The Linux Distro Thread (maybe)

[ej-solutions]

Thought I'd start this one off, rather than continue on another thread.

As a quick catch up for others:

Have a look at Unetbootin, as a means to try out different versions of Linux, without producing numerous coasters (unwanted CDs).
I haven't tried the method of installing to hard drive, only the USB flash drive method (so far).

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[grumpy-cook]

I see Microsoft have been trying to put the knife in to Linux again - a pretty ham-fisted attempt too.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/09/09/ms_linux_pitch/

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[repairexpert]

Just proves that they are getting worried. 😉

There are many retailers putting Linux on low cost laptops these days to keep the overall price down.

I haven't got a spare machine to experiment with at the moment, but it would be nice to see the monopoly crushed. 😉

No way am I going to fork out about £150 for Windows7. :O

[ej-solutions]

The sad fact is, many people will take the 'findings' at face value. Note: It's not unusual for US companies to make false claims (1st hand experience).

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[otherego]

An interesting article - thanks!

There seems to be resistance to Linux among hardware manufacturers, if my recent experiences getting Mint onto an SiS-equipped computer is anything to go by. I was by no means the only one - this is just one thread I encountered:

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=615094

If I read this thread (and others) correctly, Mr Lee actually came up with a suitable 3D driver, but his employers didn't want it releasing to the Linux community. That the 2D driver made it out unscathed is something, I suppose.

It did make me wonder whether M$ had some sort of contractual hold over people like SiS, or whether SiS's attitude was the result of some habitual craven obeisance to the software giant. Either way, a pretty poor show, and a pretty good way of trying to cripple Linux capabilities. I've yet to explore games, but a lack of a 3D driver would hardly seem a good start if that's what a computer was bought for.

Let's face it, with MS pre-installed on most computers sold (contracts with OEMs again?), and the hard-to-argue with fact that to most people Windows is a familiar OS whilst Linux isn't, M$'s position is hardly threatened. It takes more effort to learn to use a new system than most people are willing to make - and the vast range of available distros aggravates this - assuming Linux's small market share IS in fact a bad thing.

It's unlikely that the average consumer bothers to work out what percentage of the price of his shiny new net-book goes to paying for its software licence, so the lower cost of a Linux distro is unlikely to influence many
buyers.

What MIGHT change people's perception of Linux as a "real" operating system would be its increased and more visible adoption by the world's powers-that-be. I believe the French civil service has largely replaced Windows with Ubuntu, for instance. As it is - surely every Windows user already uses Linux every time the Google search engine, or many internet connections, are used?

And of course, if Linux became more popular, it would also become more vulnerable...

Interesting that M$ is worried enough to stoop to comparative advertising of this nature, though.

[grumpy-cook]

A lot of things are Linux based OE - a lot of routers run on it, many mobile (smart) phones, sat navs, for example,

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[otherego]

Thanks for that confirmation, G-C - I was about to launch into a spot of googling.

MS has been remarkably successful from a marketing point of view. Gates's unique blend of computing and business genius established them at the outset, and they've convinced people ever since that they're the way to go.

If you buy a second-hand computer with no operating system on eBay, chances are the seller will tell you that, "You need your own copy of Windows." As if they know of no alternative.

I suppose nobody cares what software is running on their sat-nav, router or internet server, so these don't really raise Linux's visibility. Probably a relief to the people who make and run that gear from a security standpoint.

Once affordable and capable software is established as an identifiable "human right," with everbody increasingly reliant on computers, MS and Apple/Mac may just find themselves playing to a niche market. And that day may not be all that far off.

Meantime - fun to see what else they get up to in the quest for continued market supremacy.

[ej-solutions]

Oh no... what have I done?... started a cynical rampage! 😛 :-D

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[otherego]

Look - ej, overcome with remorse!




Not.

[repairexpert]

:^O

[grumpy-cook]

What's your experience of Wine? I put it on the other day, mainly to run a particular app, because I intend to use Linux apps as much as possible. However, this is a bit frivolous - a particular card game which I'm addicted to.

It installed fine, but the playing experience is quite horridly slow. It has pretty standard graphics and a little animation (cards being dealt etc.). When any action is taken (something as simple as moving a card from one stack to another) the CPU zooms to 100% and it all moves very slowly.

Is this normal or is there some setting up I'm missing?

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[ej-solutions]

Is this an app. that we can all try? 😄
Must say, have had mixed results with Wine (and the liquid variety 😉 - had to be said).
Have you adjusted the Wine program properties to give it the appropriate Windows version?
Hence my affinity with VirtualBox, these days.

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[grumpy-cook]

It's called Solsuite (but I use it because I like it's version of Spider). You can download and play a limited version - link below. Yes, I've selected XP as the version.

http://www.solsuite.com/

Perhaps I'll give virtualisation a try.

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[ej-solutions]

Appears to be working fine on mine - Wine v1.0.1

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[grumpy-cook]

My version is 1.1.26. Ok, thanks for testing it, there must be something wrong with the setup here, I'll have to do some more digging.

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[ej-solutions]

Testing it! Now at my fifth game!!! :-o

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[grumpy-cook]

I finally got Virtualbox working on Mandriva. Took a bit of doing because it appears at some stage my colonels got screwed up. I had to do a lot of pratting about to sort it out and then had to install dkms which I was sure was already installed. Finally Vbox allowed me to start a machine and I'm good to go.

The kernel situation may also have been why Wine doesn't run right. I'll try a reinstall next.

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[otherego]

at some stage my colonels got screwed up.

War games?

Or just a failure of military intelligence???

[otherego]

Sorry!

[grumpy-cook]

It all very well joking, but I had to plough through acres of forums and howtos to get this kernel business sorted. I still don't really understand what happened and how. X-(

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[otherego]

I said sorry!

If it's any consolation, I'm about to abandon the latest go at DreamLinux and replace it with Mint - keen to have a go at this virtual machine stuff, but anticipate enough of my own blunders without adding any DL tantrums.

(And if I'm absolutely honest - I'm never quite sure how I ever actually get anything working - sometimes feels a little like the infinite number of monkeys with typewriters producing the works of Shakespeare).

So will doubtless be back in need of advice and sympathy in the next day or so.