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WinLinux 2000
asdren writes "WinLinux 2000 has entered the final beta stage. This sounds like an interesting option for current Windows users who are interested in taking the Linux plunge but don't have the time/patience/guts to partition drives and configure drivers. " has anyone tried this yet? I'd be curious as to how the installation/running of the system is.
This is NOT the first Linux for Windows. One I have tried that is really good is PhatLinux. I tried it just to see if it worked, then it got deleted off my system (along with Windows). PhatLinux is at www.phatlinux.com and I believe does have an Installshield install, and puts an icon on your desktop to reboot to linux. The only thing that WinLinux2000 is supposed to do that PhatLinux doesn't is load the right drivers automatically. PhatLinux comes with a generic kernel with all modules possible compiled in. Most systems should work OK with it...
Sometimes I get really confused by the postings on here, often from the same people. Now here's where the confusion is: If someone mentions a computer running WinXX then someone else always says "That sux, why don't you run a real operating system?"
Of course, when someone actually creates a product that makes it easy for people to install and begin to use Linux then the tune changes all together. "They're just trying to be 31337 h4x0rs!"
So which is it? Do you want more people running Linux or not? Or will you complain no matter which way it turns out. If everyone moves to Linux then will it just be something to be shuned as being too mainstream? If no one new starts using it will you complain that they don't know what's going on?
Here's my rambling point: Allowing the average Joe User to install and experience Linux easily is a Good Thing(tm). If he likes his experience then he might swtich over all together... it extends choice to those who are not of the technologicaly elite.
So make up your minds. Either help people use see that they have a choice, or convince them to be locked into the MS world. Don't change your tune to make yourself feel better.
MEDIC!
what happened? This linux geek was just sitting here surfing.. and now he's passed out.
What was he reading?
Says here that "Winlinux" is available. Maybe some kind of new Microsoft offering?
--
How about this:
During the install process, detect the registry files residing on a VFAT partition, and open and read it in then?? Why bother starting from the windows end anyways? No "System Information" disks needed.
Slashdot is like Playboy: I read it for the articles
Before the great speculation begins,
heres some info.
whois www.winlinux.net gives
[...]
Registrant
Dinamerico Schwingel (WINLINUX-DOM)
[...]
A search in dejanews for Schwingel AND Dinamerico gives this (Date: 1999/06/25):
In newsgroup installshield.is5.general :
[...]
I'm trying to build my software distributions which is very large. Some thousands files and 219MB total.
The Media Build Wizard goes ok, until it tries to create layout.bin. Then it stucks for about an hour and comes whith this message
[...]
There show up some linux-specific postings (some old) too, so no microsoft, no panic...
[...]
Your computer must have, at least the following configuration to run WinLinux 2000.
a Pentium class processor
16 MB RAM
VGA video card
Windows 95 or Windows 98
an IDE disk drive with approximately 500MB free space on a FAT32 system (Windows 98) or near 1GB free space on a FAT16 system (most Windows 95), for a full setup.
I disagree.
I've ran into a number of folks in the IT industry who express interest in Unix. For the most part, their entire computer experience has been Microsoft products. They don't have access to Unix - but they're interested. My advice? Used hardware that'll handle Linux is dirt cheap. Buy an old Pentium, install Linux, smack it around a bit. Experiment. Learn. If you destroy it, call it a lesson learned. Re-install and repeat.
Experience is indeed the best teacher. Linux (and lets not forget *BSD) offers a low barrier option to that experience.
You can't have widespread use of linux if one has to know how to enter shell commands. Most sytem adminitrators choose NT because they're scared shitless by the linux user interface. Right, they should learn. You did. I did. But isn't it easier when everything works, and you learn things as you need to know them? Some people won't ever learn, so be it. And do you know everything about linux? Kernel? IPChains? SMB? NFS? Sendmail? Nah. You install what you need, and look into it further when the need arises. Same for beginners. Everything works out of the box; if you want more, you look deeper into the subject. That's why it's called a learning curve and not a learning cliff ;-)
In my opinion, Scientology is a cult you should avoid.
If you've ever dreamt about choosing the software for your PC, WinLinux 2000 is for you.
If you've ever wanted to have a powerful and reliable system on your computer, WinLinux 2000 is for you.
If you want to enter the Open Source world, WinLinux 2000 is the easiest path.
WinLinux 2000 is the only Linux system that installs as easily as any Windows application automatically detecting and configuring most of your hardware devices.
WinLinux 2000 Beta Release
JRCP is releasing the Final Beta version of WinLinux 2000 for evaluation and testing purposes. We have made every effort to create the easiest to use Linux system in the world and we ask you to give it a try.
Why would you use Linux?
Linux is one of the most powerful systems you can have on your PC. Linux was made for the Internet by the Internet and it is a standard choice of Internet Service Providers around the world. Besides that, Linux is a fully Open Source system that comes with a handful of applications, development tools, games, Internet applications and more. Click for additional features...
Why would you choose WinLinux?
All that power usually demands a complete reconfiguration of the software on your computer and that can be very difficult if you are not experienced with PC hardware and software. WinLinux is a complete Linux system and it is the only one that installs directly to your Windows PC just as any other application. Just point and click to set up.
So, what are you waiting for?
If you think Linux is just for geeks, you are loosing your chance to try it out and start mastering the operating system of the 21st century.
Download now! You will be amazed by its power and reliability and with Netscape Communicator included you will have a fast and stable Internet browsing machine.
If you want more information, please check the other areas of our website using the menu in the upper left of this page. See also our Press Releases
discore sez:
i think that if you are going to install linux, you've got to learn a few things.
