You know, there are times when one needs to use a non-open source application when an FOSS solution just does not work. For me, I needed a scanner solution that just worked and Viewsonic was the only thing that I could find that met my needs and worked reliable.
Linux and Open Source means choices not religion.
I for one am sad to see CC go. In this area (Mpls), the most always beat BB in prices. I thought they might shed their stores and only sell through the Web. But, that's gone as well. Shame.
I am impressed; your post was very thoughtful.
For some years I tried to help a distant relative, who was in his late 80â(TM)s, use his computer. It was his connection to the outside world and was very important to him. His biggest problem was with Outlook â" it was a constant source of confusion to him and try as I might, I could never keep it going for him.
Here are some observations on the Linux desktop
OS Experience,
Well, my first attempt at Linux was to install Edgy Kubuntu on my Thinkpad t23 laptop. It's an old unit that had recently been replaced. Quite frankly, the install went pretty well and most things worked -- except for wireless. After fiddling around I got that to work by using the ndiswrapper. Getting the CUPS wireless printing also took some time but that worked as well. And, last but not least, to my surprise, suspend/resume to memory also worked like a champ. I was a happy guy.
Then, when Feisty came along I upgraded. Everything worked except for the suspend/resume. I spent three weeks looking over blogs, support lists, etc trying everything including a kernel build. However, nothing worked (including a fresh Feisty install) so I reloaded Edgy.
Since then I have been reading all the carp about suspend/resume and how to fix it. It looked like the 2.6.22 kernel was the place to go. So, again, a fresh install but now with the Gusty tribe5 release. Great, suspend/resume worked, I was much relieved -- until an APT update some weeks ago. Since then coming out of suspend results in either: it works the first time but not after that or, no back light, or no wireless network. Yes, I know it's a beta and I can live with that. My hope is that a clean install of the released version of Gusty will fix this problem.
Along the way, I tried installing Feisty Kubuntu on my primary desktop WINXP system. However, I dropped it since I could not get the sound card (Sound Blaster X-Fi) to work -- due to a lack of Linux support by Creative Labs.
But, it's all about applications stupid!
I found OpenOffice to be a good replacement for MS Office
I used Wine on a few MS only apps with some successes and some failures.
But, mostly, the applications that I have used on Windows are not on Linux and or there is no migration path or the equivalent's learning curve is too steep. A few examples:
Family Tree Maker
Paintshop Pro
Quickbooks Pro, Turbo Tax, etc.
iTunes, for music downloaded from Apple
Websphere Studio
Lotus Notes Client
Cisco VPN
ZoneAlarms -- tried Guarddog but it blocked wireless printing
Palm Desktop
Visio
Adobe Acrobat
MS Project
Summary:
I will continue to use Kubuntu and try new things and use it for simple functions. However, when it comes to industrial-strength applications, regardless of its warts, WINXP is still the gold standard.
I am not so sure. Initially, I was a big fan of Ubuntu, using the Edgy relase on my thinkpad. However, after upgrading to Feisty, there were so many problem, bugs, etc., that as a last resort I reinstlled Edgy. Things are stable again. But, more regression testing and QA are necessary to prevent this sort of problem in the future.
2 cents
I remember years ago we had a batch mainframe system that ran solid for months without a hardware problem. Then we booted up real-time OS and the thing fell over on its face (Scope / Kronos). Never could figure it out.
As for dell hardware, I use both a Dell Latitude 620 and an Thinkpad T60. The Dell keyboard is so awful that I must use an attachable keyboard. The mouse has the same problem. Yet the Thinkpad suffere from neither issue despite the same OS.
On Linux, I have been working with Ubuntu on a Thinkpad t21 for 3 months. After moving up to Feisty the resume/suspend crapped. And despite all the postings, hints, changes, it still does not work.
I have recently installed kubuntu on a thinkpad t23 system. I also had a great amount of difficulty getting the WPC54G v3 broadcom 4318 wireless card (ndiswrapper) to work. However, I did succeed and the system is now solid, including printing to my netgear 606 wireless printserver. Part of the problem was that the dist includes a 43xx driver that did not work. This needs to be black listed. I was a newbe to linux but succeed after a few days of tinkering.
