I run nothing but Linux on my desktops, and I purchased a Powerbook about 6 months ago.
I know my way around computers. I can take them apart, put them together.
I've futzed with non-supported and almost supported hardware for a long time.
I'll be damned if I can get a SIP solution that will work anywhere near as well as Skype.
I want it on my Mac. I want it on Linux. I want it to traverse NATs with (at best) minimal setup that I can describe to someone over the phone. I want it on Windows. And I want the Windows version to talk to the other versions. I'd prefer an easy install (no mucking around with text config files), so that I can point other people at a download, and have them install.
I've even tried to come up with some kind of similar solution myself, create a package my friends/family could download, but it just isn't possible to do with the current 'open' solution.
So I point them at Skype. They can download it, and install it with no problem.
The ONLY time they ever have problems is when they forget to plugin the microphone, or plug it in to the wrong port.
These are not stupid people. These are well eductated, and generally economically succesful.
But they only have a modicum of computer knowledge, and when push comes to shove, they can get Skype working.
I don't have a lot of time, so I'll try to make it succinct.
1) Windows Drivers Suck. They are often buggy, and bring the system down. I don't want my Linux system dependant on buggy Windows drivers. I'm happy with my linux system as is (yes, you have to do some research to make sure what you buy is compatible. That's life--- Be an educated consumer).
2) Inane amount of difficult involved. The Windows driver model is VERY different from the Linux driver model. I'm not a sure a 'hybrid' is possible without a great deal of work/new code. Do you really want a Linux where MS wrote 1/3 of the Kernel?
Especially if that portion is closed source? Who knows what bugs/exploits will lurk there. No Thanks!
3) The Linux driver model is superior. I can take my harddisk out of my desktop (with ACPI on), and drop it into a desktop with a different processor, different network cards, different motherboard chipset (with ACPI off), different graphics card, and it'll boot. On SuSE, SaX2 will run automagically, press enter a couple times, and *Poof* you're up and running.
Try this on Windows. Blue Screen, almost certainly.
Does the Windows Driver Model permit dynamically loaded drivers? I think not.
Does the Windows Driver Model require a reboot on each driver installation/upgrade? Depends on the device, but usually.
Does the Windows Driver Model support having thousands of drivers installed simultaneously, and dynamically loading the necessary ones on demand?
I think not.
No thank you. MS-Linux will only draw people from Windows, not Linux.
Once you go to the pain of making sure ALL your hardware is Linux compatible (i.e. working drivers are out there), the Linux driver model is preferable to the clunky windows driver model.
Yes, I know there are reasons the Windows driver model is the way it is. Mainly backwards compatability. But rational != excuse.
For many home users (I'm tempted to say most) it doesn't make any difference if you're running as admin or user, because all the sensitive data is in the user directory anyway. Whilst it might be a serious issue if a unix style setup with hundreds of users gets rooted, for a home computer it may be no better or worse than a trojan keylogger. I kind of agree with this, but not really.
It's much easier to backup/restore user data than to backup/restore the whole system.
I can fit all of my data on a dvd or 2. My entire system, however, would require quite a huge backup.
Backing up/restoring my user data is also quite painless, while reinstalling all my system stuff is quite painful (I'm not careful enough to archive the entire install on a continuous basis, so I would end up having to do a basic restore, then install newer apps on tops of that).
Of course, I run Linux, so I'm more used to this behavior, but you should be able to do the same thing by running as an unpriviledged user on Windows, then backup/restore 'C:\Documents and Settings'.
Of course, there are enough privledge esclation exploits that I would be hard pressed to consider a compromised Windows system 'clean', but the idea is nice.
At least I can use RPM to verify all my installed packages from a clean linux live boot cd, as long as I only install packages from either RPM or build software into self-signed RPMs.
Ironically, I believe that T-mobile coming on to the midwestern market has made a huge difference.
Not that we have the super-cool Japanese phones, but we have passible models now, and prices are more than reasonable for everyone to have their own phone.
Login to Amazon.com us section, and look at Cell Phones & Service.
