From: "The Wise One!" <car...@the-link.net>
Subject: Advice Wanted...
Date: 1998/06/30
Message-ID: <3598818f.0@209.136.2.9>#1/1
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I am a frustrated WinDoze user whose primary PC is a Toshiba Satellite 220
laptop. 133mhz Pentium, 1.4 gig HD, Chips and Technologies PCI video,
swapable floppy and CD-ROM.

I am very interested in learning about UNIX/LINUX and its different
iterations from Red Hat, Caldera et. al.

Where would be a good place to learn? Which OS version might be best suited
for my configuration? What are the advantages of Red hat over Caldera or
vice versa?

My sincere thanks in advance...

Please reply to Alan S. Atwood at car...@zebra.net

From: "Timotei" <m...@me.com>
Subject: Re: Advice Wanted...
Date: 1998/06/30
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What the hell do you want to dump Windoze for Linux.  Instead of your OS
crashing you will have a stable OS in which you cannot do an thing with
because none of your devices will work nor NIC cards or Modems unless you
have some how the magic Linux touch that will configure these things
automatically because if you think there are clear cut instructions out
there you are dead wrong!

From: teacher <learn@to.speak>
Subject: Re: Advice Wanted...
Date: 1998/07/01
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Timotei wrote:
> 
> What the hell do you want to dump Windoze for Linux.  Instead of your OS
> crashing you will have a stable OS in which you cannot do an thing with
> because none of your devices will work nor NIC cards or Modems unless you
> have some how the magic Linux touch that will configure these things
> automatically because if you think there are clear cut instructions out
> there you are dead wrong!

The guys that learn english as a second language and speak/write good
english always apologize.  
But then the ones that suck (what up timoteo?) think they even are
computer wizards.

From: "Timotei" <m...@me.com>
Subject: Re: Advice Wanted...
Date: 1998/07/01
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Where did I elude to the fact I thought I was a computer wizard?

You must admit that Linux is a damn pain in the ass to get working correctly
and if someone can't get windows to work then how could they ever expect to
get Linux working.

Regards,

Tim

From: ChrisEilbeck <ch...@yordas.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Re: Advice Wanted...
Date: 1998/07/01
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Timotei wrote:
> 
> You must admit that Linux is a damn pain in the ass to get working correctly
> and if someone can't get windows to work then how could they ever expect to
> get Linux working.

It takes much more time to get Windoze working on a blank machine than
it does with Linux.  At least Linux doesn't forget what your settings
are and stop talking to that network card or serial port.

Chris
-- 
Chris Eilbeck
mailto:ch...@yordas.demon.co.uk

From: "Brian" <sub...@rogers.wave.ca>
Subject: Re: Advice Wanted...
Date: 1998/07/02
Message-ID: <DtIm1.94266$zu1.11737910@news.rdc1.bc.wave.home.com>
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<359AABF7.F75BBB6A@yordas.demon.co.uk>
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Hi:

Just a quick report of recent personal experience.

I purchased Windows 98 Upgrade June 25th, after attending the Windows 98
party in Vancouver at Robson Centre. I use Windows mainly for desktop and
game play.

I attempted to upgrade over an existing Windows 95 installation that had
been in existence for over 4 months (I find a fresh install of Windows 95 is
required every 6 months because it becomes more unstable as time goes by). I
had backed up the entire Windows 95 partition having had many bad
experiences in the past with Microsoft upgrades.

During the install that evening I was faced with the "Blue Screen of Death"
identified as "A fatal exception 0E has occurred at 0028:C028274D in VXD
IOS(04)+ 0000IFC9". I had zero option but to reboot. I read all the
documentation that came with my Windows 98 CD (a small booklet) - that took
about 25 minutes - no joy!

I tried to log onto Microsoft's Windows 98 help site (using Slackware 3.4 on
the same machine but different HD) but it was overloaded and not functioning
(running NT4 no doubt). I scanned the CD for help files, HowTos or anything
that may be of help - very little and nothing applicable.

I woke up early the next morning intending to contact Microsoft Canada at
5:00am Pacific (8:00am Eastern Time). I tried for a full hour getting
nothing but busy signals - I never even got to be on hold - very
frustrating!

