jimf43

Quote: As a desktop we are finding that, minus a few irritations, the stability of Linux is a quality which far exceeds the "ease-of-use" conveniences offered by Bill and Steve. I'm not even going to get into the "ease-of-use" issue, but, My systems running W2K are just as stable as anything I've seen in Linux. Quote: Linux is very challenging, but it's worth the time and effort I have invested just to keep Microsoft out of my life! Thank God I'm off Bill and Steve's plantation! I'm free at last!! Here you bring up a couple of good points. Managing Linux is a whole different headset than doing Windows, as is running a Linux desktop. Not necessarily better or worse, but definitely culture shock. You 'must' put in the time and effort going from one to the other. Most of the population is used to M$ and don't want to expend the energy to change unless they have a very compelling reason (human nature?). Fortunately, Bill'$ giving them 'many' reasons . Hum... I just noticed that nobody voted that they are running Linux because it has their favorite app... Is that significant?

Quote: ... Actually, M$ began to go downhill when they began to 'replace' DOS with Windows Certainly the 16bit was a disaster, as was the 9x/ME series. NT based systems are another matter, very useable and stable... At least until the advent of XP ;-). Now I have 'Longhorn' to look foward to??? I don't think so!!! As I said before, Linux in various Distros is getting real close... Some hardware, program equivelency issues, and compatability with the industries that I work with, but, that seems to be coming together. I've been running Linux, in one form or another as a dual boot for about 3 years now and the progress is impressive. the big improvement recently is the overall industry acceptance of Linux as a desktop. I think that we'll start seeing a lot more support for things like hardware from OEMs because of this.

Quote: Just thought I would pose a poll as for your reasoning in selecting this OS. For me, the final kicker was the pricing on "upgrading" our Exchange server from 5.5 to 2000. As there is no longer an upgrade option, it will now cost at *least* $10,000US for us to REPLACE the licenses, rather than a few grand at the most to upgrade them. I decided that since many applications have matured, while many more new ones are coming down the pipe for Linux that I would try using it again. Your poll is flawed. truth is that I'm still tied to W2K and still haven't found a desktop that equals it. I run Linux because Windows is going in a direction which makes it dramatically less functional with releases after W2K. XP requires a huge effort to make it useable. All of the operation is hidden under layer upon layer of bad eyecandy. Longhorn looks as if it's going to be even worse. Add to that the increasingly arrogant behavior of Bill'$ M$ and you have a lot of people including me, looking for a better/alternate solution. I said that Linux isn't as good a desktop environment as is W2K, but, the gap is rapidly closing. Many many people are working very hard to make Linux work as a desktop, and it's obvious that sooner rather than later they 'will' achieve parity. When that happens, I want to be able to switch over as an experienced user rather than a newbe. The fact that Linux is open source is just gravy. So, I continue to work with different Linux distros, currently Knoppix/Debian, and I'm waiting for that parity. Not too much longer now...

I'm using Sylpheed-claws, and it may be light, but it's certainly not a lightweight ;-). Kind of a cross between Eudora and TheBat!. I should certainly work for the kind of situation you describe. Good search capibilitys, support for multiple boxes, templates, macros, and, a bunch of other features. Worth a download.

Quote: You can apt-get k3b with Debian? Cool! You can't with RH 9.. that I know of.. I had heard that Debian was the 'way to go', but, I simply don't have the time to do a Debian 'build from scratch'. I decided to download the Knoppix ISO, saw what a nice desktop, and decided to do a HD install. Simple really. Alt-Ctrl-F1, then type 'knx-hdinstall'. I understand now why Debian is so highly regarded. Knoppix isn't 100% compliant with the Stock Debian, and there are some gotchas, but, it's awful close. I recently 'broke' my current build of Knoppix, but truthfully it is more durable and stable than any other Distro that I've tried. Far better than Mandrake or any other of the rpm style builds. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it as a starting point for a desktop, or whatever other purpose. You have to be 'really' crazy and try 'really' hard to 'break' it. And, how else ya gonna learn ;-). From an administration standpoint, it is a delight to setup, maintain, and update. The apt utility is very reliable, and the Sylpheed graphical interface gives you a very comprehensive view of the installed, available, broken packages, as well as a bunch of other ways to view the data and manage the packages and download sites. You can also do a lot of this from command line with apt. for example, to get Sylpheed you'd just type 'apt-get install sylpheed'. I haven't seen any other Distro that manages packages anywhere near as well. From a company's viewpoint, it has the advantage of being free, as are all of the Debian sources which it utilizes. Big selling point ;-)! If you're trying to sell this to your boss, use the Knoppix/Debian, and 'not' Mandrake or one of the other rpm Distros!!!

Did you use the setup utility in kb3 'before' you tried to burn? I think I had similar problems when I tried to use kb3 the first time. Also, you might want to start using "synaptic" to get a better overview in managing your packages. GUI interfaces do sometimes have advantages ;-).

Imagine that... Bill and Darl working in harmony ;-) .

Koppnix 3.3 11/19/03 release Linux 2.6.1 KDE 3.1.3 http://www.distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=knoppix Makes an eyepopping Debian HD install. Better than anything else I've tried, and with more potential for whatever you want to do. The list of mirrors is on the Koppnix site.