No. If you are going to become a knowledgeable computer geek, you need to learn a few things. But why should Aunt Jane have to learn how to compile a filesystem just to have a cheap e-mail/word processing computer? Why should Linux force extra learning on people? Isn't the point of open source software to create something that's arguably better than closed-source stuff like Windows? How does making it easy violate that principle?
The last thing the Linux community needs is to turn into a bunch of arrogant helpdesk geeks laughing at the newbies who don't know that the disk label goes out. That's just adolescent egotism, and doesn't reflect well on anybody. That is, unless you only want arrogant helpdesk geeks using Linux. Well, then, that attitude's gonna help keep it that way.
Here's a clue from my many years supporting end users: end users don't care how the computer works, as long as it works. Hell, you can even be an advanced 32-bit environment C++ developer -- a good one -- and need help putting the RAM in the right way (actual example). Linux will always have the availability of the CLI to get under the hood, but please, I beg you, don't force people to use it.
lake effect weblog
{Network engineer in Chicago--looking for work!}
Must say it is not bad for a beta version. You download a single InstallShield executable, run the program, the only information you have to enter is a username. The installation queries the Windows registry for the relevant devices and figures out what Linux drivers should be loaded. It DOES run from a UMSDOS filesystem, so it's not a perfect solution, but for a newbie who would like to try it out without having to repartition their hard drive, it seemed to be pretty user-friendly. Another downside was that it chose the frame-buffer video device instead of the native X driver for my ATI card, but again, WinLinux is a good solution for somebody itching to try Linux, but not wanting to take too much risk.
I think that any product that makes transition from Windows-to-Linux easier on new users is immeasurably useful. At least, until more manufacturers start preloading Linux.
As I write this, I'm sure that a pile of shocked, righteous posts are piling up. Most will assault the very concept of running Linux in conjunction with Windows, others will wax nostalgic about their entry into the world of UNIX while preaching that because it was difficult for me it should be difficult for others, some will be lamenting the fact that it isn't "real" Linux, while still others will pound on the performance issues of using the UMSDOS file system.
The fundamental problem with those attacks is that they all assume that those who will use WinLinux have the same goals, purposes, ideals and reasons for using Linux in the first place.
The first type assumes that by the time a person has decided to use or try Linux, they are already a zealot. That is simply not the case. There are a great many Linux users who secretly hid their Windows usage from other geeks while they climbed the learning curve. The simple fact is that many people's entry into home computing follows the MS path. Once those people have a PC (with Win installed), they may discover Linux and want to try it. One of their primary reasons for wanting to try it? It can be provided free. But, to those people, is a possible disaster ruining an already functioning machine (most people consider their Windows boxes to function) free? Is buying a dedicated box for Linux when they aren't sure they'll like it free? No. Along comes a flavor of Linux which allows you to try it without doing much to your system. Why wouldn't that be good?
Enter attack 2. UNIX/Linux was hard for me, it should be hard for you. I always wonder why I have to hear this one. Particularly from folks who hated it when their parents used this logic on them. Remember, "Walked to school in the snow" or "I worked 3 jobs to finish college"? Science is based on building on the work of others. Sure, you still need to learn how it fits together, but you don't have to recreate all of scientific history. There SHOULD be a way to learn Linux without having to kill one's entire outside life. It may be simplified, it may be limited, but when a beginner hits those walls, sees the potential in someone else's system, then they will move on.
Attack 3. "It isn't real Linux". Because it doesn't reside on its own set of partitions? Because it relies on Windows for driver information? Or because it isn't the same as YOUR Linux? It has a Linux kernel. I think of a parallel in photography. Most people, including most Slashdot readers take the few pictures they do with a point and shoot camera. Hardcore amateur photographers and professionals would say that you aren't going to get good pictures with that type of camera, and some would go so far as to say that unless you are using a high-end medium format or 35mm camera with ultra-fast lenses, you aren't using a real camera. But it has a lens and holds film doesn't it? That makes it a camera. Your point and shoot fits your basic photography needs, and WinLinux fits the basic learning/experimentation Linux needs of many users.
Attack 4. It won't be as high performance as "pure" Linux on SCSI hardware. I guess I always thought one of the benefits of Linux was that it would run on cheap hardware that you already had around. Why doesn't this idea extend to cheap filesystems you already have around?
Sorry to have rambled on and for any lack of clarity in my statements. Flame away.
LetterJ
Writing Geek/Pixel Pusher
jwynia@earthlink.net
http://home.earthlink.net/~jwynia
The Glass is Too Big: My Take on Things
I downloaded it yesterday, and it works well for what it does.
Unpacks into a UMSDOS directory, c:\linux
Autodetects all of your hardware based on your _windows_ settings. Really nice. I'd like to see more of this in the other distros. Save it to a floppy, and that would solve a lot of questions newbies have (like irq,i/o etc)
If it's wrong (such as missing my video card), you can override the setting. It did really well, finding my printer (hp laserjet), joystick but not sound card (no sound setting?), mouse, modem, timezone.
It asks for a user and password, and even gives you the option to make root the same password.
Gives you a menu option (aka icon) to reboot system into Linux.
I've tried a few of these UMSDOS ones. Armed Linux didn't work with this system, but WinLinux2000 did work. I ended up with a nice (if slow due to UMSDOS) Linux system. Won't replace any of my real linux boxen, but for newbies wanting to try Linux, this is a new option.
Another option is DemoLinux, an entirely CD based Linux. I've had good luck with that one too.
http://www.demolinux.org
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