Knoppix

[tim_from_pa]

I hope there's some tech people on board here with this forum. I am excited tonight as I just ordered the book "Knoppix for Dummies" for only about $6 (Amazon). I had some experience with Linux at my old workplace Agere Systems. Also, I took some classes on it, but then was hired at this new place and did not complete it, but I had a taste of installing Linux and learning the CLI. Being 49 years old, I am familiar with Microsoft's DOS commands and these were similar. Looking back, I should have stayed in college instead of accepting this cheap job and completed my learning of it. Also, Knoppix is an OS that one can pop in a CD and you don't have to install it on your hard drive. I have an old Knoppix disk that I experienced, but that's before I cared to learn about it. (I was not ready for it yet). This is because the old Microsoft OS like Windows 98SE or earlier were more like the Open Source software and they did not worry about software infringements in those days. But since I "upgraded" to XP Pro in recent years, I had nothing but trouble and 98SE worked much better (but I upgraded because it is no longer supported).I build my own computers, but unlike Windows 98SE, XP Pro only installs on up to 3 computers. When I replaced a motherboard on my computer, I exceeded the activation and I had to talk with some Indian guy with an accent to activate it. If any of my computers break down again, I will have to do the same thing, and maybe one day they will have a limit there and I may have to buy another OS disk. In addition, I am seeing a frightening thing with Vista (and I suppose Microsoft's future OS). Sometimes patches "don't take" and then the OS system claims you have an unauthorized copy of Vista. You see where I am going here? On other threads, you hear my gripe a lot about the RIAA and their tracking downloaders with their IP address. Microsoft is known for their invasiveness with your computer as it communicates with their servers. Whose to say one day they won't do the same thing as the RIAA and claim copyright infringement? I can just see it now---- police kicking in your door and slamming you up against the wall yelling "freeze" as is typical these days in the United States, confiscating your computers like its their God-given right to invade your privacy and serving the warrant later.I don't need that. I want an open source OS that is free to all. When my next computer breaks down, it will come up with Linux until eventually all the computers have it. This way I don't have to toy with Microsoft's shenanigans regarding the authorization and whatnot. Already I am using Mozilla Firefox due to Microsoft's patronizing demeanor with its browser. It just is not friendly at all. For example, I cannot adjust the text size of web pages with the font size specified. Firefox actually lets you command something for a change---- not like Microsoft that asks you your choice, and then after you select it, it does what it wants to do anyway and ignores your choice. Yes, in this household, Bill will be out the Gates in the future.

 

[Geos]

Good luck with your foray back into Linux. I use linux almost exclusively on my laptop and love it.Setting up hardware can sometimes be problematic and require tweaking but once it is up then all is good.Let us know how you get on...

 

[tim_from_pa]

Yes, the hardware is the only thing I originally worried about. But as of now, I have what I feel is a typical monitor, PCI cards (eg network) and a USB memory stick (I don't have a printer on this computer). Other stuff like the hard drive and DVD player is controlled by BIOS anyway. I assume that there are modules within this distribution that can handle what I have as I do not use unusual hardware or the newest type that just hit the market. So I would be very disappointed if this cannot handle stuff that is common and been around a few years.