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Mandriva updates its Linux distribution for spring

By Michael Hatamoto, BetaNews

April 15, 2008, 5:30 PM

Mandriva quietly launched Mandriva Linux 2008 Spring, the latest Mandriva Linux distribution featuring a number of updates since its last distribution release.

"The release has some really nice new features, and looks to be pretty solid and stable," said Mandriva Community Manager Adam Williamson wrote in his blog. "We're really happy with it."

Although its fanfare has recently been drowned out by up-and-coming distributions such as Ubuntu Linux from Canonical, Mandriva still remains a popular operating system, especially with new users. The latest verswion has been in the works for more than six months by Mandriva developers and the open source community, and features several new features aimed at making it easier for users to interact with the operating system.

KDE 3 version 3.5.9 is included to closely mimic the GUI of Microsoft Windows, enabling newcomers to open source to try Linux in a somewhat familiar environment. The support team also made it easier for users to sync their Windows Mobile, Nokia, and BlackBerry devices.

Download Mandriva Linux 2008.1 now from BetaNews FileForum

Most importantly for Asus EeePC users, Mandriva Linux 2008 Spring now works "flawlessly" with users no longer forced to make adjustments to the environment. For example, wireless networking and native resolution caused some Eee owners headaches.

The included Elisa multimedia center is a drag-and-drop capable feature that lets users store their photos, music, and videos.

Also included with the spring release is a new parental control tool that flags improper Web content before letting children see it. Parents can manually block certain Web sites and create time charts that limits the amount of time children have access.

Mandriva Linux 2008 Spring is available immediately for download for no cost to users (http://www.mandriva.com/en/download).

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By tscar13

posted Apr 16, 2008 - 7:17 PM

By tscar13

posted Apr 16, 2008 - 2:48 PM

Sorry it took so long but I had things to get done.
The site is up and running: www.----------.com
Ihave left the middle blank but I think that those few here with some intelligence can figure out by looking at my comments what goes in there.

First of all, the site is clean-no viruses etc..
Second, there are two formats;
1) Shows information on specific individuals but takes this form
First name, first initial of last name
middle 2 # of SS#
state you live in if the U.S.
Occupation if you work
School if you go to school
OS system
Browsers used. here I found some using more than one
Age- unless under 18

@nd format
Betanews
Source of all revenue streams flowing to the operators of this site.
Source of all revenue for the writers of this site.

So PC laugh but I included your last name and where you work and that also includes Term.

The purpose of this is not to steal info but to prove a point that no OS or Browser is safe and some of you are pretty ignorant of that fact especially Apple and open source fanatics.

As I said before I retired and lived in Alaska and that should give you a clue as to my former occupation. So believe or not believe that is your choice but figuring out the middle part is the 2nd part of your challenge and I think most will fail though in my posts here, the answer is staring you in the face.

Have a dream-like day and, if you want, live in denial. The site will stay up for 1 month and then be taken down. Anyone that breaks the code and proves it here by giving certain info from the site, your name will be removed. Otherwise it stays on the site. :)

Let this be a lesson to everyone that no OS or browser, including my own, is ever completely safe and only an idiot would think otherwise. Any system can be broken into and that is what is sad about our country- We think we are safe but it is fairly easy to brong the country to a standstill because of the stupidity of our leaders. Whether it's terrorists or a country like China or Russia doesn't matter.
Score: 0
By terminalx

edited Apr 16, 2008 - 4:04 PM

You are an eskimo?

Since you are masking the site, no one is going to care or try to guess...

You havent' provent anything, other then you need to find a life, fast.
Score: 0
By PC_Tool

edited Apr 16, 2008 - 5:26 PM

*yawn*

Oh, btw... Alaska?

Try google: tscar13 - Indianapolis, Indiana. Football fan, apparently. Was full of himself on that site as well.
Score: 0
By tscar13

edited Apr 15, 2008 - 8:32 PM

I knew Betanews would act and they have by deleting free speech. Well, I am in the process of setting up a site with all the info on betanews revenue and their writers and pc tool.:)

Delete that betanews. The site should be ready by around 10:00am u.s. time.
Score: 0
By PC_Tool

posted Apr 16, 2008 - 2:08 PM

1:07 PM CST...

