Stupid Vista

[Kyuuketsuki]

Precisely what I said, thanks for agreeing with me. The kernel is the only part of the system that each distro has in common with each other. The OS is built separately (on top), so is the graphics, so is the Window manager, and every other part of the system. Each distro uses different varieties of each.

I'm not agreeing with you idiot (and since you think acceptable to call me a liar and/or ignorant and refuse to apologise I will no longer going to hide my contempt for a Linux evangelist like you) ... I am essentially saying they are all more-or-less the same, yes they vary in precise details but to the average user (and that IS what we are talking about here) they are pretty much of a muchness.

If you want to class the OS as just the kernel then be my guest, but that is not the official definition of one. This is why any OS that runs Linux as a kernel is correctly referred to as "GNU Linux", the GNU being the collection of software built on top of the kernel to make the system work!

I don't!

Believe it or not, but Debian is a different OS to something like Fedora or Suse or Gentoo!

See above!

Certainly OS's like Gentoo need a vast knowledge of systems, but things like Ubuntu do not. I started off using Ubuntu and the applications that come with it are very easy to use and intuitive. To use Ubuntu effectively you do not need to know any more information than you would to use Windows effectively. To use Ubuntu to it's full potential, you need to know quite a bit, but the same can be said for Windows.

And I repeat for the terminally dense ... that WAS NOT the point that I made ... the point I made was that to use Linux EFFECTIVELY you need to know the OS from a more technical POV.

Windows is a far, far more user friendly OS than ANY Linux variant ... despite the whinging of Linux evangelists like you it isn't just the advertising and marketing strategies that's got Windows on 90% of the world's desktops.

Ancient history? What about the lovely BSOD we saw at the China games? People are experiencing BSODs still to this day, and Vista is no exception. I used to use Windows XP and it BSODed without fail every time I plugged my webcam in and had it running in Skype (after about 10 minutes of perfectly good use). Linux on the other hand supports all my webcams perfectly well.

And what did I say earlier evangelist? I said, " XP, 2003 and Vista are all incredibly stable OS's as long as they are run within manufacturer's specifications." ... you really think that a sodding Hi-Tech computer network in an Olympic stadium is going to be anything approaching "manufacturer's specifications". Do you really think Linux could do any better? Gimme a [expletive deleted] break!!!!!

You show a distinct ignorance of the Linux system if you think the only reason it doesn't have many viruses is because of popularity. Linux OS's are designed better with much more secure programs, and the permissions system of files means that a user has to give the virus execute permissions before it can be run. If you aren't running as root (which most people do not) then no damage can be done to your system at all other than a virus wiping personal files (which can be done easily on any system).

And I stick to my point on this one ... the primary reason Windows systems are targeted is because they represent a much bigger target and because of user ignorance! When you have worked in IT as long as I have you will know that this is true.

Read this article for more info

Just someone else's opinion, here's another:
http://www.virusbtn.com/news/2003/10_06_virus.xml

I have indeed got latest bits of kit working in Linux. Only a few months back I bought the latest version of a joystick, and guess what? It worked perfectly using a standard driver! The reason there are distinctly less drivers in the Linux world isn't just due to popularity. GNU does not make separate drivers for each single device (as per Windows). Instead, a single driver is made that supports a multitude of drivers (reusing the same code).

Try getting a Saitek GM3200 gaming mouse working under OpenSUSE linux! Try getting onboard RAID working under virtually any version of Linux but more to the point try getting any of this kind of support done easily ... Windows stuff just tends to work out of the box!

I agree though, manufacturers drivers are the best, and you will see that more and more manufacturers are making drivers for Linux, because of the amount of people who are installing Ubuntu and the like.

I'd wanna see figures in support of that assertion before I accept them ... you know ... lies, damned lies and evangelists!

I apologise that you seem to have not found very good support forums. You speak from experience and so do I. Most people find what they are looking for with support forums, so I'm afraid you are a small statistic. I highly doubt your claim that such support forums simply run away from tough questions, but perhaps you weren't talking to the correct people.

