Zim Babwe

Does your parole officer know that you are annyoying the Vista people?


<roy.schestowitz@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1172607223.748148.242820@j27g2000cwj.googlegroups.com...
> +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
> + +
> + C.O.L.A. Newcomer FAQ and Primer +
> + Edition: 21 - 9/24/06 +
> + Group: comp.os.linux.advocacy +
> + +
> + Copyright (c) 2002-2006 Linux Reality Team +
> +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>
> Welcome to comp.os.linux.advocacy, otherwise known as cola. This
> FAQ will try to address most of the issues regarding Linux and
> this group. Unlike the other FAQs, this one will try to be as
> realistic as possible. If you want the straight information from
> real people, continue reading. If you would like to be told what
> you want to hear, or read a bunch of misinformation that you will
> regret later as you find things don't work as they should, feel free
> to read one of the other "FAQS" in here.
>
> OK, on to the info! ADDED NEW SECTION BELOW!
>
> Here's a list of some frequently asked and answered question here
> and elsewhere that you may find useful in your quest to try linux.
> Read these carefully before you decide to invest time in Linux, you
> may find that you have better things you can do instead.
>
> SECTION ONE - INSTALLATION
> --------------------------
>
> 1.1 Q: I heard linux was easy to install, is it?
> A: That depends on what distro you try. Most of them will have
> trouble detecting all your hardware. Most new hardware devices
> are not supported. If your lucky you might be able to find
> something that someone threw together on the net. But that's
> after spending a couple hours searching and probably won't take
> advantage of your hardware to it's fullest capability.
>
> 1.2 Q: Once I get it installed, then what?
> A: Then you get the joy of making sure everything is configured
> right. Plan on a minimum of two hours per device to get it to
> work. That's if the device is even supported.
>
> 1.3 Q: What happens if I'm in the middle of an install and the
> installation freezes or just stops?
> A: You get to reboot and start all over again. This happens
> every so often with Linux. It seems like it's buggy install
> routines or something. Ain't Linux grand?
>
> 1.4 Q: What's the deal?! I installed Linux and it took up almost 2GB
> hard drive space!
> A: The Linux distros usually install a LOT of never-used programs
> on the default install. You can pick and choose what you want,
> but good luck figuring out what programs are needed and what is
> useless, obscure tools. Linux usually installs stuff like 10
> different editors, 12 different mail clients, and so on.
>
> (more to come...)
>
> SECTION TWO - CONFIGURATION
> ---------------------------
>
> 2.1 Q: What's with all these cryptic files?
> A: All of Linux is configured with cryptic text files. Some of
> the more user-friendly distros have configuration utilities
> that claim to do it for you, but success with these works
> sometimes and other times don't, so sometimes you have to
> edit them by hand. With Linux's spotty reliability in UI
> programming, you might as well get used to it.
>
> 2.2 Q: What is killall, HUP, ls, cat, rm, which, etc and why are
> these programs telling me to do them? Arggg!!
> A: These are command line programs that do things within the
> system. It's what makes Linux a powerful OS for those that
> are experienced with it. But it's also what makes it a pain
> in the arse to use and inefficient as a desktop system. Who
> wants to type all the time when they can just click?!
>
> (more to come...)
>
> SECTION THREE - APPLICATIONS
> ----------------------------
>
> 3.1 Q: Where can I get some programs to run on linux?
> A: Good question. Because Linux doesn't have a large user base
> on the desktop,(I think it's about 0.24%, less than 1%)
> companies that make software won't write their programs for
> Linux. There's a lot of community created programs out there,
> and some are fairly good, but those are few and far between.
> Most of the Linux software that tries to mimic it's windows
> counterpart is substandard. It's usually slow and buggy and
> early in development.
>
> 3.2 Q: I tried to install an RPM but I got 'failed dependencies', what
> is that?
> A: That's Linux's version of DLL hell. Different versions and
> distros use different libraries. So unlike windows where
> programs will run on many different versions, Linux programs
> will fail if they're not made for your specific version.
>
> 3.3 Q: What is compiling and configure, make and make install? And
> what is a makefile?
> A: This is a way to build the programs from the source code
> under Linux. When the question above fails, you can always
> build it yourself. The advantage is that it works most of
> the time. The disadvantage is that it takes forever to build
> large programs, you need to know some cryptic commands and
> you have to do all this on a command line. Unlike Windows
> where you just double click and you are done.
>
> 3.4 Q: Can I go to my local store to buy any Linux applications?
> A: Not really. You can buy Linux itself at various stores. But
> not too many commercial companies make applications for Linux,
> there's no profit in it with 0.24% of the desktop market.
