[Sheflug] Update On My Linux Attempts So Far

["Netsonic" <nospam1045405695-5988 [at] xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Well chaps,

I thought I'd just give you an update on my attempts so far.

Looking at the smaller distros to get started with, I've downloaded and
tried Knoppix, Libranet, CoolLinux and Peanut.

Knoppix works great from CD but after installing it on hard disk,  the video
settings and X server packed in completely after installing the linux video
driver from the manufacturers site. A shame really as the rest of it worked
absolutely great overall. I think I will keep this one handy for when a new
video driver is released or the distro itself is updated.

Libranet wouldn't even install the video driver due to some kind of
incompatibility with the gcc and video driver versions. It looks a fair
package otherwise.

Peanut is very small but the installation routine was buggy enough for it to
fail even the HD install, despite numerous attempts.

CoolLinux does a basic installation but failed on both the video and network
setup.

Im grabbing ASPLinux right now. The HCL looks a lot better than the others
and it has a fair amount of apps included without going over the top.

The one thing I'm failing to see right now throughout all of these is why
manufacturer supplied drivers seem to be so poor at installing and working
properly.  I use an ATI video card, a 3Com network card, Epson printer and a
Conexant modem. Having got all the required drivers for these parts, they
just don't seem to play properly, despite following the installation
routines to the letter. I would have reasonably assumed that using equipment
from such well known and usually trusted manufacturers, that their own
drivers would work OK.

I suppose on the positive side, I'm getting well used to using linux tools
for things like disk partitioning and formatting, and also getting used to
navigating around the installed system on disk ie. directory locations,
where things generally live and that sort of thing.

My longer term goal out of all this is to switch to a linux system
permanently, and maybe run a little M$ stuff using VMware or something
similar. Right now Im doing the opposite, and its beginning to bug the hell
out of me!


On a slightly different note now, I am using a 1 meg cable modem for the
downloading, which has proved invaluable. If anybody wants a particular
distro downloading but doesn't have the bandwidth to do it, I'd be quite
happy to help out if thats of any use.

Regards to all.

Steve.

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