Don't keep us in suspense, man, we're all shaking with anticipation.
Score: 0
By tscar13

posted Apr 16, 2008 - 5:27 PM

PC? just when I think I've seen the bottom of what an ignorant piece of slob you are, you prove me wrong. The network that I am routing through, the final one is not CST You Dumbsh** and people here actually think you are important. That says a lot.

Since Betanews has some things to hide I have sent to the DOJ the info so sorry Betanews folks, your a** is going to be bending over a lot.
Score: 0
By PC_Tool

posted Apr 15, 2008 - 11:10 PM

You threatened to hack the site. Be happy they didn't press charges.
Score: 0
By tscar13

edited Apr 16, 2008 - 5:18 PM

let them.the people I know are higher on the food chain than anyone Betanews knows or you do. So go ahead. be my Guest. And be careful Term and PC, If you keep up with the comments I will do other things with your Info. Take that to your local FBI and see how far you get. They will run into a brick wall. Betanews is to chicken to do anything because they have things to hide and both of you do too.:)
Also I am routing the message through a certain server:)
Score: 0
By terminalx

edited Apr 15, 2008 - 8:39 PM

You do realize what you are saying in a public forum is illegal, you can't be that stupid...

The same methods you state you can use, they can probably use back at you and might already have.

They are legally allowed, you not so much.

Your comments are personal attacks hence why they were deleted, they could care less at your hacking skills.
Score: 0
By tscar13

edited Apr 15, 2008 - 9:40 PM

It's interesting all the comments deleted that weren't an attack and one only has to look at PC's comments to see Betanews true intent. And the DOJ will be interested in some of the info on Betanews finances.:)

Sleep well..I've got to get this site up and running.
Score: 0
By PC_Tool

posted Apr 15, 2008 - 11:16 PM

only has to look at PC's comments to see Betanews true intent

Logic, common sense, discussion, and a sense of humor?

Glad you figured that out. Now if you could only figure out how not to be a victim on the "Greater Internet ****wad Theory".

http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2004/03/19/
Score: 0
By tscar13

edited Apr 15, 2008 - 8:39 PM

First the challenge works both ways. Anyone is free to try and compromise my system. Think of this as a test of OS and Browsers. Besides I know people higher up on the food chain than anyone here or at Betanews does so I'm not worried.

The method i am using can't be track and I won't say why. All of you can try and figure it out.
Score: 0
By terminalx

posted Apr 15, 2008 - 8:44 PM

Right, some super hacker is on a blog site that the rest of the world could care less about...so scary...
Score: 0
By tscar13

posted Apr 15, 2008 - 9:28 PM

Laughing ..I'm not a super-hacker though I do know some but I also know the vulnerabilities of OS and browsers. I also know ways around systems through my previous occupation. Nothing super just plain old legwork..find the vulnerable area and exploit it..nothing super in that and I also don't use the info for financial gain.

So Term feel secure but tomorrow (u.s. time) your info will be included on the site. I'll will say that I'll only post enough to prove my point about the owners of Betanews and their writers and certain people on this site. Not enough info to be used against you by someone with less scruples than me.

So never think of me as some super hacker just someone smart enough to know where to look and not dumb enough to think that I am invulnerable.:) so I always play it safe and your info along with Pc's is safe.

Betanews is a different case. The time has come to shine a light on where their money comes from and where the writers get their money from and that will be posted and that's not illegal unless Betanews has something to hide.
Score: 0
By PC_Tool

posted Apr 15, 2008 - 11:20 PM

Can't wait.

I bet I turn out to be a 13 year old girl from conneticut and Term gets to be a 46 yr old loser living in a basement with his Mom.

Oh, wait...we've got those already thanks to El Dingo and zridling.

Really, the worst you could do is *try* to paint us as worse off than those losers. Good luck, I wouldn't wish such a chore on anyone.