First you apologise then pretty much criticise me with a veiled version of the same accusation! Based on the forums I've surveyed whilst there, no, I do not accept that I am a small statistic ... I believe I am a common problem and given your evangelistic nature I'm hardly going to accept such blithe statement from someone like you am I?

I totally agree that Linux is a stupid choice for a gamer. I never said otherwise. This is the reason I keep Windows installed on my PC in a small partition. As for Office 2003, it was a triumph because people had to get a large number of sub processes working together, instead of a single program on it's own. It took a large amount of work and should be celebrated. Of course, wine shouldn't be used for such things, as Open Office and Abiword are very suitable alternatives to Office. Wine is used mainly in getting programs that can't be ported (such as games) to work in Linux.

No you never said it but the implication was pretty damned strong!!!

Oh! You use Windows? Typical! Just like every time you really need to do something you need Windows. You know as a server engineer I often see people make the same dumb claims you do and yet time, after time, after time I see the same thing ... someone sets up a network or cluster of Linux machines to do something and I assume it does it quite well but you can bet that there will ALWAYS be something (monitoring, reporting, configuring ... I don't know just something) they will ALWAYS need a Windows machine tucked embarrassingly away in a corner somewhere. It's laughable, quite frankly weighed up against your diatribe it's pathetic!!!!

I would like to know the precise nature of the "range of software" your friend is trying to run. I am by no means talking about special uses, although Linux is beginning to go that way. I am talking about general use. Sure, there are probably a load of jobs you could do where Linux isn't the best choice (as we have both said, gaming is one), but it is a good choice for general use.

It's an ASUS EEE PC I believe and like I say, as far as I can tell you're just another Linux evangelist who wouldn't admit anything was wrong with his precious OS unless he was repeatedly hit around the head with a dead kipper. Me? I use Windows because it works most of the time, properly maintained it has few issues, it does everything I ask of it without problem or complaint but take note ... I'm not naïve enough to claim it is the best damned OS evearrr! Windows is a competent OS, it has problems (every OS does), Linux is a competent OS, it has problems (undoubtedly different from Windows but it still has them), MAC OS-X is a competent OS, it also has its own problems.

No idea why his laptop lid isn't working, but it works on every installation I have had.

Have you thought that it might be because Linux is not quite the oh-so-friendly OS you've been trying to claim it is? No, of course you haven't!

For the WEP key, has he tried using wicd as a network manager? I have no idea why his current manager keeps "forgetting" the key, but wicd is a great choice and works flawlessly for myself. I suggest he tries is.

Suggest what you like, as I said earlier he's an ADVANCED IT PROFESSIONAL so I don't think I'll be passing him that suggestion. Thanks anyway though ... big of you! No really, it was!

As for emulators using networks, he is evidently doing something wrong, seeing as they have always been able to use them.

Oh of course he is, he's a smart highly technically trained individual with an ability to solve multiple problems each and every day for thousands of individuals and hundreds of servers and PC's under his care .. yet strangely he falls to pieces the moment he touches a Linux machine! I mean, would you credit it, really (no really) would you credit that?

Of course it isn't a computer. It's an OS.

He was being sarcastic you twit!

I never said Windows was crap, so don't put words in my mouth please. Windows is fine for a lot of people, and so is Linux. I am presenting the facts though, that Windows is more unstable than Linux, and has more viruses. It is provably less secure.

And your remark, "As for usability, Windows has always been more unstable, with BSOD's and viruses at every turn" says? Effectively that Windows is crap!

This is a thread meant to help someone who was experiencing problems with the Vista OS and, I'm sorry, I must have mistaken your two comments to the user in question ...

Comment 1: "Go Ubuntu"
Comment 2: "And here's how you say it"

... for something other than factual presentation! Whilst I suppose telling someone how to say a particular word could be interpreted as helpful I've obviously been very silly! Silly me! Silly, silly me!!! I must flagellate myself when I get home!!!

Yeah! Go team Linux, Go team Linux, Go team Linux! Hoorah Go Ubuntu!!!

Kyu