[Halfmanhalfamazing]

There's a reason why Linus has been and remains the leader of the linux world.

[Tainan]

Linux...yeah....I sent for the disk...got it...installed it....cost me US$80 for a complete re-format thanks to NO UNISTALL feature on the Linux disk.

hings they never mention....

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

For all the wrangling between software developers, in the final analysis what they are doing is a form of artistic science. The exploration of invention and discovery.

From its point of view, Microsoft is probably very aware that Windows very complexity is working against it. And some new combination of hardware and software will leave Microsoft in the dust. A computer that is to today’s computers what the PC was to an adding machine.

But that is “the undiscovered country”. Why obsess about petty rivalries when there is a new world to explore?

[Halfmanhalfamazing]

b

[ShadowAce]

[antiRepublicrat]

It’s nice to see a pragmatist in charge with all the fanatics running around.

[SteelTrap]

I’ve always admired Linus. I always wondered why he didn’t jump on the big corporate rocket ship and become big wig like some of his contemporaries. Maybe its because he despises powerpoint as much as I do. Either way, I appreciate what he and others set in motion many moons ago. I’m a Suse guy, fwiw.

[Tribune7]

I don't want to be associated with the people for whom it's about exclusion and hatred."

Golly, to what quasi-sane lefty could he be referring???

[Tainan]

To those who had kind offers and useful suggestions - I thank you. The disk I received was Ubuntu 8.04.1 LTS Desktop Edition. I attempted to install it into a partition I created for it. Now I think I should have maybe run it from the disk only. Although, as I remember, I tried doing that without success. My results were, as noted, not very good. I make no claim to being a techie...I still have no idea what a "kernel" is other than what popcorn comes from.
To those who offered insults...Gee...maybe you're taking this entirely too personal.

I read the Linux comments on FR for a year or so and asked some, what I thought were, pertinent questions before requesting the disk. I attempted to follow what, to me, were very sketchy directions in doing the install. From my standpoint as a non-tech person, they were NOT intuitive for someone such as myself coming from a background of Windows..starting around 3.0 or so.
I still have the disk. Maybe on a new build box I'll try again.
But honestly, I wanted it to work. From what I read it sounds like a good OS. But for me...it was not a good experience.

If that busts your balloon...sin loi.

[papasmurf]

I'm a big believer in "technology over politics". I don't care who it comes from, as long as there are solid reasons for the code, and as long as we don't have to worry about licensing etc issues.

I may make jokes about Microsoft at times, but at the same time, I think the Microsoft hatred is a disease. I believe in open development, and that very much involves not just making the source open, but also not shutting other people and companies out.

There are 'extremists' in the free software world, but that's one major reason why I don't call what I do 'free software' any more. I don't want to be associated with the people for whom it's about exclusion and hatred."

The world needs more "real think" like this.

[papasmurf]

Nice catch, thank for the post.