Oh it works like a treat on this 2.6 machine. But I have run Linux on at least two other machines. One has to run 2.4 to run a wifi driver that won't compile with 2.6.
Which is why I asked if you had extensively used Linux. There are a variety of different computer users out there, different software needs running on different hardware. You can't simply assume your own situation applies to every single user.
All drivers for Windows are binary only. You never need access to a compiler, until Linux is in that position (and 2.6 does make that partly possible) it will have limitations.
I run Linux with 2.6 on my main computer and love it, however there are times when I wish I could just run a wizard and install some hardware and not have to mess around with a command line to install some kernel module.
Unsigned drivers do work, it's just Microsoft's way of shifting the blame for hardware crashes. Drivers run in kernel mode and a bad driver is the most common cause of a crashing OS.
You are comparing the available hardware support of the Linux kernel with the hardware that is supported on the Windows CD. Considering Windows still comes on one CD (Debian has 3 binary CDs) it has support for quite a lot of hardware.
I can name you at least two pieces of hardware where I have had to use a compiler. Iomega Buz (the version in the kernel is way too old), my Atheros AR5001x Wifi card.
It's almost impossible to have a Linux machine without a compiler setup if you want to use all software available to Linux (no distro has every single piece of GPL software available), or access every single piece of hardware available with a Linux driver (where the driver is outside the kernel).
Ok, so what happens when you get for example a wireless card that isn't supported by your distro or pretty much any distro? you download driver code and have to compile it of course.
This is not just an example, this is exactly what I have had to do with all the distros I have tried on my laptop.
Probably because the Unix, Linux way of doing things is pretty archaic and we all know Windows is far from perfect (and written by a convicted monopolist).
I may like KDE and run it on Linux, but compiling kernels, module code etc.. just to get a piece of hardware going is stone age technology. Computers are supposed to do all the work, we're supposed to just control them.
Oh I know exactly the fate of Bars and Pipes. Another smash and grab by Microsoft. They didn't even use their technology in the end either, they bought DirectX and used that instead.
They were on about porting Mozilla to the Amiga back when Mozilla was created. The problem at the time was the Amiga APIs and GUI systems were all C based. C++ wasn't really in widespread use.
I don't know what the current situation is, but I feel the replacement for the Amiga is Linux.
I've had loads of bother getting Real Helix Producer Basic working with XP. It falls over no matter what I try. Now it could be that it's a pile of buggy rubbish (Helix Producer), but then if might be Microsoft throwing a spanner in the works. Wouldn't be the first time they screwed a competitor (see DrDos).
Even though DDOS attacks are misuse of an Internet service and illegal, some of the tactics SCO have used in this case are very dubious too. Claiming ownership of chunks of a kernel without showing any proof and not waiting for the outcome of a court case.
The damage they have caused companies involved in Linux far outweight a bit of network outage, unless they suffer a major loss since statistics say 80% of businesses that suffer a major outage go out of business within two years. We can always hope:)
Smoothwall and IPCop support cheapo USB rubbish ADSL modems like I'm using. Plus they are also quite compact compared to some Linux based firewall solutions. Mandrake MNF is really bloaty.
The solution to the backup argument is for the film companies to replace damaged discs free of charge. Then they can argue that there's no need to backup a disc and therefore they can use strong copy protection methods.
Maybe, but then most DVD players will only support dual layer.
Imagine if when CD-R first came out it only could write half a CD, would you buy a drive then or wait maybe a month or two for one that can do a whole disc?
Single layer DVD writers are just that, a crippled DVD writer incompatible with all the DVD film formats out there.
Any sensible person will wait for dual layer drives. Will be able to backup DVD films and fit nearly twice as much data on a disc. Not to mention you can still do single layer if you really have to.
You have to see it in their eyes, they have a choice of Linux for free or Windows which probably costs a years money for a poor person.
Linux might be trickier to use but if it is configured properly and installed in a Cyber cafe it will be pretty simple to use. These people haven't used a computer much, if ever and so they are not used to the Windows way of doing things.
DRM and Trusted Computing would be a reasonable idea if it wasn't being designed and advocated by Microsoft. They do have an agenda to "get Linux" in any way they can, it would be convenient for them to say that the Trusted Computing model can't work if the code is made public.
Except they're already running out of ways of making the sensors small enough. Sure companies keep coming up with different tricks and methods to develop finer sensors but there is a definate limit.
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Oh it works like a treat on this 2.6 machine. But I have run Linux on at least two other machines. One has to run 2.4 to run a wifi driver that won't compile with 2.6.
Which is why I asked if you had extensively used Linux. There are a variety of different computer users out there, different software needs running on different hardware. You can't simply assume your own situation applies to every single user.
All drivers for Windows are binary only. You never need access to a compiler, until Linux is in that position (and 2.6 does make that partly possible) it will have limitations.
I run Linux with 2.6 on my main computer and love it, however there are times when I wish I could just run a wizard and install some hardware and not have to mess around with a command line to install some kernel module.
