A few reasons why most people don't use Linux.
My linux webserver was for a long time running Fedora 7. I decided to change this. I installed Debian 5 and got it all up an running but then had a strange intermittent problem when connecting via ftp over the internet. I had absolutely no answer for this so I then decided I wanted CentOS instead. After using Fedora I was more familliar with Red Hat derivatives.
I tried CentOS 5.2 on my laptop to test and was very happy with how easy I could set up the server. I then went to the actual server only to find that CentOS 5.2 could not find the network card, the raid card or the graphics card although I don't need the graphics card anyway. I know I could make driver disks and do it that way but I wanted to leave some time in my life for other things
Next option CentOS serverCD 4.7. Had more luck with this as it did find all my hardware. Little more work setting up as I had to add repos to install Proftpd. I then found that it would not power off the computer. Not needed but it still bugs me. I tried adding acpi=off to the kernel line in grub.conf to no effect.
Short term solution, install CentOS 4.7 and live with the fact that it won't power off as it never gets shutdown anyway.
Long term solution, buy some new hardware and run CentOS 5.2
My hardware is quite old now as listed below:
Dual processor pentium 3, 1Ghz (ECS D6VAA mobo with onboard HTP370 RAID)
768Mb PC133 SDRAM
80Gb HDD
4Gb HDD
2 x 2.1 Gb HDD
I tried CentOS 5.2 on my laptop to test and was very happy with how easy I could set up the server. I then went to the actual server only to find that CentOS 5.2 could not find the network card, the raid card or the graphics card although I don't need the graphics card anyway. I know I could make driver disks and do it that way but I wanted to leave some time in my life for other things
Next option CentOS serverCD 4.7. Had more luck with this as it did find all my hardware. Little more work setting up as I had to add repos to install Proftpd. I then found that it would not power off the computer. Not needed but it still bugs me. I tried adding acpi=off to the kernel line in grub.conf to no effect.
Short term solution, install CentOS 4.7 and live with the fact that it won't power off as it never gets shutdown anyway.
Long term solution, buy some new hardware and run CentOS 5.2
My hardware is quite old now as listed below:
Dual processor pentium 3, 1Ghz (ECS D6VAA mobo with onboard HTP370 RAID)
768Mb PC133 SDRAM
80Gb HDD
4Gb HDD
2 x 2.1 Gb HDD
The CentOS screenshots look just like Ubuntu! 
Seriously, I've got a PC with one 600MHz pentium and only 368MBytes - hardware circa 2001.
It runs Openoffice, Gnome, Wifi networking, a screen and it shuts down when I tell it to.
It doesn't run very fast though
Seriously, I've got a PC with one 600MHz pentium and only 368MBytes - hardware circa 2001.
It runs Openoffice, Gnome, Wifi networking, a screen and it shuts down when I tell it to.
It doesn't run very fast though
I've installed Ubuntu 8.10 on a Wireless enabled laptop complete with hardware failure of Ethernet port.
Therefore the only available network connection is Wi-Fi......or it would be if I could be bothered to wrestle with it.
It's a BCM4306 wireless chip and the procedure to get it working is not really worth the effort. So it's out of the cupboard with the USB to Ethernet adaptor which works fine out of the box.
I seem to recall getting the 4306 working on an earlier release of Ubuntu.
Therefore the only available network connection is Wi-Fi......or it would be if I could be bothered to wrestle with it.
It's a BCM4306 wireless chip and the procedure to get it working is not really worth the effort. So it's out of the cupboard with the USB to Ethernet adaptor which works fine out of the box.
I seem to recall getting the 4306 working on an earlier release of Ubuntu.
One of the basic realities of life with Linux is that until all hardware manufacturers start providing drivers and support software for their products to the creators of Linux distributions, in the same way as they supply them to Microsoft for incorporation into Windows, then Linux will only support a subset of available hardware. The major Linux distributions usually publish detailed lists of known compatible and non-compatible hardware. If you stick to the list of compatible products you'll generally have no major problems. That's not to say Linux won't run on lots of other hardware, it will, and usually without problem, but then you should always anticipate the possibility of having to overcome some hardware/software integration issues. It's all about understanding the scope of the products you're using. If you tried to run Windows on an incompatible hardware (say a computer with a SPARC or ARM processor) you'd run into problems very quickly - on the other hand you might find a viable solution in Linux.
By the way, just to be extra picky, most people do use Linux. Last time I saw some figures, they claimed that just over half of the worlds web-sites (or that might have been servers, I can't remember,) rely on it.
By the way, just to be extra picky, most people do use Linux. Last time I saw some figures, they claimed that just over half of the worlds web-sites (or that might have been servers, I can't remember,) rely on it.
I have Ubuntu installed on 3 completely different PC's.
I have never had any problems with sound, video or Wireless - not even small ones.
Admittedly, when I bought my wireless router I installed the same brand of wireless PCI card in all PC's. (Netgear WG311T cards).
I've only used one PC on ethernet - but it worked fine.
Even the flat-bed scanner from somebody's skip was just plug and go.
I've had some problems with printers...
And one digital camera (a rollei) appears to be impossible.
I have never had any problems with sound, video or Wireless - not even small ones.
Admittedly, when I bought my wireless router I installed the same brand of wireless PCI card in all PC's. (Netgear WG311T cards).
I've only used one PC on ethernet - but it worked fine.
Even the flat-bed scanner from somebody's skip was just plug and go.
I've had some problems with printers...
And one digital camera (a rollei) appears to be impossible.
Linux was originally developeed for servers wasn't it and yes we have a few Linux servers at work that hardly ever fall over (and indeed the company that hosts my e-mail uses a Linux cluster running Debian) but I think its going to be a while before it becomes a truly Plug and Play OS.
Perhaps Strat does not want to wait 2 years for it to download via bitorrent (but I agree that MS charge way too much for Windows but as most Windows licences are bought by system builders and they have a market monopoly they can pretty much charge what they want)
Perhaps Strat does not want to wait 2 years for it to download via bitorrent
(but I agree that MS charge way too much for Windows but as most Windows licences are bought by system builders and they have a market monopoly they can pretty much charge what they want)
Quote from: Sean If you have a valid license on the bottom of the laptop why not just get a copy using bittorent or something like that and use the license you have?
Because I have a drawer full of XP CDs at work. That's why it has to wait until next week
Can't believe I can't find one around the house though
