system needs.
: 1) I should be at least able to control the duplex nature of a duplex
: printer from the lpr statement ,
I must say I don't know what a duplex printer is! Two-sided?
: 2) I should be able to attach different print filters through the
: configuration menus to the same device.
Sure you can. Just make up a random name and configure it with the
device and filter you want.
: Lets take redhat 6.1 for example.
: I have a deskjet 712c attached to my linux system. It can print in
: black an white or color. I want throught the configuration menus to be
: able to specify two totally different print filter mechanisms to the
: printer, but I cant.
Why not? all RH's ridiculous printtool does is edit the printcap.
: I had to manually edit the printcap and create a new hand
: written filter.
And what's wrong with that? You only had to write "lp=/dev/lp0:if=foo:"
Peter
------------------------------
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Uwe Malzahn)
Subject: Re: Autofs does not work as expected
Date: Sun, 9 Apr 2000 13:42:43 +0200
In article <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>,
[EMAIL PROTECTED] (Otto Wyss) writes:
> I tried to use autofs to mount my zip drive but I can't access any file
> on it. It's probably just a configuration error.
>
> I have the following auto.master file:
> ------------------------------------------------
> /zip /etc/auto.zip
^^^^ Here is your problem (misunderstanding). You told autofs to create
the (auto)mount point in /zip.
>
> and the following auto.zip file:
> ------------------------------------------------
> zip -fstype=vfat :/dev/sda4
And you told autofs to create a mount point zip (in /zip) .
>
> mount tells me automount on /zip is okay but when i try to access
> anything on /zip no file is found. If stop automounter and use mount
> /zip everthing is okay.
Sure /zip is empty as long as nothing is mounted. You configured autofs in a
way that your zip will be mounted to /zip/zip. That's all the mystery. You
might want to choose a different dir in /etc/auto.master like /amnt.
Cheers
Uwe
------------------------------
From: Ralph C Blach <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: Linux printing inadequate.
Date: Sun, 09 Apr 2000 08:12:43 -0400
Peter,
I not arguing that it can be done, its just not easy. I'm pretty good at
linux configurations,
and this did not take me long to do, but this should be setup menu's and its
not.
I am trying to make contsructive critisims, not say that Linux is bad( its
not and it Humms!)
But, even under redhat, the printer subsystem setup is inadequate. This is
not a question of
can it be done, but what level of technical expertise is needed. Right now,
a very high level
expertise is needed. With some work, the time spent doning this would be
cut considerably.
Chip
"Peter T. Breuer" wrote:
> Ralph C Blach <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> : Lpr simply does not have the options and flexability that a modern
> : printer system needs.
> : 1) I should be at least able to control the duplex nature of a duplex
> : printer from the lpr statement ,
>
> I must say I don't know what a duplex printer is! Two-sided?
>
> : 2) I should be able to attach different print filters through the
> : configuration menus to the same device.
>
> Sure you can. Just make up a random name and configure it with the
> device and filter you want.
>
> : Lets take redhat 6.1 for example.
> : I have a deskjet 712c attached to my linux system. It can print in
> : black an white or color. I want throught the configuration menus to be
> : able to specify two totally different print filter mechanisms to the
> : printer, but I cant.
>
> Why not? all RH's ridiculous printtool does is edit the printcap.
>
> : I had to manually edit the printcap and create a new hand
> : written filter.
>
> And what's wrong with that? You only had to write "lp=/dev/lp0:if=foo:"
>
> Peter
--
Ralph "Chip" Blach
KF4WBK
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
------------------------------
From: "Catilina" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: xmms+esound output problem
Date: Sun, 9 Apr 2000 14:30:03 +0200
Hi,
When using xmms with the esd output plugin, the music is played way to fast
(at least double speed). Has anyone else seen or heard this problem before?
------------------------------
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Marc D. Williams)
Crossposted-To: comp.os.linux.development.apps
Subject: Re: How do I write man pages?
Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Date: Sun, 09 Apr 2000 12:38:36 GMT
On Tue, 04 Apr 2000 00:25:11 GMT, Diego Berge <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> OP here -- just to say thanks to all who responded. As usual, I
>found the answer less than one minute after my post went out (I didn't
>cancel it, however, to see what responses I would get).
>
<<SNIP>>
>
> Previously, I had done what Peter describes above, i.e. 'borrow' a
>page from the man directories and go from there, so I already knew
>'how', but now I wanted to know 'why'
>
If you're looking to write a man page for a program you wrote and
it supports the GNU --help and --version stuff then I'd recommend
checking out help2man.
It's a utility to output a basic man page and works fairly well.
Once it creates the page then you can edit it to taste.
I've used it for some programs I find that don't have man pages.
Oh, just realized I still have the announcement for it.
*****
help2man' is a tool for automatically generating simple manual pages
from program output.
It is intended to provide an easy way for software authors to include
a manual page in their distribution without having to maintain that
document.
Given a program which produces reasonably standard --help' and
--version' outputs, help2man' will attempt to re-arrange that output
into something which resembles a manual page.
The current version is available from:
ftp://ftp.gnu.org/gnu/help2man/
http://www.ozemail.com.au/~bod/help2man.tar.gz
*****
--
>>ANIME SENSHI<<
Marc D. Williams
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://www.oldskool.org/~tvdog/ -- DOS Internet & Tandy 1000
http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Platform/8269/ -- Win3.x Makeover
------------------------------
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Marc D. Williams)
Subject: Re: Ditto Tape Drivers?
Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Date: Sun, 09 Apr 2000 12:38:39 GMT
On Mon, 03 Apr 2000 07:12:31 +0100, [EMAIL PROTECTED]
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>Hi
>
>I have 3 parallel devices and not enough ports on my nt boxes so I
>would like to put my Ditto 2Gb drive on one of the linux machines. Is
>this possible?
>
>A Bientot
>Marc
Yep, no problem here with the Ditto 2GB external and the (then) latest
unstable ftape. Go back about a few days here and you'll find some
info under the subject "Ditto Max Configuration?" or something.
Someone has a maintained version of ftape for the 2.2+ kernels.
--
>>ANIME SENSHI<<
Marc D. Williams
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://www.oldskool.org/~tvdog/ -- DOS Internet & Tandy 1000
http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Platform/8269/ -- Win3.x Makeover
------------------------------
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Bastian)
Subject: Re: how to back up a linux system
Date: 09 Apr 2000 12:40:31 GMT
On Sun, 09 Apr 2000 10:51:42 GMT, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
>What are the steps in a simple way of backing up a Linux system into a
>single file? Is this possible? Also, can I use the Imation LS-120 drive
>in backing up a Linux system? If so, how? Also, can anybody tell me if
>LS-120 disks are resistant to molds or any other factors that can
>destroy it? Finally, how can I restore backups under Linux?
>
You can use tar and bzip2 (or gzip) to backup your system. Have a look at the
manpages.
The LS120 disks are pretty good I should say, one of mine survived even a
hot summer day in a closed car... They're just 120 megs, so you'll certainly
need more of them.
Bastian
------------------------------
From: Scott E. Regener <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: Windows 2000 has 63,000 bugs - Win2k.html [0/1] - Win2k.html [0/1]
Crossposted-To: comp.os.linux.advocacy,comp.os.linux.redhat
Date: Sat, 8 Apr 2000 04:23:40 -0400
On Fri, 07 Apr 2000, Pjtg0707 wrote:
>I never understood what people do or run on those machines that require
>frequent reboots.
>My LAN is a mixed set of Win95, WIn98 and Linux machines, and none of them
>required reboots for the past 87 days or so, and all of the machines will be
>working on something, be it fitting data, calculating something or running
>some processes to grab something off of the Internet etc...
>Are you sure you guys having so much problems with your machines, whateve
>r the OS, have them configure right?
Reason #1 to reboot Windows: Installing new software. It is extremely rare
that a new program won't insist on being rebooted in order to work.
