Re: What Was Your Experience When You First Started Using Linux?

From: Mark L. Cooper (mlcooper54_no_spam__at_aol.com)
Date: 02/16/05 

Date: Wed, 16 Feb 2005 16:53:35 -0500

JoJo,

> Why so many hostile and defensive people? My post was made in good faith,
> and basically asking for help. Why attack me? My post was not an attack in
> any way.

I've found that most Linux newsgroups are populated by a core group of
people that live/breath/use Linux as much because they hate Windows as
because it can get the job done. They are willing to re-invent the wheel
just because they can. They seem to enjoy the process more than the end
result.

These people will spend more bandwidth berating you for how you post/phrase
questions than they would by answering your question in the first place.
They KNOW what you are saying/asking. They've all been there. They expect
you to pay your dues by figuring things out yourself. So what if it takes 3
days vs the 10 minutes if they answered your question.

I am an independent computer consultant. I have been around computers since
I built my first computer in 1977. I've dealt with Apple II+, CP/M, MP/M,
DOS....up through Windows XP, and Server 2003. I am currently a Windows
network administrator for several small companies and government agencies.
My specialty is setting up a network that is easy to administer and uses
standard retail store hardware.

I got into Linux because I was looking for a configurable firewall. I did
not want to get involved with a proprietary firewall/internet appliance. I
ended up settling on Red Hat 9 on a $500 Windows XP computer from the local
retail store. By the time I got that working, RH9 had been dropped and
Fedora Core 1 was born. My backup firewall is Fedora Core 2 based, on
another $500 Windows XP based PC. I'm about to go live with the FC2 box with
Shorewall, Squid, and Webmin. It has been a constant battle compared to my
Windows experience. I'm battling poor documentation, poor examples, arrogant
'experts', etc.

I am also a Visual Objects (read dBase/Clipper descendent) programmer. I am
a member of the Visual Objects newsgroup. Those people are a joy to work
with. Even though it is 'Us' vs 'MS Visual Basic' (read Linux vs Windows),
they are cooperative, friendly, and helpful. We have newsgroup members from
all over the globe. The 'experts' are NOT condescending. They welcome
newbies into the fold. They make them feel welcome. They post code snippets
to help out others. Some have been known to respond to a question by
starting out with RTFM, but they go on to summarize the solution and give
good sound advice. None of the petty childishness you see on the typical
Linux NG. The VO people seem to realize that they were all newbies at one
time. They also realize that they may be the next one to post a 'stupid'
question.

In summary, I stuck with Linux because it is the only way to get the job
done that I was trying to accomplish. I can not in good faith recommend
Linux on the desktop in a work environment in the US at this time. It is
generally less expensive to purchase a PC w/Windows XP installed than it is
to build one from scratch or purchase one built to specs w/out an OS. You
get a one year on-site warranty from most vendors to boot.

Just my 2 cents,
Mark

By the way, I HATE that 'No Top Posting' crap. If I'm following a thread, I
want the meat of the answer up front. I hate scrolling down through 3 pages
of replies to replies, just to find out the current poster's response was
RTFM, ditto, or Yes. 

-- 
Mark L. Cooper
Junction City, Ohio USA

Relevant Pages

  • Re: [malware-list] [RFC 0/5] [TALPA] Intro to a linux interface for on access scanning
    ... client OS and merely claimed the intended target was not the linux NFS ... actively attacking root process than Windows. ... goal was not to stop an active attack against any OS, ... simplistic of goals that all AV vendors are going to claim to want to ...
    (Linux-Kernel)
  • Re: Future of IT in Lebanon
    ... working knowledge of Indian programmers DNA, nor of their intuitive Java ... > So Longhorn is not an experiment and Linux is an experiment? ... another chapter in the Windows story, and the Microsoft marketing machine is ... > application opens, Check the about, it says Microsoft Visual Basic 6.3. ...
    (soc.culture.lebanon)
  • Re: Linux is as buggy as Windows
    ... > gives his opinion and you attack him too. ... Not just Linux, so don't think I'm ... > and details what I've already suspected and stated countless times before- that Micro$oft is playing BigBrother at its Windows Update Sites. ... databases, spread-sheets, games, webservers, ftp servers, secure-shell ...
    (comp.security.misc)
  • FTP DOWNLOAD! More than 6500 CRACKED SOFTWARE(CAD,CAE,CAM,ED
    ... Autodesk Architectural Desktop 2005 ... DASSAULT SYSTEMES CAA ENOVIA LCA V5R13 ... ALTAIR.OPTISTRUCT V5.1 for LINUX ... ANSYS V8.0 FOR WINDOWS ...
    (microsoft.public.dotnet.framework.adonet)
  • Linux for Senior Citizens
    ... Linux for Senior Citizens ... For such people, I believe, Windows really is a better option: ... The kernel manages all the hardware and also looks after all running ...
    (uk.people.silversurfers)