Buy 'em both...I have a firewall running natd for the cable modem on FreeBSD, and a desktop running RH6. Then, there is the NT box, and the 98 box. I have a 486 I am playing with OpenBSD on, but that will be a while. More is better.
Since congress seems to want to cut the budget for the space program, I think NASA should allow advertising.
For example, we should send a replacement for the Mars Climate Observer, but there is no money in the budget. They said IIRC, that it cost ~125Mln USD, so we can hit all of the tech companies up for it. I bet it would be easy to get at least a few million each from, say: IBM, SUN, AOL, MS, DELL, Compaq, Boeing, Martin Marietta, etc, etc. Let 'em each have a spot on the device to stick a logo, let em use it in advertising..they would get the PR value, and we would get the science.
To echo some other comments: If solaris had been free (on x86), we wouldnt have needed Linux. But, now that there is Linux, there is no niche for a free Solaris to fill. Linux rocks on comparativly low-end hardware. I dont see anyone, even the biggest Linux-advocate, advocating running linux on the big iron (>4 processors, etc).
Sun makes great boxes to run your enterprise on. The hardware/software combo is great. But on a workstation? Solaris on a workstation may not be overkill, but it is certainly not that much different than linux.
Is the prevalence of wireless in Europe a reaction to the fact that most of the telcos are state-run monopolies? Is wireless deregulated, or do the telcos run that, too? I would be interested in seeing a price comparision of wireless vs. landline in Europe.
Note: This is NOT a troll to get things into a Europe vs. US flamewar...I am really curious as to why things like GSM are taking off everywhere but here.
This may be Off topic, but what is up with the ? where the apostrophes should be? I originally thought it was a windows thing, but I am on an NT box using IE right now.
I have cable modem service from Roadrunner in Charlotte, NC. They officially only support Win9x and (I think) Macs, but the guy who they sent to install it doesnt care.
So far, I have connected with Win9x, RedHat, FreeBSD, and WinNT/2K. All of them worked fine.
The only problems are:
1) DHCP--sometimes your IP addy gets changed out from under you 2) You need some software to log your box into the network before you can get out to the 'net. The windows software works for Win9x and NT, but to get Linux on the Roadrunner network, you need this: http://www.vortech.net/rrlinux/
Actually, Brad Wardell OWNS the company. If you want to see some interesting flame wars going on, take a look at comp.os.os2.advocacy, where people have been flaming Brad for a while due to his choice of newsreaders.
Brad, AFAIK, doesnt really care what OS he develops on/uses, as long as he can write some software that people will buy.
But you have to look at it from IBM's viewpoint: What would GPL'ing OS/2 do for them? There is also, IIRC, code from other vendors in OS/2. One of those vendors is Microsoft, and I doubt that they would agree to anything like GPLing the code.
From the announcement page: http://www.linux-mandrake.com/en/heliosannounce.ph p3
Linux-Mandrake 6.1 (Helios) is released.
http://www.linux-mandrake.com/
Sep, 17 1999
Hello,
We are very pleased to announce the new version of the Linux distribution that won the "Product of the year" award at LinuxWorld Expo'99. Linux-Mandrake 6.1 (Helios), the first Linux distribution to include the new XFree 3.3.5 and KDE1.1.2, is available. This is the latest release of our user-friendly and flexible desktop Linux-based operating system. It is currently available for download via FTP, in both traditional and iso-image formats.
o Introduction ------------
Thanks to our dedicated staff and the Linux community, this new release of Mandrake takes an important step on our way to make Linux distributions better, faster and easier-to-use.
o Mandrake 6.1 features ---------------------
Core system -----------
- Linux-Kernel: 2.2.13 (pre4) - XFree86: 3.3.5 - Glibc: 2.1.1 - RPM: 3.0.3 - Bash: 2.03 - KDE: 1.1.2 [with Mandrake customization] - Gnome: built from 1.0.4->1.0.14 versions [with Mandrake customization] - Enlightenment 0.16-dev5, Windowmaker 0.60, AfterStep 1.7.111, XFCE 3.0.2, IceWM 0.9.48 - Apache 1.3.9 with useful modules (PHP3, Perl, Midgard, MySQL, PGSQL...), pluggable with cryptographic extensions available from several unrestricted FTP servers.
