I think this is the way it will be for a while as well. Get up, go to work, write windows programs for the computer illiterate, make money, come home and hack on linux. Yahoo.
I've been working with Linux on my home machine for about 8-10 months now, and I've used it remotely (shell accts, etc.) for the past 4 or 5 years. It just so happened that I picked up Linux on my own PC just before it became the popular "thing" to do. I've had a few people ask me for copies of my Linux CD because they want to install it, and they don't even know what it really is. It's a little disheartening.
I have nothing against people who want to learn and have the capabilities, but there are just some people who can't understand computers. I worked at a PC repair shop, I know. At this point, Linux isn't a plug-and-play (excuse the lame term) operating system, and it isn't supposed to be. I like linux the way it is, and I think that the bit of competence needed to install it helps filter out a lot of idiots. (ie I can go into #linux and there are quite a few more people who 'get it' with computers than in ALL the aol chat rooms:))
Using Linux I feel like I'm a little more advanced of a PC user than most other people, and it kind of gets on my nerves when people ask how to click the setup icon off a Red hat CD because it's they read an article on the web and like the idea of a hacker operating system. People should definitely read up on Linux a LOT before they dive in, that way they won't sound so dumb when they do go for it.
I remember a few years ago when I was only 13 and involed in the BBS scene (before the days of the internet and the web) we had a term we used called "Modem Muscles". This was the term we used when we referred to people putting on a front about who they were online as means of impressing people. There were blacklists on most boards and you'd begin to notice the same people were blacklisted on every bbs you'd logon to. I remember reading posts from these people about all the great things they had done with warez and ansi art and bbs'ing and the sort (people didn't really brag about money and girls that much, though it did happen, just stupid stuff that had to do with computers) Well, look at what we have on our hands now boys and girls. Modem Muscles has met the Internet. Unfortunately when a concept like this was extended from the geek community to the general public we got all the baggage of rape, robbery, and things of the sort (no longer just "I have 25 gigs of warez!"). I sit back and laugh because we all understood the problem years ago and handled it very maturely, but there's so many morons online now it's out of control. I tell everyone who I know that uses the stupid AOL chat rooms (the trendy thing to do now it seems) to be wary of the people on there and make them guilty until proven innocent. As for myself, I only chat on IRC in #linux and #3dsmax , reserving other chats for people I know personally who I just want to talk to, instead of using the phone. Sure it's ok to meet new people online, but i wouldn't recommend meeting them unless you get to know them very well. AT LEAST talk to them on the phone for a while, it would be way too wierd to not know someone's voice before I meet them when I could have. Just two cents coming from a 17 year old kid who's experienced the online community before the 'net was so popular.
If X just crashed Linux is still running and very much alive, but to break it out you have to login remotely and kill the X server. If X freezes up you may also be able to punch out using ctrl-alt-backspace, though you may already know this.
Slashdot Mirror
I think this is the way it will be for a while as well. Get up, go to work, write windows programs for the computer illiterate, make money, come home and hack on linux. Yahoo.
I have nothing against people who want to learn and have the capabilities, but there are just some people who can't understand computers. I worked at a PC repair shop, I know. At this point, Linux isn't a plug-and-play (excuse the lame term) operating system, and it isn't supposed to be. I like linux the way it is, and I think that the bit of competence needed to install it helps filter out a lot of idiots. (ie I can go into #linux and there are quite a few more people who 'get it' with computers than in ALL the aol chat rooms
Using Linux I feel like I'm a little more advanced of a PC user than most other people, and it kind of gets on my nerves when people ask how to click the setup icon off a Red hat CD because it's they read an article on the web and like the idea of a hacker operating system. People should definitely read up on Linux a LOT before they dive in, that way they won't sound so dumb when they do go for it.
Ok I feel really dumb right now but what is an RFC? I consider myself a geek and I'm ashamed to ask about something that seems so obvious.
I remember a few years ago when I was only 13 and involed in the BBS scene (before the days of the internet and the web) we had a term we used called "Modem Muscles". This was the term we used when we referred to people putting on a front about who they were online as means of impressing people. There were blacklists on most boards and you'd begin to notice the same people were blacklisted on every bbs you'd logon to. I remember reading posts from these people about all the great things they had done with warez and ansi art and bbs'ing and the sort (people didn't really brag about money and girls that much, though it did happen, just stupid stuff that had to do with computers) Well, look at what we have on our hands now boys and girls. Modem Muscles has met the Internet. Unfortunately when a concept like this was extended from the geek community to the general public we got all the baggage of rape, robbery, and things of the sort (no longer just "I have 25 gigs of warez!"). I sit back and laugh because we all understood the problem years ago and handled it very maturely, but there's so many morons online now it's out of control. I tell everyone who I know that uses the stupid AOL chat rooms (the trendy thing to do now it seems) to be wary of the people on there and make them guilty until proven innocent. As for myself, I only chat on IRC in #linux and #3dsmax , reserving other chats for people I know personally who I just want to talk to, instead of using the phone. Sure it's ok to meet new people online, but i wouldn't recommend meeting them unless you get to know them very well. AT LEAST talk to them on the phone for a while, it would be way too wierd to not know someone's voice before I meet them when I could have. Just two cents coming from a 17 year old kid who's experienced the online community before the 'net was so popular.
Looks like the flaming might actually start to simmer down now. Amen!
If X just crashed Linux is still running and very much alive, but to break it out you have to login remotely and kill the X server. If X freezes up you may also be able to punch out using ctrl-alt-backspace, though you may already know this.
Greg
Some of us have to at our working environments.
(At home, on the other hand, my linux box is patiently waiting for me)
Greg