Part of the problem is that Sprint, Verizon, and U.S. Cellular are STILL using fairly old fashion CDMA phones---I know that there are CDMA phones which aren't too old, but for some reason the U.S. carrier run the crappy ones. Nextel makes pretty neat CDMA phones-- They are pushing GPS integration into phones now, which is neat, but I'm much happier with my choices on T-mobile.
I'd try the 802.11g card first. See if it detects it.
If not, try the USB adapter. If THAT doesn't work (your odds are good one or both will, but if you have my terrible luck) start messing with either ndiswrapper or driverloader. I know there are supposedly working 'linux' drivers for the card, but I've had much more luck working with ndiswrapper/driverloader than trying to get buggy alpha-quality drivers to run on my system.
I REALLY like the driverloader product. It costs $20, which sucks a little, but it works SO well.
You install the RPM. You go to http://localhost:(some port number, I can't remember, it tells you in the install documentation).
It brings up a website says "This card detected. Please browse to the following files, and press 'install'" The 'following files' are just the files from the Windows XP version of the drivers. Easy as pie, always work, takes just a few minutes, and they have 30-day trial codes avaliable on their website. Its a really fantastic product if you don't have any other options.
Yeah, their website REALLY sucks, I don't know why they felt it necessary to integrate the old website into the novell website. I was going to direct you to the google cache, but apparently thats been updated too.
Video capture. Supposedly, you can use the 'Gatos' capture project. This is designed for 2d acceleration, video capture, and several other ATI features. I've never played with it myself, since I've only owned standard radeons, never a AIW. The site is here: http://gatos.sourceforge.net/overview.php
But i've been browsing their mailing list, and it doesn't seem like the 9600 is supported. There is a LOT of work being done on it, though, and there are several devel list entries from the beginning of the month.
Sound&Modem, as you already know, will be a breeze.
The broadcom wireles will present a moderate amount of difficulty, but it can be made to work, and if you are willing to spend a little money, it can be made to work easily. There are no native linux drivers, so you can either use ndiswrapper http://ndiswrapper.sourceforge.net/, which is an opensource project that allows you to use the Windows drivers, or you can use linuxant's Driverloader, avaliable at http://linuxant.com/
The bcm4306 is confirmed supported under both, but I know from experience that driverloader is extremely easy to use, but ndiswrapper is slightly more challenging (still not impossible, but requires editing some configuration files by hand). SuSE has been working on integrating Driverloader into the distribution, but it hasn't happened yet.
Yeah, the floppy, the 7-in-1 usb reader, the DVD drives, etc, will all work without any difficultly. If you intend to use a USB dvd burner in SuSE, you will need to "sudo chmod +u/usr/sbin/cdrdao & sudo chmod +u/usr/sbin/cdrecord" which is a minor security risk. SuSE, for some reason, has redesign those two to not run as root, but it doesn't work properly for USB writers. That simple chmod command will fix that, and then you will be able to burn CD/DVDs under SuSE.
BTW: I've been checking the SuSE hardware database, and it seems to have started working, but it is by no means comprehensive. http://hardwaredb.suse.de/index.php?LANG=en_UK Once again
What will happen, is what SBC does now, will occur with more ISPs.
Have a zombie bot on your DSL? Spewing out Spam/Borked Packets/Trojans/Other crap?
They restrict your access to the internet. You are always redirected to one address, on port 80.
"This is SBC. Your computer has been infected with (so and so). Please contact Microsoft or your local Antivirus company to correct this. Your access will be restored when your computer ceases to send out this garbage".
Both run in Transgaming's Cedega, with some caveats.
Half-life 2 isn't quite a pretty (your limited to DX 8 mode), and World of Warcraft although just a pretty, is somewhat slower (perhaps 10-30%), at least in D3D mode. OpenGL is faster, but there is currently a bug that prevents use of the minimap indoors. Its being worked on.
If you are complaining, you either a: have a legitimate copy of windows, or b: are a pirate.
If you are complaining, and all your copies are correctly licenses, and are unhappy because the activation process/making sure that your system is considered in compliance with MS, you have a somewhat valid complaint.
If you are complaining, and all your copies are NOT correctyl licensed, go screw yourself.
As far as I'm concerned, either compliant is the same ringing endorsement of free software.