All packages have been compiled with CPU optimizations for pentium-class (intel, amd, cyrix, winchip...) and higher processors resulting in speed improvements up to 30%.
Improvements and add-ons ------------------------
- Most packages are updated to their latest stable versions. - Many supplementary KDE apps and Gnome apps like kdevelop, klilo, xmms... - Mandrake customized Apache 1.3.9 - MySQL 3.20 (GPL) + 3.22 (not to be resold). - Enlightenment 0.16 development version 5. many new features such as, Window grouping, Full pager support, Preliminary KDE compliance. - XFCE 3.0.2 is now part of the distribution. - Mandrake customized XFree 3.3.5 with support for new encodings (Armenian, Ukrainian, Thai, Vietnamese, Lao, Georgian...) - Mandrake optimized X-TT/FreeType server. - More complete and generally improved internationalization (Japanese TT fonts, more man-pages, more ispell dictionaries...). - Easier access to Dos/Windows(tm) partitions. - Enhanced documentation. - All current bug/security fixes.
Mandrake still features: -----------------------
- Creation of an user account during installation - Graphics tests while installation, permitting to boot directly in graphical mode. - Improved hardware support (ISDN, CD-Writers, Windows(tm) keys). - CD-ROM and Floppy-disks can be mounted by non privileged users, just by typing "mount/mnt/cdrom" or clicking on the CD-ROM icon. - Multiple graphical desktops choice: KDE, Gnome, AfterStep, WindowMaker, XFCE and IceWM (with session choice in KDM/GDM). - Scalable fonts support in all X applications and for printing (with ready-to-use True Type(tm) fonts provided). - Mandrake KDE and Gnome customization, with preconfigured desktop. - Many KDE themes available. - Better accents (and special characters management under X and console). - Better locale man-pages management and displaying, following the $LANG environment variable. - Easy automatic distribution update system from the graphical desktop. - Applications such as Wine, Postfix...
o Compatibility -------------
Linux-Mandrake is compatible with Red Hat(tm) Linux. This means that you can install any RPM package made for Red Hat in Linux-Mandrake.
Linux-Mandrake 6.0 has won two LinuxWorld Editors' Choice Awards and a runner up at LinuxWorld Expo, San Jose, CA in August 1999:
* Best Linux Product of the Year. * Best Distribution/Server. * finalist for Best Distribution/Client.
What is Linux-Mandrake? -----------------------
Linux-Mandrake is inspired by Red Hat(tm) Linux, with many improvements and pre-configured applications which make it easier to use for the beginners, and faster for everyone.
Main goals of this new distribution: -----------------------------------
- We want to provide a working and easy-to-install Linux distribution for people who do not want to spend too much time on installation and configuration of their Linux system, while still being configurable for experts. Just install Mandrake and USE IT!
- We want to provide a very attractive, easy-to-use, Linux System for both, novices and experts alike.
- We want to provide a rock-stable and fast Linux server system with many features for Internet servers.
- We want to provide a very attractive distribution in a well-known linux environment (Red Hat Linux).
I have been saving my pennies for a CDROM of FreeBSD 3.2. I finally saved enough, went to freebsdmall and ordered the 3.2 CD (I broke down and bought the Complete FreeBSD too). I did all of this YESTERDAY at 6:00PM (eastern). And then, LESS THAN SIX HOURS LATER, they update it to 3.3.
$370 is alot for a console--no matter how awesome. Didnt the Sega Genesis have the same problem: it cost too much to be an impulse buy, and is hard to justify when you budget for the month?
I will be interested to find out whether or not this was marca's idea or Steve Case's. I always wondered what kind of fit the Netscape ubergeek would be at AOL--it seemed somehow out of place, like if Linus Torvalds were to go work at Microsoft (well, maybe not THAT out of place--but you get my drift)
I always enjoy reading about people justifying terminals "Well, I wouldn't want one, but Susie down in accounting/Joe on the loading dock, etc,etc could use one". The thing about it is, people don't like being dependant on IS to take care of things. Thats why we had a PC revolution in the first place: people got tired of waiting for IS departments to 'get it', and went out and bought a bunch of PCs and took care of their needs themselves.
Terminals are GREAT in the proper environment--but users don't like them. And users, ultimately, are the ones who keep IS in business.
