SoniX

ok, I have one computer currently running FreeBSD, with Gnome and Enlightenment, and it is so very pretty that I am considering switching my main computer over to a unix based system, and the glory of X Windows, probably either freebsd, or Redhat, my main question is, what web browser can you recommend other than Netscape, and, what kind of multimedia support can I find for linux? i.e. VCD and Divx Codecs?

phinsup

As I recall Red Hat ships with a VCD/DVD player, but I am not sure on the DIVX codec, I would have to do a little digging. I would recommend Red Hat, but that is just what I am partial to. FreeBSD is great as well. As for a browser seems like there are new ones popping up daily, I am running the RC of mozilla right now and am really happy with it, much better than many of the previous versions of Mozilla or Netscape. There is also opera, konquerer and several others I can't think of off hand.



Honestly if you are just running a desktop opp and not webserver then I would look into Mandrake, I like what I have seen so far and have heard nothing but good things.



I am heading to work, I will look around on the DIVX driver/player when I get there.

Rotarydragon

NOOOOOOOOOOOO!



DO NOT STRAY FROM THE PATH OF TRUE ENLIGHTENMENT! DO NOT SEEK OUT THE DARK SIDE!



Actually, before you do make sure you can do everything it is that you do with Windows on Linux. Mostly if you're in a non biz environment or not a developer who uses certain tools you can pull it off with no problems other then the learning curve for Linux.



I can't switch totally even if I wanted to as all my dev tools are Windows specific, plus I teach Microshit networking to boot. Plus StarOffice is owned by Sun and I make it a policy to stay away from Sun products untill Scott McNealy learns to keep is huge, annoying mouth shut. Yeah you hate Microshit we get the picture, now shaddup!







That and the game selection for Linux is poor

phinsup

Scot McNealy rocks... ha ha, he didn't as for your input anyway, he wanted *nix user input..



**** you should know this isn't a free country... this is United States of Microshit, please run all your opinions through me in the future J/K



Honestly, Linux has come a long way in a short time for desktop apps. The fact of the matter is I run Linux all day at work... don't even have windows loaded and I use a MS Access db on a regular basis because one customer has a MS box... if you can figure out how I use a MS DB in Linux I'll give you cookie RD...

SoniX

Well, the only thing holding me back right now, is the absence of good divx support, which I can probably live without, and ironically enough, my keyboard. I have a pretty logitech wireless keyboard mouse combo with a swanky inav button that I can hit and it brings up a window to enter url's into, and I have become addicted to it, to the point of I don't think I can live without it, so I either have to find, or make a program that will let me do that in X, but linux does everything else I want it to do, you know, music, Tribes2, and ****.... I mean, wait, that is what I mean.

Rotarydragon

Say what you like a bout Bill Gates at least he keeps his mouth shut.



And how do you know I don't use *nix? :smilewinkgrin:



I seriously doubt they'll ever get the JET engine to run on anything but Windows as the sucker is loaded down hard with Win32 access calls and the like. They've never ported it to the Mac for that reason, unless they did it recently... Most of Microsofts databases are set up that way, totally optimized to work with Windows and nothing else.



Now I suppose you could switch it out to the MSDE version of Access and that would port but that's a wee bit of work.



I like Access when it's used right, but it seems that doesn't happen terribly often.



Funny, I'm working on passing my two SQL exams right now to hold my MCT

phinsup

Terminal services... I log into the MS Box and have a MS desktop on my Linux box, can run Access or anything else installed on it.



So there is a way, I use it daily. :bigok:



Pretty much every MS buff I ask that questions calls bullshit on it. One guy bet $50.00 buck I could run Access on a Linux box, was simply impossible...

Rotarydragon

Use TS all the time myself, I can get to all my junk from home or from in a classroom. Fairly nice.



Even if you were to emulate Win32 Access would have major problems unless they really really tweaked it. Again the code base for JET is so majorly wound up in Win32 it's not even funny.



At one point Oracle accused Microslut of somehow cheating when they built SQL 7 and got a HUGE performance jump out of it to the point it was faster then Oracle in some areas. They were claiming that they were using some "hidden API' that no one had access to.



More then anything I think it was more an issue of Microslut not having to worry about porting the code to any other platform so they could do funky things and make it dependant on the Win32 system.



I don't run Access much here simply because I have SQL available everywhere. Gross overkill in some cases but hey

phinsup

It works, there's no tweaking to it, TS is installed on Mandrake. You are sitting on an MS box vis TS so unless Access doesn't work on MS it works great, not saying that it isn't possible that access doesn't work on 2K, but being on a linux box and TS to Win Box you are in a Windows environment, not Linux. Try we use it Daily not one issue.

phinsup

Like I say you aren't emulating anything.. you are TS to a win box you'll get a win environment, can run anything on win system, even win media player.



i dunno if you are quite getting what I am saying.