Is linux really that cool?
 

Hello to all, this is my first message here. I do not want to offend any one... I hate Win since It came by 3.x but this is my 3rd time that I try to install, run and work with linux.

The thing is that, in my case, is really frustrating that withing all this years one buy a distro and it just does not work, I've bought mandrake 9.1 because of my inexerience and of the hearing that mandrake was the choice for us the begginers...
:(
I've just installed linux mandrake 9.1 because of the last crash that my WinXP did to me... I own a Toshiba Satellite 1115 sp135 and my reinstalation cd's just were not as good.

Well I've installed Linux and after a little fight with my self and the OS I've finally get my laptop into the internet and my lan.
but.

I can not see any dvd
I can not use this Gaim program (all my customers use de MSN messenger :mad: )
when I try to install the update it keeps telling me that it needs a file called libgtkspell.so.0 a file that I can't find any where.
I can not monitor my battery status. (I have a laptop because of my work I need a non - plugged - computer) for all this I just ask. is linux really that cool?
This Toshiba is obvusly my last pc... the next one will be a mac.

Thanks for your time.:cry:

Yes, linux is really cool if you can get it working.

The only reason I use Windows XP is to change my AIM buddy icon and play games. Everything else, I use for linux!

I have to admit, I'm not really a big fan of Mandrake. It's supposed to be easy to install and use, but I found its package management to be one of the hardest and most annoying I've used so far. If you want to get into linux, I would recommend slackware or gentoo. If you've tried linux 3 times already, you are probably somewhat familiar with how it's set up. People say slackware is hard, but I think a _little_ familiarity with linux is all that is needed.

The thing I hate about macs is the expensive, crap hardware. If you want a proprietary OS, why don't you try Sun's JDS? I've never used it myself, but it's probably easier to set up than most free distros.

I have redhat 9 on my dell laptop and it seems to work fine. If you have a high speed connection and a cd burner, you can download the cd images from www.redhat.com. I like redhat, and linux, though it is hard to configure by times, but once it is configured, it works great.
You mentioned that gaim wouldn't work for you. It didn't work for me either. Instead I downloaded AMSN messenger that is identical to MSN messenger, but works in linux. It haven't had any trouble with it.
I've heard that dvd's can be tough to configure under linux, but I think it is possible. I don't have a dvd drive my self, but do a search on www.google.com/linux for any linux related problems. It's a lifesaver!
I don't know about Mandrake with power management, but redhat has it as an option during installation. It shows up in the lower right hand corner and works fairly well.

To answer your first question, I think linux is very cool. It is written by thousands of developers around the world, and is far more stable than the expensive alternative (M$), and there is lots of people around the world who are more than willing to help. It depends on your needs, but linux can be very good if your willing to take the time to learn the commands and to get everything configured.

Enjoy.

Matthew Doak

Sorry to hear you're having such trouble.

I know when I started using Linux nothing worked. Although, this was years ago and everything then required serious tweaking and futzing with.

Yes I think Linux is "that cool". It's an alternative. There is a learning curve and it's usually very steep.

About your current issues. To view a DVD try using a program called Xine. It's simple and you can download most of what you need from the homepage. A simple google search will find what you need. Some people here like MPlayer, as do I, but it's not as easy to deal with for a new user.

The MSN messenger issue I can't help with since I don't know anyone on MSN messenger.

The battery support and other laptop bells and whistles are a touchy issue. Last time I messed with it, a kernel compile was required. I've been under a rock for a long time so maybe the newer kernel turned this option on by default and it should be easier to use. Try searching under google for ACPI support. I know there are tools for a Toshy out there.

Good Luck to you

for msn messenger, forget Gaim and their constant updates for a bit. Download aMSN. It looks like version 3.x of msn messenger and connects to the msn servers fine (even has the encryption update). The problem with Gaim is the version you got with your distro. That lib you need may show up in a whole library that you can get from one of the various RPM repositories. Good luck with it (if you get Gaim working, its quite useful as multi-protocol). The developers are so close to the edge that they are working with the newest of everything all the time. That's good for bleeding edge, but bad for newbies who really don't need dependancy hell to start them off with Linux

You can make linux quite cool however you need "only" lot of time and also some self-confidence. Mandrake 9.x is good way to start...It's installation is easy as Windows, in some case maybe even easier. When you combine it with KDE and a fast computer, you can also make Mandrake very usable and user-friendly. A configuration has never been so easy...you dont need to edit any config files or sth, just use the complete group of configuration tools called menudrake.

Hmm...it sounds so sweet...such as an advertisment, but IMO, Mandrake is very good OS.

i would reccommend mac hardware as well. you can run yellowdog linux on the newest macs, which is redhat based therefore is easy to setup...

I Have installed Mandrake 9.2 about a month ago and yes it had some problems of which most are solved by now. I should say that i am a mandrake club member and get almost all applications and upgrades through the club download sites. I am however sure there are sites where one does not have to be a club member to have access to these sites and download mandrake packages.
I would also suggest you to subscribe to Mandrake mailing lists.
For example i have upgraded to Gaim .75 without any problem. I can connect to MSN through both Kopete and Gaim (but i use Kopete for this and it is quite easy). For watching DVD a particular library called libdvdcss2 is necessary which may be illegal in the country where you live. You may check this.
I have no objection to MAC but i would not go that way myself. Things are so restricted in MAC world and they pose much control over things.
Ramin

I've had lots of problems with aMSN and I don't like the layout (its basically a not-as-good M$ clone). If all you need is the msn protocol, don't bother with gaim or kopete as they both contain lots of useless stuff. My favourite pure msn client is kmess.

What's the point of buying mac hardware to run linux on? Mac's strong point is its OS and software, which is stable, user-friendly and featureful. The hardware, however, is crap. It is expensive and virtually unupgradeable. The new G5 chips might go some way to correcting that, but they are still far too expensive (for me, anyway)

kernel compiles aren't actually all that hard. You need to look up a bit of stuff about your hardware first, but after that its pretty easy. There's a nice ncurses menu-based config utility and even a qt-based graphical utility (I think its 'make xconfig')

Gaim 0.75 is available for download, and it should fix any problems you are having with it. I use it on 9.1 and it works perfectly with MSN. You can find the 9.1 package on this page - http://gaim.sourceforge.net/downloads.php

WoW!
 

I've just learn one thing... Linux is really cool!
:D

I don't really know yet if linux is reaaaally cool, the coolest thing is this comunity of users... thanks for your help and time... I will follow your tips and let you know...

Thanks again... you're right, this kind of support one can't get it from any one... I will only use Win or my old Mac just for games and my Adobe suite.

I hope that my knoledge in linux grows to the point of help other newbies.




:newbie:

You can also use Adobe stuff on your Linux, however you have to download a app called wine, i heared that it works clearly with for exemple Photoshop.

Re: WoW!
 

You will, you will....

I'm sure it will. After 2 + years, I consider myself still a newbie, as I haven't yet gotten deep into the depths of my system yet.....


Welcome to the community. Feel free to pay it forward. What you learned today, someone'll need to know tomorrow

edited to fix a tag. CLOSE YOUR TAGS! LOL