Office 2000 file formats are the same as Office 97. Except for Access. Word/Excel all come into staroffice just fine. (I dont know about powerpoint, since I am not a marketer or a manager )
As far as I can tell, MOST of the current 'big' companies dont give a hoot about Open Source. Look at the big companies 'supporting' Linux now: AOL/Netscape, Oracle, Sun, etc. Most of them seem to be putting out a version of their software for Linux in order to help get Microsoft.
They work under the assumption "the enemy of my enemy is my friend", but they dont "get it". Larry Ellison at Oracle doesnt want a world of free software, he wants Oracle to be the monopolist that Microsoft is.
The biggest exceptions to this rule seems to be IBM--they actually seem to be putting their money where their mouth is and releasing code.
Writing anything non-trivial for multiple platforms is a pain in the neck. That counts if you are writing for Windows, Linux, Solaris, Netware (heck -- writing trivial things for netware is a pain in the neck). Even Java (altho this is getting much better).
I have a roadrunner account too, and run Linux (IPMasq is a godsend). I have never had any sort of problem. They dont officially support linux, but they have never given anyone any flack about it, AFAIK.
Slashdot Mirror
Buy 'em both...I have a firewall running natd for the cable modem on FreeBSD, and a desktop running RH6. Then, there is the NT box, and the 98 box. I have a 486 I am playing with OpenBSD on, but that will be a while. More is better.
Since congress seems to want to cut the budget for the space program, I think NASA should allow advertising.
For example, we should send a replacement for the Mars Climate Observer, but there is no money in the budget. They said IIRC, that it cost ~125Mln USD, so we can hit all of the tech companies up for it. I bet it would be easy to get at least a few million each from, say: IBM, SUN, AOL, MS, DELL, Compaq, Boeing, Martin Marietta, etc, etc. Let 'em each have a spot on the device to stick a logo, let em use it in advertising..they would get the PR value, and we would get the science.
"I wonder if Scott McNealy has ever asked himself that question - or if he will after reading this. "
/.
Scott is too busy plotting what he will do when he replaces Bill Gates as the Evil Overlord of the Computer Industry to worry about
...but now we dont need it.
To echo some other comments: If solaris had been free (on x86), we wouldnt have needed Linux. But, now that there is Linux, there is no niche for a free Solaris to fill. Linux rocks on comparativly low-end hardware. I dont see anyone, even the biggest Linux-advocate, advocating running linux on the big iron (>4 processors, etc).
Sun makes great boxes to run your enterprise on. The hardware/software combo is great. But on a workstation? Solaris on a workstation may not be overkill, but it is certainly not that much different than linux.
Is the prevalence of wireless in Europe a reaction to the fact that most of the telcos are state-run monopolies? Is wireless deregulated, or do the telcos run that, too? I would be interested in seeing a price comparision of wireless vs. landline in Europe.
Note: This is NOT a troll to get things into a Europe vs. US flamewar...I am really curious as to why things like GSM are taking off everywhere but here.
This may be Off topic, but what is up with the ? where the apostrophes should be? I originally thought it was a windows thing, but I am on an NT box using IE right now.
I have cable modem service from Roadrunner in Charlotte, NC. They officially only support Win9x and (I think) Macs, but the guy who they sent to install it doesnt care.
So far, I have connected with Win9x, RedHat, FreeBSD, and WinNT/2K. All of them worked fine.
The only problems are:
1) DHCP--sometimes your IP addy gets changed out from under you
2) You need some software to log your box into the network before you can get out to the 'net. The windows software works for Win9x and NT, but to get Linux on the Roadrunner network, you need this: http://www.vortech.net/rrlinux/
You take offense to what?
Actually, Brad Wardell OWNS the company. If you want to see some interesting flame wars going on, take a look at comp.os.os2.advocacy, where people have been flaming Brad for a while due to his choice of newsreaders.
Brad, AFAIK, doesnt really care what OS he develops on/uses, as long as he can write some software that people will buy.
But you have to look at it from IBM's viewpoint: What would GPL'ing OS/2 do for them? There is also, IIRC, code from other vendors in OS/2. One of those vendors is Microsoft, and I doubt that they would agree to anything like GPLing the code.
From the announcement page: http://www.linux-mandrake.com/en/heliosannounce.ph p3
/mnt/cdrom" or clicking on the CD-ROM icon.
