IMHO Caldera OpenLinux comes a lot closer than Mandrake on this score,
though I prefer Mandrake myself.
Caldera sacrifies choice and support of really obscure hardare for a
smoother experience.
But Microsoft does the same thing; Windows 98 wouldn't install on three
of the computers I tried it on (though Linux would on all of them).
bobby dowling wrote:
>
> True. The Windows installation is typically easier than *any* linux distro,
> even the almighty (and it is, IMHO) Mandrake.
>
> Consider the fact that Microsoft spends $$$$$$ on employees whose sole
> purpose is to understand how the computer disinclined people think.
> Consider the fact that Microsoft founded itself with the purpose of
> producing an OS that *anyone* can install and use on *any* machine (i386
> based mostly).
>
> Unix did not start out with that purpose and Linux is just realizing this
> purpose, but doesn't have the financial backing to support it the way
> Microsoft has.
>
> Linux is for sure on the way however, and Mandrake (IMHO) is really helping
> to push this.
>
> >From: "Gil Baron W0MN" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> >Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> >To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> >Subject: RE: [expert] MaximumLinux Magazine CD version of 7.1
> >Date: Sun, 9 Jul 2000 06:17:11 -0500
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> >
> >You are lucky if that is all you have.
> >I cannot install because it does not find xfree86 RPM. I amusing the
> >downloaded iso images and that is what I get and I am then dead, no
> >xfree86,
> >no install.
> >Anybody have a solution?
> >
> >You are totally correct about Windows install being VASTLY better!
> >
> >
> >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Bob Puff@NLE [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
> > > Sent: Saturday, July 08, 2000 9:38 PM
> > > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> > > Subject: Re: [expert] MaximumLinux Magazine CD version of 7.1
> > >
> > >
> > > Hello Dennis,
> > >
> > > > No. Our beta-testing period for 7.1 was 3-4 x longer than for 7.0, and
> > > > there was nothing even near to "abrupt cesation" of testing.
> > > There were 3
> > > > public betas, and we did not receive any "critical bug reports" for
> >the
> > > > third one, so we had all the reason to beleive that 7.1 will be a good
> > > > product (and it is).
> > > > but none are really "show stoppers" (workarounds exist), and I
> > > still think
> > > > that overal quality of 7.1 is miles better than 7.0, or any previous
> > > > Mandrake release:
> > >
> > > Well, as someone who had a little experience with 6.1, and
> > > recently did several installs of 7.1 (never tried 7.0), I would
> > > beg to differ with you big time. There are some significant bugs
> > > dealing mostly with the install that I have posted here, but no
> > > one has responded. And yes, they will keep 7.1 from installing!
> > > Let me see if I can recall these:
> > >
> > > 1. The CDROM bug: once you get to where it wants disk #2, the
> > > cdrom drive will not eject a disk. No way whatsoever to change
> > > disks. (I did manage to change the disk by powering down the
> > > CDROM drive, but then Linux wouldn't recognize it. Happened with
> > > two out of four computers.
> > >
> > > 2. The way to start the install program from a DOS prompt is
> > > broken - doesn't work at all.
> > >
> > > 3. The install program starts up running in high resolution, if
> > > it sees you have a card that can do it. Unfortunately, it
> > > doesn't ask if your monitor can support it, and thus my screen
> > > turned to hash, and I was unable to install the program.
> > > (Thankfully I had a multisync monitor on another system that I
> > > robbed long enough to do the install.) THis should default to
> > > 640x480, and ask / let you try higher rez if you want.
> > >
> > > 4. Setup properly detected my 3com 509 network card, then set up
> > > the wrong drivers for it! (Had to change from whatever it had to
> > > the 3com 509 driver, what a concept.)
> > >
> > > 5. Setup did not install the 75dpi or 100dpi fonts, which gave me
> > > all sorts of error messages when X tried to start.
> > >
> > > 6. My monitor type and card must have been screwed up somewhere
> > > in the detection, as I couldn't even get 256 colors at 640x480
> > > working on one system. When I tried running the XF86setup, it
> > > core dumps when you tell it to list devices.
> > >
> > > 7. "Automatic setup" is definitely not what anyone should use.
> > > It skips many important steps. Also installs junk packages, and
> > > doesn't install ones that should be installed by default (IMHO).
> > >
> > > 8. The KDE/X stuff looks like it was pre-configured for 1024x768
> > > rez. WHen you're in 640x480, some things are off the screen, and
> > > other boxes are so large you can't even get to an OK or CANCEL
> > > button! Even in Win95, it defaults to the lowest common
> > > denominator, and every window is accessible.
> > >
> > > I think that any of these things would cause a newbie to give up,
> > > if they didn't have persistence. I am not a Win95 (or microsoft)
> > > fan, but for the average user, their setup works a whole lot
> > > better. From reading the comments here, it seems that 7.0 didn't
> > > have some of the big nasty bugs that 7.1 has.
> > >
> > > Bob
> > >
> >
>
> ________________________________________________________________________
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--
"Brian, the man from babble-on" [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Brian T. Schellenberger http://www.babbleon.org
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