🚀 go-pugleaf

It's 10 Jun 97  13:44,
We'll return to Robi Karp and All's
discussion of What would you *like* to see in a pro-Linux article?

 RK> Let's say, hypothetically, someone had an opportunity to write an
 RK> article that was pro Linux in a reputable personal computer magazine.
 RK> This magazine, as are most personal computer magazines, is mainly
 RK> geared to the Windows '95 user.  The purpose of the article would, in
 RK> the most part, be to introduce Linux to the '95 / Mac / OS/2 users
 RK> that read the magazine.

 RK> - What features of Linux would you consider highlighting?

Multitasking, configurability, the experimentation opportunities
(afterall, some readers do like to fiddle with code), TCP/IP networking,
UNIX compatibility, price (can't get much better! :) ).

 RK> - How would you go about showing the public, that doesn't know about
 RK> Linux at all, that it is a great operating system and can cater for
 RK> many needs?

I would be honest and say "Linux is not for everyone, but if you want to
do.... and like to experiment with your system, give it a try".  Then
highlight what you can do with Linux.

 RK> - Does Linux run the sort of hardware and software that everyone wants
 RK> to use?

In general yes, and it runs better on older hardware than the GUI OSs.
Our 486 Linux box hums along under loads that would slow NT to a crawl
on the same hardware...  As for software, Netscape is readily available
for linux (if you're running X).  Internet s/w would be its strong
point.  Linux also has powerful text processing tools, though they are
not WYSIW(YH)YG.  However, you can run some DOS and Windows apps under
Linux (or why not just network - great way to recycle old PCs).

 RK> - We know that Linux is turning into the ISP's workhorse, but who else
 RK> uses Linux and for purposes?

Besides the obvious ISP use, I also use it as my own personal
gateway/router, and run a couple of servers, like FTP and network
filesharing (using Samba).  That box has saved me a fortune in phone
calls, simply because I don't have to hang up if one of the GUI machines
locks up! :-)  With IP masquerading in the latest kernels, a Linux box
makes a stable platform to connect your home LAN (many people are
setting up networks at home these days) to the Internet via an ordinary
single user dialup account.

As I started, Linux is not for everyone, but it's a powerful operating
system with many uses and comes at the right price. :-)

... Monty Pythagoras: The Ministry of Silly Geometry.
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