Robert/all, Thanks for your comments - my responses inline.
Thanks also for all the responses from others. Joe Takacs Robert C Wittig wrote: > Joe Takacs wrote: >> I have been a forum member since 2003, a lifelong windoze user and cut >> my teeth back in the DOS days. I am still pretty comfortable with the >> DOS command line. >> > > Same here, I started with DOS 3.something in the mid 1980's (if I > remember correctly). > MS-DOS 1.14 - released July 1981 MS-DOS 3.0 - released August 1984 http://www.answers.com/topic/ms-dos >> While windoze is certainly not without problems, it does "just work" (at >> least for me). >> > > Well... if you consider its high degree of insecurity on the Internet, > it 'just works' until it stops working, or gets 'owned' by the next > zero day bit of malware. > > I would rather have minor problems with some of my apps, that can > eventually be resolved with a little study and work on my part, than > to have to sweat security matters. > I am now running 3 computers on my home network (high speed connection via cable modem): 1. My desktop in my office 2. My wife's desktop - in another room connected via ethernet cable from a (wire only) router in my office. A second router (wireless) is located in this room. 3. My laptop (connected via wireless) which I use around the house. All have windoze xp home (sp3) installed. I update whenever patches are released. All have run fine (only very minor problems) for about 5 years - they have not ever "stopped working". None have ever been "owned by the next zero day bit of malware". I use AVG anti-virus (free), Zone Alarm firewall (free), Spyware Blaster (free), and Spybot Search and Destroy (free). I update and run these programs regularly. To me, the time involved in this "maintenance" is a very small price to pay for having computers which "just work". So, I really haven't had to "sweat security matters". If I successfully install Linux ??? on all 3 computers, will they be "maintenance free"? >> Which is the best Linux distro that "just works" without a lot of hassle? >> > You might want to try Vector Linux, which is based on Slackware 12. It > It is pretty user-friendly. I have been running it on one of my > Desktop machines for a few months and like it a lot. > > I've been running Linux and BSD-UNIX for about eight years, now. > > Vector appeals to me because it is easy enough so that I can install > it on my client's and friend's machines, and they feel like they are > running a Windows box, but with GNU Names (pun intended) for all the > applications... but under the hood, it is still a Slackware distro. I am not lazy, but I just don't want to re-invent the wheel by investing a lot of time and effort to learn a new OS and to get everything running smoothly - I am 75, BTW, and a retired EE. I have downloaded most of the "popular" linux distros - I certainly can D/L more and/or get the latest versions. Thanks again to all responses to my initial questions. While most seem to favor Ubuntu 8.04, there are certainly many different opinions on other distros. Some say - don't use RPM - it breaks too easily - I don't want anything that breaks too easily. It sure seems to me that if I decide to make the switch from what I have (it ain't broke - don't fix it) to something else, I might spend a whole lot of time getting back to where I am right now. Thanks again for all your advice/comments. Joe Takacs ------------------------------------ To unsubscribe from this list, please email [EMAIL PROTECTED] & you will be removed.Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LINUX_Newbies/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LINUX_Newbies/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
