Linux?

[davisw]

Why dont most computer users know of Linux? Im currently doing a project for school where the topic is closely related to linux. I would mention linux and the entire class would go "what". Do you think linux will be the next prominent OS? Is linux immune to viruses spyware adware etc? Thanks

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

If those questions are part of your homework, we wont answer them for you......but we can help.

You might want to check these out for more info.
http://www.google.com.hk/search?hl=en&q=linux+antivirus&btnG=Search&meta=
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux#Present_day
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Top500_OS.png

[davisw]

Its not my hw its just some questions that will help me to understand linux a little more.

[Raptor]

I don't think you can ever understand Linux with the poor documentation that is on the Internet. Everything seems to resolve around the GUI, I can't seem to find any newbie documentation that involves the bash shell..

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

I look at the pictures of the different desktops

[ghostdog74]

I don't think you can ever understand Linux with the poor documentation that is on the Internet. Everything seems to resolve around the GUI, I can't seem to find any newbie documentation that involves the bash shell..

see here

[Raptor]

I don't think you can ever understand Linux with the poor documentation that is on the Internet. Everything seems to resolve around the GUI, I can't seem to find any newbie documentation that involves the bash shell..

see here

Once again, I can't even seem to find a good explanation to the most simple of tasks; installing/unpacking (whatever they call it in Linux) dosbox which comes in a .rpm package via the bash shell. Sure, lots of Wiki's with lots of information, even have a book on it.. They all assume you use the GUI.

Apparently you need to be a rocket scientist to operate Linux or at least be able to mind-meld with your machine.

[ghostdog74]

I don't think you can ever understand Linux with the poor documentation that is on the Internet. Everything seems to resolve around the GUI, I can't seem to find any newbie documentation that involves the bash shell..

see here

Once again, I can't even seem to find a good explanation to the most simple of tasks; installing/unpacking (whatever they call it in Linux) dosbox which comes in a .rpm package via the bash shell. Sure, lots of Wiki's with lots of information, even have a book on it.. They all assume you use the GUI.

Apparently you need to be a rocket scientist to operate Linux or at least be able to mind-meld with your machine.

i am sure that you can "man rpm" to see what rpm does. there's no need to use GUI for that.
this is the typical command to install an rpm package

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# rpm -ivf <packagename>
this is typical command to uninstall rpm package

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# rpm -e <packagename.>
there are many other options of the RPM package manager you can use, all in the man page.

[Raptor]

Is the # obligatory? Because it's not working in Kubuntu..

[rimete]

:.Do you think linux will be the next prominent OS.:   No....Linux has been around for quite a long time and as far the General Public-The majority of computers are Windows based by a large margin (97%?) - which is shame since Linux is such great OS (as any X based is) but as far as the consumer market it still has become very popular and has a small segment that do use it. It's doing well in regards embeddded applications (everything has almost become a computer so.) In regards to security in general, it is more secure v Windows but as it gains popularity - you'll see more virus aimed at Linux. No OS is completely secure and since Unix had a backdoor programmed into it and still remains secure..much more so then Windows but as above stated:When the majority of computers run on (In this case Windows) the best target will be that.

[ghostdog74]

Is the # obligatory? Because it's not working in Kubuntu..

no, its just my command prompt. equivalent to the one you see often in windows l(c:\>)
.

[davisw]

why dont most schools use linux?

[GX1_Man]

Microsoft cuts them special price deals, so they hook the staff and ESPECIALLY the students.

[davisw]

But linuz is free for the most part. Special deal or not isnt linux cheaper?

[Raptor]

No, because not every student is a rocket scientist and neither are most teachers. You need to know the value of Pi to the 11th digit just to install a program...

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

I know pi to the 7th digit, pretty sad, eh?
My friend knows it to 31 digits, that is sad.

[bayern]

Like most computer users now a days, I am so accustomed to GUI,. When I first started using Linux, I was so lost. It seems almost everything has to be done in CLI, although some distros are easier then the others, the learning curve is still  steep. For instance, configure Linux to work with my Mac and PC printers and file sharings, I have to dig out so many files, Samba, CUPS... and have to edit them by hand . To simply get Linux to work with my duo monitor system, I had to figure out how to edit xorg.conf. It was confusing and overwhelming. It's not rocket science per se but it takes a lot of time and efforts. As Gnome and KDE are getting more sophsticated, this situation might improved. For the time being, most casual computer users will be scared away or not wanted to be bothered by it. Linux has a looooooong way before it can catch up with Windows or Mac.

