Is it just me, or are there so few users on this site who use non Microsoft products that it's almost not worth listing on the stats page? The 45 views of the site on lynx I could probably be responsible for. (has to go due to class bell, will post more later)

I have only used lynx when writing scripts that check for data on a web site.
I guess I like to look at the pictures.

I'm a GUI sinner.. but I run no Micor$oft products and haven't had much to do with that malware in four years.

I love the "tabbed" environment of Mozzilla and the desktop manager "fluxbox". I'm stuck on a dial-up so I just go onto other things instead of waiting and between having six virtual desktops and tabs for all windows I can often have thirty windows open at one time and all of them organised.

The GNU/Linux experience has been very good for my ad/hd. There are lots of tools to help me find my way back to information I couldn't otherwise find. Directory structures are my friend. Trails of convention that I put in place when I save files helps to "locate" them later.

I trust you all have read Eric Raymond's Cathedral and the Bazaar? If not you should do so now.. < g > I have it in pdf if you want. It's free on-line if you can find it. O'Reilly publishes it in paperback.

Because this Linux based system is designed to be multi-user and multi-tasking I don't fear opening up a large number of windows and leaving them open. I hardly ever have to reboot for admistrative tasks.

I think it's a bit sad too that most people are fooled most of the time regarding computers and their use. I haven't had to worry once in the past four years about virus trouble. That alone is enough to make the switch.

It scares me more to think off all the things that need to be done in this world to keep it habitable we can't change. With all the information in the world people aren't programmed for change.

Only dead fish go with the flow.

Have you read Rebel Code by Glynn Moody? It's a great read for anyone interested in the history behind excellent browsers like lynx.

Preaching to the converted.. < vbg >

Cheers! Ian.

Gentoo
Redhat 7.2
Debian
Knoppix

BOO HISS @ redhat :-p I am a slackware man, I absolutely LOVE an OS compiled on the machine it's used on... I also use debian/knoppix/gnoppix (gnome knoppix), suse, redhat (welll, tried it), sindows, I mean, lindows, and a few others, just for fun. I haven't read much behind the history, but I love the functionality. I setup multimonitors on my *nix boxes so easily.... although I do a hackjob of it, I run xf86cfg which initalizes all the screens, then I kill twm and run gnome-session and BAM I have full out gui on each monitor, but am unable to drag windows between monitors. It just is too troublesome to configure X when I'm just going to toy with multi monitors for awhile, lol. Besides, tracking down the modelines for monitors that I can't even find a manual for is a wee bit tiring, so I have just avoided it. I currently have dual 23 inch monitors on 4 meg video cards on a 500 mhz p3 katmai with 320 meg of sdram, and 228 gig of IDE storage. I am going to cluster my network soon, and I will have even more fun with it after having done that. For information on easy clustering, check out cluster knoppix... I also have that ISO. I do webserving, etc, etc, just check out my site, and nmap it to see all that I support. BTW, pop3 is *not* configured, but the service keeps showing back up after being disabled in the inetd.conf, so when you see that, disregard it, as well as imaps.

I use to use links and lynx from my "slacktop" which is a 486-dx4 75 mhz w/ 16 mb ram and no gui configured. I figure a gui is a waste on something THAT slow, so I just didnt devote alot of time to getting it running. Since having retired that laptop from daily use, I have been using graphical interfaces, except for when I am secure shelled into my server from school, and am bypassing their senselss filter. I'm such a bad ___! :-p

Gil.
I'm pretty tired of Redhat and rpm that's for sure. But as I understand it Slack does much the same thing as far as versions goes. Or am I mistaken? Can you migrate your system like Debian or Gentoo does or do you have to start fresh with a new install of the new and improved "Blabla v .9" ?

Running Slack would bone up my skills. I'm running Gentoo now and I can live there but need to still set up the NAT for the girls box. I can't get iptables to compile so I'm stammering there a bit.

The Knoppix hd install has gone pretty well but for some reason the 2.6.5 kernel didn't pick up my old 56k USR modem. Bummer.. I must be looking so fashionable with a modem like that... ehheh

I run two gui sessions on the one head. I have kdm running on tty7 and and my desktop is open on tty8 so if someone else needs the machine they can log in without me having to log out first. That blows me away. The versatility is amazing. Try the following at a virtual console to start another X session on tty8. "startx -- :1"

If you have an ~xinit.rc you'll even get what you want.

I run an ftp server periodically using proftp. I have configured and run irc servers and message boards and any number of other fun and games just out of curiosity.

You might enjoy Gentoo if you like tailoring your compile time to your hardware. You can build Gentoo right from scratch.

You even have to recompile the compiler after you get going to cinch up every detail..heh

Fun stuff anyway and the price is right and none of those nasty winduhs troubles.

Cheers! Ian..

My main box at work and home are Windows XP due the application requirements.

