I've been working within the hardware constraints you mention - I replaced my printer and scanner with Linux compatable models. I replaced every piece of Windows software I use with a linux equivalent (except TaxCut which as you say is available on the web) and have been extremely happy with Red Hat 8. I help a lot of people with their Windows computers and must say I am impressed at how much more stable RH8 is than even XP. I've even found lots of software on Linux which gives me functionality above my old Windows system. I admit some people wouldn't be happy on Linux just as you say - but I am. The only thing I can't live without is the security maintenance because I've been had before and I don't like it.
If you want to see the latest new Linux enhancements Fedora may be fine. I am at a point that I can't blow my system away every three months because I need to migrate my data and addon software. I've never felt Mandrake was quite there in the past but in testing it out I find that it will functionally and stablely replace my Red Hat 8 and still give me 18 Months of security maintenance. On that basis Fedora may be the best distro for enthusiasts but not home desktop users.
I like Red Hat for office servers but I think Fedora is an abandonment of the home desktop market which may hurt them later in the office arena. The Enterprise WS at $179 annual is not going to attract many takers.In my opinion they really have no viable desktop product at this point. Should say Suse/Novell supply the corporate desktop then business tends to migrate to a single vendor they can negotiate quantity discounts with.Red Hat may lose out in the end even in the corporate server arena.
I have enjoyed using Red Hat for years. I'm glad they are making money in the Corporate world. However the recent statement that Red Hat made that Linux wasn't ready for the home user is a self fulfulling prophecy in their case. I do more than test new releases on my home Linux system - I do my checking, scan records for retention, email, word processing - everything I used to do on Windows. I really won't use a Linux which I can't get security patches for. I won't install a new Fedora every three months to be able to download security fixes. Why would anyone work to report bugs and gather documentation to get them fixed if they can never use the product for more than testing? Red Hat has no home desktop linux to sell and Fedora is not a home desktop Linux distro. I'm moving to Mandrake 9.2 where I can at least get the security fixes for 18 months.I'm not mad or bitter its just Red hat no longer has a home linux distro.
What cost savings (in regard to energy consumption) could be expected over the life of a typical LCD vs OLED vs traditional monitor. I'd love to be able to justify one of these or even an LCD.
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I've been working within the hardware constraints you mention - I replaced my printer and scanner with Linux compatable models. I replaced every piece of Windows software I use with a linux equivalent (except TaxCut which as you say is available on the web) and have been extremely happy with Red Hat 8. I help a lot of people with their Windows computers and must say I am impressed at how much more stable RH8 is than even XP. I've even found lots of software on Linux which gives me functionality above my old Windows system. I admit some people wouldn't be happy on Linux just as you say - but I am. The only thing I can't live without is the security maintenance because I've been had before and I don't like it.
If you want to see the latest new Linux enhancements Fedora may be fine. I am at a point that I can't blow my system away every three months because I need to migrate my data and addon software. I've never felt Mandrake was quite there in the past but in testing it out I find that it will functionally and stablely replace my Red Hat 8 and still give me 18 Months of security maintenance. On that basis Fedora may be the best distro for enthusiasts but not home desktop users.
I like Red Hat for office servers but I think Fedora is an abandonment of the home desktop market which may hurt them later in the office arena. The Enterprise WS at $179 annual is not going to attract many takers.In my opinion they really have no viable desktop product at this point. Should say Suse/Novell supply the corporate desktop then business tends to migrate to a single vendor they can negotiate quantity discounts with.Red Hat may lose out in the end even in the corporate server arena.
I have enjoyed using Red Hat for years. I'm glad they are making money in the Corporate world. However the recent statement that Red Hat made that Linux wasn't ready for the home user is a self fulfulling prophecy in their case. I do more than test new releases on my home Linux system - I do my checking, scan records for retention, email, word processing - everything I used to do on Windows. I really won't use a Linux which I can't get security patches for. I won't install a new Fedora every three months to be able to download security fixes. Why would anyone work to report bugs and gather documentation to get them fixed if they can never use the product for more than testing? Red Hat has no home desktop linux to sell and Fedora is not a home desktop Linux distro. I'm moving to Mandrake 9.2 where I can at least get the security fixes for 18 months.I'm not mad or bitter its just Red hat no longer has a home linux distro.
What cost savings (in regard to energy consumption) could be expected over the life of a typical LCD vs OLED vs traditional monitor. I'd love to be able to justify one of these or even an LCD.