Reason #2: A change in configuration, such as changing the TCP/IP address of a
network interface, etc.
Reason #3: A program has crashed and will not operate properly until its
residual parts are flushed from memory. Many "application faults" follow this
path, including many that appear to work properly for some length of time
before exhibiting poor behavior. Thus, while a particular application *may*
work properly after being restarted without a reboot, Windows users have been
trained to *always* reboot, just in case.
Reason #4: Decreased performance. Over time, with heavy use, Windows systems
tend to slow down dramatically.
Reason #5: Hung programs, especially ones considered critical to the GUI.
These may even prevent the machine from shutting down properly, and may not
respond to "End Task" dialogs, if such things even appear.
I'll admit that some of the above *may* also require reboots in Linux, though
the instances are much more rare. However, it is perfectly reasonable for an
active Windows user with one or two incompatible programs (i.e. DLL hell) to
see frequent application crashes that require or recommend a reboot before
continuing.
Scott E. Regener
------------------------------
From: "Robert Moir" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Crossposted-To: comp.lang.java.advocacy,comp.os.ms-windows.nt.advocacy
Subject: Re: How Microsoft inhibits competition & innovation
Date: Sun, 9 Apr 2000 14:02:59 +0100
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]...
> In comp.os.linux.misc btolder wrote:
> >> Not very good at maths, are you? Even if you get the full priced distro
> >> of, say, SuSE at 25 quid, you can install that legally on as many
> >> machines as you want. Yours, your companys, your friends, all at no
extra
> >> cost.
> >>
> >> Try that with M$ windows, and see how fast you get accused of software
> >> piracy.
>
> > The cost of M$ software is incredibly reasonable. It's running about $90
> > every 3 years for an OS upgrade. That's $30 per year. Most companies
budget
> > more for office supplies and copies per employee per year.
>
> Nope. That's $30 per year, PER machine. A company with 50 machines would
> have to pay $1500 (using YOUR costing, which is WILDLY inaccurate).
Thats right, we pay far less than that for our windows licences. And you
don't think that $30 per person per year is cheap? I bet, that regardless of
what operating system they use, that the cost of supporting that user's
operating system and apps comes to a lot more than $30 per person per year.
------------------------------
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Arash)
Subject: new hdd
Date: Sun, 09 Apr 2000 13:10:21 GMT
Hello,
i have just installed my new hdd in my running linux
box and have the problem that i dont know how to go on.
I cannot read/write/mount the new disk which is called /dev/hdc1.
I think that i have successfully formated it using mke2fs. But i can
not mount it, ErrMsg: mount: mount point /new-hdd does not exist.
What have i to do beside those steps? Adding a new hdd shouldnt
be that difficult.
Thanx,
Arash :-)
------------------------------
From: Alex Kaufman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: /etc/fstab and NTFS drives
Date: Sun, 09 Apr 2000 09:18:58 -0400
I have a FAT16 (C) and NTFS (H) drives and I want to allow users to
mount and use them. My fstab looks like this:
/dev/hda1 /mnt/c auto noauto,user,ro 0 0
/dev/hdb6 /mnt/h auto noauto,user,ro 0 0
this works for hda1 but hdb6 is mounted with root permissions and only
he can read the contents. How can I make it avaliable to all users?
------------------------------
From: "Peter T. Breuer" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: Linux printing inadequate.
Date: 9 Apr 2000 13:15:44 GMT
Ralph C Blach <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
: I not arguing that it can be done, its just not easy. I'm pretty good at
And I'm not arguing that it can be done. I'm saying that it's easy to
do :-). Hit printtool. It'll bring up a list of printers. Click on Add.
Choose anything. Fill out the form that comes up:
name (whatever you like)
spool dir (whetever you like)
file limit 0
printer device (whatever you have attached, say /dev/lp0)
input filter (what you want)
: linux configurations,
: and this did not take me long to do, but this should be setup menu's and its
: not.