Cheers. Enjoy your cry for attention. I'll leave the rest between you and the BN staff (and perhaps their legal counsel?)
Score: 0
By tscar13

posted Apr 16, 2008 - 6:30 PM

Oh PC you show such ignorance for someone who thinks they're intelligent. Betanews won't do a thing because they and their writers have been receiving money under the table and not reporting it to the IRS. So, instead of them going to the FBI, the IRS and DOJ will be coming for them.

But I dare anyone to go to the police and see how far you get.

PC? you still don't get it.

Score: 0

By yourcat

posted Apr 16, 2008 - 7:36 PM

Uh... What?

Score: 0

By terminalx

posted Apr 16, 2008 - 7:57 PM

He believes he has hacked betanews and they are going to prison and all our personal info is on his mysterious site.

Score: 0

By tscar13

edited Apr 17, 2008 - 12:10 AM

And yet Trained monkey I am still here. Prison? probably not but a huge tax bill and fine. And trained monkey, you're problems are just beginning. Like I said you and PC just don't get it and haven't wised up and realize some things and not some big bad hacker but something else:)

Also, the trained monkey and PC hint at me alternate between me being a bullsh**er like PC and going to the authorities. I have told to go right ahead but they're to scared deep down to do that so they talk here. All talk. All Bs from the trained monkey and PC. Take my advice do the opposite of whatever PC says because, at the end of the day, he doesn't know a thing.
So trained monkey and PC I dare you to go to the police or FBI because then you will know what the truth is:)

Score: 0

By terminalx

posted Apr 16, 2008 - 10:57 PM

No One believes you because the website you claim is up, does not exist

end of story, you can keep going on and on about your "mystery" the fact is it doesn't affect anyone if this website is a secret.

Score: 0

By tscar13

edited Apr 17, 2008 - 12:19 AM

Well trained monkey I give you credit for putting on a bravdo show behind a screen name but I have "hacked" your system and you can take that to your "Momma" (betanews but she is to busy lawyering up for the sh**storm about to hit her) or take it to the police or FBI and then come back and talk about the brick wall you ran into.:)

You and PC are wanabees and think you know all but both of you have no clue about the sh**storm about to hit you. So, again, whether you believe or don't believe, makes no difference about the reality of what will happen to Betanews and you two.:)
Sleep well my child and don't eat to many peanuts.:)
Oh and the website does exist and is going public. Well the part about Betanews that is.

Finally, I'll let you in on a clue - I was in military intelligence at FORT RICHARDSON for most of my career before retiring and now do consulting for the USGS. I see this site and others as damaging to our national security because they give the less educated a false sense of security about the realities of the world. Anyone that thinks they are secure behind their computer is living in a dream world that could endanger all of us because these are the ones that have failed this country time and time again. From Pearl Harbor to Vietnam to Iraq, each generation produces people that think they are invulnerable or that we are. You aren't and neither is this country. As a matter of fact, we faced more dangers now than the cold war and are at our weakest point both militarily and intelligence gathering since the Vietnam war which should of never happen if People (and one day people like you and PC will be in Power) in Power had listen to the intelligence community in the early 50's.
We are at the same point now except added to the growing power of China and Russia we now have the terrorists which the intelligence community told this President that Iraq WAS not helping the Terrorists and DID not have WMDs and now are military is decimated and the Intelligence community is run by a political hack.

One final note and then I'm done- of course I am not going to publish anyone's information. What I hoped is that it would serve as a wake-up call to all of you to stop your petty bickering about which OS or Browser is best and work together to make a better one and never lose sight of the fact that those that wish us harm are hard at work right now trying to do that and it is up to your generation to wake up and quit thinking you are invulnerable because the other side knows we are not.

Score: 0

By terminalx

edited Apr 17, 2008 - 12:18 AM

ROFL!

You been great for a laugh.

You see black helicopters too huh?

wannabes of what?

