On Sat, 28 Aug 1999 20:54:07 +0100, Michael Polak wrote:
> maybe it's really time for some kind of "new DOS": fast and
> simple system for personal use. But I still feel like simplifying
> (or better understanding) Linux may be the way to go...
I, too, yearn for a fast and simple OS. But, in order to be
really useful, it needs to be popular (i.e. well-supported
with a large user-base). Unfortunately, in the current climate,
"popular" is synonymous with "bloated GUI".
It is for this reason that I have high hopes for Linux. It
has a wonderfully bloated GUI, which will soon provide all
the point-and-click toys required for "popularity". RedHat,
Mandrake, Caldera and Corel are well on the way to providing
a seamless transition from M$Windows bloatware to Xwindows
bloatware.
But the secret of Linux is: underneath the 500megs of bloat
is a compact, powerful OS. You can fit the latest Linux
kernel (with all necessary init files, libraries, system
binaries, editor and shell) onto a single floppy disk. In
fact, you've even got room on that floppy for an application
or two. For example, you can dial-up and browse the internet
(using Lynx) from a single-floppy version of Linux.
I recently installed the latest version of Debian Linux on
a 386dx40 with 8meg RAM and 40meg HDD (32meg Linux native
and 8meg swap). The basic install (with groff, all the man
pages, minicom, networking, ppp, Lynx, etc, etc.) left me
with 10megs free on the HDD (after pruning foreign language
support and other useless files). It worked like a dream.
Fast, efficient, stable. I just wish I had a Linux version
of Arachne to put on that machine.
Do you hear me Michael? I hope you will keep working on
the Linux version of Arachne. I know that Linux isn't perfect,
but it appears to provide our best route to the future.
Cheers,
Steven
-- Arachne V1.50;beta, NON-COMMERCIAL copy, http://home.arachne.cz/
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