I don't know if I can copy and paste MDK e-mails to which I am subscribed, but, anyhow, these are good news for us, linux users, and for my favorite Linux distro.

_________________________________
Flash: French Government Chooses Mandrakesoft to Replace 1500 Windows NT servers

Ground Breaking News: The French Ministry of Equipment has chosen
Mandrakelinux Corporate Server to replace 1,500 Microsoft Windows NT
servers in a national scale deployment. Recently, Civil Service
Minister Renaud Dutreil was quoted in Reuters as saying "the
competition is open" between open-source and Microsoft for the nearly
one million government computers. Mandrakesoft is proud to supply the
operating system for the Ministry of Equipment deployment, and to
supply open-source alternatives to governments around the world.

Learn more about this significant news at:
http://www.mandrakesoft.com/company/.../business/2490

Mandrakesoft Online Team.
__________________________________________

That is good news.

Since it's not a technical problem/question/etc, moved to General.

Simply outstanding!

Liberte,Egalite,Fraternite

Europe should start a new computing era by massively adopt Linux in opposition to microsoft monopoly strategy.They "import" software, like everybody else, but have know-how and means to do otherwise, everybody is aware of Europe's potential(take Linus for example), if there ought to be important changes in the computer world due to an increasing "embrace" of Linux, Europe should be aware, this time for the better, of starting again first!

I was shocked SHOCKED! to see the French government had decided to replace an American product with a French. I was just as shocked to notice the little fact of the possibility of a bit of typical gaulist chauvinism being more the news than the switch was left unspoken. Why this lie by omission?

I'm a fairly typical Windows user and this has been my experience: I've been using RedHat 9.0 for around three months now. Not long enough to become any kind of expert, but enough to get some idea of the performance and handling of desktop Linux. This is what I've found so far:

Linux is slow in comparison to XP. It takes as much as three times as long to put an application up on the screen and around the same to end one. It may very well be that this is an artifact of the applications rather than the operating system itself, but, nevertheless, the time requirement is there.

Linux crashes as much or more than does XP. Well. Freezes, anyway, which amounts to the same thing. Again, this may be the applications, but the source is immaterial, especially considering the extremely limited field of choice.

Linux throws the application execution files around the file tree in a willy-nilly fashion so that every installation ends with a file by file hunt through usr, root, this or that bin, hidden sometimes, sometimes not, and is a general pain in the sitdown. It gives me a new and expanded fondness for Mr. Gates' "Program Files".

Linux is far less customizeable than is XP. Try to alter the start menu and see how far you get. It is impossible to delete never used links and equally impossible to make new ones for those often used installations you'd want to see there.

The help files are all but useless, and besides assume a knowledge level that I don't have and doubt many other new users do, either. I've been using these infernal machines longer than MSDOS has existed and understand very well how to operate one, but I'm no programmer and don't think I should have to be one to use a desktop operating system.

I think the one thing I most dislike about Linux is this thing about constantly having to search out and install new libraries for practically every application installed. I realize the good people building these applications aren't collecting any geld from me, but doesn't it seem like a solid idea that they offer, along with the bare application, an expanded version that includes these dependencies? Along these lines, again realizing the position of the programmers, the Linux applications are themselves cranky, limited, and often all but inoperable, and are a pale imitation of Windows applications.

So, when I see these remarks here and there in forums about how very sorry the Linux user feels for those poor Windows dopes, I can't help but laugh out loud. As if all Win users were a bunch of AOL lamers incapable of getting into the guts of the thing and sorting things out. Truth is, we've been doing that for a decade and have pretty much tamed a system well enough to make it pleasureable and productive. I know all about the Windows security problems Linux true believers take such glee in, but the simple decision to avoid Microsoft's email and browser applications all but eliminate those. I can't help but think that, given another ten years, Linux will be where Windows is today, which would be great until you consider that Windows will be going forward as well.

Am I wrong? Maybe. I'm willing to be educated, but it's going to take a lot more than snidely remarks about XP to do the job.

We have been talking about this ( slow, library, "program files", help, crash ) a lot. Please search..... I think we don't need to start a new one......

I am sorry that you have unpleasant experience with linux.

It seems you are allready educated. If you like XP better and it works for you, then use it. My RH 9 works just fine on my little celeron 1.7. I like the linux file system. I am not a programmer.
Oh yea, I don't need anyone to convince me to use the tool that works best for me.

This thread was initiated to share some good news for us, the linux users. It is as simple as that. I don't feel like commenting on what is said above (Wrong! I am not French).

Now, some more good news:
___________________________
"In German, the Brandenburg Cabinet, a regional governmental body, approved a five-year strategic plan that approves the concept of open-source software... The Brandenburg action followed another move this week in Munich, where the decision was made to move some 14,000 computers gradually from Microsoft software to Linux-based open-source programs."

"... in Bergen, Norway, governmental officials moved to install Linux on servers, utilizing SuSE Linux Enterprise Server 8, replacing Windows and Unix products..."