- -------------
- -------------
- --
- --
- --
Linux-Mandrake 6.1 (Helios) is released.
http://www.linux-mandrake.com/
Sep, 17 1999
Hello,
We are very pleased to announce the new version of the Linux
distribution that won the "Product of the year" award at LinuxWorld
Expo'99. Linux-Mandrake 6.1 (Helios), the first Linux distribution
to include the new XFree 3.3.5 and KDE1.1.2, is available.
This is the latest release of our user-friendly and flexible desktop
Linux-based operating system. It is currently available for download
via FTP, in both traditional and iso-image formats.
o Introduction
------------
Thanks to our dedicated staff and the Linux community, this new
release of Mandrake takes an important step on our way to make Linux
distributions better, faster and easier-to-use.
o Mandrake 6.1 features
---------------------
Core system
-----------
- Linux-Kernel: 2.2.13 (pre4)
- XFree86: 3.3.5
- Glibc: 2.1.1
- RPM: 3.0.3
- Bash: 2.03
- KDE: 1.1.2 [with Mandrake customization]
- Gnome: built from 1.0.4->1.0.14 versions [with Mandrake
customization]
- Enlightenment 0.16-dev5, Windowmaker 0.60, AfterStep 1.7.111, XFCE
3.0.2, IceWM 0.9.48
- Apache 1.3.9 with useful modules (PHP3, Perl, Midgard, MySQL,
PGSQL...), pluggable with cryptographic extensions available from
several unrestricted FTP servers.
All packages have been compiled with CPU optimizations for
pentium-class (intel, amd, cyrix, winchip...) and higher processors
resulting in speed improvements up to 30%.
Improvements and add-ons
------------------------
- Most packages are updated to their latest stable versions.
- Many supplementary KDE apps and Gnome apps like kdevelop, klilo,
xmms...
- Mandrake customized Apache 1.3.9
- MySQL 3.20 (GPL) + 3.22 (not to be resold).
- Enlightenment 0.16 development version 5. many new features such
as, Window grouping, Full pager support, Preliminary KDE compliance.
- XFCE 3.0.2 is now part of the distribution.
- Mandrake customized XFree 3.3.5 with support for new encodings
(Armenian, Ukrainian, Thai, Vietnamese, Lao, Georgian...)
- Mandrake optimized X-TT/FreeType server.
- More complete and generally improved internationalization (Japanese
TT fonts, more man-pages, more ispell dictionaries...).
- Easier access to Dos/Windows(tm) partitions.
- Enhanced documentation.
- All current bug/security fixes.
Mandrake still features:
-----------------------
- Creation of an user account during installation
- Graphics tests while installation, permitting to boot directly in
graphical mode.
- Improved hardware support (ISDN, CD-Writers, Windows(tm) keys).
- CD-ROM and Floppy-disks can be mounted by non privileged users,
just by typing "mount
- Multiple graphical desktops choice: KDE, Gnome, AfterStep,
WindowMaker, XFCE and IceWM (with session choice in KDM/GDM).
- Scalable fonts support in all X applications and for printing (with
ready-to-use True Type(tm) fonts provided).
- Mandrake KDE and Gnome customization, with preconfigured desktop.
- Many KDE themes available.
- Better accents (and special characters management under X and
console).
- Better locale man-pages management and displaying, following the
$LANG environment variable.
- Easy automatic distribution update system from the graphical
desktop.
- Applications such as Wine, Postfix...
o Compatibility
-------------
Linux-Mandrake is compatible with Red Hat(tm) Linux. This means that
you can install any RPM package made for Red Hat in Linux-Mandrake.
-----------------------------------------------
http://www.linux-mandrake.com/
-----------------------------------------------
Linux-Mandrake 6.0 has won two LinuxWorld Editors' Choice Awards and a
runner up at LinuxWorld Expo, San Jose, CA in August 1999:
* Best Linux Product of the Year.
* Best Distribution/Server.
* finalist for Best Distribution/Client.
What is Linux-Mandrake?
-----------------------
Linux-Mandrake is inspired by Red Hat(tm) Linux, with many
improvements and pre-configured applications which make it easier to
use for the beginners, and faster for everyone.
