"Glenn Gilbreath Jr." <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Hmm, > I don't know if I would go so far as to say 1 OS was somehow superior to > another...the example given as Linux being superior to DOS...IMO, that > depends on the user perspective!
Absolutely, and we haven't even heard from the Mac or Amiga users yet. I don't want to argue "better" either. But when incorrect or misleading statements are made about Linux, I DO chime in. (I think everyone's noticed that by now. :) Glenn, not to argue OS superiority. However, there are a few Linux capabilities that you might not be aware of, so I want to point them out here in the interests of enlightening folks to the joys of the "other" OS (the one MS hates). > Let's face it...how many times have you > read of troubles getting Linux to support some peripheral, say a monitor, > sometimes it's a chore just getting it to FIND the monitor, let alone > install the correct driver, if it exists. Now, by your reckoning that > Linux is "superior" to DOS, one could then say that Windows 9X and XP are > "superior" to Linux! (Glenn, not sure WHO you're responding to here when you say "your reckoning".) Hardware detection has been an issue for Linux in the past, but things are improving DRAMTICALLY in this area. Some older hardware will never be addressed. That's just the way it goes. If anyone does have older hardware, I suggest checking the compatability lists. They grow daily! > Especially the 9X line---the list of supported > hardware and peripherals as well as applications is ENORMOUS to say the > least... Yes, especially since MS strong-armed most manufacturers to ensure this was the case. Hell, they even managed to manipulate many into producing hardware that would ONLY work with their products, although the Linux community has managed to overcome even this difficult task (witness references to "linmodems"). > even DOS supports older hardware better than many "modern" Linux > distros...does that mean that DOS is superior? With my tongue stuck firmly in my cheek, I'm going to mention that Linux runs on the following hardware, in addition to a very impressive array of Intel platforms and peripherals: Apple PowerMac DEC Alpha Atari 68K Amiga 68K Mac 68K MIPS NeXT PA-RISC SGI DEC Vax IBM S/390 There are actually a LOT more, but these are hardware platforms that many will recognize. If you're going to count the hardware compatability, you have to include these platforms as well! Linux will run on anything from handhelds and game consoles, to large mainframes (with thousands of Linux virtual hosts). > [...] Face it...if I were just handed a PC AT x86 based computer and not > told what it contained in regards to RAM, HD size, peripherals, etc., the > FASTEST and easiest way to find out something about that system would not > be to plop a CD in a drive and try to get Linux up and running...it would > be to find your trusty DOS installation diskettes...I'd lay odds that most > of us could have that system up and running, telling us what it contained > in less than 30 minutes using DOS! Actually, many folks are unaware that Linux has tremendous capabilities as well. Of course, by limiting the challenge to PC AT x86 you've precluded Linux altogether, but we could do the same by insisting that the challenge be repeated on any non-Intel platform. :) Boot many of the popular single-diskette Linux mini-distributions, and you can get a surprisingly detailed view of the recognized hardware by simply looking in the /proc directory (no viewers or other tools required). You'll find information on I/O ports, interrupts and DMA channels in use. You'll also find details about your CPU, IDE drive geometry and memory and even non-Linux disk partitions. You can see what PnP and PCI devices are present as well. By trying a few different modules, Linux can often recognize other hardware such as network cards and other adapters, allowing it to be used in troubleshooting things like network connectivity. You can to get a full dump of hardware characteristics inside of 3 rather than 30 minutes! (Depending on the diskette chosen, you might be able to dial out and surf the internet for additional help as well.) Linux can be a full-blown, multi-CD desktop install, or it can be a svelte, single-diskette diagnostic swiss army knife. Steven, care to add to this list? > In other words, each operating system has its inherent strengths and its > weaknesses. [...] Absolutely. Please don't take corrections of a certain prolific poster's misconceptions as a slam against DOS (necessarily). > know some of you sort of dislike "automobile analogies to > personal computers"...but sometimes they make great illustrations. If we > were all IDENTICAL to each other, heck, there wouldn't be the thousands of > different car, truck, van, mini-van, SUV and so on and so forth on the > market, now would there? [...] Definitely. But a Hyundai owner shouldn't be surprised when they make blatantly incorrect statements about Audi products in a public forum, and the Audi fans speak out! (And don't get me going about SUVs. My mailbox is still broken.) - Bob To unsubscribe from SURVPC send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with unsubscribe SURVPC in the body of the message. Also, trim this footer from any quoted replies. More info can be found at; http://www.softcon.com/archives/SURVPC.html