Hook99 will let you customize the start button, and, even take care of the text background. http://lbrisar.htmlplanet.com/

Quote: I recently purchased an external CDRW (with built-in USB controller). I am unable to get this writer operable under NT (service pack 6). After a few hours with tech support and installing other USB drivers from the web, the device in just not recognized by NT. With that said, is anyone out there that knows of an External USB CDRW that IS compatible with NT? Alternatively, are there any driver options that will fix this issue? As a last resort, I am considering dropping this writer from a tall building. Suggestions??? Nt will not use USB without special drivers, and, even that is iffy. I don't know anyone running NT who has had success with USB. This is one of the very valid reasons why most of us have moved on to W2K or even XP.

Use a Memo field. The length is pretty much unlimited. Hit help and search for Memo field for details and gotchas ;-).

pc133 is usualy concidered backward compatable with pc100. I'd be much more concerned about mixing the two. You're much better off using matching sticks, and personally, I'd want it supplyed by a more computer knowledgeable outfit than 'London Drugs' ;-). Most of the outfits that I've delt with here in the states will work with you to insure a sucessfull upgrade.

Quote: Hello all I already have error reporting turned off (in the advanced tab of my system's properties) But, in Outlook 2002, the error reporting continues to bug me with it's pop-up after it crashes (the pop-up that wants to send an error report). So, I assume I missed a key setting to turn of this thing for real, everywhere, all the time, so that no error reporting ever, ever, comes up asking me if I want to send an error report. Any ideas if there is a registry setting, or some other setting to fully, without hope of resurrection, truly kill error reporting? Thanks much I'm assuming that this is under XP ;-). Right click on my computer, and pull up system setup. Go to the Advanced tab and click on error reporting. Check disable error reporting. You could also disable Error Reporting Services in services

Quote: 12 to 15 thousand feet from the dslam is the only limit I know. This is from the dslam to the modem. Shielded cable can help. Yes, that's 12 to 15 thousand from the main trunk. If you're 3 miles or more, you're SOL with ASDL. You should be able to use any reasonable length from the modem to the pc. If it's standard ethernet, then, you should be able to use cat-5 or cat-6 up to 100' easy.

Quote: is there any way to do it without any floppy drive ? Probably if you burn it to a CD.

Quote: the only problem is that my hardrive didn't come w/ anything I would think that this is more dependant on drivers for the controller card, whether this is on you motherboard, or, independant. Suggest that you look at whatever drivers came with that software, or, is on their websites.

Quote: Seems MS "traditionally" does better on the odd numbered service packs... no joke! APK As good a theory as any ;-) . Humm... that means that the next one for XP will be a bomb !

Quote: Adam? LOL... it's cool, typo, right? I hope so... Sorry Alec.... didn't have my hat on straight Quote: I'm running a dual boot with XP & W2K on my main workstation. I find that I'm now spending the majority of my time in XP (by preference). After some tuning ;(, I find it to be a (more) desireable enviornment with no performance hit and better hardware compatability. Quote: So... this is not as quick as XP is based on general "feel" right? That's the type of feedback I am/was waiting on.... thanks for it by the by, I will await the opinions of others as well... Actually the 'speed' is about the same. A little faster boot, a little slower shutdown ;-). But, once some of the more obnoxious M$ features are toned down, the pluses start to outweigh the minuses. A dual boot is probably a good idea, as, it lets you get comfortable with xp. By the way, if I had it to do over again, I wouldn't have installed sp4. I see no improvements, and a lot of potental problems including this Acad thing.

Quote: P.S.=> Still, overall, the speedup folks are noting is an excellent bonus... almost makes me want to run XP vs. 2k (has anyone compared their performance by any chance after this SP4 was applied to 2k?)... apk Yes Adam, I'm running a dual boot with XP & W2K on my main workstation. I find that I'm now spending the majority of my time in XP (by preference). After some tuning ;(, I find it to be a (more) desireable enviornment with no performance hit and better hardware compatability.

Quote: Microsoft already knows, as does Autodesk. They're working on a solution. Aren't they always x) .

Quote: also i read that if you install the sp4 an you use 3d studio max .MAKES all you files of 3d max corrupted I believe that certain other Autocad files are affected similarly.

It appears to work fine on XP Pro Sp1

Any of the HTML based E-mail clients are potential security soft points. If I were thinking of an alternative for a group/company, I'd be purposing something like TheBat! or Pegasus Mail. Because of the text based nature of these programs, they are far more secure. Additionally since most business mail is textual, these actually are more functional than Outlook / Express and their imitators.

Quote: i have an opinion here i freaking HATE gaming wireless/optical. doesnt have the reaction time a ball does. im experimenting with different patterns on the mouse pad but a ball always rules. cant beat optical/wireless for stability for 3d engineering apps. I can't disagree with you about the wireless part, but, a ball instead of optical??? 8) As an Engineer I think that anyone still using a ball is totally nuts :x You still using spoked wheels on your motorcycle too? ;(

Start with the basics... Have you cleaned it?