I phoned the US Microsoft help line and got a ring and was put on hold at
6:05 am - got a live human by 6:53 am. Was informed that I should call MS
Canada; I bristled (been listening to Muzak for 50 minutes on my dime) so
the Microsoft dude passed me onto a Windows 98 Engineer named Stephen.

Explained to Stephen my situation and we proceeded to pull driver after
driver, program after program, all to no avail - blue screen of death, same
error message.

Finally gave up on upgrade and fresh formatted the C: drive and installed
Windows 98 to a clean partition. W98 immediately choked because it couldn't
find a running version of Windows anywhere. I had to dig out my old Windows
95 CD and prove to it that I wasn't stealing anything.

Windows 98 installed without trouble and within an hour we had it
functioning. I thanked Stephan for his help and closed off our session at
9:00 am (3+ hours long distance to Microsoft for technical assistance).

I than began installing my W95 apps and found that some of them weren't
going to function in the new environment. I also found that many of the
things that made me crazy in Windows 95 were still there.

*Unable to run some favorite apps and hardware that functioned in Windows
95.

*W98 still can't remember folder view settings despite function enabled.
Why?

*Still takes forever to empty Recycle Bin - what is that about?

*Can't re-install Internet Explorer once it has been deleted - have to
re-install entire OS (Hear that DOJ).

*Unable to copy the Windows 98 CD - snuffed 2 CDRs trying. I always like to
use copies at home storing the originals in a safety deposit box (software
is expensive stuff).

*Windows 98 is bigger than Windows 95 and is noticeably slower. My personal
experience is that W98 doesn't work better or play better.

*Was unable to re-initiate my old News files - had to restart all my news
groups requiring redownloads of everything. Why?

The Microsoft service engineer was very polite and genuinely concerned that
we get things working. I appreciate his attitude and expertise but in the
end we were unable to upgrade my Windows 95 installation after hours of
attempts and failures.

To fully upgrade to Windows 98 would require another dozen hours of
installing software, configuring hardware and working with apps and hardware
that no longer function (you still have to reboot during each phase of
device installation, sometimes more that once).

My hardware is all name brand and late model: Intel Pentium Pro 180, Intel
Venus motherboard, Quantum 8.4 gig SE IDE, Maxtor 8.2 gig IDE, Motorola 56K
modem, Matrox Mystique 4meg, Zoltrix TV/Max, SB16 PnP, Panasonic X24 CD, HP
7100 CD-RW, 64 megabytes memory, Optiquest V95 monitor, Logitech 3B mouse
and Fujitsu 104 keyboard. (nothing out of the ordinary)

Microsoft does service their clients but it is expensive (long distance
charges) and on some occasions ineffectual. I haven't had any success
getting help by e-mail from Microsoft in the last 3 years - I really hate
being ignored when I am entitled to support!

Microsoft's online help database is pure hit and miss - sometimes it helps
but on other occasions hours can be spent scanning hundreds of documents
without a satisfactory resolution. Microsoft's websites are huge,
unorganized and difficult to navigate, their search engines are hopelessly
ineffective.

Microsoft has also instituted levels of support which restricts access to
some areas of their knowledge database to preferred individuals or
organizations. I have yet to understand why such a policy would be
instituted.

I have installed many Linux installations and have never suffered the
reversals and frustration I have had to confront on many occasions
installing W95, NT4s, NT4w (and now W98). I have also found that most
Windows-only users have become acclimatized to rebooting on a regular basis
and are accustomed to regular failures of their applications and utilities.

I have now scrapped Windows 98 off my computer and reinstalled my Windows 95
from backups. I will be returning 98 for a refund ($140 Canadian).

I will probably try re-installing W98 this Christmas when some of the bugs
have been worked out. I will then purchase a fresh copy of W98 (probably at
a lower price) and start a new support contract (MS offers 90 days free
support after the first support contact) when I run into trouble.

I have used every version of MS Windows from 1.0 (when it was little more
than a task switching file manager) to NT4 server sr3 and W98.

One last thought; I am able to install a Linux distribution with a full X
Windowing system, compile a new kernel specifically tuned to my hardware
(including busmastering my IDE drives), install all the wonderful apps
specialized to my hardware and have it on the Internet in less than 2 hours.
No pain at all!