I have a RedHat box with Squid-Cache on it at home so I can control what the kids can get to.
They can only access Hosts or Domains that I put in the config. (lego.com, nick.com, etc.)
I do the same thing for the employees at work. lol (but at work I am doing it with MS ISA Server)

I prefer Unix over the Linux stuff. I have had to run fsck too many times on Linux. (Actually, my kids can't access the Internet right now becuase the RedHat box wont boot and I haven't taken the time to put a mouse, keyboard and monitor back on it, but I am sure I need to run fsck on it)

At work, (due to application requirements) I have to deal with Solaris (Sun), Irix (SGI) and AIX (IBM). AIX and Solaris have the same desktop manager (CDE). I prefer the Irix gui (Iris) on the SGI's. I know that someone was making a Linux desktop manager that works like Irix's a few years ago.

I tried Solaris i386, but most of the apps will not compile on it, even with all of the proper libraries and such.
So, that is where I had to use Linux at work, for some Utility computer do monitoring and testing where I couldn't justify purchasing a $16,000 Unix box.

Oh, and I agree on the RPM issue.

The worst is when you have two apps to compile that need conflicting versions of the same library package.

steveb there is no need for fsck to be a hassle any longer. Jounaling file systems have been around quite a while now.

I'm running most systems on Rieserfs now instead of ext3. I leave the /boot partitions as ext3 though just for simplicity between distributions.

What "unix" are you referring to as the one and only true unix? ehhe just kidding.. the BSD's are attractive too although I haven't played there.

Cheers! Ian.

I use Mozilla 1.6 but never updated from 1.2.1 till recently.
Used to use Netscape 7,Opera,K Meleon, and IE6; only when a website required it.

Perhaps many have seen what a big security risk IE is.

Right now I'm using Opera. I like it, but it won't do everything IE will do. I was using the latest Netscape for awhile, but I had too many problems with it. (It ate my bookmarks twice! :mad: ) Maybe I should check into Mozilla.

I've used Netscape over the years because of the news/mail and I'm now happily running Mozilla 1.7b. I browse with both Mozilla & IE though it's rare Mozilla won't handle a page. Actually IE is the browser that is handling things incorrectly. Mozilla and Opera are much more standard compliant than IE but a lot of web pages are designed to utilize IE's non-standard quirks.

Ok - Let me get ready to duck the rotten eggs and tomatos .....

Ok Ready now.

I run Macintosh. Currently I've got a 333 mhz iMac running OS X 10.3.3 with 512 mb memory. I also have a 900 mhz iBook (also running 10.3.3) with 640 mb memory.

Since OS X is running a variation of the BSD kernel, I fully appreciate the stability of the Unix underpinnings. (Crash? What crash?). While I have Apple's Safari and MS Explorer, I really like Netscape 7.1's features. I've fiddled a bit with iCab and Opera but prefer the Netscape browser. I keep Explorer around to deal with the pages that seem to only like Explorer (gee, I wonder why this is?).

While not as tech oriented as I would like, I manage to annoy the crud out of my school's tech coordinator when I access the school's NetWare network better than his precious PC's running Windoze.

As long as people continue to run alternative systems, Billy Gates will NEVER rule the universe.

David

pershingd,

Have you seen this one?: http://www.happynowhere.net/mac_parody.php

It is hillarious.

I'm spending my day in windoz today. I can't remember the last time that happened. It's still broken as far at the "update" feature but the updates are done now manually.

I actually got around to phoning for the free security update disc that M$ offers. I'm not sure why I sent for it, but window's still proving handy when I break one thing and another somewhere else. Fortunately that's happening less often. < g >

I'd like my kids to have a crack at learning some flash so I like to keep this install as healthy as it can be.

My Redhat install is so deprecated that it's become a liability. 7.2 was four full revs ago I think. Time.. I geek for fun, and other things are squealing just now.

I've played with a lot of browsers. Galeon is ok but needing more help as did "Dillo". Lately I've been looking at:
http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/ I've got it running in Gentoo and it looks lean and functional.

I've never liked what I saw of netscape on Linux. I don't like how the menus work or the fact that my scroll wheel is disabled. Mozzilla has been my main browser for a while now. It took me a while to find a revision that wasn't badly broken but it funcitons now most of the time.

Before that it was Konqueror but it started to mess with file names so I dropped it. I still use Konqueror as a file manager and sometimes as a browser. The new versions look very nice. It's very similar to windoz exploreer and has some extra features that are good.

Breach of standards... the ever disappearing standards.

Mac is too rich for me. < g >

Steveb the parody killed my ie or my dialup but maybe I’ll try once I’m out of windows and back where I belong.. in the midst of chaos.


Cheers! Ian.