Free software is a) avaliable for cheap or nothing, and b) never, ever, ever comes with license troubles unless you are planning evil stuff (like stealing GPL'd code).
Don't want to deal with restrictive big brother license surveillence? Too bad, you agreed to the MS EULA.
Most of the things you can do on windows, you can do in Linux now. 95% of things that can't be done in Linux can be worked around.
Very few people have a need. Most people simply require re-training.
Yes, framerates in D3D mode are somewhat less. (Probably 20-30% slower)
OpenGL mode, however, is just as fast, and transgaming has identified the problem with using the minimap indoors.
All the pixel shader effects are supported, by the way.
I've heard people get crash to desktops in WoW. Or have other sorts of stability problems.
Other than the aforementioned minimap issue, which had been a known issuse by transgaming for awhile now, WoW has been 100% rock solid on my system (I.E. absolutely flawless if I play in D3D mode). Zero crashses, ever. Probably about 2 weeks of game time since release.
In fact, I've never installed WoW on windows. Don't have windows running.
Slashdot Mirror
Yeah, I know there's no skype on linux PPC, but you can run it through Mac-on-Linux, which is very klunky.
I'd prefer to use a SIP solution. I'll explore FireFly and iaxComm.
Thanks for the info
I'm a fairly big Linux person.
I run nothing but Linux on my desktops, and I purchased a Powerbook about 6 months ago.
I know my way around computers. I can take them apart, put them together.
I've futzed with non-supported and almost supported hardware for a long time.
I'll be damned if I can get a SIP solution that will work anywhere near as well as Skype.
I want it on my Mac.
I want it on Linux.
I want it to traverse NATs with (at best) minimal setup that I can describe to someone over the phone.
I want it on Windows. And I want the Windows version to talk to the other versions.
I'd prefer an easy install (no mucking around with text config files), so that I can point other people at a download, and have them install.
I've even tried to come up with some kind of similar solution myself, create a package my friends/family could download, but it just isn't possible to do with the current 'open' solution.
So I point them at Skype. They can download it, and install it with no problem.
The ONLY time they ever have problems is when they forget to plugin the microphone, or plug it in to the wrong port.
These are not stupid people. These are well eductated, and generally economically succesful.
But they only have a modicum of computer knowledge, and when push comes to shove, they can get Skype working.
Other posters said the BSD developers are above this:
They live in an Ego free world, where they code for the love of game.
This maybe true in some cases, but is DEFINITELY not true in other cases.
Case in point: The Wine project. Transgaming took their BSD licensed code, created WineX.
The Wine Project got upset, and relicensed Wine using the LGPL/GPL, to prevent that from happening again.
A couple ego-less programs forked the old wine again, creating a BSD licensed ReWind.
So, not all programers are that beneficient, some people using the BSD license are just hoping that no one "rips them off".
As for myself, I don't think it matters. If you don't mind that summon is may use your code in a closed project, than use BSD.
If you will mind, and want to keep the code open, use the GPL.
It's a simple matter of choice, its a good thing that both licenses are avaliable, and neither one 'impedes' the other.
You post this all the time.
Please stop trolling. Even your definition says " achieve the same results as the imitated system."
Wine does NOT imitated a system. It does nothing of the kind.
It is not an emulation.
I guess I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt, as one is not supposed to feed trolls.
WoW...
What a good idea....
I hope some black hats read this.
Not just the UI.
Microsoft would be better off making a replacement for X windows.
That way, you couldn't run KDE/Gnome side by side with their UI.
Of course, this will NEVER happen. Microsoft loves the NT architecture FAR too much.
I don't have a lot of time, so I'll try to make it succinct.
1) Windows Drivers Suck. They are often buggy, and bring the system down. I don't want my Linux system dependant on buggy Windows drivers. I'm happy with my linux system as is (yes, you have to do some research to make sure what you buy is compatible. That's life--- Be an educated consumer).
2) Inane amount of difficult involved. The Windows driver model is VERY different from the Linux driver model. I'm not a sure a 'hybrid' is possible without a great deal of work/new code. Do you really want a Linux where MS wrote 1/3 of the Kernel?
