[plug] Linux V Windows

[Jon L. Miller]

Where could one find a HCL for Linux?

*********** REPLY SEPARATOR ***********

On 7/10/99, at 4:00 PM, Rick  (VK6EP) wrote: 

>The advantages and disadvantages of Linux versus Windows, according to
>those who have used both. 
>
>These are some snippets I have lifted from various news groups. I have
>tried to fix some of the spelling and grammatical errors, but probably not
>all. I've added the comments in square brackets and have deliberately left
>out the addresses of the originators.
>
>--------------------------
>
>Advantages:
>
>Multi-user:
>If you've only used Windows, this wont mean a lot yet, think of files only
>YOU can use or read or *delete*, at the same time as someone else is using
>your PC, (say a friend on the internet).
>
>Remote use, see above also:
>Plus you could, If I created a user "account" run programs on MY PC, here
>and NOW, from your PC where ever you are. My PC would take input from
>yours, and send you the screen, while running the program *here*, and using
>my comps resources.
>
>Learning:
>Linux is a learning experience, and you *will* learn more than you ever
>could with MSwindows. TONS of docs and howtos,.
>
>Free: you only pay for the media, so if your poor, you have access to 10's
>of thousands of dollars, (equiv. MSWin) of software. Such as compilers,
>cad, document processing, networking, file utilities, its simply too much
>to keep up with now, and has been for years.
>
>
>Disadvantages:
>All the above, if you don't like learning, or wont. [Or don't have the time]
>
>
>----------------------
>
>What software are you running on Win98? If you have MS-Office, then you're
>going to be hard pushed to find a better package for the types of things it
>does (arguably, but it is a great package).
>
>If you're running games, then you're not going to get much enjoyment out of
>Linux.
>
>Linux really comes into it's own in networking (web servers, mail servers,
>shared file systems) and programming (C++, C, Perl, Tcl/Tk, etc). For these
>things, particularly servers and programming, you have to fork out MONEY
>for software on Win98 that is usually worse than what you get on Linux, and
>offers less user support.
>
>Of course, Linux has many uses, as does Win98, but for some of them (e.g.
>games, netsurfing); you're better off sticking with Win98 because of the
>much broader support and availability of features.
>
>------------------------------
>
>Advantages:
>
>It makes better use of your hardware. It is much more stable. It comes with
>piles of networking tools out-of-the-box. It includes a vast array of
>development tools. You will never need to defragment your Linux partition.
>It runs fine on hardware which '98 wouldn't even look at. It is multi-user
>and multitasks very smoothly. I am forever astonished at how *bad* '95 or
>even '98 are on grunty machines with 128 MB of ram. Linux flies on such
>machines (and doesn't thrash when running a screen-saver). There is plenty
>of good open source and zero-cost software out there for Linux.
>
>Also, it is legally free :-) 
>
>Disadvantages:
>
>If you are used to '98, it is very *very* different. You will need to do a
>lot of work learning the system. Installation and configuration is a bit
>more complex to the uninitiated. Hardware support is less comprehensive
>than '98 (e.g. the current stable kernel doesn't support USB - though the
>unstable development kernel does). There are fewer games and flashy
>commercial programs available, but in general there are good free
>replacements for most of the things you will need.
>
>The disadvantages are modest - you can overcome most of them if you buy a
>good Linux book and read the documentation *before* touching the CD.
>
>You can keep both 98 and Linux on the machine, so you get the best of both
>worlds. 
>
>--------------------------
>
>[WARNING- before installing Linux, make sure it will support your hardware.
>Linux does not support a lot of the latest hardware, 'out of the box'.
>Patches are usually available soon enough, but you will need to learn where
>to find them and how to install them.]
>
>[To every view you/I have, there will be at least one alternate view.]
>
>
>
>
>Cheers
>Rick
>
>E=Mail    - rickd at iinet.net.au
>Home Page - http://opera.iinet.net.au/~rickd/index.html

Jon L. Miller, MCNE ASE
MMT Networks Pty Ltd
Ph:+61.8.9402.0639
Fx:+61.8.9402.2492
HP:http://www.wantree.com.au/~jlmiller
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