MS Win98 support reprieve was move to block Linux

Link to story: http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/4/34938.html

 

Hi BigC.

Whether Microsoft extended their support for Windows 98/SE or not, I am definitely moving to Linux. I have had enough with their expensive buggy operating systems and softwares.

I have heard a lot of positive comments about Linux OS. What is your take? The only downside Linux has, and correct me if I am wrong, that it does not have that many software developers willing to develop applications for its OS.

I guess I am going to miss all of my old MS-DOS games once I switch to Linux OS.

Best regards,

HiSpeedV.

 

Well there are thousands of software apps for linux almost all are free. I have tried at least twenty five linux distros. My final conclusions are that no matter how much linux proponents try to say how easy linux is to use and how stable it is. well the plain truth is that linux is not an easy os to use, it is not as easy as windows and if they ever get it as easy to use as windows it will have no security advantage over windows. For server applications linux is just great. I will probably get some feed back from some linux users. But if linux is so great and most distros have a free download to use the os and the software for all intents and purposes is free Why isnt linux taking over as the desktop os of choice. Because all kidding aside linux is a pain in the ass. And until they get all of the linux developers to make all of the linux software interoperable in all linux versions they will always have problems. The first time you download a linux app and find you have to download several more just to make the first one work you will realize that it is not a finished product and the way they are going it never will be. That is just my personal opinion.

 

Hi BigC.

So you mean all versions of Linux are non-interoperable? For example, if I have some apps that developed for Linux OS, let's say, v1.0, then those apps wouldn't run on Linux OS, let's say, v2.0? Or simply put: they're just like the Mac?

Do you need to upgrade your hardware? For example, my computer is: P2 350MHz, 20GB drive, 384MB RAM, 8MB matrox video card. With this hardware configuration, will it suffice to run Linux? Or one needs a brand new hardware configuration?

One more thing, how simple or difficult is it just to install the Linux OS? I mean is it just a matter of popping in the CD and type setup? Or is it much more than that?

Best regards,

HiSpeedV.

 

Some distros use rpm's to get downloads others use apt-get some use something all together different. some of the apps will work on more the one version it is just a matter of finding it formatted to use in your version. There are some programs that are supposed to do all of them they just don't work that way.I think everyone that is interested in linux should try it. Let them find out for them selves. If you really want to know what kind of problems that are abundant go to a few of the linux forums and check it out. Just the problems getting connected to the internet with linux would fill volums and if you have dialup internet you can just about forget it.

 

You can go to a linux home page like Mandrake and see if your hardware will even work under linux. Some linux distros install very easily. some will drive you up the wall. Have you decided to use your whole hdd for linux or are you going to partition. Just remember that if you use your whole hdd and you have problems getting connected to the net you will need a second comp to try to get help at one of the linux forums.


Most linux install cd's are autorun.

 

Hi BigC.

I will partition my hard drive into two partitions of 10MB each. First partition will be dedicated to Linux OS and the second one for applications and games. If the need arises, I will install a second hard drive.

With your knowledge of Linux, what version of Linux would you recommend for nubi? Is there such a thing as Linux Lite?

By the way, I just fall in love with the X-Window and the eye thing that follow my mouse pointer and the analog clock. Windows can't beat that. . If possible, please post the link to the Mandrake homepage.

I will try find out as much as I can about what security softwares such as AV & AT apps, firewalls, etc. are available for Linux. Do you have any recommendations?

Sincere,

HiSpeedV.

 

http://www.mandrakelinux.com/en/ you have to look for it but the compatability chart is on the page.



If you want a pretty good one you might want to look at xandros http://www.xandros.com/ Xandros is one of the easiest to use linux distros there is. The only one close is lindows and it is not in the same league as Xandros But make sure that you look at the standard version the delux version is $100.00

some reviews of Xandros http://www.distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=xandros

 

You might want to leave windows on one partition until you get the bugs out of your linux install.


Do you have broadband or dialup internet?

 

Quite a few of the linux distros come with a firewall and there are several free av for linux. here are three at the links below. There are several not free av for linux also.


http://www.f-prot.com/download/


http://www.bitdefender.com/index.php

http://www.free-av.com/

 

Hi BigC.

Thanks for the start up links. I really like what I read. Another added bonus is that they all run Windows applications. I guess I will have the best of both worlds. Only if Linux can run MS-DOS games then I will the best of all worlds. . But then again... I am just being greedy.

I have cable internet. For sure, I will keep Windows OS up and running until everything runs smoothly in the Linux world. Thanks for the advice.

By the way, people say DSL, ADSL, and some even say broadband. Then what category is cable falls into?

Once again, thanks for the start up links. I will be going back to this thread for more tips from you and other posters to ease my transition from Windows to Linux.

One more thing: what do you mean when you said "distros".

Sincere,

HiSpeedV.

 

hey HispeedV,
Linux Distros means various distributions of Linux OS like Mandrake, RedHat, Debian, Suse etc
Linux is by far one of the most secured OS available (most secured being the OpenBSD ) and no doubt easily preferrable to Windows
Windows has a better GUI one can say but Linux is slowly gettin to it.
More over Linux has built in firewall rules like RedHat has built in IP table firewall rules which provide you ultimate security much more than any existing Firewall can provide you on a windows desktop
WELCOME TO LINUX WORLD
(i think cable internet falls into broadband category)
thx

 

Hi Subratam.

