The "Lindows" conundrum (New Linux *and* Windows compatible OS?)

ZDNet via Yahoo ^ | Monday October 29 08:13 AM EST | John C. Dvorak

[Dominic Harr]

Anyone heard anything about this? It's news to me . . .

[Dominic Harr]

Bump to list (tech_index).

[Rodney King]

On another note, does anyone here use the Opera browser? I downloaded it, and it is blazing fast. It also lets me view all the sites that routinely froze my machine when I visted them with IE and Netscape. Are there any downsides?

[AppyPappy]

It costs money

[Dominic Harr]

I use Opera on my Linux box, at work.

The fonts are a little wierd, but other than that I think it's great.

[Mr_Magoo]

The concept is to make a cheap OS that runs both Linux and Windows code, but that looks and runs like Windows.

Why would someone want Linux apps to crash constantly?

[Dominic Harr]

It costs money.

So does IE. Microsoft just gets the money from you in other ways, off of other products.

There's no such thing as a 'free' lunch.

[B Knotts]

As usual, Dvorak just don't get it. Getting MS Office to run isn't only not the be-all, end-all of getting people off Windows...it also utterly misses the point. What good is getting off Windows, if you're still having to deal with Microsoft for MS Office licenses?

No...the way to go is to migrate to StarOffice on Linux, lock, stock and barrel. Yes, it will cause some distress to some people, but in the long run, businesses will save so much money and hassle, it would well be worth it. It might not be practical to do yet. Still looking at another year or two, I'd guess. Until then, businesses should stick with Windows 2000.

[Dominic Harr]

Why would someone want Linux apps to crash constantly?

Hehehe.

Good point!

[Rodney King]

It costs money

Yeah, but IE crashes my machine on so many websites that I like (like nascar.com) that I won't mind paying for it, that is once I have tried it out enough. (You can download it without paying, but there is a pretty big adverstisement that is annoying).

[AppyPappy]

I never paid a dime for IE or Netscape. If you did, that's your own deal.

[egarvue]

I love Opera, because it is so unbelievably fast. The downside is that the free version comes with some pretty big streaming banner ads built into the interface; to kill the ads, you have to buy it. Don't know when the last time I had to pay for a browser was. But I'm thinking of shelling out the $$, because its such a faster browser than the bloated IE or the always-crashing Netscape (or the never-finished Mozilla)

[Illbay]

Sounds like a dream come true, if it isn't a scam. But that name, "Lindows," is about as lame as they could have come up with.

[AppyPappy]

IE doesn't crash on me although Netscape does. I use Moz on Linux and it barely putts along. It freezes at odd times. Does it under Redhat and Drake.

[Illbay]

Yeah, you have to pay for it, and it is all studded out with adverts. I installed it, then quickly uninstalled it!

[Rodney King]

No...the way to go is to migrate to StarOffice on Linux, lock, stock and barrel

Let's say your are me: You are competant with computer software, and competent enough with hardware that you can attach it, and add RAM or a hard drive etc. You are weak on networking, and resolving system conflicts, messing around with the registry, etc.

Realistically, could I switch to Linux and Staroffice without a major headache? In addition, is there any way I play software i.e. games that are written for windows? What about email and my cable modem?

I will probably get a new computer in a few months, and would rather not pay for Office 2000. I could borrow it from someone, but I would rather not do that for moral reasons. Any thoughts?

[Illbay]

I got StarOffice (5.2 I think) when I purchased Linux 6.x a couple of years ago. I agree it seems like a decent product, but my impression was it wasn't really any better than, say, MS Works. I might have failed to figure out the bells and whistles, but that's the problem StarDivision faces with this product.

I agree, if a business owner was stern enough about it, and he could manage to hang on to his clerical staff after he informed 'em that they should "like it or lump it," the cost savings potential is huge. But that's a lot of ifs, in my estimation.

[Rodney King]

I have read that Opera is much better about privacy thatn IE, is that the case?

[SolitaryMan]

Not surprised that I have already seen "Cracks" to get around the Windows Authorization. I'll have to shell out $200 to upgrade both of my computers. Atl east it has programs that will run on it! : )

[gcraig]

Linux is absolutely easy now. A few years ago it wasn't easy. You really should know about networking, especially IP Addressing schemes before attempting to network linux computers -- even to a cable modem. It's pretty straightforward though. If you can read a text file, and have a basic understanding of the English language, then you'll be configuring your network adapter in no time. You just gotta want to.