.... I hate the reset form button!
I know about the startx -- :1 parameter; I too am a gui addict, but I do administration through console usage. Your modem may be a winmodem... I don't know about your package question, it *might* work, but I don't know. If you're having compile problems... just do a fresh install with slackware 9.0 (not 9.1, I hate 9.1... has had many programs STOP working on multiple machines) Slackware compiles all the programs it uses when you install it, it's truly a beautiful operating system! If you don't want to spend hours selecting packages, just select the option to install everything (after you select the package groups, that is) And as for redhat... dump it, please! Go with debian or mandrake or suse, anything but redhat! Also, you mentioned a dual monitor system on linux, please share about how you got that working. As a hack-job, I would run xf86cfg to start with, then I'd open up a terminal and kill twm, then run gnome-session and BAM I have multiple monitors on the gnome desktop. Heh. I have been working on a fully functional method, though. I have both monitors that are currently in use detected and running, but they are not at the resolution they should be at. I have ripped the /etc/X11 directory from a live slax cd that ran the gui properly on both monitors, and I am going to put that in the /etc/X11 directory and have it replaced. Time is running short, and I must be going.

Gil you sound like a man on fire. < g > I appreciate you taking the time to post.

I bought this modem nearly five years ago and it's always been used on Linux distributions. I bought it because it was one of seven or eight pci modems that qualified to be called "hardware". I've noticed that no matter the distribution, if I run a 2.6 kernel I don't have a modem. I have not done a bug search so may be lagging behind on this.

I am not so familiar with the changes in the 2.6 kernel and my skills at building kernels suck anyway so it's likely just me missing something essential in the .conf.

Mandrake is also rpm based and it is that element that I'm anxious to be free from. Suse doesn't interest me. Slack does but I am not brave enough. heh I'd have to know what I'm doing! I fake it mostly. Networking is particularly weak. It's just a hobby like the eighteen gazillion other distractions I have going on. I see Slack has dumped the xfree86 crew for X.org. The times they are a changin'

I have Knoppix 3.4 installed which is Debian based and a failed Mandrake 8.2 install that couldn't negotiate three of the partitions assigned. I have Gentoo which is meticulously compiled piece by brutally slow dial up piece. It's running but needs my time and I don't have any.

I run Debian on the girls box but can't really make a sale over RH9 with them. Upgrading to "unstable" would do it but the dial-up is a killer for those projects.

I want to run the 2.6 kernel for a couple of reasons. The most important right now is the installation of a "dvb" pci card (nexus-s). I'll be using my computer to manipulate my tv signals. FTA of course. I've also got a dicecq switch to rig my old c-band into the fun with the dss dish. Point the remote at the computer... ehh what fun. Time.. sorry I don't have enough to begin the setup. It's summer anyway and riding the horse is at least as much fun. < g >
I hear Gord Downey of the "Tragically Hip" singing in my ears... "knowone is interested in something you didn't do".. ;^) It may be poop or get off the pail time soon but we'll see. Right now I want to be fishing and I'll be looking for a canoe for that here.

I also have a couple of antique stationary engines coming tomorrow or Saturday that will be begging at my mechanical nature. One we can't move with four guys and a small crane has been requested. < g > Oh boy!

Any time you want to send me some slack disc's you let me know. ;^) Actually at $5 CND it's hardly worth the effort for someone other than chguy.com to do the deed. I'll talk to him soon. I thought slack had proprietary install files too? Like Debian's "*.deb" and RH's "rpm".

Cheers my man.

I use Firefox, IE is a pig!
Use Firefox and you'll never get another annoying pop-up if you configure it correctly, which isn't even hard.
Also you can configure it to take only cookies from the originating site.
None of those dangerous Active-X controls that let websites stick unwanted junk in your registry like those browser hijackers.
I very rarely find that I have to use Internet Explorer, Firefox is compatible with most websites, and you only install the plug-ins you want as well.
I swear I'm not a spokesperson for Firefox, but I'm not for the MS monopoly.

Currently I have three boxen, two running slack 9.1 where as the one dual boots with Windows 2000 Server Edition and the other just acts as a gateway. For casual desktop use, I have an Apple Powerbook G4 800mhz. All three are connected to a switchbow and one monitor. Muuuch easier. Hate to admit it (as I used to bash macs for yeeears) but I really do prefer OS X, hehe :-). As far as browsers are concerned, Opera's my favorite. Just wish it'd be a little less buggy.

BTW, has anyone tried Slack 10 yet?

I use Firefox, IE is a pig!
Use Firefox and you'll never get another annoying pop-up if you configure it correctly, which isn't even hard.
Also you can configure it to take only cookies from the originating site.
None of those dangerous Active-X controls that let websites stick unwanted junk in your registry like those browser hijackers.
I very rarely find that I have to use Internet Explorer, Firefox is compatible with most websites, and you only install the plug-ins you want as well.
I swear I'm not a spokesperson for Firefox, but I'm not for the MS monopoly.

I love Firefox, and since the last security vulnerabilities were announced related to IE, I have permanently switched to Firefox. There is only 1 site that I have found (so far) that demands the use of IE (Other than M$ related sites)