Now I know this ain't free energy and such, but most people I know are
stuck with Microsoft Windows in some form or another and we all gripe
about it but there is never an equitable O/S that pops up as a serious
contender.
There is no way I can remotely tie this in to the primary topic of the
list but for some it could be helpful and offer an alternative which
they might not have been aware of before, at least the changes that
definitely (IMO) make it worth taking a serious look.
Well, things are changing that will affect us all and this file is to
point out what is going on with Linux and offer a deal that XOOM popped
into my mailbox (which I am buying).
I'm not sure how many of you are just sick to death of Microsoft and all
its virus spawn being sold as working software....GPF indeed....Dan
Davidson has long been a staunch supporter and user of Linux wherever he
can and though I've not used it, based on his recommendations and a
couple of other friends who use it, I have been sorely tempted on many
occasions to buy and install Linux at least as a dual system with my
current Win95 infection until I get it down, then I'll call Kevorkian
and have him pull the plug on my Windows FOREVER!
Everyone I know who uses Linux or works with it sings the praises of how
blindingly fast programs run on it, the fact that it will run on just
about everything and with unbelievably small amounts of memory required
and that it just doesn't crash.
Now with the many improvements and very cheap availability through Red
Hat (as detailed below), I think its time to spring for it and just do
it (at least I plan to). As you can see by all the links below, Linux
is FINALLY getting some serious attention and will change the world of
computing as more systems switch over to it and more apps are developed
that run on it. It's about time.
============================
An excerpt from the following site about how Linux is being used on many
older computers;
http://www.idg.net/idg_frames/english/content.cgi?vc=docid_9-66053.html
"Linux is designed for the low end of the Unix world. It runs, and runs
well, in four megabytes of memory on an Intel 386 processor -- something
not even Windows 3.1 could manage.
A complete single-user installation with X Windows and the software
development tools really needs a 486 and takes more space, but it still
fits nicely in eight to 12 megabytes of RAM and 40 megabytes of disk
space.
Within its limits, Linux is powerful. A Linux server can easily support
between 100 and 300 users (though that takes more RAM and disk space
than the single-user configuration listed above.) There is also a fair
amount of Linux software available.
Although Linux tends to be weak in desktop productivity applications, it
comes with a full set of development tools, mostly from the GNU project,
and there are a fair number of programs available for servers, networks
and specialized functions such as statistical and scientific computing."
======================
Good overview of why Linux is so great;
http://members.xoom.com/_XOOM/wwwproducts/index2.htm
======================
The threat of Linux to Microsoft and recent GIANT company investments in
Linux;
http://www.news.com/SpecialFeatures/0,5,29221,00.html?st.cn.nws.rl.ne
"An internal research paper, part of the so-called Halloween memos
believed to have been intentionally leaked to the Net by Microsoft,
shows that Microsoft's own engineering staff sees Linux as a serious,
commercial-ready operating system.
According to a memo written by Microsoft engineer Vinod Valloppillil,
Linux "represents a best-of-breed Unix that is trusted in
mission-critical applications, and--due to its open source code--has a
long-term credibility which exceeds many other competitive OSes."
In what the memo's author considers the "worst case" scenario for
Microsoft, Linux will "provide a mechanism for server OEMs to provide
integrated, task-specific products and completely bypass Microsoft
revenues in this space."
Evidence of the momentum is everywhere. Estimates peg the installed base
of machines running Linux software at anywhere from 7 million to 10
million users.
One Linux-based company, Red Hat Software, recently garnered the
financial support of both chip giant Intel and Netscape Communications.
Corporate software developers such as Oracle, Sybase, and Informix also
have pledged to offer their software on Linux.
That has been buttressed by efforts to create more wide-ranging support
options for Linux, a weak spot for the operating system in the view of
some.
And the Redmond, Washington-based software giant has noticed. In a
recent annual filing with the federal Securities and Exchange
Commission, Microsoft said it expects to have more competition in the
market, due in part to the growth of Linux and the support it continues
to receive from third-party applications developers. Linux is thought by
some to be an attractive alternative to Microsoft's Windows NT
Workstation and Server operating system, which has experienced
significant sales growth in recent years."
======================
Should linux be your next operating system?;
http://cnn.com/TECH/computing/9902/04/linux.idg/index.html
"You can even buy a VA workstation (direct from the Web) that dual-boots
Windows 98. And while Linux aims squarely at the enterprise market,
which requires its stability, security, and remote management
capabilities, Augustin insists Linux will end up on consumer desktops.
Entry-level model, based on a 300-MHZ Intel Celeron processor, 128MB of
RAM, and a 10GB disk, costs about $1300."
"At this point, the interface isn't one that the home user would be
comfortable with," Peterson says, "but more and more apps have a browser
front end. When we get to the point where you just turn on your computer
and the system is remotely managed, you don't need to know what's
underlying. Whether it's Windows or Linux doesn't really matter."
======================
Linux News and Links;
http://www.users.uswest.net/~bgonzales/LinuxNewsAndLinks.html
======================
Linux World good page for articles and news on the subject;
http://www.idg.net/idg_frames/english/content.cgi?vc=docid_9-79734.html
An older survey finds;
"Almost 70% of IT managers don't plan to try Linux. What would bring
them around? Survey says
1) Linux would have to prove its actual value through cost-benefit
analysis;
2) Better third-party service and support;
3) A strong recommendation from an IT department's technical staff."
And with the purchase of Red Hat by all these big companies, here is the
newer survey;
"Survey says that 9 out of 10 IT managers are more likely to use Linux
now that such industry heavyweights as IBM, HP, CA, SAP, etc., are
throwing their support behind it.
======================
Here is the offer I got in my email that finally made me decide to take
the plunge for the Red Hat Linux 5.2 for $29.95;
http://orders.xoom.com/linux/pgrhl52i0319/
==========================
Presently I have been experimenting with website design using Frontpage
which sucks bigtime (typical Microsoft)....have tried NetObject,
Dreamweaver and am currently working on WebExpress which has dynamic
alteration of all associated files to mirror any changes...and its only
$50!! Got the 30 day evaluation copy from http://www.mvd.com
So, we are currently working to get the InterNic domain registration
released from flash.net and put on dallastexas.net
Dan transferred all the keelynet.com website files to his server and it
will go online when Internic does the transfer.
We still plan to kill off the KeelyNet@DallasTexas.net list on March
31st and store it as a searchable archive...at that time, the new
discussion list will begin as interact@keelynet.com and all current
subscribers will be automatically moved over.
So I have to get on the stick and try to get the major components of the
website ready and linked...plus I found several java and cgi search
engines, one of which will be included in the website to allow searches
of all the files...
Anyway, thought some here would be interested in these very, VERY
positive changes happening in the Linux world and soon to affect
everyone as more companies and people jump on the bandwagon.
-- Jerry Wayne Decker / jdecker@keelynet.com http://keelynet.com / "From an Art to a Science" Voice : (214) 324-8741 / FAX : (214) 324-3501 KeelyNet - PO BOX 870716 - Mesquite - Republic of Texas - 75187