No idea what is wrong with you but you should seek help because no one is claiming anything on here other then you on some weird vendetta against a blog for godsakes

"I go to Ireland to make threats abroad on two nobodies across the globe"

"I go to bars get drunk and go on said internet and start threatening nobodies"

You can't post a SSN public because if you do its a federal offense, so your site will exist in your head only, let me know how it goes though, I am dying to hear your thrilling tale.

Wow! you hacked my pc at the library I am impressed those poor librarians are going to be sad...

Finally this should be easy, what are the two middle numbers of my ssn, I am dying to hear.

Score: 0

By tscar13

edited Apr 17, 2008 - 1:04 AM

It's sad to think that you might actually represent the next generation to take power and god help us. As I said this was an exercise in trying to wake people on this site and others to work together and not see themselves as invincible. All of you know know the bickering and venom expressed here about which supposed system is best and you should rather be focus on how to work together. So yes it was a ruse to wake you up but maybe the old saying that "those that don't study history are doomed to repeat it. A blog like this represent a mindset that has constantly gotten this country in trouble.

But it is up to your generation to better prepare for the future.

Learn from the mistakes of my generation and the ones before mine.
Finally, if you don't learn to work together instead of this bickering with one another, our country is doomed because the U.S. in 5 years will not be the dominant power.

One final note and then I am done posting. Sure the ruse was hastily put together but now all of you have a choice. You can laugh or take what I have said and think about it. Maybe it would have been better to put together a more elaborate ruse but I chose to make a point and make it quickly. The rest is up to you about which path you take.

Score: 0

By terminalx

posted Apr 17, 2008 - 8:55 AM

SO Blog sites are the end of the US huh? You do realize betanews attracts a lot of people abroad as well, its not the US only.

What you read on the internet is not a representation of how people are in person, sure we may say some of the same things but the whole internet tough guy is so 90s with the whole crash of AOL's dominance

Score: 0

By tscar13

posted Apr 17, 2008 - 9:35 AM

Fair question- no not Blogs per se but the mentality of a lot of people here and, yes abroad though I doubt someone from China or Russia posts here that much but make no mistake that both governments probablly come here and other tech sites to get the latest info.. It's the bickering over which system is better and , in the end, none are. All have their strengths and weaknesses. That's my point of what has seemed to be a lot of silliness now and I am sorry to everyone here for that.

But the world has changed not just since 9/11 but it was changing for the worse during the 90's also.

The fact is already the Chinese have the capabiity to blind our satellites. The Russians are increasing their defense posture and beginning to bring their potent fleet out of mothball. Both are establishing a presence in space that when 2010 arrives we won't have.

The Chinese already have the basics and become the dominant power in Asia needed to successfully take over Taiwan and keep us from interfering. And then their are the terrorists who don't care what your beliefs are but use the same technology and even sometimes less advanced technology to defeat us. Yes we are getting our butts kick in Iraq.

You are right in that sometimes when the inhibition is taken away, people act differently, myself included, but maybe this is just a mirror of the true self and again, maybe I should include myself as well.

Look The U.S. right now seems strong but that is only an appearance. Most of you here,instead of bickering, could work together to change that and I hope you do. Maybe you are, maybe you're not. At the end of the day, I can only go on what I read on the tech blogs.

But from a strictly military standpoint (I realize that you can't leave out the economic point in the equation), The US. isn't the strongest anymore and this is only going to get worse and the next big war will hit us right here at home and we are as unprepared as we were before 9/11.

So to Term and Pc and others, I am sorry for the ruse, ill-planned as it was, and I hope you hear the message. It's ok to shoot the Messenger:)

Score: 0

By GrantTLC

edited Apr 17, 2008 - 5:54 AM

tscar13 - I don't know what scares me more. The utter tripe you post or the fact you've chosen to post it HERE, on a website that exists to discuss Tech news and review software. Yes, there are problems in the world, but you aren't going to solve anything by prosetlysing in the wrong places, now, are you?

Wouldn't LittleGreenFootballs be a better place for your insane rants against the multiple boogeymen determined to end our so-called 'freedoms'? Oh, and it might help to seek out a counsellor to help deal with all that supressed rage you're obviously itching to batter people with. Seriously, man - SEEK HELP.

