While on the subject of alternative desktop software, I use Debian Linux on my personal server, but I'm thinking in terms of getting away from the Billyware on my desktop systems. At this point, I'm not sure if I want to take the plunge into Linux as a desktop operating system, but I do like it a lot on my server.
I have a fair amount of i386 hardware and I don't want to switch platforms for quite a while. Is MacOS ported to i386? If not, will it be? Something like that might be an alternative for me. The other thing is it seems software developers only care about Windows. Most of the time, specialized software is not available for any other operating system. What to you do about software you need that is only available for Windows? Thanks, - Craig ----- Original Message ----- From: "William Roddy" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Jay Schaffer" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Cc: "Reno Linux Users Group" <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, May 19, 2005 6:30 PM Subject: Re: [RLUG] The need for the RLUG Hi, Jay, Thanks for checking in. It's good to know that there are, indeed, some chronologically-gifted folks out there. I don't mind being old . . . until I try to put my socks on. I want a Mac real bad. I love Linux and am just getting into BSD and, for me, it's all hobby, except that I do use the computers for writing and the other regular stuff. But I'm on a fixed income (and I didn't fix it) now, so luxuries and even some necessities often are not possible. I used to be one of the misguided who thought BeOS stood a chance. I caught the BeOS mystique and was disappointed when they laid it in its grave -- even though a lot of people are trying to clone it. I guess, having seen the third world, and some poorer parts of our own nation, I have the hope that Linux can provide a means by which people who are otherwise disadvantaged can have access to computers. And now, it even looks as though, if some of our schools are to keep computer programs, so of us Linux enthusiasts are going to have to strongly suggest they try it, even though -- and this is the ironic part, because people are suspicious of things that are free (perhaps that's why part of the world is suspicious of people living in free countries) -- it comes with no cost and little or no overhead. I've said it a hundred times, and I'm going to say it again: The open-source community should be nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize. Here is one of the most workable examples of how problems can be solved peacefully by individuals who give of their time and knowledge and who come from all corners of the world. Got to stop yammering here. People are probably already sick of me. But Linux is a good thing. And so are people who support it. Thank you for sharing your story. I'm really enjoying hearing from the folks out there. It sounds like a strong community of Linux users. That makes me very lucky. William Roddy Quincy CA [EMAIL PROTECTED] _______________________________________________ RLUG mailing list [email protected] http://lists.rlug.org/mailman/listinfo/rlug