I have been using MS Windows longer than I have been using Linux but I
understand and have more success with Linux than I have with MS Windows.

These are my personal experiences and observations.

Best regards,

Brian
b...@mdi.ca

ChrisEilbeck wrote in message <359AABF7...@yordas.demon.co.uk>...
>Timotei wrote:
>>
>> You must admit that Linux is a damn pain in the ass to get working
correctly
>> and if someone can't get windows to work then how could they ever expect
to
>> get Linux working.
>
>It takes much more time to get Windoze working on a blank machine than
>it does with Linux.  At least Linux doesn't forget what your settings
>are and stop talking to that network card or serial port.
>
>Chris
>--
>Chris Eilbeck
>mailto:ch...@yordas.demon.co.uk

From: Chris Gushue <sey...@iname.com>
Subject: Re: Advice Wanted...
Date: 1998/07/03
Message-ID: <lqqjn6.m12.ln@phobos.dyn.ml.org>#1/1
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<359AABF7.F75BBB6A@yordas.demon.co.uk> 
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Brian <sub...@rogers.wave.ca> wrote:
[snip]
: I attempted to upgrade over an existing Windows 95 installation that had
: been in existence for over 4 months (I find a fresh install of Windows 95 is
: required every 6 months because it becomes more unstable as time goes by). I
: had backed up the entire Windows 95 partition having had many bad
: experiences in the past with Microsoft upgrades.
[snip]

I could never go longer than a month without wanting/needing to reinstall
Windows 95/98 :)

-- 
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From: "Brian" <sub...@rogers.wave.ca>
Subject: Re: Advice Wanted...
Date: 1998/07/04
Message-ID: <Kpin1.106515$zu1.12931052@news.rdc1.bc.wave.home.com>#1/1
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<359AABF7.F75BBB6A@yordas.demon.co.uk> 
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Hi Chris:

I just use W95 for mail and games.

All serious work is done in Linux, which is as solid as a rock. My
masquerade box runs 24/7 on a wave connection to the 'net and runs for weeks
at a time (I have never run W95 for more than a few hours without it barking
up a lung).

My masquerade box could easily last much longer without a reboot but I am
always playing with it - compiling different kernels, modules, trying out
new options.

Perhaps I should re-install W95 more often but it is always amusing, in a
dark sort of way, to see what new and unusual little malfunction will
manifest itself. One day it's all the icons on the desktop take on a new
appearance, another day it's a lockup during mail download that freezes my
machine dead in it's tracks. One of my favorites is when W95 forgets what my
window view settings are so that all my files appear as huge clownish icons
instead of the detailed text descriptions I prefer. How is it that W95
always just fails to create a window box large enough to show all it's
contents (like the way it was when it was closed). Or how about waiting
forever for W95 to shut itself down, staring at the "Please wait for Windows
95 to shut down" or something like that.

Once a month, eh? Problem is that a fresh install just makes the little
boo-boo's come less often.

Best regards Chris,

Brian
b...@mdi.ca


Chris Gushue wrote in message ...
>Brian <sub...@rogers.wave.ca> wrote:
>[snip]
>: I attempted to upgrade over an existing Windows 95 installation that had
>: been in existence for over 4 months (I find a fresh install of Windows 95
is
>: required every 6 months because it becomes more unstable as time goes
by). I
>: had backed up the entire Windows 95 partition having had many bad
>: experiences in the past with Microsoft upgrades.
>[snip]
>
>I could never go longer than a month without wanting/needing to reinstall
>Windows 95/98 :)
>
>--
>/--------------------------------------------------------------------\
>|      C h r i s   G u s h u e      | Running Slackware 3.5 (2.0.34) |
>| s e y m o u r @ i n a m e . c o m |  Powered by an AMD K6 233 MHz  |
>\--------------------------------------------------------------------/\

From: Chris Gushue <sey...@iname.com>
Subject: Re: Advice Wanted...
Date: 1998/07/06
Message-ID: <c2drn6.1aa.ln@phobos.dyn.ml.org>#1/1
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<359AABF7.F75BBB6A@yordas.demon.co.uk> 
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<lqqjn6.m12.ln@phobos.dyn.ml.org> 
<Kpin1.106515$zu1.12931052@news.rdc1.bc.wave.home.com>
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Brian <sub...@rogers.wave.ca> wrote:
: Hi Chris:

: I just use W95 for mail and games.