Thanks for the explanations. Are you running Linux OS? Does Linux also come with its own C and C++ compilers? Have you tried to run any Windows app in Linux?

"Linux is by far... most secured OS available." This is music to my ears because this is what I am looking for. I am just getting sick and tired of Windows exploitations, but I don't want to get unplugged.

Once again, thanks for the explanations.

Sincere,

HiSpeedV.

 

hey HispeedV,
I am at present running win98se only for temporary cause as i will be re-installing some hardware very soon. I always run Linux (with windows as Dual Boot) and yes I should say first... not any of both is perfect but to me Linux is better by far(again the GUI of windows scores higher).
I mostly run RedHat 9 and it has a world of its own. It will even give you an allmost windows like presentation with desktop appearance, pointer, folders etc... and yes it comes with built in c and c++ compilers. I myself an ongoing student of computer science need those .
Windows has got so many exploitations only because its very much user friendly and it gives any application to get into kernel level while Linux prefers to be more secured let alone being a lill hard to use but its worth it. Linux is still a preferred server but slowly getting into desktops.
see one more thing.... you have .exe s in windows but no such things in Linux but .bins... then you have other file extensions not working in Linux... actually all years along windows was the lone OS stuggling against all odds and as such you can say all softwares and thus viruses and malwares were only written for this OS...
who can say in near future Linux wont be having any viruses but that will be a lill too far from now.
one more thing .. if you do use linux... just make sure u r not using being the "root" and u r safe as the baby under mom's shelter
thx

 

Now HighSpeedV what you have to remember is that although linux will run some windows programs they are very few. Even useing wine in linux you still have a very limited amount of win programs that will run in linux. But there are linux programs out there that will replace most windows programs.

 

Hi BigC.

I was very excited to see that they showed screenshots of some of Windows programs run in Linux such as MS Office and so on. My thought was if MS Office can run in Linux, everything else can. I considered MS Office as heavy-duty apps. It was kind of neat. If Linux can run some of the Windows Electronics simulators, that's even better. Cost saving.

By the way, what do you mean by "wine"?

Best regards,

HiSpeedV.

 

hey HispeedV,
dunno if you are seeing my posts but lemme say something more. As like MS Office Linux offers(RedHat) Openoffice (www.openoffice.org) which is no less than the windows counterpart if not equal.
more over i just thought whether this page could help you.
any more problems??
(do you know that you can run windows on your linux desktop or vice versa using softwares bringing on the bridge?? )

 

Instead of trying to explain what wine is I will put a screen shot explains it pretty well

Link added (LWM): http://www.winehq.com/

 

Hi Subratam.

I have read your other posts and thanks for your explanation. I bought Office 97 and have used it a lot. The switch to Linux will mean that I will not be able to use it. However, when I checked out some of the links, posted by you and BigC, they are all supported Windows apps, which kind of cool.

Definitely, Linux is my desktop OS of choice. The OS is inexpensive, some of the free apps that you and BigC have mentioned are awesome and free as well.

If you know of any great Linux sites, please let me know. In the meanwhile, I am going to search for more.

I guess more and more are making the switch to Linux.

Best regards.

HiSpeedV.

 

Hi BigC.

I understand now. It's kind of like virtual Windows, which is kind of cool.

Best regards.

HiSpeedV.

 

http://almostfreelinux.com/
http://www.linux.org/
http://lwn.net/
http://www.evl.uic.edu/pape/CAVE/linux/
http://dir.yahoo.com/Computers_and_Internet/Software/Operating_Systems/UNIX/Linux/
http://oregonstate.edu/~creliar/gnulinux.shtml
http://personal.riverusers.com/~thegrendel/whatslnx.html
http://lcic.org/distros.html
http://librenix.com/?inode=2966
http://librenix.com/?inode=304
http://grahamnet.org.uk/distros/
http://www.lugatgt.org/installfest21/dist.php
http://www.osnews.com/story.php?news_id=2865

 

Hi BigC.

Thanks for those great Links. Just checked out Linux.Org and read the eWeek news.

I guess Microsoft has a real competitor now. Correct me if I am wrong, but Microsoft has finally met its match. Gate is starting to gang up on Linus Torvalds and his Linux OS.

I am not anti-Microsoft, per se, but I think we've got addicted to Microsoft products for so long. Just as we have addicted to petroleum and electricity. I think it's time to break that addiction, from Microsoft, that is, not petroleum and electricity. But this is just an opinion of one.

Best regards,

HiSpeedV.

 

1. http://www.ibiblio.org/gferg/ldp/Linux-Win-SharedEnv-HOWTO/

2. http://www.linuxforums.org/ ( a great site forum to discuss ur Linux problems and knowhows)

3. (MSLINUX ?? )
just go thru these .. will help ya more...

 

Hi Subratam.

Interesting read at eWeek. Old Bill starts to lose some sleep over Linux just about now. The way I see it is: "Linux is unstoppable". According to that article, he is embracing it enough just to strangle it. , why would anyone want to strangle such a nice stable and secure OS?

MS-Linux? Big possibility. If he can't fight Linux, why not embrace it? Since many big players in the software industry start to support Linux. He will probably even market MS-Office for Linux. Now, that I really like to see.

Best regards,

HiSpeedV.

 

were you in doubt?? Linux is already here.....

you gave the answer in your previous post.. something like getting addicted ... getting out of it... etc etc... most people think like you.... after all wise people do think alike ... Bill is a wise person too

I would like to see that too.. but again I would say have you tried openoffice ?give it a look.

thx