Especially if that portion is closed source? Who knows what bugs/exploits will lurk there. No Thanks!
3) The Linux driver model is superior. I can take my harddisk out of my desktop (with ACPI on), and drop it into a desktop with a different processor, different network cards, different motherboard chipset (with ACPI off), different graphics card, and it'll boot. On SuSE, SaX2 will run automagically, press enter a couple times, and *Poof* you're up and running.
Try this on Windows. Blue Screen, almost certainly.
Does the Windows Driver Model permit dynamically loaded drivers? I think not.
Does the Windows Driver Model require a reboot on each driver installation/upgrade? Depends on the device, but usually.
Does the Windows Driver Model support having thousands of drivers installed simultaneously, and dynamically loading the necessary ones on demand?
I think not.
No thank you. MS-Linux will only draw people from Windows, not Linux.
Once you go to the pain of making sure ALL your hardware is Linux compatible (i.e. working drivers are out there), the Linux driver model is preferable to the clunky windows driver model.
Yes, I know there are reasons the Windows driver model is the way it is. Mainly backwards compatability. But rational != excuse.
Linux is better, and I like it that way.
Agreed.
:)
Didn't think of that angle.
I like to think no one else can get at my personal documents. Hopefully, my own personal security is pretty good
For many home users (I'm tempted to say most) it doesn't make any difference if you're running as admin or user, because all the sensitive data is in the user directory anyway. Whilst it might be a serious issue if a unix style setup with hundreds of users gets rooted, for a home computer it may be no better or worse than a trojan keylogger.
I kind of agree with this, but not really.
It's much easier to backup/restore user data than to backup/restore the whole system.
I can fit all of my data on a dvd or 2. My entire system, however, would require quite a huge backup.
Backing up/restoring my user data is also quite painless, while reinstalling all my system stuff is quite painful (I'm not careful enough to archive the entire install on a continuous basis, so I would end up having to do a basic restore, then install newer apps on tops of that).
Of course, I run Linux, so I'm more used to this behavior, but you should be able to do the same thing by running as an unpriviledged user on Windows, then backup/restore 'C:\Documents and Settings'.
Of course, there are enough privledge esclation exploits that I would be hard pressed to consider a compromised Windows system 'clean', but the idea is nice.
At least I can use RPM to verify all my installed packages from a clean linux live boot cd, as long as I only install packages from either RPM or build software into self-signed RPMs.
People have posted on the Community/Government distinction, but that is only part of it.
These local governments can form a committee to develop community wireless. Yes, they can't use any government money.
But they can probably get a low-cost, long term government loan, which they can repay from their revenues.
They can probably get other sorts of incentives, too: Right of way permissions, easy permitting, tax incentives.
In fact, although I do not agree with the intent of the law, it could force the generation of true community network, which would really be wonderful.
Gosh. .
All my household systems come with software to decrypt rars, bzip2s, gzips, tars, etc. .
All this extra functionality results in vulnerabilities, eh?
Oh. Wait. Even when I get the file open, the trojan won't excute. Guess I better fire up Wine, see if I can get it to work.
If only Win32 was better supported in Linux, then I wouldn't have these cross-platform issues.
I truely believe you are only half right
Yes, we will see more Firefox/Linux/Mac viruses/exploits in the future.
However, the 'barriers to entry' will be higher, because these systems simply are MORE secure.
Evidence? Server marketshare. Linux has comparable marketshare to Windows, yet Linux is compromised less often.
Not never. Linux IS indeed compromised, and at statistically significant levels.
But given the comparable marketshare, linux is compromised quite a bit less.
I suspect the desktop landscape will become similar. Linux/Mac marketshare will approach windows. Linux/Mac viruses/exploits will become more popular.
But they will never reach the levels of Windows exploits in their heyday.
Surf to about:plugins
This lists all the plugins you currently have installed on your Firefox configuration, with all the associated files listed.
It's finally starting to get better.
Ironically, I believe that T-mobile coming on to the midwestern market has made a huge difference.
Not that we have the super-cool Japanese phones, but we have passible models now, and prices are more than reasonable for everyone to have their own phone.
Login to Amazon.com us section, and look at Cell Phones & Service.
