Comments on: User perks http://eugenia.gnomefiles.org/2007/05/23/user-perks/ Wed, 07 Jan 2009 23:01:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.2 By: blag http://eugenia.gnomefiles.org/2007/05/23/user-perks/#comment-742 blag Thu, 24 May 2007 08:39:00 +0000 http://eugenia.gnomefiles.org/2007/05/23/user-perks/#comment-742 wanted to add that for these alternative OS’s, you currently do need to do research before installing then trashing them. Eg., *never* use an ATI based tuner card (or Broadcom wireless), whereas Hauppauge is great. Anyways I think there’s a joelonsoftware article about that little niche feature that everyone needs that I’ll have to re-read in light of this. It’s amazing how prescient that article is. wanted to add that for these alternative OS’s, you currently do need to do research before installing then trashing them. Eg., *never* use an ATI based tuner card (or Broadcom wireless), whereas Hauppauge is great. Anyways I think there’s a joelonsoftware article about that little niche feature that everyone needs that I’ll have to re-read in light of this. It’s amazing how prescient that article is.

]]> By: blag http://eugenia.gnomefiles.org/2007/05/23/user-perks/#comment-741 blag Thu, 24 May 2007 01:36:00 +0000 http://eugenia.gnomefiles.org/2007/05/23/user-perks/#comment-741 “Feisty’s switch to using Dash instead of Bash” That cuts boot time down by 30 seconds compared to using Bash. Combined with new upstart-specific scripts to will hopefully be in Gutsy, startup should be very good. For hardware support, it’s like any OS as you stated: barriers to entry. It’s not like kernel hackers don’t beg for device manufacturers to let them make drivers, and why Mark Shuttleworth thinks the Dell thing could help out in that regard. I’m with Tom and have also had both better and worse experiences in Linux vs Windows with drivers. “Feisty’s switch to using Dash instead of Bash”

That cuts boot time down by 30 seconds compared to using Bash. Combined with new upstart-specific scripts to will hopefully be in Gutsy, startup should be very good.

For hardware support, it’s like any OS as you stated: barriers to entry. It’s not like kernel hackers don’t beg for device manufacturers to let them make drivers, and why Mark Shuttleworth thinks the Dell thing could help out in that regard. I’m with Tom and have also had both better and worse experiences in Linux vs Windows with drivers.

]]> By: Eugenia http://eugenia.gnomefiles.org/2007/05/23/user-perks/#comment-740 Eugenia Wed, 23 May 2007 09:58:00 +0000 http://eugenia.gnomefiles.org/2007/05/23/user-perks/#comment-740 Thing is, average people don’t install a new OS just so they can use a peripheral they just bought. They return it to the store and they get another one. <img src='http://eugenia.gnomefiles.org/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif' alt=':)' /> Thing is, average people don’t install a new OS just so they can use a peripheral they just bought. They return it to the store and they get another one. :)

]]> By: Tom Dison http://eugenia.gnomefiles.org/2007/05/23/user-perks/#comment-739 Tom Dison Wed, 23 May 2007 09:51:00 +0000 http://eugenia.gnomefiles.org/2007/05/23/user-perks/#comment-739 Occasionally it works the other way. I bought a USB TV Card the other day. XP was specifically supported. Thing is, it wouldn’t work under windows. It kept hard-locking the computer, or it would create a black screen, etc. I installed, un=installed driver (including video, etc) until I was blue in the face. Finally I got it to worky, but it was extermely jerky - maybe 2 fps! Under Linux, it worked perfectly EXCEPT the sound. The problem under Linux was that it operated as a USB sound card also. I couldn’t figure out how to get the output of the sound from the new USB card (which did show up as a separate mixer) card to the input of the internal card. So I never got sound working under Linux. I finally just had to take the card back to Best Buy. I know a true hacker would have gotten the sound working, but it was over my head. Under Windows, it was a total loss. I know what you mean though. I have to keep XP around for gaming and some development I do at home. I’d like to wean myself, or at least not have to dual-boot. I have Parallels, but Games don’t cut it, and some USB devices don’t work. Also, Feisty’s switch to using Dash instead of Bash (what is up with that, anyway?) trashed Parallels. I can’t use “parallels-config’ to compile the kernel module. I am aware of hacks to fix this (symlinking bash, etc), but I haven’t felt liking doing it yet. Occasionally it works the other way. I bought a USB TV Card the other day. XP was specifically supported. Thing is, it wouldn’t work under windows. It kept hard-locking the computer, or it would create a black screen, etc. I installed, un=installed driver (including video, etc) until I was blue in the face. Finally I got it to worky, but it was extermely jerky - maybe 2 fps! Under Linux, it worked perfectly EXCEPT the sound. The problem under Linux was that it operated as a USB sound card also. I couldn’t figure out how to get the output of the sound from the new USB card (which did show up as a separate mixer) card to the input of the internal card. So I never got sound working under Linux. I finally just had to take the card back to Best Buy.

I know a true hacker would have gotten the sound working, but it was over my head. Under Windows, it was a total loss.

I know what you mean though. I have to keep XP around for gaming and some development I do at home. I’d like to wean myself, or at least not have to dual-boot. I have Parallels, but Games don’t cut it, and some USB devices don’t work. Also, Feisty’s switch to using Dash instead of Bash (what is up with that, anyway?) trashed Parallels. I can’t use “parallels-config’ to compile the kernel module. I am aware of hacks to fix this (symlinking bash, etc), but I haven’t felt liking doing it yet.

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