Serious distro question.

[D-Termind]

I have installed several distros and really like what I see in Mandrake the best. They have some great tools and their DiskDrake is awesome...but I have serious doubts about the long-term of the company. Franly I feel, and have told them that I feel they are going to screw up a good program with their attitude. They seem more interested in doing things "their way" than in succeeding. (BTW, I am NOT talking about the Linux way...that's understandable.)

How do I install Red Hat...dual boot?

The last time I attempted to do that it acted like it was ready to wipe out my Windows...

...I'm not ready to do that yet. I have stuff there I want to keep.

I want to install it on a Linux partition...NOT give it my whole hard drive.

It's too bad MDK is screwing up a good thing.

Thanks...


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[This message has been edited by D-Termind (edited 09 December 2000).]

[A_Lawn_GNOME]

Whoa you got it back-asswards.

Mandrake is the best distro for newbies and also for RPM lovers. I don't really see them doing it "their way." Can you include some examples?

Red Hat is the seriously fsck'ed one. They included a screwed up compiler, very very new libraries, and all RH7 RPM's are incompatible with previous versions.

So, to avoid wiping out Windows, use either FIPS or Partition Magic. FIPS can be found at freshmeat.net and Partition Magic can be found at their company site and has a shareware version.

[Strike]

Mandrake is not a bad thing. It's a good entry-level Linux, IMO.

And RedHat isn't screwed up either - it's just forcing people to move at their pace.

If you installed Mandrake dual boot, you should have no problems installing RedHat dual boot.

[D-Termind]

Originally posted by A_Lawn_GNOME:
Whoa you got it back-asswards.

Mandrake is the best distro for newbies and also for RPM lovers. I don't really see them doing it "their way." Can you include some examples?


I'm not the only one to make certain observations. In fact I was surprised to see that one ZDnet writer used almost the exact words in describing them & their site...it was like Deja' Vue.

It's not something I could describe easily, it has taken me several weeks to even put a handle on it. It's just a bunch of seemingly inconsequential things that all add up...like:

A (so-called) forum that isn't really a forum. It's more a propoganda board for LM people patting themselves on the back.

Negative or questioning posts never make it to the public eye. It is extremely censored.

I was contacted by a LM person with a link to that board where I read his question...which was asking me what I meant about something I had said...yet no link to my original that I could refer to.

Apparently this was also posted on some area of the forum (SIC) that was not visible to others...it was like I was in an inquisition room instead of a forum.

On the RH site all manuals/docs are available.

However, since I didn't BUY their Deluxe package my disks don't even contain anything but an installation manual, and even though there's a link in their Netscape to a reference manual...it doesn't work (apparently) because I didn't BUY their deluxe package.

No links on their website to any docs...

Their website is full of self congratulatory stuff...but VERY LITTLE useful information for customers.

Try to find a link on their page to their forum (SIC). It's there...but try to find it. It sure AIN'T at the top, or in the menu...where it OUGHT to be.

Here's an example...their own words:

"This is also the only interactive web-site hosted by mandrake, so if you have something to tell us, or something you want to share with other users, search no longer: this is a place to do it!"

Oh yes!...pat yourself on the back dudes!

For what?...a virtually useless, self congratulatory, propoganda board?...that you can barely find.

Like I said...just a bunch of little things that all add up to a very strange, elitist, "MY WAY" attitude.

They don't even "get it" that an open forum like this (lightly moderated for language & behavior) with one or two of their people to answer questions...and a LOT of user helping user stuff...

...would be to their ADvantage.

Instead they censor messages and answer EMAIL only when they see fit.

They are simply DULL when it comes to user/people skills.

Without that!...no matter HOW good their OS is they'll go down the tubes.




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[MovingTarget]

i tryed mandrake 7.1 wasnt really for me
i just straight avoid redhat
im gona try debain
but all in all i love slackware http://www.linuxnewbie.org/ubb/smile.gif

[D-Termind]

Originally posted by Strike:
Mandrake is not a bad thing. It's a good entry-level Linux, IMO.

And RedHat isn't screwed up either - it's just forcing people to move at their pace.

If you installed Mandrake dual boot, you should have no problems installing RedHat dual boot.

What I am afraid of...and don't want to happen...is spending a lot of time learning a distro that won't be around in 2-3 years.

I just hate the idea of accumulating a bunch of my own files...then finding myself in the position of scurrying around looking for another distro that won't accept my files...or something.

Like I saaid, and I'm not kidding; I like what I see in MDK but I am really worried about learning something doomed to failure. I would rather go with a less flashy prg that I had confidence in sticking around.

Do you remember DesqView? (Quarterdeck) After all, it was a REAL multitasker.

It could have made it but M$ won out with Windows. Now DV is history.

The point?

I really hope LM changes their way and gets "people savvy". They could leave the rest in the dust if they just "get" that.



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[D-Termind]

Originally posted by MovingTarget:
i tryed mandrake 7.1 wasnt really for me
i just straight avoid redhat
im gona try debain
but all in all i love slackware http://www.linuxnewbie.org/ubb/smile.gif

I couldn't get it to install...I tried though. I even DL'd ISO's from different places in case I got a bad one.

Does Slack have a GUI?

I don't mean the install...I'm comfy with "expert".

But I want a GUI...

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[This message has been edited by D-Termind (edited 09 December 2000).]

[MovingTarget]

By the GUI u mean the window manager Right?
then yup sure does matter of fact if u D/L the full iso 7.1 u will find that it comes with kde gnome enlightendment and a few more
also xfree86
but i use accelerated x http://www.linuxnewbie.org/ubb/smile.gif

dont let that wicked learning curve sway ya away from slack it just means u gota get comfy with the CL faster how hard is that...not at all http://www.linuxnewbie.org/ubb/smile.gif
im still a noob but i started with slackware 7.1 and im still here and have YET to need a reinstall http://www.linuxnewbie.org/ubb/smile.gif hehe my winderz needs to be reinstalled though LOL
slack is da shiznit http://www.linuxnewbie.org/ubb/smile.gif

add: drake was on my friends system it was 7.1 i think it wasnt a goodenough learning experince for me http://www.linuxnewbie.org/ubb/frown.gif

[This message has been edited by MovingTarget (edited 09 December 2000).]