men.... feck linux!

[Holley]

So far I've tried more Linux from Kernel 1.1 through 2.4, I have to say that as time has gone on problems with daft errors, dependancies, and sloppy distros have gone through the roof.  This isn't the fault of the kernel, more that distros are including too much software, and making a full install the only working configuration ...

Being stuck in a command line when things go wrong isn't a problem when you can work out where the error came from, rather than trawling through increasing numbers of directories and config files.  The last time I felt confident about knowing Linux enough to handle it myself was when running Red Hat 5.1 :-(

No matter how much I have tried Linux has always felt like an adversary (when it doesn't work it's because it doesn't want to work), Workbench has felt like a friend (when it doesn't work it's not intentional).

[Holley]

Slackware is the best distro I've tried so far, but that was a long time ago (it was the last one on a.out binaries, can't remember the version now!).

In general under Workbench you don't have the huge pile of demons/TSRs/services that you do under Linux/Windows, hence easier to work out the source of the error.  Cue quote from the recycling hippie in the Simpsons "Simplify, man!"

[Holley]

By today's standards, even when compared to Linux, AmigaOS is a nightmare for anyone except those who have a decade of familiarity behind them.

? Swap those two to get that right, as far as I'm concerned.

Workbench is quirky, but the whole system is so much simpler under the surface - yes it loses features for that, but then look at what you get with mini-linux in it's tiny 20Mb footprint.

That said Windows seems to get more and more complex, so that when you get problems it ends up being as hard to work with as Linux (ie. when Windows Update stops working after installing an 'essential update').

[Holley]

There's three ways to look at it I guess - From the point of view of user-friendliness that is.  

User 1: As far as just someone getting work done most any modern user-interface is going to be 'ok' - you click on an icon or a menu, click some buttons etc and do your work or play a game.  

User 2: From the point of view of an advanced user how easy it is to install the OS, programs and tweak bits and bobs or whatever is always going to require some manual reading but it varies.

User3: Sorting out when things go wrong (as a user or support person) is another kettle of fish.

System7 on the Mac was about as friendly as it gets for the user 1, and hell on earth for 2 and 3 - ie. not much tweaking without going to extreme measures, and if networking didn't work right off there wasn't much you could do about it.  Workbench/Intuition is a bit of a mix and is pretty good for all three. Windows leans towards User 2 but user 1 can dip their toes in it, while user 3 cries into their MS technical reference.  Linux is heaven for 2, hard work for 3, and fine for 1 as long as they never have to touch anything outside if the GUI or upgrade at all.

[Holley]

Some people prefer to dig a ditch with a bulldozer. I do it with a primitive shovel. I get a good tan, stay in shape, and ulimately have more control over where the ditch actually goes. If by modern standards you mean where Microsoft seems to want to take me, I'll just stick with primitive

Good analogy, I was digging up old drains today with my Dad, I said 'this'd be easier with a mini-JCB' and he just replied 'yeah, but we'd cut right through all the old pipework and end up with twice as much work'.

A while back I mentioned to someone about 'best fit' - namely I used to run a Novell 4.11 network over a WAN with around 100 workstations, a 100MHz P1 server with 486 workstations using Windows 3.1, it did MS Office, email, web browsing, and linked in nicely with an AIX database system using terminal emulators and file links.

Now the company now has dual P4 servers with Server 2003, and P4 workstations with Windows XP - guess what it gets used for?  It gave them hell on earth trying to link in with the AIX database, though!

Also Terminator 2 was rendered on 40MHz PCs, that doesn't mean I'll stop enjoying watching it!  Yes there are uses for atom-splitting super-computers, 99% of everything doesn't really require that.  A Pegasos can do everything I want to do with a home computer, which is why I'll be getting one when I can ... it's efficient, too!