Part of the problem is that Sprint, Verizon, and U.S. Cellular are STILL using fairly old fashion CDMA phones---I know that there are CDMA phones which aren't too old, but for some reason the U.S. carrier run the crappy ones. Nextel makes pretty neat CDMA phones-- They are pushing GPS integration into phones now, which is neat, but I'm much happier with my choices on T-mobile.
You're welcome! :)
I'd try the 802.11g card first. See if it detects it.
If not, try the USB adapter. If THAT doesn't work (your odds are good one or both will, but if you have my terrible luck) start messing with either ndiswrapper or driverloader. I know there are supposedly working 'linux' drivers for the card, but I've had much more luck working with ndiswrapper/driverloader than trying to get buggy alpha-quality drivers to run on my system.
I REALLY like the driverloader product. It costs $20, which sucks a little, but it works SO well.
You install the RPM. You go to http://localhost:(some port number, I can't remember, it tells you in the install documentation).
It brings up a website says "This card detected. Please browse to the following files, and press 'install'" The 'following files' are just the files from the Windows XP version of the drivers. Easy as pie, always work, takes just a few minutes, and they have 30-day trial codes avaliable on their website. Its a really fantastic product if you don't have any other options.
Yeah, their website REALLY sucks, I don't know why they felt it necessary to integrate the old website into the novell website. I was going to direct you to the google cache, but apparently thats been updated too.
Yuck.
I dunno.
Perhaps, because in the days of windows 95, many applications came with instructions to do this:
Click start.
Click "Run..."
Type "D:\setup.exe"
I don't see how what I have described was anymore difficult.
Click the K icon.
Click "Run Command"
Type "SaX2 0=fglrx"
The first was considered usable to anyone. The second should be, as well.
Ok. Video card. You can use the ATI fglrx driver.
/usr/sbin/cdrdao & sudo chmod +u /usr/sbin/cdrecord" which is a minor security risk. SuSE, for some reason, has redesign those two to not run as root, but it doesn't work properly for USB writers. That simple chmod command will fix that, and then you will be able to burn CD/DVDs under SuSE.
Here are the SuSE 9.2 install instructions. Sadly, its not as easy as an NVIDIA card. But you will get hardware 3d and TV out.
http://suse.cbn.net.id/i386/supplementary/X/ATI/su se92/i386/fglrx/8.8.25/
Video capture. Supposedly, you can use the 'Gatos' capture project. This is designed for 2d acceleration, video capture, and several other ATI features. I've never played with it myself, since I've only owned standard radeons, never a AIW.
The site is here:
http://gatos.sourceforge.net/overview.php
But i've been browsing their mailing list, and it doesn't seem like the 9600 is supported. There is a LOT of work being done on it, though, and there are several devel list entries from the beginning of the month.
Sound&Modem, as you already know, will be a breeze.
Your gigabit ethernet card has drivers avaliable from the manufacturers website. This is here: http://www.marvell.com/drivers/driverDisplay.do?dI d=107&pId=10
I'm assuming you meant Yukon, not ukon.
This page here suggests that it is avaliable in the lastest 2.6 kernels (This is Gentoo, not SuSE)
http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:3PYpQxdJcwoJ: linuxforums.org/forum/ntopic31345.html+Yukon+SuSE+ 9.2&hl=en&start=16&client=firefox-a
This seems to suggest its in the default install:
http://rpmfind.net/linux/RPM/suse/9.2/i386/lib_mod ules_2.6.8-24.10-bigsmp_kernel_drivers_net_sk98lin _Tree.html
I'm not really sure, as I have little experience with Gigabit ethernet.
The broadcom wireles will present a moderate amount of difficulty, but it can be made to work, and if you are willing to spend a little money, it can be made to work easily. There are no native linux drivers, so you can either use ndiswrapper http://ndiswrapper.sourceforge.net/, which is an opensource project that allows you to use the Windows drivers, or you can use linuxant's Driverloader, avaliable at http://linuxant.com/
The bcm4306 is confirmed supported under both, but I know from experience that driverloader is extremely easy to use, but ndiswrapper is slightly more challenging (still not impossible, but requires editing some configuration files by hand). SuSE has been working on integrating Driverloader into the distribution, but it hasn't happened yet.