Duuuur use the CD that comes with the card?
Unsigned drivers do work, it's just Microsoft's way of shifting the blame for hardware crashes. Drivers run in kernel mode and a bad driver is the most common cause of a crashing OS.
You are comparing the available hardware support of the Linux kernel with the hardware that is supported on the Windows CD. Considering Windows still comes on one CD (Debian has 3 binary CDs) it has support for quite a lot of hardware.
I can name you at least two pieces of hardware where I have had to use a compiler. Iomega Buz (the version in the kernel is way too old), my Atheros AR5001x Wifi card.
It's almost impossible to have a Linux machine without a compiler setup if you want to use all software available to Linux (no distro has every single piece of GPL software available), or access every single piece of hardware available with a Linux driver (where the driver is outside the kernel).
Ok, so what happens when you get for example a wireless card that isn't supported by your distro or pretty much any distro? you download driver code and have to compile it of course.
This is not just an example, this is exactly what I have had to do with all the distros I have tried on my laptop.
Probably because the Unix, Linux way of doing things is pretty archaic and we all know Windows is far from perfect (and written by a convicted monopolist).
I may like KDE and run it on Linux, but compiling kernels, module code etc.. just to get a piece of hardware going is stone age technology. Computers are supposed to do all the work, we're supposed to just control them.
He ended up looking more like the Jolly Green Giant "Ho Ho Ho" :)
Oh I know exactly the fate of Bars and Pipes. Another smash and grab by Microsoft. They didn't even use their technology in the end either, they bought DirectX and used that instead.
Yeah, but what software on the Amiga is really worth porting to a new OS?
The only tool I would like would be Bars and Pipes Professional, but then there's no source code for that.
They were on about porting Mozilla to the Amiga back when Mozilla was created. The problem at the time was the Amiga APIs and GUI systems were all C based. C++ wasn't really in widespread use.
I don't know what the current situation is, but I feel the replacement for the Amiga is Linux.
Subject says it all, it would result in thousands of conistant apps and make Linux more paletable.
Of course it might be better for one of the desktops to just die. Merging two architectures isn't easy.
If they did merge I'm sure someone would fork a project off from the merged desktop.
I've had loads of bother getting Real Helix Producer Basic working with XP. It falls over no matter what I try. Now it could be that it's a pile of buggy rubbish (Helix Producer), but then if might be Microsoft throwing a spanner in the works. Wouldn't be the first time they screwed a competitor (see DrDos).
There will have to be strict fines for damaging these helicopters, the rednecks will love shooting at them.
It's still early days, it's an impressive product considering it's version 1.1. MS Office is in what version now? 11 or 12 isn't it?
Even though DDOS attacks are misuse of an Internet service and illegal, some of the tactics SCO have used in this case are very dubious too. Claiming ownership of chunks of a kernel without showing any proof and not waiting for the outcome of a court case.
:)
The damage they have caused companies involved in Linux far outweight a bit of network outage, unless they suffer a major loss since statistics say 80% of businesses that suffer a major outage go out of business within two years. We can always hope
Link to 80% statistic
Blame Sun for forcing you to retire a product. They would have retired Win98 by now anyway. It's over five years old.
Smoothwall and IPCop support cheapo USB rubbish ADSL modems like I'm using. Plus they are also quite compact compared to some Linux based firewall solutions. Mandrake MNF is really bloaty.
The solution to the backup argument is for the film companies to replace damaged discs free of charge. Then they can argue that there's no need to backup a disc and therefore they can use strong copy protection methods.
Maybe, but then most DVD players will only support dual layer.
Imagine if when CD-R first came out it only could write half a CD, would you buy a drive then or wait maybe a month or two for one that can do a whole disc?
Single layer DVD writers are just that, a crippled DVD writer incompatible with all the DVD film formats out there.
Any sensible person will wait for dual layer drives. Will be able to backup DVD films and fit nearly twice as much data on a disc. Not to mention you can still do single layer if you really have to.
You have to see it in their eyes, they have a choice of Linux for free or Windows which probably costs a years money for a poor person.
Linux might be trickier to use but if it is configured properly and installed in a Cyber cafe it will be pretty simple to use. These people haven't used a computer much, if ever and so they are not used to the Windows way of doing things.
SCO will tell them to change their tune if they complain about license fees :)
DRM and Trusted Computing would be a reasonable idea if it wasn't being designed and advocated by Microsoft. They do have an agenda to "get Linux" in any way they can, it would be convenient for them to say that the Trusted Computing model can't work if the code is made public.
Except they're already running out of ways of making the sensors small enough. Sure companies keep coming up with different tricks and methods to develop finer sensors but there is a definate limit.
The resulting stitched image is a 1 gigapixel image.
You'll be waiting 20 years before you see a 1 gigapixel camera.
No, you bought a laptop with a Centrino chipset. The OEM license deal probably requires a "Designed for Windows XP" to be stuck onto the case.
Only a few products are designed with Windows in mind, usually cheap modem chipsets or USB devices.