John Carrier wrote:

The reason is similar to why Windows sells so well. It's "good enough"
for undiscerning use, and heavily marketed.


While I agree with your "good enough" characterization, there is an
important difference. Microsoft has a true monopoly on PC operating systems
and no competitors. Unless you build your own box or buy Apple, Windows
comes pre-installed on the computer. (And how many other OS's are available
for Apple?)

Linux. Buy box with Redhat in it. Install. Simple as that. It's no
longer a kludge-fest it once was.

The last test of monopolistic behavior is price. In an industry where
everything has become less expensive, the cost of the OS has steadily crept
upward. My copy of DOS 1.1 (dating myself) was $50, XP runs $200. My new
computer costs half as much as my first.

So - move to unix already. Say no to their schemes.

From: Joseph Oberlander

Linux. Buy box with Redhat in it. Install. Simple as that. It's no
longer a kludge-fest it once was.

Does it install like a program, i.e., in "add/remove programs"? How do you use
it the first time? How does the computer know enough to start using the Linux
system?

Farrell8882 wrote:

From: Joseph Oberlander


Linux. Buy box with Redhat in it. Install. Simple as that. It's no
longer a kludge-fest it once was.


Does it install like a program, i.e., in "add/remove programs"? How do you use
it the first time? How does the computer know enough to start using the Linux
system?

Pretty much so. The only thing you have to do is set up a partition
on the drive for unix(or go unix with the whole thing). Since 10.x is
a unix core, this is not very hard to accomplish.

My friend in fact has a dual-boot IMac. Works great in fact.

Joseph Oberlander said:

Linux. Buy box with Redhat in it. Install. Simple as that. It's no
longer a kludge-fest it once was.

Does it install like a program, i.e., in "add/remove programs"?

Pretty much so. The only thing you have to do is set up a partition
on the drive

Geek speak. You've just surpassed the skill level of 98% of the
population. For people who don't know how to muck with computers,
that's like telling them they can "easily" disable the catalytic
converter on their cars.

George M. Middius wrote:


Joseph Oberlander said:


Linux. Buy box with Redhat in it. Install. Simple as that. It's no
longer a kludge-fest it once was.


Does it install like a program, i.e., in "add/remove programs"?


Pretty much so. The only thing you have to do is set up a partition
on the drive


Geek speak. You've just surpassed the skill level of 98% of the
population. For people who don't know how to muck with computers,
that's like telling them they can "easily" disable the catalytic
converter on their cars.

Not really. The Linux distro has an option to format the
drive for you - it's really very simple now.

Joseph Oberlander said:

Pretty much so. The only thing you have to do is set up a partition
on the drive


Geek speak. You've just surpassed the skill level of 98% of the
population. For people who don't know how to muck with computers,
that's like telling them they can "easily" disable the catalytic
converter on their cars.

Not really. The Linux distro has an option to format the
drive for you - it's really very simple now.

Oh, so your current claim is that creating a partition on your HD
is automated?

George M. Middius wrote:


Joseph Oberlander said:


Pretty much so. The only thing you have to do is set up a partition
on the drive


Geek speak. You've just surpassed the skill level of 98% of the
population. For people who don't know how to muck with computers,
that's like telling them they can "easily" disable the catalytic
converter on their cars.

Not really. The Linux distro has an option to format the
drive for you - it's really very simple now.


Oh, so your current claim is that creating a partition on your HD
is automated?

It's no harder than doing it with the Windows XP disk.

On Sun, 01 Feb 2004 20:59:28 GMT, Joseph Oberlander
wrote:

George M. Middius wrote:


Joseph Oberlander said:


Linux. Buy box with Redhat in it. Install. Simple as that. It's no
longer a kludge-fest it once was.


Does it install like a program, i.e., in "add/remove programs"?


Pretty much so. The only thing you have to do is set up a partition
on the drive


Geek speak. You've just surpassed the skill level of 98% of the
population. For people who don't know how to muck with computers,
that's like telling them they can "easily" disable the catalytic
converter on their cars.

Not really. The Linux distro has an option to format the
drive for you - it's really very simple now.

It doesn't resize your existing partitions and make room for a new one
though, does it? I bought Partition Magic for that purpose.

--

Jacob Kramer

Jacob Kramer wrote:

On Sun, 01 Feb 2004 20:59:28 GMT, Joseph Oberlander
wrote:


George M. Middius wrote:


Joseph Oberlander said:



Linux. Buy box with Redhat in it. Install. Simple as that. It's no
longer a kludge-fest it once was.


Does it install like a program, i.e., in "add/remove programs"?


Pretty much so. The only thing you have to do is set up a partition
on the drive


Geek speak. You've just surpassed the skill level of 98% of the
population. For people who don't know how to muck with computers,
that's like telling them they can "easily" disable the catalytic
converter on their cars.

Not really. The Linux distro has an option to format the
drive for you - it's really very simple now.


It doesn't resize your existing partitions and make room for a new one
though, does it? I bought Partition Magic for that purpose.

Of course, that's the proper way to do that But if you just want
a single-boot *IX box, it will do it. I'd say it's about where W95
was. Give them about 2-4 more years and it will be seamless.
(shame about Redhat selling out, though)

Joseph Oberlander ) wrote in alt.home-theater.misc:
Linux. Buy box with Redhat in it. Install. Simple as that.

Unfortunately, Red Hat isn't being sold in most stores any more (or won't
be in two months), since as of that date, they will only support their
"Enterprise" Linux products.

--
Jeff Rife | "Ho! Ha, ha! Guard! Turn! Parry!
For address harvesters: | Dodge! Spin! Ha! Thrust!"
|
| -- Daffy Duck, "Robin Hood Daffy"
|

Jeff Rife wrote:

Joseph Oberlander ) wrote in alt.home-theater.misc:

Linux. Buy box with Redhat in it. Install. Simple as that.


Unfortunately, Red Hat isn't being sold in most stores any more (or won't
be in two months), since as of that date, they will only support their
"Enterprise" Linux products.

Since the old version was free - locating a copy isn't hard since you
can swap and resell the used program with no licencing problems.

Joseph Oberlander ) wrote in alt.home-theater.misc:
Since the old version was free - locating a copy isn't hard since you
can swap and resell the used program with no licencing problems.

It's not getting the OS that's the problem...it's keeping up with bug
fixes (some of which are security critical). Unless you are proficient
with a compliler and makefiles, anything labeled "Red Hat" will become
an outdated, buggy system fairly quickly.

There is the Fedora Core project to replace "free" Red Hat Linux, but you
still won't find it on a store shelf. I have never had any problem
downloading 3 ISO files and burning CDs, but for many, this pretty much
makes the OPs statement ("You really have to be a systems kind of person
to get an alternative OS up and running") fairly true.

--
Jeff Rife | copy protection: n. A class of methods for
For address harvesters: | preventing incompetent pirates from stealing
| software and legitimate customers from using it.
| Considered silly.
| -- Jargon File version 4.4.6