>
> Is WinXX easier to use? Need some specifics?
>
> 1. Windows2000 auto-detects my BP6 dual processor system. All I have to
> do to get the same level of service with Linux is to edit certain
> setting, recompile the kernel, copy the new one to a new location and
> then reconfigure LILO. Yeah, just about the same.
RedHat detects SMP bioxes and installs the appropriate driver.
About kernel compiling there has been a lot of mythology about this
subject telling you had to do it in order to optimize your Linux box
or add missing fatures . Problem is there is no quantification or
analysis of the causes. Let's put the problem in a clearer way: a
custom kernel will ever be faster than a distribution kernel but by
how much?
First alternative: your distrib kernel can do everything you need and
difference in performance respective to a custom kernel is
insignificant say in the order of 1%. In that case most users healthy
in body and mind would not bother to recompile kernel specially since
there are far more effective ways to get additional performance
Second alternative: either the kernel lacks a feature you need or your
box is significantly slower than with a custom kernel. Does that mean
that recompiling is a good thing? Not necessarily. Problem is: Why
your distribution's kernel was so slow? Is it because state of the
art in kernel development does not allow distributors (who can only
ship a limited number of kernels) to provide you with a kernel coming
close to the ideal kernel built by yourself? In that case recompiling
the kernel is right. But what if the distributor could have provide
you with akernel as fast as the one you compile yourself but relied on
YOU doing HIS job and didn't try to provide you a decent kernel? Then
IMHO what you should be doing is a) Act like a customer who discovers
a flaw in his brand new car and get a refund b) making users compile
kernels when they should be working means to play into Microsft hands.
The means that the author deserves to be shot for treason. :-)
I investigated the subject for kernel 2.0 and my conclusion was that
it is possible for distributors to provide kernels who are complete in
faetures and come very, very close to the performance of a kernel
compiled by the user. Thus if your kernel does not support SMP then
shoot first and ask questions later. :-)
> 2. Ever set up a printer? Ever do it successfully?
Yes. Use printtol. Trivial. Needed to map my printers to supported
models. As Linux gains market share manufacturers will have to
provide drivers or see people go elsewhere. This day we will no
longer need to do guesswork.
Listen, 90% of Windows easiness of use respective to hardware setup is
not due to techncal merits but to market share: it is this market
share who makes for manufacturers providing drivers. BTW a couple
days ago IBM donated a bunch of printer drivers to Linux people.
> 3. How about monitors? At least you learn the term "screen refresh."
> Now that's a useful term for a cocktail party. You end up buying twice
> the monitor you need just so that it will work ok.
There have been a looooooong time since I have not needed to use the
comand line xf86config. RedHat's Xconfigurator allows configuring
with little fuss. In addition present day installations use ddcprobe
so they can ask modern monitors about their capabilities.
> 4. Network cards - 3COM - works fine under Windowz, need to trash it for
> Linux.
No. I have used Linux in both Token Rings (IBM Tropic, Madge PCI) and
Ethernets (3COM, and NE2000 PCI) and the only thing I had to do was
enter the IP adress. Not even that when using DHCP.
It is trivial for a distribution to scan /proc/pci (or the output of
lspci) and have the proper driver inserted.
> 5. How about sound? Hellooooooow? Still can't hear a thing.
Sndconfig. I agreed it should be far more visible to the user.
> 6. But my Linux system has been running for 24 months now without a
> crash. Well,. I think it has. It has no sound, the NIC doesn't work
> until I can get the new SMP tulip drivers, and I can't get the monitor
> to work because I confused horizontal with verticals screen re-fresh,
> but the little green light seems to be on, so I figure its been up
> without a crash for 24 months - BEAT THAT Windows!
>
Reboot single user (linux S at bootprompt). Then put /usr/X11R6/bin
in your PATH. Use Xconfigurator to configure X instead of playing
hero with xf86config. BTW are you sure it is your monitor who doesn't
work? I would bet what is happening is that it is in creensaving
mode.
--
Jean Francois Martinez
Project Independence: Linux for the Masses
http://www.independence.seul.org
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