Tokes

Well, I'm not sure if I'm elegable to post on this thread as I'm not actually running any variant of Linux...ATM. Have done briefly in the past in an experiment. I'm sure a wanna-be-noobs perspective is in some way valid though. -I want Linux because I believe in Open Source, the very ethos behind it sits perfectly with my values. I guess I'm a bit of a hippy at heart, and the very idea of a product (for want of a better word) being thrust into the publics hands to do with as they please, and allow it to evolve in line with THEIR needs rather than a companies marketing dept's wishes is a very big lure. There does seem to be a 'community' surrounding Linux, I don't know if it stems from Linux users being a minority (in the grand scale of things) coming together for solidarity or what, but one doesn't get that from any other groups really, and I like it. -I don't trust M$ in any way. Their one driving force is $$$, not pushing for the most advanced, useful, accessable, secure options available, it simply comes down to profit with M$. -I believe that M$, with windoze has managed to sheild its users from how a computer works, they call things different names in their GUI than what they themselves would use and understand amoungst themselves (for the most part anyway). Yes it makes computers VERY user-friendly...for simple things, as long as they can get programs to suit their needs. As far as your average window$ user goes if there isn't a program available in PC World for something, then it can't be done, end of. That is simply wrong in my book, and holding back development, and peoples use of computers. -Security! (I don't really need to say more than that) -Did I say I don't trust M$? I have a few mp3's, I don't want M$ getting their filthy mitts on 'em and removing them from my drive in the future, or doing ANYTHING on my systems that I haven't expressly asked them to do (that doesn't include the nasty little things deep, deep down in their EULAs). -I can't afford anything Apple, be that hard or software. But then their driving force is 'style', been there, worn several t-shirts, can't be arsed with style anymore. (Jeez, I must be a burn't out old raver, I only turn 30 this year, LOL) -Oh yea, and I don't trust M$ and I think they're on to me with my 'China' version of XP ; ) (theres a number of things they wont let me have now-a-days, 'tis good to have a friend with a legal copy (note, non plural!). Al P.S. I voted I dig OS. But a few of those options applied to me..as you've just read : )

I've been asking something similar here: http://www.linuxcompatible.org/thread28020-1.html And have decided to opt for an ATA drive for the Linux install.

My MoBo does have IDE channels on board, so physically connecting an ATA drive is no prob'. 'doze XP couldn't see my sATA drives when first installing it until I got a 3rd party driver on first. So yea, If I were to go the sATA route I'd expect to need either a custom or 3rd party driver for the drive if not included with Mandrake (which it appears it isn't), something I'd not like to get into given my experience level with anything *nix. ATA it is then, I ordered one last night (even checked it's compatability first! lol). Fanks martouf

Isn't the * symbol for wildcard, so *nix means anything Unix based which is easier than saying "Linux and Unix" every time.

Hello martouf RE: burn speed. Glad you said that, I know about quality loss from fast burns....but wouldn't have thought about it today! I am fully prepared to get myself another HDD (ATA), will do so by the end of the week, as it looks like thats the best way of keeping what hair I have left. I have read that people have managed to get various distros running on sATA, but 'hit and miss' seems to be an gross understatement. "create your own custom initial ram disk (initrd)?" uuuummmmmmm???!!!??? Que? "Additional contingency planning: would you be able to add an IDE controller (if not provided by the motherboard)?" My MoBo is an Asus P4P800, which is supported according to mandrakes hardware database with the 2.6.3-7mdk kernel, so hopefully I'll be OK in that dept. <he says with foolish confidence> Cheers martouf

Hello all May I first thank all involved in this thread http://www.linuxcompatible.org/thread27288-1.html The first one I've found all morning that makes sense without blatant contradictions, It's helped me a lot. I'm hoping to install mandrake 10 (when the ISOs finnish D/Ling) dual booted with 'doze XP. (8.2 went totally la-laa during install) Now, I've got 2 sATA HDDs. I can't find any deffinative info on if sATA drives (Western Digital Raptor 37.5GB) are in fact compatable with mandrake 10, not even from mandrake themselves. Any ideas? Al