DivineComedy

That is cool as hell, I don't have a use for it as a beach bum into my second childhood, but it is cool.

Played with Mini-vmac and DsLinux on a my Nintendo DS. So I get it. A long time ago when I wasn't a beachbum I put Norton Commander on my Turbo Pascal disk for school so I wouldn't have to type addresses so much. So I get the value of tiny and packed. Considering system 6 was written (I guess mainly in assembly) it wasn't surprising to get a spreadsheet program running on the DS, just have to save the file to a different disk image to keep it from freaking out. Having a full working desktop, good enough for any small business just a few years ago, on a postage stamp, DAMN!

The User carries their personal stuff with them, all the tools of their trade, and any compatible computer becomes nothing more than a human interface.

As for Linux I am new to it, and too braindead to do anything other than be a user. Recently my Windows computer died a premature death, the second computer to do so, salty air I guess, and made me mad as hell. Now I am on a five dollar computer running Linux.

Hatuey

Thats nice but the majority of people who use computers don't use it to play video games. It's pretty much irrelevant to anybody who runs demanding applications if it can't run any of the industry standards.

Yes I mean 3D Studio Max. Can you name any of these open source applications that are more powerful? Maya? It's not open source to my knowledge. Or have they changed it?

C4D = Cinema 4D
Because those are industry standards. If you ever get a chance buy a magazine called "American Photo". Their ads are a way of telling what can be considered "standard". I've yet to see an ad for PaintShop Pro or GIMP. I do however see a lot for Adobe & Corel. Not because they can afford to purchase ad space but because there is simply a standard. Adobe is light years ahead of pretty much every other company that has image editors. The same goes for Corel(painting). Unless these other applications by Linux can prove why they have a better product then I'm not swayed.

That's really not a good sign in my opinion. If there isn't instant support then I'm not likely to use it. I'm on the move most of the time so if any of my equipment brakes down I have to know that there is somebody I can speak to that will either A) get it fixed or B) Help me get it fixed. The same goes for my team. I've been to photoshoots where the lead photographer(a friend of mine) has gone ballistic on his team because they couldn't get their workflow going right due to some computer related problem. They managed to fix it after 10 mins but my friend was still pissed off. It doesn't matter how much more powerful Linux and it's applications are. If there isn't an assurance that if the applications brake down they can be fixed in under an hour or at the very least have some sort of support for it then it's pretty much useless for somebody who's business depends on everything running as close to 100% as possible.

Depends on what I'm doing. I find Macs are better when it comes to using PSCS3s full potential without it freezing every 30 mins. I find PCs better for programs like Illustrator, Bridge and InDesign.

__________________
Is Intolerant Because He Won't Let The Intolerant Run Other People's Lives.

Leftist Protozoa

A day or two ago I gave Linux a half-assed shot. I downloaded it (ubuntu) and tried to open it. I got a strange error message. I can't remember exactly what it was, but it was looking for a file or a place that it couldn't find. Maybe my first mistake was trying to open it like an executable file? Not sure.

I was too busy with other stuff to look into it deeper, so I ended up just deleting the file.

I think for now I'm going to stick with old XP. The good news is that I have gotten over my interest in buying a Mac. That's two grand I can now go spend on beer.

__________________
http://socialistparty-usa.org/

Lachean

If you rebooted with the Ubuntu CD in your drive, you would have been prompted to boot into Ubuntu. The install CD is a "Live CD" in that you can run the OS directly off of it without installing anything, just to "check it out."

__________________
At the root of every civilized achievement, such as science, technology, progress, freedom--at the root of every value we enjoy today, including the birth of this country--you will find the achievement of one man, who lived over two thousand years ago: Aristotle.

Leftist Protozoa

So if I download ubuntu, it's as simple as writing the file to a CD and then doing what you have said? I might give that a shot. Obviously, I am experiencing some intermittent curiosity.

__________________
http://socialistparty-usa.org/

rathi

Not that many need or use the "industry standard" programs. Most people who use photoshop to edit their family pictures would be perfectly satisfied with GIMP. Linux doesn't run certain high-end programs, but the average user doesn't need them in the first place. Linux can run nearly anything that the average computer user will need or use.

If you are willing to put in a little effort, you can almost always solve problems using the free support newgroups or forums. Even if you are lazy, you can buy support contracts separately i.e. Canonical Global Support Services.

Linux has reached the point where it wins out in most applications. Areas where it is weak include the use of must-have high-end professional programs or high end gaming. However, the average company or home user would be better off using Linux.

__________________
He'd be right at home on some ancient battlefield, swinging an axe into somebody's face.

FallingPianos

not quite. you have to use a special type of program to burn the image (iso file) onto the disk. if you use a normal program or windows for doing it, it wont work.

I use this program: The Official ImgBurn Website

__________________

Leftist Protozoa

Thanks! Ya know, I had a feeling that there was some special way to burn the file. I'm glad I asked.

__________________
http://socialistparty-usa.org/

PeteEU

Linux on USB stick has been around a while. You can also get Winxp on USB stick btw , quite handy if your own installation is fried.

__________________
PeteEU

DivineComedy

Good point. Grandma doesn't need a top of the line computer to do emails or make a fake sword glow like a lightsaber.

Some time ago Grandma freaks out when Windows decides to be interactive during our net meeting. Windows blooming all over the place. Grandma thinks maybe I just sent her something, with a smile "what is this..." {her webcam stops transmitting} her frail arthritic hands type in, "something is happening..." The Phone rings, and it is long distance. "Let's just use the phone," she says. Windows just thought it was being helpful.

Not long ago my XP couldn't translate a free Ebook, or copy it in a format I could use, so I couldn't send copies to some gaming handhelds.

latex2html /home/myplace/algebra.tex

nothing is perfect...

$4x$