Why use Win95 for mail when you can use Linux just as easily (or easier)?

: All serious work is done in Linux, which is as solid as a rock. My
: masquerade box runs 24/7 on a wave connection to the 'net and runs for weeks
: at a time (I have never run W95 for more than a few hours without it barking
: up a lung).

I keep my Linux box running constantly as well, without a problem - even
with the RC5 decryption thing running in the background
(www.distributed.net/rc5) - you can't even tell it's running. Try *THAT*
on a Windows system :)

: My masquerade box could easily last much longer without a reboot but I am
: always playing with it - compiling different kernels, modules, trying out
: new options.

I tend to to do same type of thing with my Linux box.

: Perhaps I should re-install W95 more often but it is always amusing, in a
: dark sort of way, to see what new and unusual little malfunction will
: manifest itself. One day it's all the icons on the desktop take on a new
: appearance, another day it's a lockup during mail download that freezes my
: machine dead in it's tracks. One of my favorites is when W95 forgets what my
: window view settings are so that all my files appear as huge clownish icons
: instead of the detailed text descriptions I prefer. How is it that W95
: always just fails to create a window box large enough to show all it's
: contents (like the way it was when it was closed). Or how about waiting
: forever for W95 to shut itself down, staring at the "Please wait for Windows
: 95 to shut down" or something like that.

I've been using Windows 95 on various computers (as well as Linux on my
own) pretty much since it came out, and it always seems to give me a new
error that I haven't come across before. It's amazing that M$ can get away
with selling such a low quality product...

: Once a month, eh? Problem is that a fresh install just makes the little
: boo-boo's come less often.

Last month I got completely fed up with Windows 98 altogether and devoted
as much space as I could to Linux. I couldn't really do that as much
before because I had to get some schoolwork done and the software wasn't
available in Linux (or I couldn't find it anyway). Now I keep a minimal
Windows installation (maybe 400 megs) for the occasional game of Heroes of
Might and Magic 2 or Grand Theft Auto... It's bad enough that I still have
to use it in school. In the lab at least a few of the computers get locked
up or crash at some point during class - accomponied by the usual curses
and groans... I just love to tell them them I haven't had a problem for
over a month in Linux - they can hardly believe it. A couple of them are
even going to try it out to see what it's like. :)

-- 
/--------------------------------------------------------------------\
|      C h r i s   G u s h u e      | Running Slackware 3.5 (2.0.34) |
| s e y m o u r @ i n a m e . c o m |  Powered by an AMD K6 233 MHz  |
\--------------------------------------------------------------------/

From: Roland Latour <rol...@cdsnet.net>
Subject: Re: Advice Wanted...
Date: 1998/07/06
Message-ID: <35A1B79E.56DDDB3@cdsnet.net>#1/1
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Brian wrote:
> 
>  I don't use X on any of my computers - I believe it to
> be the weakest link Linux has and a burden to the Linux movement. If
> configures hard, looks ugly, runs slow and crashes nearly as often as
> Windows. (please don't blast me - I am not saying this to be malicious) This
> is my opinion based on personal experience over the last 2 years - if I
> never see another incomprehensible mode line description I will live a long
> and happy life. 

Sorry, but I can't let this pass. You're confusing XFree86 with X.
XFree86 has such a convoluted configuration process because of the
wide variety of video cards and monitors used with PC hardware. It
has nothing to do with X in general.

X doesn't define a particular look-that's dependent on your window
manager. It doesn't run slow-that's dependent on your hardware and
your choice of software configuration. And if you are experiencing
crashes under X, the problem is not X, but your setup.

X is a mature technology, and is rock-solid. There are many thousands/
millions of X terminals out there, in addition to the X servers 
running on Sun/IBMaix/HPux/other consoles, with none of the
problems you mention. Judging it on the basis of your limited
experience with XFree86 is unfair.