The other thing is the GUI. Both Gnome and KDE look awful, I thought Windows was bad. Perhaps I am a Mac guy, I think OSX has the best smooth GUI that neither Windows (not even that Vista crap) nor Linux can match up. 

B.
 

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

Perhaps I am a Mac guy

Demon


No offence Bayern

[bayern]

Perhaps I am a Mac guy

Demon


No offence Bayern

I am the KING of all deamons! 

B

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

Perhaps I am a Mac guy

Demon


No offence Bayern

I am the KING of all deamons! 

B

...................................Time for war.............
**Grabs water guns, EMP Granades and steel hammers**
"your mac is going to suffer!!!"

[hyperhedron]

People use it in schools because kid's are unfamiliar with it and they will' prolly need to learn how to use M$ stuff mmore than linux. how sad.

[saksham_barar]

the best way to understand Linux is to work on it.

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

An example of where different operating systems are used...

Windows = public computers
Linux = supercomputers
Mac = ummm....

[hyperhedron]

naah, schools are full of macs because they really don't require much setup at all, so it's a breeze to set up 30 of them in a classroom. PCs on the other hand take a lot more fetching and carrying and more effort.
i'm not dissing either crowd here, though.

[Sid]

naah, schools are full of macs because they really don't require much setup at all, so it's a breeze to set up 30 of them in a classroom. PCs on the other hand take a lot more fetching and carrying and more effort.
i'm not dissing either crowd here, though.

...I call *censored*.

[banjo67xxx]

Is the # obligatory? Because it's not working in Kubuntu..

ROTFLMHO !!!

The # means that everything which follows is just a comment (i.e. for humans to explain to each other what the script file is doing), and so the computer ignores it. That's why nothing happens 

Like most computer users now a days, I am so accustomed to GUI,. When I first started using Linux, I was so lost.

That's wierd, I was so accustomed to using the CLI at work on their supercomputers, that I got very frustrated with the GUIs in Windows when I finally got around to buying a PC.

Take a simple example. I want to setup the first network card with static IP address 10.0.0.4 and subnet mask 255.255.255.0, and the second network card with address 11.0.1.3 and subnet mask 255.255.224.0 and get the computer route between them.

linux

Code: [Select]

ifconfig eth0 10.0.0.4 netmask 255.255.255.0 broadcast + -trailers up
ifconfig eth1 11.0.1.3 netmask 255.255.255.224 broadcast + -trailers up
ndd -set /dev/tcp ipforward=1
Windows
Click and drag to Control Panel. Now look for Network setup. Click that, find the network card, right click, drag down to properties, wait for another d**n GUI window to open, now find TCP/IP (why the h**l isn't it at the top of the list?), right click that and drag to properties, and another d**n window opens ....

For god's sake I could have setup 4 interfaces on linux by now.

... finally I get to type in the IP address and netmask. Now I can go setup the other interface, and I've got to bring up most of those d**n windows all over again.

Oh, and at the end of it all I find out that I've got to use some load of crap called ICS to make the machine act as a router and that only works if you make one of your interfaces have the address 192.168.0.1


OK - so you could call me a "rocket scientist" because I learnt linux on the supercomputers at work. But after 19 years working with linux I think its easier than windows for specialised stuff.

PS: My argument falls down when you lok at my laptop. I couldn't be arsed with finding and compiling all the drivers for linux, and as I only use to browse the web and send email, I just left Windows on it. 

[dslgeek]

To answer original questions in this thread.
1. Yes, Linux can replace Windows in some consumer applications. In particular web browser with a simple browser.
2. Yes, some Linux version are very safe for the average person.
3. Yes, Linux is becoming more widely know. Large companies are using in low-cost consumer devices.   

To verify this, check out the references to IBM and DSL. The DSL in this case means D-- Small Linux. Try o search on SL and IBM ans see what your get