Mind you, I find that a whole lot more hassle than editing the
/etc/printcap. But I can envisage that you might prefer the printtool
approach - and in that case please explain what you find difficult
about the above?
: I am trying to make contsructive critisims, not say that Linux is bad( its
: not and it Humms!)
RH makes terrible user interfaces. They are obscurantist and baffling
to a normal luser and they are so much garbage to an experienced admin.
If I were t write a printtool, it would have at least "duplicate" as
a top level option, and it would decide the spool directory on its own.
(with an expert option to set it). It would ask the printer model and
set the if according to that.
: But, even under redhat, the printer subsystem setup is inadequate. This is
Even! Especially, you mean. Do not use RH.
: a very high level expertise is needed.
None whatsoever that i can see! The only expertise required is to
navigate the extra layer of complexity that RH add in the form of a
gui that has no builtin knowledge over a text file.
Peter
------------------------------
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Re: Where to get setuser?
Crossposted-To: alt.linux
Date: Sun, 09 Apr 2000 13:41:02 GMT
In comp.os.linux.misc Joel Harrison <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> What program, exactly, are you looking for?
> I'd guess you're looking for "su" (called "sudo" on some
> distributions). This allows you to switch from one user to another
> without having to exit the shell and log in to a new one.
No. su and sudo are different things.
su allows you to switch between users, sudo manages non-root user access to
root commands.
--
| |What to do if you find yourself stuck in a crack|
| [EMAIL PROTECTED] |in the ground beneath a giant boulder, which you|
| |can't move, with no hope of rescue. |
| Andrew Halliwell BSc |Consider how lucky you are that life has been |
| in |good to you so far... |
| Computer Science | -The BOOK, Hitch-hiker's guide to the galaxy.|
=============================================================================
|GCv3.12 GCS>$ d-(dpu) s+/- a C++ US++ P L/L+ E-- W+ N++ o+ K PS+ w-- M+/++ |
|PS+++ PE- Y t+ 5++ X+/X++ R+ tv+ b+ DI+ D+ G e++ h/h+ !r!| Space for hire |
------------------------------
From: Ralph C Blach <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: Linux printing inadequate.
Date: Sun, 09 Apr 2000 09:51:51 -0400
Peter,
Ok, I guess that we have our differences. I really think that this should be in
a setup menu.
People really do NOT like to dink with this kind of stuff and I dont. Anyway.
Linux humms
Chip
"Peter T. Breuer" wrote:
> Ralph C Blach <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> : I not arguing that it can be done, its just not easy. I'm pretty good at
>
> And I'm not arguing that it can be done. I'm saying that it's easy to
> do :-). Hit printtool. It'll bring up a list of printers. Click on Add.
> Choose anything. Fill out the form that comes up:
>
> name (whatever you like)
> spool dir (whetever you like)
> file limit 0
> printer device (whatever you have attached, say /dev/lp0)
> input filter (what you want)
>
> : linux configurations,
> : and this did not take me long to do, but this should be setup menu's and its
> : not.
>
> Mind you, I find that a whole lot more hassle than editing the
> /etc/printcap. But I can envisage that you might prefer the printtool
> approach - and in that case please explain what you find difficult
> about the above?
>
> : I am trying to make contsructive critisims, not say that Linux is bad( its
> : not and it Humms!)
>
> RH makes terrible user interfaces. They are obscurantist and baffling
> to a normal luser and they are so much garbage to an experienced admin.
> If I were t write a printtool, it would have at least "duplicate" as
> a top level option, and it would decide the spool directory on its own.
> (with an expert option to set it). It would ask the printer model and
> set the if according to that.
>
> : But, even under redhat, the printer subsystem setup is inadequate. This is
>
> Even! Especially, you mean. Do not use RH.
>
> : a very high level expertise is needed.
>
> None whatsoever that i can see! The only expertise required is to
> navigate the extra layer of complexity that RH add in the form of a
> gui that has no builtin knowledge over a text file.
>
> Peter
--
Ralph "Chip" Blach
KF4WBK
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
------------------------------
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