Score: 0

By the artist

posted Apr 16, 2008 - 7:15 PM

My experience with it trying it Live yesterday hasn't been optimal. I had only used Ubuntu scarcely since about a year ago...

It failed to connect to internet, and the so inflated Amarok crashed when trying to add some 1000 files from an NTFS unit... and left a blank space in the taskbar that could not even be right-clicked... bah meh duh

Doesn't seem to impress me... just another flavor of the same improductive immature thing Linux insits on being. If you can barely play REAL games and you can barely do anything outside of the most ordinary tasks that half developed software allows you to do... why love it... because you are a 'freedom' freak?
If you have SERIOUS productivity needs, like in my case academic music production, or in some else's cinema video editing, or serious audio mastering and such... you're left with fantastic 'freeware' software that takes you no further than the corner...

Sorry, it has been my experience, no bullsh*t here.

LOOK, I REEEALLY WAAANT TO LOVE IT, but it doesn't go any further than a nice bunch of ideals and promises of freedom. Linux makes you a free man who can run in... a 3x3 backyard full of debries. Sorry, i need a much more mature thing.

PD: at least i talked about linux only. no BS. Anyone else's experience to share??

Score: 0

By xyzcb1

posted Apr 16, 2008 - 10:00 AM

I just love this board. Every time an article on an OS, there must be Windows VS Mac comments. Can we just focus on the topic?

Score: 0

By preinterpost

posted Apr 16, 2008 - 1:10 PM

Yup it's great. Yday when the article came up I was typing up a message thanking the author for just reporting some neutral news without a provocative note to it but cancelled out of it for stating the obvious. Today over 30 messages of fools battling it out once again.

Score: 0

By GrantTLC

edited Apr 17, 2008 - 5:39 AM

Of all the distro's I've tried (Ubuntu -> Mepis -> Sabayon -> PCLOS -> Mandriva) I have to say that Mandriva best suits my needs as a newcomer to Linux. It's fast, very stable, and has more than I need for everything I could use a PC for, barring the much lamented Linux gaming blind-spot. As a Windows refugee I greatly appreciate the Control Centre which provides access to practically every important facet of the OS.

It's beginning to grate a little that Ubuntu gets so much coverage when fast, user-friendly and up-to-date distros like this one are out there but only mentioned once in a blue moon, but I guess being No #6 in the Distrowatch rankings isn't all that bad.

Score: 0

By yourcat

posted Apr 16, 2008 - 7:39 PM

I like PCLOS personally.

Score: 0

By zenarcher

posted Apr 16, 2008 - 9:37 AM

I agree that Mandriva is very easy to install and use. I have set it up for several family members who knew nothing but Windows and most all of them have asked to have Windows removed from their machines, after a month or so of Mandriva.

Likewise, I very much agree in respect to Ubuntu. The coverage for Ubuntu leads many people to think that Ubuntu IS Linux. It might just be me, but I've tried to install Ubuntu, several times over the past couple of years and yet to end up with a satisfactory install. It just doesn't work for me.

Score: 0

By mhochman

posted Apr 16, 2008 - 8:07 AM

We use Mandriva at our internet cafe on 20+ machines, and for the most part it works great, very few things don't work, and we've a few XP machines around for that.

Sure, it's not for gaming, but if you have a computer that you need to do internet/office type work on, Mandriva is sweet.

Score: 0

By Hollywood__

posted Apr 16, 2008 - 1:30 AM

Yes, get a Mac. Let's be different just for the sake of being different. Nevermind, none of the programs I use to make a living work with OS X.

Mac cheerleaders are worse than the Sony ones.

Score: 0

By sjc001

posted Apr 16, 2008 - 5:59 AM

Or the Vista ones.

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

posted Apr 16, 2008 - 9:24 AM

...or the linux ones.

Score: 0

By yourcat

posted Apr 16, 2008 - 7:40 PM

Hey!!!

Score: 0

By yourcat

posted Apr 16, 2008 - 7:42 PM

Everyone, there all good for different things!

