July 30, 2002 08:48 pm, John Rigby wrote: <Major snips> > > I *KNOW* what that is - not a big problem under windoze.... any novice help > list will show you how :_) > > Look, frankly who cares what *you* think? > > This was part of a serious offer to help a young fellow in a difficult > circumstance and you whine about something nonsensical ! > > All I can say is: > READ *THIS* LIST! > The complaints by volume and extent here are ferocious, considering most > people here fancy themselves as at least partial geeks - they LIKE playing > with things. > I can't even understand the questions! :-) > > There is no point in continually shooting at the messenger! > LINUX *IS* a &^*%$$%&^ to set up. > READ THIS VERY LIST - and it is only *one* of dozens. > > Even *you* are still running W98!!! > > As for not seeing both sides - I even once used an Apple! > > No, the big money in Linux is in finding the RARE, rare person who is a > geek and can get it all to go - not in MONTHS but a day. > I have never, ever met one myself, but I live in the sunshine............ > If I could have found one hirable person who could demonstrate that they > could get Linux to run in a business situation easily - NOTE: real world > business situation - I would have started a Computer business again this > year - even here in paradise, there is a lot of easy(?) money to be made. > The catch was, the only two competent people I eventually found were > already self-employed and making a motza - often by throwing out MS$ > systems and setting up hybrids - O.S. Linux and decent (and familiar) > programs running under Win4lin or whatsitsname. > > I have recently installed test runs of Linux distros that DO work, several > times, but the problems with useful programs/utilities show it to be long > way off everyday user value to do it without expert assistance, yet. > > Again, people, I am not anti-anything except bigots and fanatics. > > I think Linux is the only hope of stopping Big Bill's juggernaut. Well, > slowing it a little, anyway. :-) > But, the current hope is certainly not the Mandrake approach. > I'm not even sure if anyone else will now be able to catch the > Lindows rabbit. Boy! Those people know how to market! > Boy! They listened to what the market wants/needs! > Did EXACTLY what I've been saying here and elsewhere for > years.................. > > Again, please stop shooting at the messenger - learn to look at things in > an adult way. Don't be afraid of new/different information. THAT is how we > all learn. > Those that do advance, anyway. > > PEACE! > > John Rigby ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mr. Rigby;
> " I *KNOW* what that is - not a big problem under windoze.... any novice > help list will show you how :_) " If you know what it is, fine. So do I and I don't like it at all. It's called Microsoft Windows. We're all entitled to an opinion but we're all entitled to ignore the statements of a person that seems to require the level of "support" provided for operating systems by MS. Which is ridiculous when you think about it since the "online help" button that was provided for WIN ME was a link to the ZDNET Computer Help Forum. Or do you really like point, click, crash, reboot, reinstall and *PAY!*? I don't; I never have and never will. Let's analyze your comments regarding "OS Linux and *decent* applications" for a moment, shall we? Windows ships with daemons to connect to your ISP through whatever means you use, correct? When a (new) friend purchased a new system a while back he had to call me in order to connect to the local cable company after setting up the machine. I was forced to walk him through the connection through _right clicking and selecting properties_ in the browser to set up the connection and even then Windows didn't seem inclined to use the connection as specified. It almost demanded that he use the "OLS" set-up included. Why would he pay MSN Networks for a connection that can't be made from here? I went over with an additional 40 GB hard drive, installed MDK 8.2 and he was connected by the time he removed the install media during the end of install restart and spent the next 20 minutes "making the desktop *purty*" instead of fiddling with a stubborn OS that makes too many assumptions. Score: Windows XP 0, Mandrake 1 Next we get to his ASUS V8200T5 PURE GEFORCE3 TI500 AGP W/64MB DDR MEMORY It should have maybe installed automatically maybe? Something about "certified drivers" etc. Wrong answer. The drivers weren't installed, it was an "unknown device," the display sucked, and the operating system didn't want to find the drivers on the install disk even when this was specifically requested. "Windows has determined that the best drivers for the device are already installed." I managed to make it use the correct ones and then updated them, but almost every time he reboots the system he has to go through this agony again. Mandrake configured X during install, set the display the way it was requested to be, and never lost anything. I found a script for him on the 'net to download, install, and configure the NVidia binary drivers. He ran that and has a marvelous display under Mandrake. Running Score: Windows XP 0, Mandrake 2 Applications? Windows CD burning software (see the video drivers section above for why this was next) seems to be a "lite" version of Adaptec/Roxio whatever. At least they included something, but since he prefers Nero he installed (tried to) it and is still fighting with it. Guess which system is easier, again? That's MS 0 Mandrake 3 if you're keeping score. I could go on about things like Open Office vs Office XP and holding data hostage with proprietary crud but the idea is so simple that I'm certain you get the drift. Your choices are; Pay Microsoft for the "privilege" of using proprietary file formats and incompatibility with older versions, then pay again when they decide they need another cash injection and decide to break compatibility with their own previous software. Or buy a copy of the latest Star Office and be able to use those older data files. Or get the same thing free with Open Office. What Office suite does Windows ship with again that competes with the Open Office package included with even the *free* download edition of Mandrake? Whatever your problems with previous attempts to use GNU/Linux Mr. Rigby, I feel for you. I am one of those 'dilletante' types that isn't any kind of a geek, doesn't work in IT or anything to do with computer technology, has no discernible talents beyond a small facility with words, and couldn't care less about the MS vs GNU/Linux struggle except that I'll fight to keep my choice available. I spent the better part of a year reading so that I'd know how to ask questions, then another 3 months playing the dual boot game before I called the experience good. The day I realised I hadn't booted Windows for two months was the day my machine was rebooted long enough to wipe and recover that disk space. 28 months and not counting because I don't care any more than you. Since you stated that you are "against bigots and fanatics," I would be one you are against since I am fanatical about learning. I was *cursed* at birth with the disease of obsessive, insatiable curiosity. A new "underclass" for bigots to hate? Get a grip sir. I apologise to all for the wasted bandwidth. The bottom line is that we seem to have strayed far afield here and I apologise also for that. Mr. Rigby, and to lesser degree others; seems to have missed Civileme's statement that had the message not been posted here by mistake we'd never have known any difference. For that I am; as others have expressed, exceeding grateful. That means we haven't lost the incredible resource that is his knowledge. Civileme I too wish to extend best wishes for future endeavors, and to thank you for the contribution you've made in making this mailing list the best user resource for "us maniacal newbies." :-) I don't recall ever seeing the "young fella" asking for your help though Mr. Rigby. -- Charlie Edmonton,AB,Canada Registered user 244963 at http://counter.li.org "All we are given is possibilities -- to make ourselves one thing or another." -- Ortega y Gasset
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