>
> (more to come...)
>
> SECTION FOUR - SPEED ISSUES
> ---------------------------
>
> 4.1 Q: Why is Linux so slow?
> A: Linux is built on the technology of the old UNIX OS's. Even
> the graphical user interface of Linux is a separate program
> that
> is the same type they used back in the older UNIX days. So
> working with old technology will give you the old technology
> responsiveness. Also, a lot of the GUI's, although nice to look
> at, are still not mature. Using them is slow and sluggish
> compared to, say, Windows.
>
> (more to come...)
>
> SECTION FIVE - CONSISTENCY
> --------------------------
>
> 5.1 Q: Why are the windows different looking?
> A: Since Linux isn't built by one company, group or have any
> governing body, programs and interfaces can vary dramatically.
> You can have everything from the nice look of KDE, to something
> as ugly as TK and everything in between. You'll usually see
> some
> varying UI stile in Linux.
>
> 5.2 Q: Should I buy Suse Linux?
> A: No. They make it difficult to get it for free. All the other
> distros provide free ISO's to download. Suse is the only one
> that doesn't provide them but instead has a FTP install that's
> hard to get to work. Why should they make it easy? The more
> people that can't get the download to work have to spend $80
> or more for the boxed set. And on top of all that although
> it might have a few more user friendly tools, it's still the
> same base Linux system that's in development and that all the
> other distros are using. In other words, they're all on about
> the same level of struggling to catch up to Windows, so you're
> not going to find any earth-shattering features in one compared
> to another.
>
> (more to come...)
>
> SECTION SIX - LINUX COMMUNITY
> -----------------------------
>
> 6.1 Q: What is RTFM?!
> A: This is an acronym for Read The Fuc*ing Manual. This is a
> common
> answer you'll get when asking for help in the Linux community.
> It's meant to make you feel inadequate while boating the Linux
> persons ego at the same time. See, Linux enthusiasts consider
> themselves to be guru like and above helping out the simple
> newbie. You have to earn your respect by spending countless
> hours becoming a kernel hacker before you're worthy of getting
> any help.
>
> 6.2 Q: Why does everyone think they are better than you when using
> Linux?
> A: Same as above. When people use Linux they believe since it
> takes
> a little more knowledge to use Linux, they are technically
> superior,
> and see themselves as an elite group that doesn't have time for
> the
> pathetic little Windows people.
>
> (more to come...)
>
> SECTION SEVEN - LINUX ADVOCACY, HELPING OR HURTING?
> ---------------------------------------------------
>
> 7.1 Q: Everyone in here says linux is perfect, why would they say that
> if it isn't?
> A: We really don't know. Maybe they've used Linux so long that
> they've gotten used to it. Some of these people haven't used
> Windows in years so they are comparing Linux to the last
> windows
> they used, maybe Windows 3.1 or 95.
>
> 7.2 Q: Why does everyone call you a troll when you ask something that
> questions linux?
> A: Most of the people here in C.O.L.A. think of Linux more like a
> religion than an OS. They mostly are MS haters and feel that
> Linux is the greatest thing to ever hit computing. So when
> someone questions Linux it's like questioning their belief
> system. Instead of looking at it with some logic and
> reasonable
> judgment, they will lash out at you can't claim your are a
> troll
> or a paid MS supporter.
>
> 7.3 Q: Why does everyone <PLONK> you if you question Linux?
> A: Fairly similar to above, Linux advocates can not argue their
> point rationally. So to make it look like you are under them
> or
> you are not worth it, and at the same time find an easy way out
> of having to prove themselves, they will <PLONK> you.
>
> (more to come...)
> SECTION EIGHT - LINUX EVANGELISM, ZEALOTS
> -----------------------------------------
>
> 8.1 Q: There are some people that call this FAQ lies and seem to treat
> it like it's a conspiracy against them, and post all sorts of links
> to anti-microsoft articles. Why are they reacting so strongly?
> A: The people that are reacting so strongly are most likely the
> Linux extremists that believe everything negitive that is said about
> Linux comes from Microsoft. Like many cult-like groups, the people
> that belong to them don't have the ability to see things rationally
> or outside of their view. If someone replies to the FAQ, or
> anything questioning a non-favorable view on Linux, that seems a
> little
> "over the edge", do a google search on the person
> (http://groups.google.com/) and look at his/her posting history
> then decide for yourself if the person is credible or not.
>
> (more to come...)
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Here are the Microsoftees attacking me on digg.
>
> http://tinyurl.com/ysrz8u
>
> http://tinyurl.com/ysrz8u
>