-- 
Roland Latour    rol...@cdsnet.net   http://home.cdsnet.net/~rolandl
Retired/burned-out Tech Support Engineer     Linux Slackware3.4 & PPP

From: "Brian" <sub...@rogers.wave.ca>
Subject: Re: Advice Wanted...
Date: 1998/07/07
Message-ID: <Djgo1.125173$zu1.14602516@news.rdc1.bc.wave.home.com>#1/1
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<359AABF7.F75BBB6A@yordas.demon.co.uk> 
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<lqqjn6.m12.ln@phobos.dyn.ml.org> 
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<c2drn6.1aa.ln@phobos.dyn.ml.org>
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comp.os.linux.help


Hi Chris:

Chris Gushue wrote in message ...
>Brian <sub...@rogers.wave.ca> wrote:
>: Hi Chris:

>: I just use W95 for mail and games.

>Why use Win95 for mail when you can use Linux just as easily (or easier)?


Well, good question. I don't use X on any of my computers - I believe it to
be the weakest link Linux has and a burden to the Linux movement. If
configures hard, looks ugly, runs slow and crashes nearly as often as
Windows. (please don't blast me - I am not saying this to be malicious) This
is my opinion based on personal experience over the last 2 years - if I
never see another incomprehensible mode line description I will live a long
and happy life. I much prefer ncurses and wish there was more being written
for this semi-graphical library.

I could still use one of the many excellent non-graphical mail programs like
pine (which I like) but I have sucumbed to momentum - all 12 megabytes of my
mail is in W95 (going back over 3 years) and I am constantly going back and
referring to messages spanning many years.


>: All serious work is done in Linux, which is as solid as a rock. My
>: masquerade box runs 24/7 on a wave connection to the 'net and runs for
weeks
>: at a time (I have never run W95 for more than a few hours without it
barking
>: up a lung).


I run my CD burner under Linux and never produce any frisbees as a result of
a system problem (I have made mistakes). I love that I can build an iso9660
filesystem image, mount it, and take if for a spin around the block before
burning it (impossible in any Windows CD burner software I have ever seen).
Windows burned CDs routinely end up under coffee cups, even on a Pentium Pro
180 box with 64 megabytes of memory. (would you believe W95 still requires
an additional 25-48 megs in its swap file?)

>Last month I got completely fed up with Windows 98 altogether and devoted
>as much space as I could to Linux. I couldn't really do that as much
>before because I had to get some schoolwork done and the software wasn't
>available in Linux (or I couldn't find it anyway). Now I keep a minimal
>Windows installation (maybe 400 megs) for the occasional game of Heroes of
>Might and Magic 2 or Grand Theft Auto... It's bad enough that I still have
>to use it in school. In the lab at least a few of the computers get locked
>up or crash at some point during class - accomponied by the usual curses
>and groans... I just love to tell them them I haven't had a problem for
>over a month in Linux - they can hardly believe it. A couple of them are
>even going to try it out to see what it's like. :)


I run lots of games on Windows 95 that are just not available in Linux;
Warcraft, Diablo, Starcraft, Age of Empires, Mech Warrior II (you get the
idea). If a games crashes, as they often do under Windows 95, it is no great
loss. The games available under Linux are amusing but that is not what Linux
is about. I don't even bother initializing my soundcard under Linux because
it's not needed - I have disabled most of the dorky little noises Windows 95
creates because they contribute very little to the experience, with the
exception of games of course.

Best regards,

Brian
b...@mdi.ca


>/--------------------------------------------------------------------\
>|      C h r i s   G u s h u e      | Running Slackware 3.5 (2.0.34) |
>| s e y m o u r @ i n a m e . c o m |  Powered by an AMD K6 233 MHz  |
>\--------------------------------------------------------------------/

From: "Brian" <sub...@rogers.wave.ca>
Subject: Re: Advice Wanted...
Date: 1998/07/07
Message-ID: <Dvko1.125694$zu1.14732761@news.rdc1.bc.wave.home.com>
X-Deja-AN: 369157438
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<lqqjn6.m12.ln@phobos.dyn.ml.org> 
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<c2drn6.1aa.ln@phobos.dyn.ml.org> 
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<35A1B79E.56DDDB3@cdsnet.net>
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Reply-To: "Brian" <b...@mdi.ca>
NNTP-Posting-Date: Tue, 07 Jul 1998 00:55:15 PDT
Newsgroups: alt.os.linux,alt.os.linux.caldera,comp.os.linux.hardware,
comp.os.linux.help

Hi Roland:

-----Original Message-----
From: Roland Latour <rol...@cdsnet.net>
Newsgroups:
alt.os.linux,alt.os.linux.caldera,comp.os.linux.hardware,comp.os.linux.help
Cc: Brian <b...@mdi.ca>
Date: Monday, July 06, 1998 10:53 PM
Subject: Re: Advice Wanted...

