I am trying to get Linux going and move to it as the
OS of choice with their Wine program and such to access
my needed Windows apps.

As it is I've managed to use a fair amount of open source
in my 'real life'. I use Pine for PC which is a mail
program developed by Washington University. Pine has been
around for Unix systems since the mid 90's or so and is free.

I used Pine when communicating to a BBS back when dino's
roamed the Earth.

As a browser, Firfox can't be beat for flexibilty and security
and that is from Mozilla which is open source as well.

All that remains for me to do is get Linux going and i will
be off the Micro$oft buss for good.

That may take some time though. I've been stumped by
something that should have "installed itself' which is my
standard US Robotics modem. There's help on the way for that...
I know the device works, but can't get Linux to see it.

I just wondered if anybody is using Linux OS in here (?)

AudioRoundTable.com is hosted on a Linux box, but Sheri is who deals with OS and platform issues. I have done work on several Linux systems, some that included a little light administration. I've setup Samba, written termcap codes, that sort of thing. Linux is like other UNIX systems - It's powerful and configurable but you must plan on doing a lot of your own support.

Wayne

Two things I can recommend to make your transition as easy as possible:

[1] download the latest Mandrake package. It's really done well. I installed 8.0 a while back just to check it out and it was as smooth as silk. If you can't download it (and I wouldn't even consider it with dial-up) buy it - it's worth it.

[2] get the "Idiots" linux book (the one with the chimp on the front). A really clear, excellent beginners reference.

Back when I looked at it, WINE was kind of hopeless. Maybe it's a lot better today, I don't know. But Linspire (commerical WINE on steroids) is supposed to be very good.

For a 'front end' approach to use Linux for a minimal
install to do mail, websearch and some office apps., I haven't
heard about anything better than Xandros.

Xandros was written up in the last _PC Upgrade_ mag
more as a press release than evaluation, but that's the way
I heard about it. Plain vanilla Xandros costs about $40.

More on Linux in these other messages...

• Xandros

The Linux I got this time around after trying out Knoppix...
the version that comes on and runs from the cdrom drive... is
Red Hat Linux 2 or Fedora Core 2.

I wanted to push the free software idea as far as I could,
so I just looked at the distributions available as 'books'
with cds and the one I landed on at Barnes and Noble was
called Red Hat Linux 2 Bible by Christopher Negus.

Then I made a lending library request for the purchase.

When the library bought the book ($50) I located one of my
spare drives in removable trays to put the OS on so it didn't
interfere with anything else.

The disks went through the disk scan for errors ok.
But when it came time to install them, one disk section would
not write the files for the Open Office part of installed
programs.

So I redid the install and left off the Office Suite
checkbox. This got the rest of the install to run.

This was the point at which I picked up the 900 page
book by Negus with the message on the spine that says
"100% Complete." Well, more on that in a minute.

I have only been able to do a few things with this
install: create a file drawer, link to the terminal from
the toolbar and pick out a screen saver (cow on bouncing
trampoline.)

What I wanted to get working was dialout.
Back to the Negus book. The book was not much help. And
900 pages is just, well, too much to deal with.

I use a listserv run by Marcel Gagne, author of
"Moving To Linux Kiss The Blue Screen Of Death Goodbye".
His book contains the Knoppix mentioned which he uses
as a tutorial. The listserv is friendly and doesn't mind
newbie questions.

There a couple other sources as well for online help
including Fedora.

I got some tips to set up the modem from the Gagne
listserv. One of them says to use the command

minicom -s

Get this,and here's my point; the Negus has no
reference in the index to minicom at all. If you look up
the word 'modem' you also get zero reference. This in
a book claiming to be "100% Complete."

After several days of back and forth at various
forums and the listserv I have been able to dial out--
not connect to the Internet, just dial my ISP. The
rest remains to be done.

I believe that Open Source Linux and the other prog.s
I use like Mozilla Firefox and Pine mail reader are the future.
That's why I'm taking all the time with it.

Yes, I'm getting the idea (see other messages) that Mandrake 10
or Suse 9.1 would be a good OS for an upgrade path to the
AMD 64 bit processor and my next computer build.

Also, we as audio enthusiasts can take advantage of Open
Source software using the newer formats like Ogg for better
fidelity. I use a Yamaha RP U100 USB receiver (got it on
closeout at rebate time for $89 with shipping) and it
integrates with my computer webstream listening as well
as my small tv. There are various speaker switches hooked
of for my desktop set and the Boomtoobz. The Yam can
function as a standalone radio, work with its extensive
Windows software (including DSP's, EQ) but far as I know,
I have no software in Linux to run the USB Yamaha.

The Yams are great. I'm looking for another one. But
I wonder why Yamaha has bailed in producing this device.
The RP line included a 5:1 unit similar to the one I have...
those are all gone from rebate as well.

Someone else should be in this market. I have become
very attached to being able to do everything with Yam
from the keybaord, including on/off.

• http://www.yamahamultimedia.com/yec/products/cavit/rpu100.asp

Main website is www.freepctech.com. The PCBUILD list is the one that deals with operating systems, and PCSOFT deals with application software.

You can read the "Linux Letter," search the archives, and submit a question to the PCBUILD or PCSOFT list. You do not have to be a subscriber to post a question, and you can see the replies in the archives. Or, you can subscribe and join in.

My message was just a trial balloon to see if there are any users
on here. Thanks for the offer but I can only add something
new when I drop something off the load I have.

I am now able to dial out with a routine I wrote down.
I'd be glad to forward that to your list and tell them
how far along I am.