Forums Software! Your Questions Answered...

Replying to: jmonroe (Oct 09, 2009 6:51 pm)

Replies to this message:
• steve_ (Oct 10, 2009 7:33 am)
  • jimbres (Oct 10, 2009 8:46 am)
    • steve_ (Oct 10, 2009 8:56 am)
    • mac24 (Oct 11, 2009 5:37 am) and 2 more...
• jmonroe (Oct 10, 2009 8:01 am)

Replying to: jimbres (Oct 10, 2009 5:55 am)

Replies to this message:
• jimbres (Oct 10, 2009 8:46 am)
  • steve_ (Oct 10, 2009 8:56 am)
  • mac24 (Oct 11, 2009 5:37 am)
    • jimbres (Oct 11, 2009 8:30 am) and 1 more...

Replying to: jimbres (Oct 10, 2009 5:55 am)

...a Dell 4600 built in January 2004 that was running Windows XP.
 
The one I have is a Model MTC2. A pretty decent box in its day, even has a DVD burner.
  
The excellent Firefox browser is included in the distro (installation package), & you can install tons of useful (& free!) software.
 
After I got my computer back in order (thanks to you), I downloaded Firefox and am using it right now. Something quirky happened when I first down loaded it. It only displayed the side bar of the Edmunds pages in the middle of the screen and nothing I did could correct that. So, I un-installed it and started over again. So far so good and it seems to be faster than IE. Now I just have to convince Mrs.jmonroe to stick with it until she is comfortable with it. She doesn’t like changes. Come to think of it that might explain why she’s kept me around.
 
Ubuntu Linux is easy to install, easy to use & easy to maintain.
 
OK, I’ll keep that in mind but I ‘m just now catching my breath from my computer fiasco of last week. Give a guy a break, will ya?
 
Thanks again for your help.
 
jmonroe

Replying to: steve_ (Oct 10, 2009 7:33 am)

Replies to this message:
• steve_ (Oct 10, 2009 8:56 am)
• mac24 (Oct 11, 2009 5:37 am)
  • jimbres (Oct 11, 2009 8:30 am)
    • mac24 (Oct 11, 2009 2:35 pm)

Replying to: jimbres (Oct 10, 2009 8:46 am)

Replies to this message:
• steve_ (Oct 10, 2009 8:18 pm)

Replying to: kkoehler (Oct 10, 2009 7:21 pm)

Replying to: jimbres (Oct 10, 2009 8:46 am)

I beg to differ about Linux. It's an awful option for the casual user who just wants to get online. Just trying to hunt down drivers can take hours and hours, and your old printer or whatever still may never work.
  
I hear ya, Steve. You've pretty much described my experiences with Linux before I found Ubuntu. (I know - this makes me sound like someone who knocks on doors & tries to sell religious magazines.)
 
I'm so with Steve on this one, and I'm especially against Ubuntu!
 
I don't write code but I'm sufficiently computer literate that I usually end up fixing other peoples problems, installing networks, and building the occasional machine.
I recently bought a Dell Mini 9 which came with Ubuntu preloaded, but I had to remove it because it couldn't reliably cope with a WEP-PSK password of more than six characters (I think sixty nine is the standard max).
Dell's Ubuntu support insisted it was a hardware problem, so I ended up replacing virtually the entire machine piece by piece as Dell sent it to me, each time with same negative result.
I ended getting an entirely new machine sent to me, on which I installed XP (after learning how to install it from a USB stick as the Mini 9 has no optical drive), and the problem was solved.
The whole experience caused me to do a lot of research on Ubuntu, which convinced me that I'd rather play ball with a rabid pitbull than try and install and use Ubuntu for anything practical.
 
As a hobby it's fine, but trying to find operational drivers for any but the most common items of hardware is a complete waste of time.

Replies to this message:
• jimbres (Oct 11, 2009 8:30 am)
  • mac24 (Oct 11, 2009 2:35 pm)

Replying to: mac24 (Oct 11, 2009 5:37 am)

Replies to this message:
• mac24 (Oct 11, 2009 2:35 pm)

Replying to: jimbres (Oct 11, 2009 8:30 am)

When it comes to operating systems, I'm a best-tool-for-the-job guy. My main box runs Windows, while the Dell, which runs Ubuntu, has been our music server for the past 3+ years. Meanwhile, my wife, who's an avid photographer, uses (& loves) an iMac.
 
I was just letting off steam rather than making a reasoned argument.
 
I'm a Windows user rather than a Windows fan, but because I'm so used to it I find setting it up and solving its problems fairly intuitive. It also helps that because of the enormous user base there is so much in the way of software, drivers, and information readily available.
 
However, I understand Linux to be a much more stable OS, and it probably really excels in a fixed application like a server, phone system, or media server.
 
I'm currently thinking about putting together a wireless HD PVR with an ATSC tuner and internet access for streaming Netflix/YouTube etc.
It's the thought of finding the appropriate drivers that worries me, rather than the OS itself.