>Brian wrote:

>>  I don't use X on any of my computers - I believe it to
>> be the weakest link Linux has and a burden to the Linux movement. If
>> configures hard, looks ugly, runs slow and crashes nearly as often as
>> Windows. (please don't blast me - I am not saying this to be malicious)
>> This is my opinion based on personal experience over the last 2 years
>> - if I never see another incomprehensible mode line description I will
>> live a long and happy life.

>Sorry, but I can't let this pass. You're confusing XFree86 with X.
>XFree86 has such a convoluted configuration process because of the
>wide variety of video cards and monitors used with PC hardware. It
>has nothing to do with X in general.

You are correct; I have incorrectly grouped X and XFree86 together.
I will make a modified statement to the newgroup. (Here it is)

>X doesn't define a particular look-that's dependent on your window
>manager. It doesn't run slow-that's dependent on your hardware and
>your choice of software configuration. And if you are experiencing
>crashes under X, the problem is not X, but your setup.

Let me rephrase: XFree86 is awful to configure - Windows 3.0 to Windows 98
including NT have a far superior video card and monitor configuration
process to anything I have seen in Linux/FreeBSD - shame shame shame!

It does run slow, even on lightning fast hardware with mountains of memory,
IMHO. As for software configuration, it is a pig under XFree86 and most
popular window managers. I do experience lock-ups on a regular schedule when
running XFree86 and popular window managers - if the software is incorrectly
setup I confess I have not endeavored to pursue it beyond a cursory
examination. I prefer the lightening speed and utility of ncurses and the
text terminal. If something goes bad in a virtual console I can skip to
another and kill whatever is ailing.

>X is a mature technology, and is rock-solid. There are many thousands/
>millions of X terminals out there, in addition to the X servers
>running on Sun/IBMaix/HPux/other consoles, with none of the
>problems you mention. Judging it on the basis of your limited
>experience with XFree86 is unfair.

You are correct. I made an error in confusing X with XFree86. Let me restate
my position; XFree86 is the tortured creature holding up the progress of a
GUI Linux.

My observations and statements are based on my experience with XFree86 on
stock RedHat 4.0-5.1, Caldera 1.0-1.2, Slackware 3.0-3.5 and FreeBSD
2.1.7.1-2.2.6. My hardware is never leading edge, I am running a PPro180 on
an Intel Venus motherboard with 64 Mbytes DRAM, Matrox Mystique 220 4meg PCI
video, Optiquest V95 19" monitor, Quantum 8.4gig SE UIDE HDs, Panasonic X24
ATAPI CD-Rom drive, HP 7100i ATAPI CD-RW drive, Motorola vFlex 56k VFD
modem, SB16 PnP sound, SMC8432 PCI network interface card, Logitech 3 button
mouse and Fujitsu keyboard. I have numerous other lesser boxen (AMD233 K6mmx
32meg, AMD200 K6mmx 32meg, AMD586DX133 32meg, 486SL33 32 meg laptop,
486DX2-66 16meg laptop and Sun 3/60 16meg) all of which are connected to the
'net through the AMD586 running Slackware 3.5 and optimized for routing and
masquerade.

My observations of XFree86 and the stock fvwm95 window manager is that the
fonts are blurry and the image quality is poor in general. The image won't
fill my screen or center at high resolutions, unlike Windows (any recent
version) despite many maneuvers with xvidtune (very poor utility). The setup
program XF86Config is a disgrace compared to the efficacy of almost
everything else that is Linux; it is very unstable and unforgiving of
process. Even when an exact videocard match can be made the results are
still mediocre at best.