Read the rest of the story at http://www.linuxpipeline.com/news/22100903
___________________________
"Recently the German Federal Ministry of the Interior said it would use Linux servers running German-based SuSE Linux (what else?) for all computer systems the Ministry uses. "

Read the rest of the story at http://www.nwfusion.com/newsletters/.../01383301.html

Read yet other story at http://news.com.com/Linux+ensnares+a...3-5238146.html

Google yourself, or ask others to do it for you.

If these are bad news for windows users, sorry. What else did you forget to tell about the French, oh yes, also about the Germans, Bulgarians, Norvegians etc etc etc? Don't forget that emotions (both controlled and uncontrolled) can be freely expressed at http://www.windowsquestions.org

Whatever it is for the windowers, these are GOOD NEWS for the linuxers.

Aren't they?

I think you people have misunderstood what I've said. I don't see that Windows' success depends upon Linux's failure, as seems to be the viewpoint the other way around. I merely pointed out that the overstated virtures of linux advocates are not borne out in the actual useage of the system. Which they are not.

I have no particular animosity for linux or feel any complusion to denigrate the system so many seem to love. My remarks were in reply to the evident joy found by some in the substitution of the French Mandrake for the American NT (the out of date NT, by the way.) by a government who feels the necessity to outlaw the use of American slang in its media, which is part and parcel of the same attitude, from what I see. French anti-Americanism is nothing new, although it's recent manifestations have apparently been emboldened by the Iraq thing.

And now I'm confronted by the similar boast of the substitution of a German operating system for an American system by the German government. Leaving aside the contention between Linux and Windows which is largely an argument being fought by the challenger's advocates and ignored by the champ's, the idea that loss of market by an American company is somehow a benefit is an idea whose merit escapes me. I'm surprised that it doesn't seem to have occurred to anyone that the present anti-American climate in Europe might have had as much to do with the French and German decisions as the relative merits of the server systems.

Besides, it's actually peanuts, isn't it? And, for all I know, the linux server may actually be better than that of Microsoft. The desktop, however, is not.

Interesting. When the American government buys American, it's patriotism. When the French government buys French and the German government buys German, it's an attack on America.

Linux outperforms Windows on the server, Linux and other *Nix/*BSD servers are running most of the web. The desktop argument has been rehashed by people more articulate than I. But suffice to say, it depends on what you want to do on the desktop. If all you need is to type letters and email and surf, it doesn't matter which one you use - the feel is the same. At that point it comes down to other things - TCO, etc. If you have invested lots of time and money in Windows based proprietary software and Windows works well enough - stick with it.

it's obvious you have NOT looked at the Screenshot thread..........here>>>

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...threadid=26643

XP cannot be customized like anything in the above thread!!



AND your other problem is you have only used roothat!!
which means you have not learned Linux at all.........
use a REAL distro like Slackware, Debian, or Gentoo

Guys, I travelled this world lengthwise and crosswise many times. If you did not, believe me, its really small, and is getting smaller really fast.
Open source, Linux, Windows, Freedom Fries and Saint Nectaire, different opinions, so what? Lets be grateful for the differences which exist. Or should they be levelled off with the ground?
One little thought - on this website you are like in a congress hall with 100.000 listeners. Imagin yourself in front of such a crowd. People that read these posts aren't digital shadows, they are real humans, like you are.

NB. At the moment of posting this there were 616 guests and 92 members on-line.

[QOUTE]And now I'm confronted by the similar boast of the substitution of a German operating system for an American system by the German government. [/QUOTE]

A German operating system bought out by an American company? Who cares where the operating system is built? You would be wise to use the best tool for for the job at hand. Maybe the market loss of Microsoft will be a good thing for everybody. Only time will tell.
If this is a buy American responce from you, that is one thing, if you are having troubles using linux, that is a seperate issue.
(rant)
The one thing I don't get is when advanced linux users put down Redhat. If you know what you are doing, Redhat can do the same things as other distros. Sure it comes loaded with everything including the kitchen sink, and just about everything is turned on. Now isn't that a good way(maybe not the best) to learn how to disable uneded apps? I use Redhat, Suse, Slackware, Freebsd, so what. I am learning from each system.
(/rant)

Fellows, fellows, fellows. You're making assumptions that have no basis. Let me simplify, winnow this down to a couple of points:

1. The possibility that the choice of server software by the German and French governments was due to other than the relative merits of the competing systems is real enough to warrent some consideration. The failure to mention these national connections is information that should have been included in these announcements to further consideration of that possibility.

2. The average computer user, of whom I am one, and of whom I spoke, has little desire to mess around with the arcane details of an os, but wishes to the use their machine for the purposes it was designed to accomplish.

3. The ubiquitous tendency of linux affectionados to make inflated claims that are almost instantly proven false after installing a linux system does little to enhance the linux reputation.

4. I prefer a Cadillac over a Yugo.

That's it
BTW, anyone who sees my desktop tells, "God! what's that?" It is that fast, customised, elegant, easy, sharpened to the keenest edge to do what my duties demand. Thanks to LQ users, who replied my 400 questions. I am not a geek, tech, programer or witch, but I can read and write... and now, sorry... my guests will come soon and I've got to roast the quail in Calvados sauce for them.