Because Shiny Things Are Fun - The New New Windows v Linux Thread
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Windows may have a use, for instance, my ISP doesn't support linux, so I have to use Windows as a sort of server.
I have had a few ISPs over the years. None of them support Linux but Linux works just fine. Right now, I have AT&T DSL. It's the only broadband connection available other than satelitte. Anyway, AT&T does not support Linux but Linux works just fine. This is especially true if it connects via ethernet. When I first got AT&T, I just pointed my web broswer to 192.168.0.1 and the menu for the modem came up. I entered the info needed for login and off it went. I didn't have to install any software from AT&T or anything.
One added bonus, when I call AT&T support and have a problem, I tell them I use Linux and need a advanced support tech. I get the advanced support department then usually get transfered one more time to a person that uses Linux. It seems there is always at least one available. Once there, I can provide them information and get great responces. Once, I even did some checking and helped them to figure out the problem was with a card in the box up the road. They sent a guy out to replace the card and we was back up in no time. It wasn't just me but also one other customer. There are two customers on each card here.
ISPs will say they don't support Linux but it does not mean you MUST use windoze. If they will work with a Mac, then it should work with Linux too. You just don't get all the fancy GUI stuff everytime. I think ethernet is the key tho USB could work too. I avoid USB modems like the plague.
I have had a few ISPs over the years. None of them support Linux but Linux works just fine. Right now, I have AT&T DSL. It's the only broadband connection available other than satelitte. Anyway, AT&T does not support Linux but Linux works just fine. This is especially true if it connects via ethernet. When I first got AT&T, I just pointed my web broswer to 192.168.0.1 and the menu for the modem came up. I entered the info needed for login and off it went. I didn't have to install any software from AT&T or anything.
One added bonus, when I call AT&T support and have a problem, I tell them I use Linux and need a advanced support tech. I get the advanced support department then usually get transfered one more time to a person that uses Linux. It seems there is always at least one available. Once there, I can provide them information and get great responces. Once, I even did some checking and helped them to figure out the problem was with a card in the box up the road. They sent a guy out to replace the card and we was back up in no time. It wasn't just me but also one other customer. There are two customers on each card here.
ISPs will say they don't support Linux but it does not mean you MUST use windoze. If they will work with a Mac, then it should work with Linux too. You just don't get all the fancy GUI stuff everytime. I think ethernet is the key tho USB could work too. I avoid USB modems like the plague.
Maybe I ought to call my ISP. I specifically asked them once via email if I could connect linux, and they wrote back and told me that I couldn't. I live in a very rural setting so all I have is dial-up. I'm thinking about getting wireless internet though.
Maybe I ought to call my ISP. I specifically asked them once via email if I could connect linux, and they wrote back and told me that I couldn't. I live in a very rural setting so all I have is dial-up. I'm thinking about getting wireless internet though.
My 3: internal, vaio-vpceb36gm and a d-link thumb drive for my Pi all work here in Milwukee on AT&T. I've had two different AT&T routers (not sure if its called a router at their main connector tho) the last one sucked and could not keep a connection. No problems with the newer one from a thrift-store.
My parents think they must use at&tS software so I have to keep fixing them +winDOWZ but my 2 plus the kids stay awesome, Linux.
Last edited by jamison20000e; 12-26-2012 at 07:25 AM.
My 3: internal, vaio-vpceb36gm and a d-link thumb drive for my Pi all work here in Milwukee on AT&T. I've had two different AT&T routers (not sure if its called a router at their main connector tho) the last one sucked and could not keep a connection. No problems with the newer one from a thrift-store.
My parents think they must use at&tS software so I have to keep fixing them +winDOWZ but my 2 plus the kids stay awesome.
So you are connecting through a cell phone? Some other wireless? I ask because some URLs have disappeared in the other thread. Sort of reading between the lines here.
I'm using hereintown.net, provided by Atlantic Broadband.
Holy smoke. Their idea of tech support is how to set your home page to their web address. I have used some bad ISPs in the past, this one takes the cake. Heck, it takes not only a slice but the whole cake.
From what I see, this is like a wireless connection that covers a lot of people, am I right? I see where they offer dial-up, DSL but if you have either of those, Linux should work fine.
I hope that one day soon, you get a REAL ISP. Jeez, people think AT&T is bad.
When an ISP says that they do not "support" Linux, they mean that they will not help you with it.
Every single ISP will work with Linux, MacOS, NetBSD, or an operating system that you wrote from scratch on your own.
If you're talking about dial-up PPP, PPP over ethernet, direct ethernet, DSL, cable, DS3, OC48, or whatever, these are all open standards and not specific to any subset of operating systems.
TL;DR ISPs just say that they don't support Linux so that they don't have to help people with Linux; any OS with a network stack will work with any ISP.
(Please don't respond and say that XYZ ISP is different; You're wrong, and XYZ ISP has fooled you in some way.)
When an ISP says that they do not "support" Linux, they mean that they will not help you with it.
Every single ISP will work with Linux, MacOS, NetBSD, or an operating system that you wrote from scratch on your own.
If you're talking about dial-up PPP, PPP over ethernet, direct ethernet, DSL, cable, DS3, OC48, or whatever, these are all open standards and not specific to any subset of operating systems.
TL;DR ISPs just say that they don't support Linux so that they don't have to help people with Linux; any OS with a network stack will work with any ISP.
(Please don't respond and say that XYZ ISP is different; You're wrong, and XYZ ISP has fooled you in some way.)
some provide connection software (e.g.- aol) that is windows only. you would be on your own to connect to their system without the software they provide.
dows 8 seems like a marketing scheme, laterally. Linux has gotten so easy to use over the years my new RPi has revamped my love in learning Bash+; sense of accomplishment 100%!
Maybe I ought to call my ISP. I specifically asked them once via email if I could connect linux, and they wrote back and told me that I couldn't. I live in a very rural setting so all I have is dial-up. I'm thinking about getting wireless internet though.
If your on dial-up you probably just need an external modem. Almost all internal modems are win-modems that use windows specific drivers. But I'd go wireless if it were reasonable.
RE linux vs windows . The better linux gets the less I dislike windows.
When an ISP says that they do not "support" Linux, they mean that they will not help you with it.
Every single ISP will work with Linux, MacOS, NetBSD, or an operating system that you wrote from scratch on your own.
If you're talking about dial-up PPP, PPP over ethernet, direct ethernet, DSL, cable, DS3, OC48, or whatever, these are all open standards and not specific to any subset of operating systems.
TL;DR ISPs just say that they don't support Linux so that they don't have to help people with Linux; any OS with a network stack will work with any ISP.
(Please don't respond and say that XYZ ISP is different; You're wrong, and XYZ ISP has fooled you in some way.)
Buy Linux on a magazine rack if you have to! Put it in your drive...some\most will work!
Last edited by jamison20000e; 01-09-2013 at 08:03 AM.
Every internet provider is capable of supporting any operating system. What they won't tell you is "how." This is especially the case with Linux since there are so many ways to set up such a system. But you can find definitive information on the Internet ... once you (heh) can get to it.
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