I wish to apologize to all those X windows users who were offended by my
error in confusing X windows with Linux's XFree86. If I have offended all
those people who have labored long and hard to make XFree86 what it is
today, perhaps it is time to step back from the trees and have a look at the
forest. My criticism is not motivated by politics or bias (I want Linux to
be superior in all ways) - but my personal experience is that XFree86 and
its attendant components are not up to the visual or operational standards
that the general public and power user have come to expect.

One feature of the xf86config file that truly pisses me off is that if any
of the useless text is removed from the beginning of the file, it will be
rejected by the server, even if the rest of the file contains all the
essential configuration statements intact. What is THAT about?

Linux will never own the desktop until the collective genius behind Linux
comes up with a better GUI solution than XFree86. That's my story and I'm
sticking to it!

This is after all, just one guy's opinion.

Best regards,

Brian
b...@mdi.ca

>Roland Latour    rol...@cdsnet.net   http://home.cdsnet.net/~rolandl
>Retired/burned-out Tech Support Engineer     Linux Slackware3.4 & PPP

From: "Skraggy < formerly cablenews >" <ca...@oyster.co.uk>
Subject: Re: Advice Wanted...
Date: 1998/07/07
Message-ID: <35a1f87f.0@ispc-news.cableinet.net>#1/1
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Organization: "Cable Internet (post doesn't reflect views of Cable Internet)"
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My favourite at the moment is, Using Windows 95 osr2.5, and IE4.01 sp1
(recomended by Microsoft that I update to, when adding an explorer component
form their site) I now find that I can not view my favoured detail view in a
windows explorer window, every other folder window, which should now be part
of explorer views details fine, Explorer goes blank, what gives?
Thought this might amuse those permanently using the superior system.
just as an aside, I recently asked the company if I could use an old Laptop
that was lying around to install and learn linux as a route to using unix,
the only *nix users are the programmers and sysadmin on Irix 6.*. The reply
was "Why did I want to learn Unix, it is a dead operating system, the whole
world would be NT within the six months to next year ". I take it they mean
comercial bourght systems LOL
Skraggy the Hippy
Brian wrote in message ...
>Hi Chris:
>
>I just use W95 for mail and games.
<snip>
>window view settings are so that all my files appear as huge clownish icons
>instead of the detailed text descriptions I prefer. How is it that W95
>always just fails to create a window box large enough to show all it's
>contents (like the way it was when it was closed). Or how about waiting
>forever for W95 to shut itself down, staring at the "Please wait for
Windows
>95 to shut down" or something like that.
>b...@mdi.ca
</snip>

From: TEX <mhtexc...@ccms.net>
Subject: Re: Advice Wanted...
Date: 1998/07/07
Message-ID: <35A21478.681802B2@ccms.net>#1/1
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MORE WINDOWS KRAP???

Go to alt.windows sux or somewhere.....

Skraggy < formerly cablenews > wrote:
> 
> My favourite at the moment is, Using Windows 95 osr2.5, and IE4.01 sp1
> (recomended by Microsoft that I update to, when adding an ex form thei
-- 
- 
-
-
--
IMHO BEST Beginners book so far. Sams' Teach Yourself Linux in 24 hours.
redhat press.

-
Celis Gran Cru and Linux;  Nowhere but South Austin Texas.
-
-
-
TEX             http://www.ccms.net/~mhtexcollins/78704.htm

                     __
                    / /    __  _  _  _  _ __  __
                   / /__  / / / \// //_// \ \/ /
                  /____/ /_/ /_/\/ /___/  /_/\_\
                ...for IQs GREATER than 95/98?...
---

From: "Brian" <sub...@rogers.wave.ca>
Subject: Re: Advice Wanted...
Date: 1998/07/07
Message-ID: <3xpo1.129682$zu1.14852558@news.rdc1.bc.wave.home.com>#1/1
X-Deja-AN: 369220112
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<3599DBCE.62E7695B@to.speak> <6ndb9j$6t9$1@ndnws01.ne.highway1.com> 
<359AABF7.F75BBB6A@yordas.demon.co.uk> 
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Reply-To: "Brian" <b...@mdi.ca>
NNTP-Posting-Date: Tue, 07 Jul 1998 06:38:07 PDT
Newsgroups: alt.linux,alt.os.linux,alt.os.linux.caldera,
comp.os.linux.hardware,comp.os.linux.help,redhat.general