Yeah, the floppy, the 7-in-1 usb reader, the DVD drives, etc, will all work without any difficultly. If you intend to use a USB dvd burner in SuSE, you will need to "sudo chmod +u
Here, http://lists.suse.com/archive/suse-amd64/2005-Jan/ 0019.html Someone refers to using your motherboard, and it seems to work properly.
BTW: I've been checking the SuSE hardware database, and it seems to have started working, but it is by no means comprehensive. http://hardwaredb.suse.de/index.php?LANG=en_UK Once again
I'll make ya deal, as part of my standard linux zealotry.
:)
Gimme the NIC model numbers, and any other hardware you are worried about, and I'll tell you if it works
Also, the old SuSE website seems to be gone, which is really too bad. I can only hope that the new Novell/SuSE website starts to match the old ones.
The old ones had pretty good mailing lists, too, and I can only hope that content is still out there somewhere.
Nah, most of them are unwilling to pay for Macs.
"Too expensive".
Switching to Linux is something they'll considered.
God, I would be SO happy if they would all get Macs. I've been pushing the Mac Mini like theres no tomorrow. Hopefully they'll bite.
These days, I believe that the 8500 has native DRI drivers.
If you are running SuSE, that means enabling OpenGL is as simple as clicking 'Enable Hardware Accelerated 3D' in SaX2, the X configuration program.
It's all gui based.
It even configures newer ATI cards with the fglrx drivers, but you have to pass it some commandline options (SaX2 0=fglrx, I believe).
It says it in the ATI card documentation. Try SuSE, you'll like it.
There webpage has been broken lately, because I believe they are in the process of transitioning it all to Novell's site.
I believe you are always forwarded there, now, but I'm not sure.
I think you are overly worried.
What will happen, is what SBC does now, will occur with more ISPs.
Have a zombie bot on your DSL? Spewing out Spam/Borked Packets/Trojans/Other crap?
They restrict your access to the internet. You are always redirected to one address, on port 80.
"This is SBC. Your computer has been infected with (so and so). Please contact Microsoft or your local Antivirus company to correct this. Your access will be restored when your computer ceases to send out this garbage".
Zombie nets are not good for the internet, no.
But they will hardly cripple it.
Half-life 2, check.
World of Warcraft, check.
Both run in Transgaming's Cedega, with some caveats.
Half-life 2 isn't quite a pretty (your limited to DX 8 mode), and World of Warcraft although just a pretty, is somewhat slower (perhaps 10-30%), at least in D3D mode. OpenGL is faster, but there is currently a bug that prevents use of the minimap indoors. Its being worked on.
Who cares?
If you are complaining, you either a: have a legitimate copy of windows, or b: are a pirate.
If you are complaining, and all your copies are correctly licenses, and are unhappy because the activation process/making sure that your system is considered in compliance with MS, you have a somewhat valid complaint.
If you are complaining, and all your copies are NOT correctyl licensed, go screw yourself.
As far as I'm concerned, either compliant is the same ringing endorsement of free software.
Free software is a) avaliable for cheap or nothing, and b) never, ever, ever comes with license troubles unless you are planning evil stuff (like stealing GPL'd code).
Don't want to deal with restrictive big brother license surveillence? Too bad, you agreed to the MS EULA.
Most of the things you can do on windows, you can do in Linux now.
95% of things that can't be done in Linux can be worked around.
Very few people have a need. Most people simply require re-training.
Try WoW on linux.
Yes, framerates in D3D mode are somewhat less. (Probably 20-30% slower)
OpenGL mode, however, is just as fast, and transgaming has identified the problem with using the minimap indoors.
All the pixel shader effects are supported, by the way.
I've heard people get crash to desktops in WoW. Or have other sorts of stability problems.
Other than the aforementioned minimap issue, which had been a known issuse by transgaming for awhile now, WoW has been 100% rock solid on my system (I.E. absolutely flawless if I play in D3D mode). Zero crashses, ever. Probably about 2 weeks of game time since release.
In fact, I've never installed WoW on windows. Don't have windows running.