Main goals of this new distribution:
-----------------------------------
- We want to provide a working and easy-to-install Linux distribution
for people who do not want to spend too much time on installation and
configuration of their Linux system, while still being configurable
for experts. Just install Mandrake and USE IT!
- We want to provide a very attractive, easy-to-use, Linux System for
both, novices and experts alike.
- We want to provide a rock-stable and fast Linux server system with
many features for Internet servers.
- We want to provide a very attractive distribution in a well-known
linux environment (Red Hat Linux).
Previous versions:
-----------------
- Mandrake 5.1 (Venice)
- Mandrake 5.2 (Leeloo)
- Mandrake 5.3 (Festen)
- Mandrake 6.0 (Venus)
Current version:
---------------
- Mandrake 6.1 (Helios)
-----------------------------------------------
PRESS COMMENTS
--------------
`PC-Expert' (french ZD-Net publication): Mandrake: "currently the best
distribution"!!
`PC-Magazin' (Germany - issue April99): "Mandrake earns a big point
for their intelligent configuration of KDE."
"The best Distribution of Linux available" -- Reviews' R' Us.
"I really like Mandrake" -- Nicholas Petreley
"For ease of getting started, I recommend Mandrake" -- Christian
Computing Magazine
"You can't go wrong buying Mandrake; it is an excellent Linux
distribution, and I suspect I will keep using it as a desktop OS" --
CPU Review
-----------------------------------------------
http://www.linux-mandrake.com/
----------------END----------------------------
I have been saving my pennies for a CDROM of FreeBSD 3.2. I finally saved enough, went to freebsdmall and ordered the 3.2 CD (I broke down and bought the Complete FreeBSD too). I did all of this YESTERDAY at 6:00PM (eastern). And then, LESS THAN SIX HOURS LATER, they update it to 3.3.
Just my luck.
Sorry for the rant, you can moderate me down now.
$370 is alot for a console--no matter how awesome. Didnt the Sega Genesis have the same problem: it cost too much to be an impulse buy, and is hard to justify when you budget for the month?
I will be interested to find out whether or not this was marca's idea or Steve Case's.
I always wondered what kind of fit the Netscape ubergeek would be at AOL--it seemed somehow out of place, like if Linus Torvalds were to go work at Microsoft (well, maybe not THAT out of place--but you get my drift)
Well, I am running NT and IE5, and it doesnt look that great to me.
I always enjoy reading about people justifying terminals "Well, I wouldn't want one, but Susie down in accounting/Joe on the loading dock, etc,etc could use one". The thing about it is, people don't like being dependant on IS to take care of things. Thats why we had a PC revolution in the first place: people got tired of waiting for IS departments to 'get it', and went out and bought a bunch of PCs and took care of their needs themselves.
Terminals are GREAT in the proper environment--but users don't like them. And users, ultimately, are the ones who keep IS in business.
Office 2000 file formats are the same as Office 97. Except for Access. Word/Excel all come into staroffice just fine. (I dont know about powerpoint, since I am not a marketer or a manager )
But only if the miner washes the coal dust out of her hair first.
As far as I can tell, MOST of the current 'big' companies dont give a hoot about Open Source. Look at the big companies 'supporting' Linux now: AOL/Netscape, Oracle, Sun, etc. Most of them seem to be putting out a version of their software for Linux in order to help get Microsoft.
They work under the assumption "the enemy of my enemy is my friend", but they dont "get it". Larry Ellison at Oracle doesnt want a world of free software, he wants Oracle to be the monopolist that Microsoft is.
The biggest exceptions to this rule seems to be IBM--they actually seem to be putting their money where their mouth is and releasing code.
Writing anything non-trivial for multiple platforms is a pain in the neck. That counts if you are writing for Windows, Linux, Solaris, Netware (heck -- writing trivial things for netware is a pain in the neck). Even Java (altho this is getting much better).
I have a roadrunner account too, and run Linux (IPMasq is a godsend). I have never had any sort of problem. They dont officially support linux, but they have never given anyone any flack about it, AFAIK.
There is more info, and more pictures at
0 dispatch.html#a
http://www.discovery.com/exp/libertybell7/99072
It has a nice discussion of the explosives on the inside of the capsule, and some more pictures.
When Joe Sixpack hears Linux, he probably thinks:
f) The Charley Brown character with a blanket