Hi Tex:

I run a Pentium Pro 180 (not overclocked) on an Intel VX440FX motherboard,
64 Megabytes 60nS DRAM, Quantum 8.4 gigabyte SE UIDE HDs, Matrox Mystique
220 4 megabyte PCI video card, Motorola VoiceSurfer 56k VFD PnP, SB16 PnP,
SMC8432e PCI NICard, Panasonic X24 ATAPI CD-Rom, HP 7100i+ CD-RW ATAPI
drive, Zoltrix TV/Max video capture card (recent addition) all on an ATA
chassis with Logitech 3B mouse and Fujitsu 104 keyboard.

This system runs like lightening on RedHat 5.1 and Slackware 3.5 (and the
earlier versions before them).

NT4 server was almost impossible to install; even after numerous changes of
hardware (at MS's request) it would always stop just short of actually
starting (just when it is done checking the timezone setup). The addition of
various service packs and numerous hot fixes got it running and all looked
well however even the addition of newer service packs including sp3 did
little to curb it's weekly (sometimes daily) voyage into space. Further, NT
had the annoying habit of practically gagging when moving large file systems
(500-700 megabytes) around from CD drive to HD and from partition to
partition (this was with and without the Intel bus mastering  driver
installed).

All I was running was IE3-4 for NT4, a continuos Internet link with an FTP
app (forget which), MS Office 97 Pro and Gear CD-R burning software. Made
lots of coasters, want one? I found that I spent less and less time in the
NT4 partition and one day the space was needed and NT4 was formatted into
software heaven. I rebooted that box so often I began to hate the little
"Starting NT4 dirge" with a corrosive passion.

In the mean time I set up Slackware 3.4 (I think) to do my CD burning which
it did without a hitch. It could also do many things that were just not
possible with NT4, no matter how much money you spent (like mounting an
iso9660 image and walking through it as if it was a fully functioning
CD-Rom). I routinely compile kernels, create large active file systems  such
as iso9660 and move mountains of data over my network card and through my
bus mastering  UIDE drives with hardly a sigh from Linux.

Now Tex, just what portion of my hardware do you consider crap? This is a
trick question because (a) almost all of it is on the NT4 approved list and
(b) some of it has already been replaced.

I have not said a single disparaging word other than to relate the actual
events surrounding my experience with NT4 server sp3, W98 and W95 osr2 et
al.

I don't hate Bill Gates or Microsoft. I am not determined to wipe Redmond
off the face of the earth. I run W95 on my desktop for games and IE4 with
Outlook Express - it is a useful but untrusted OS I chose to employ.

I don't wish to go to alt.windows.sux and vent my spleen, I was provoked
into a response by the repeated comments from a Linux Initiate who refused
to crack a book in his quest for Linux/Unix enlightenment.

I have on hand and have read large tombs on NT4 but have forgotten most of
it. It is hard to concentrate on the finer points of NT4 when it starts
coughing up blood every day or so.

Just one guy's opinion. And after all, if it works for you, then it's
perfect.

Best regards Tex,

Brian
b...@mdi.ca

TEX wrote in message <35A21478...@ccms.net>...
>MORE WINDOWS KRAP???
>
>Go to alt.windows sux or somewhere.....
>
>Skraggy < formerly cablenews > wrote:
>>
>> My favourite at the moment is, Using Windows 95 osr2.5, and IE4.01 sp1
>> (recomended by Microsoft that I update to, when adding an ex form thei
>--
>-
>-
>-
>--
>IMHO BEST Beginners book so far. Sams' Teach Yourself Linux in 24 hours.
>redhat press.
>
>-
>Celis Gran Cru and Linux;  Nowhere but South Austin Texas.
>-
>-
>-
>TEX             http://www.ccms.net/~mhtexcollins/78704.htm
>
>                     __
>                    / /    __  _  _  _  _ __  __
>                   / /__  / / / \// //_// \ \/ /
>                  /____/ /_/ /_/\/ /___/  /_/\_\
>                ...for IQs GREATER than 95/98?...
>---