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"I'm a PC...."
- Thread starter DrEntropy
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DeltaAir423
Jedi Trainee
Offline
Re: "I'm a PC...."
Linux is an open source OS, that is viewed by many in the computer world as the best OS out there. Many of the people that use a computer in the box (Dell, Gateway, Compaq, Toshiba, etc..) shy away from it because they feel that it's too computer geekish. My favorite Linux kernel is Unbuntu, in fact, I have my PS3 set up for dual boot with Unbuntu, and the factory XMB OS.
All hail Tux the mighty Penguin!
Demo of Unbuntu:
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The cube is different desktops where you can have programs running in the backround, and you swap to them by spinning the cube.
AngliaGT said:
Linux is an open source OS, that is viewed by many in the computer world as the best OS out there. Many of the people that use a computer in the box (Dell, Gateway, Compaq, Toshiba, etc..) shy away from it because they feel that it's too computer geekish. My favorite Linux kernel is Unbuntu, in fact, I have my PS3 set up for dual boot with Unbuntu, and the factory XMB OS.
All hail Tux the mighty Penguin!
Demo of Unbuntu:
The cube is different desktops where you can have programs running in the backround, and you swap to them by spinning the cube.
Offline
Re: "I'm a PC...."
I've always been impressed by the look and feel of various Linux flavors. But as a neophyte to the whole unix idea, I've always held back from the move from XP by the reality that I'd lose use of nearly all my work-related apps.
I realize there are Linux apps for word processing, audio/video editing, web browsing, etc. But having to find and install, then learn to use, a new set of apps - just to have a slick Ubuntu (or other) kernel over a new OS - doesn't make sense to my addled old brain.
Plus, my special-purpose apps (various emulators, editors, simulators, financial analysis and database apps, etc.) wouldn't run on Linux. Those apps were niche-created by dozens of special-interest guys for use on XP. That's the "production" stuff I actually use my 'puter for.
So I guess to me Linux would be "great fun" to play with - but not very practical for what I actually do with my 'puter.
Seems that unless you're just web browsing, sending email, managing servers, and viewing pics and video - you're very limited in Linux use. What do you actually use your Linux boxes for?
Thanks.
Tom
I've always been impressed by the look and feel of various Linux flavors. But as a neophyte to the whole unix idea, I've always held back from the move from XP by the reality that I'd lose use of nearly all my work-related apps.
I realize there are Linux apps for word processing, audio/video editing, web browsing, etc. But having to find and install, then learn to use, a new set of apps - just to have a slick Ubuntu (or other) kernel over a new OS - doesn't make sense to my addled old brain.
Plus, my special-purpose apps (various emulators, editors, simulators, financial analysis and database apps, etc.) wouldn't run on Linux. Those apps were niche-created by dozens of special-interest guys for use on XP. That's the "production" stuff I actually use my 'puter for.
So I guess to me Linux would be "great fun" to play with - but not very practical for what I actually do with my 'puter.
Seems that unless you're just web browsing, sending email, managing servers, and viewing pics and video - you're very limited in Linux use. What do you actually use your Linux boxes for?
Thanks.
Tom
DeltaAir423
Jedi Trainee
Offline
Re: "I'm a PC...."
On my PS3, I use the Linux interface to act as a media center hub. My main computer has lord knows how many MP3's, and I also use it to stream movies from Netflix. I use Firefox with an IE emulator to stream the movies as Netflix is an IE only site. For E-mail on Linux, you're looking at Thunderbird. I don't know what the good Microsoftesque Office products are, as I have never did a box build, but my next computer, which will be a home built (my desktop is pushing 8 years old), will run Linux and Windows XP, my old copies of Flight Simulator won't run on Linux.
On my PS3, I use the Linux interface to act as a media center hub. My main computer has lord knows how many MP3's, and I also use it to stream movies from Netflix. I use Firefox with an IE emulator to stream the movies as Netflix is an IE only site. For E-mail on Linux, you're looking at Thunderbird. I don't know what the good Microsoftesque Office products are, as I have never did a box build, but my next computer, which will be a home built (my desktop is pushing 8 years old), will run Linux and Windows XP, my old copies of Flight Simulator won't run on Linux.
JamesWilson
Yoda
Offline
Re: "I'm a PC...."
Isn't that a Peanuts character?
The one with a comfort blanket... and a wet thumb?
Isn't that a Peanuts character?
The one with a comfort blanket... and a wet thumb?
OP
Offline
Re: "I'm a PC...."
That was posted after seeing a new M$ ad: "I'm a PC..." with Bill as the first person to say it.
The machine here (the Garage Processing Unit) is strictly a FC-6 Linux machine (Samba server), I use it primarily as a file cabinet for all the various files and data we generate. Herself is a commercial artist so we need Adobe and Corel (not so much anymore) apps, they run on her NT-5 machine somewhere in th' hovel. XP Pro on two "work" laptops (one for each of us) because the rest of the US runs Windoze by default. I have a couple older Toshiba 'books running Linux for my personal use, one actually is a dual boot with XP in there takin' up otherwise useful storage space.... Also two other desktop PC's on Linux. One is an Apache server so I can ~try~ to stay up on various admin duties and changes. There's an XP box in that mix somewhere too.