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You know, there are times when one needs to use a non-open source application when an FOSS solution just does not work. For me, I needed a scanner solution that just worked and Viewsonic was the only thing that I could find that met my needs and worked reliable. Linux and Open Source means choices not religion.
I for one am sad to see CC go. In this area (Mpls), the most always beat BB in prices. I thought they might shed their stores and only sell through the Web. But, that's gone as well. Shame.
I am impressed; your post was very thoughtful. For some years I tried to help a distant relative, who was in his late 80â(TM)s, use his computer. It was his connection to the outside world and was very important to him. His biggest problem was with Outlook â" it was a constant source of confusion to him and try as I might, I could never keep it going for him.
Here are some observations on the Linux desktop OS Experience, Well, my first attempt at Linux was to install Edgy Kubuntu on my Thinkpad t23 laptop. It's an old unit that had recently been replaced. Quite frankly, the install went pretty well and most things worked -- except for wireless. After fiddling around I got that to work by using the ndiswrapper. Getting the CUPS wireless printing also took some time but that worked as well. And, last but not least, to my surprise, suspend/resume to memory also worked like a champ. I was a happy guy. Then, when Feisty came along I upgraded. Everything worked except for the suspend/resume. I spent three weeks looking over blogs, support lists, etc trying everything including a kernel build. However, nothing worked (including a fresh Feisty install) so I reloaded Edgy. Since then I have been reading all the carp about suspend/resume and how to fix it. It looked like the 2.6.22 kernel was the place to go. So, again, a fresh install but now with the Gusty tribe5 release. Great, suspend/resume worked, I was much relieved -- until an APT update some weeks ago. Since then coming out of suspend results in either: it works the first time but not after that or, no back light, or no wireless network. Yes, I know it's a beta and I can live with that. My hope is that a clean install of the released version of Gusty will fix this problem. Along the way, I tried installing Feisty Kubuntu on my primary desktop WINXP system. However, I dropped it since I could not get the sound card (Sound Blaster X-Fi) to work -- due to a lack of Linux support by Creative Labs. But, it's all about applications stupid! I found OpenOffice to be a good replacement for MS Office I used Wine on a few MS only apps with some successes and some failures. But, mostly, the applications that I have used on Windows are not on Linux and or there is no migration path or the equivalent's learning curve is too steep. A few examples: Family Tree Maker Paintshop Pro Quickbooks Pro, Turbo Tax, etc. iTunes, for music downloaded from Apple Websphere Studio Lotus Notes Client Cisco VPN ZoneAlarms -- tried Guarddog but it blocked wireless printing Palm Desktop Visio Adobe Acrobat MS Project Summary: I will continue to use Kubuntu and try new things and use it for simple functions. However, when it comes to industrial-strength applications, regardless of its warts, WINXP is still the gold standard.
I am not so sure. Initially, I was a big fan of Ubuntu, using the Edgy relase on my thinkpad. However, after upgrading to Feisty, there were so many problem, bugs, etc., that as a last resort I reinstlled Edgy. Things are stable again. But, more regression testing and QA are necessary to prevent this sort of problem in the future. 2 cents
I remember years ago we had a batch mainframe system that ran solid for months without a hardware problem. Then we booted up real-time OS and the thing fell over on its face (Scope / Kronos). Never could figure it out. As for dell hardware, I use both a Dell Latitude 620 and an Thinkpad T60. The Dell keyboard is so awful that I must use an attachable keyboard. The mouse has the same problem. Yet the Thinkpad suffere from neither issue despite the same OS. On Linux, I have been working with Ubuntu on a Thinkpad t21 for 3 months. After moving up to Feisty the resume/suspend crapped. And despite all the postings, hints, changes, it still does not work.
I have recently installed kubuntu on a thinkpad t23 system. I also had a great amount of difficulty getting the WPC54G v3 broadcom 4318 wireless card (ndiswrapper) to work. However, I did succeed and the system is now solid, including printing to my netgear 606 wireless printserver. Part of the problem was that the dist includes a 43xx driver that did not work. This needs to be black listed. I was a newbe to linux but succeed after a few days of tinkering.
Actually, the mouse was born with a permanent smile on its face. Bet s/he was bummed about that!
I think the Burroughs 6500 OS was written in Algol. That box was around in the late 60's.