It's understandable in Tom's instance to run DOS based boxes due to the niche warez he needs. As I said above, we're trapped into payin' the "Microsoft tax" for the same reason.
Open Office will serve as a surrogate WinOffice suite and all I've ever done with it is interchangeable with Office. It will even convert *.doc files to PDF. For graphics there's "Gimp". "Xine" is a great video player, "Brasero" burns CD/DVD's of any description, Firefox and Thunderbird are the 'net tools.
I tend to stay with RH flavors because the file handling and architecture are familiar to me. I've installed most of the others but always end up with a RH version in the end. I know where things are and how it works.
For servers I now use CentOS. Very easy to set up. Webmin allows remote administration with a GUI (I'm getting as lazy as a ScriptKiddie!). Just did a quick cal-koo-lation and realised I've been knittin' Linux, Samba and Webmin into boxes for well over a DECADE now. sheesh.
That was posted after seeing a new M$ ad: "I'm a PC..." with Bill as the first person to say it.
The machine here (the Garage Processing Unit) is strictly a FC-6 Linux machine (Samba server), I use it primarily as a file cabinet for all the various files and data we generate. Herself is a commercial artist so we need Adobe and Corel (not so much anymore) apps, they run on her NT-5 machine somewhere in th' hovel. XP Pro on two "work" laptops (one for each of us) because the rest of the US runs Windoze by default. I have a couple older Toshiba 'books running Linux for my personal use, one actually is a dual boot with XP in there takin' up otherwise useful storage space.... Also two other desktop PC's on Linux. One is an Apache server so I can ~try~ to stay up on various admin duties and changes. There's an XP box in that mix somewhere too.
It's understandable in Tom's instance to run DOS based boxes due to the niche warez he needs. As I said above, we're trapped into payin' the "Microsoft tax" for the same reason.
Open Office will serve as a surrogate WinOffice suite and all I've ever done with it is interchangeable with Office. It will even convert *.doc files to PDF. For graphics there's "Gimp". "Xine" is a great video player, "Brasero" burns CD/DVD's of any description, Firefox and Thunderbird are the 'net tools.
I tend to stay with RH flavors because the file handling and architecture are familiar to me. I've installed most of the others but always end up with a RH version in the end. I know where things are and how it works.
For servers I now use CentOS. Very easy to set up. Webmin allows remote administration with a GUI (I'm getting as lazy as a ScriptKiddie!). Just did a quick cal-koo-lation and realised I've been knittin' Linux, Samba and Webmin into boxes for well over a DECADE now. sheesh.
sparkydave
Jedi Knight
Offline
Re: "I'm a PC...."
Still chugging along with PCLinuxOS on my desktop here. Online bill paying, Youtube, Rhapsody, and it does everything I need, except maybe running the cleaning utility for the printer and running my Garmin GPS software. Still need Windoze on the laptop for those. Interesting anecdote related to the ex-wife; her hard drive got tired, and didn't have a current backup of her data. Windoze wouldn't boot without the blue screen, and being the low budget Dell, it didn't have a floppy drive. I managed to resurrect it with the PCLinuxOS Live CD, and successfully copied off her files onto an external hard drive. Now let's see a Windoze CD do that. She insisted on keeping a Live CD for herself in case something like that happens again. I also reminded her to make backups in case the hard drive doesn't give you a second chance.
I've seen Visduh on the shiny new PCs at Best Buy, and it looks pretty, but I wonder how much horsepower it takes. Linux seems quite happy on my Athlon XP 1800+ with 1G of RAM, and it plays X-Plane very nicely. Somehow I think they might get nervous if I ask if I can boot the Live CD prior to making a new PC purchase to make sure all the hardware works properly. Next one might be another BIY PC, but since Dell offers some Windoze-free models, I won't rule them out.
Still chugging along with PCLinuxOS on my desktop here. Online bill paying, Youtube, Rhapsody, and it does everything I need, except maybe running the cleaning utility for the printer and running my Garmin GPS software. Still need Windoze on the laptop for those. Interesting anecdote related to the ex-wife; her hard drive got tired, and didn't have a current backup of her data. Windoze wouldn't boot without the blue screen, and being the low budget Dell, it didn't have a floppy drive. I managed to resurrect it with the PCLinuxOS Live CD, and successfully copied off her files onto an external hard drive. Now let's see a Windoze CD do that. She insisted on keeping a Live CD for herself in case something like that happens again. I also reminded her to make backups in case the hard drive doesn't give you a second chance.
I've seen Visduh on the shiny new PCs at Best Buy, and it looks pretty, but I wonder how much horsepower it takes. Linux seems quite happy on my Athlon XP 1800+ with 1G of RAM, and it plays X-Plane very nicely. Somehow I think they might get nervous if I ask if I can boot the Live CD prior to making a new PC purchase to make sure all the hardware works properly. Next one might be another BIY PC, but since Dell offers some Windoze-free models, I won't rule them out.