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

posted Apr 17, 2008 - 10:20 AM

I disagree. Fanboys aren't good for anything.

Score: 0

By internetworld7

posted Apr 15, 2008 - 6:23 PM

Linux? Yuck! Go get a Mac.

Score: 0

By VampireFrost

posted Apr 15, 2008 - 7:29 PM

LOL ummm you may not know this but OS X is FreeBSD with a few Apple enhancements(NeXTstep updated) and FreeBSD is a type of Unix and so is Linux. LOL so Mac boy you just put down Mac's.

Apple was looking at BeOS for its new OS but BeOS wanted to much so Apple chose to go with FreeBSD. Bet ya didn't know that.

Score: 0

By gregmlr

posted Apr 16, 2008 - 12:07 AM

I have a Mac and dislike Linux.

Just because Mac OS X is Unix-based doesn't mean its users have to love everything Unix-based.

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

posted Apr 15, 2008 - 11:23 PM

I think, in some deluded way, that's why he suggested getting a Mac. It's as close to Linux as you can get and still be "mainstream".

Score: 0

By God Dammit

posted Apr 16, 2008 - 4:21 AM

Why not save a ton of money and install Ubuntu Linux on a PC built with off the shelf parts? Ubuntu is as close as you can get to a Mac on an off the shelf PC.

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

posted Apr 16, 2008 - 8:27 AM

..and still be totally and completely unlike a Mac? Sure.

Score: 0

By God Dammit

posted Apr 16, 2008 - 1:59 PM

There is no other operating system available for non Mac PC's that is as easy to install and use as Mac OS X.

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

posted Apr 16, 2008 - 2:01 PM

Uh-huh...

Score: 0

By fewt

edited Apr 15, 2008 - 6:56 PM

Yeah, put your investment (yeah I know it's not an "investment") in the trash can and go out and buy a whole new computer so you can do all of the same things that you could have done with Linux.

After all, money does grow on trees. At least in Steve Jobs's yard it does.

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

posted Apr 15, 2008 - 11:22 PM

Can't play Crysis in Linux.

...or The Witcher.

Also can't get a decent connection to our exchange server without having to use some lame HTTP hack.

Yeah, I know. Linux is *great* if you have a system that can't handle Vista...or even XP all that well.

...but if you've got a system that can handle it? Vista wins, hands down.

Score: 0

By sjc001

posted Apr 16, 2008 - 6:05 AM

Actually you can using Cedgea and WINE with some tweaking.

Vista is crap and bloatware. My system is rated enough to properly run Vista and it was still nothing but trouble.

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

edited Apr 16, 2008 - 8:33 AM

ROFLMAO!

Crysis "works"??

From the WINE Appdb:

What works

* Starting the game.
* Menus.
* Changing settings.
* Starting singleplayer game.
* Starting multiplayer server.

What does not

* Ingame FPS rate is below 1 FPS.
* Normal gameplay, cause of the FPS rate (Less than 1 FPS).


The Witcher?

What works

Installing.

Applying the 1.2 patch.

Launching the game directly trom the terminal in /System (within the installation dir) with "wine witcher.exe" after using the NO CD patch and putting d3dx9_36.dll in windows/system32 directory.

Intro movie, menus, sound.

What does not

The game's launcher (autorun). Have to launch from commandline as described above.

All characters are static as described in bug 11285. Note that this is not on an nVidia 7xxx, but on a Radeon 2600 XT!

Frame rate is very low (1/2-1 fps when looking at the combatants in the first scene at 1024x768 with details set to low). Unplayable.

What was not tested
Anything beyond the first 30 seconds of playing the game.

Well, at least we know why everything "works" under Linux according to sjc001.

That word...I do not think it means what you think it means.

Score: 0

By dvferret

posted Apr 16, 2008 - 10:49 AM

WOOHOOOOO Im playing my game at 1/2 a frame per second. Its absolutely amazing!!!

Score: 0

By fewt

posted Apr 16, 2008 - 11:33 AM

You get so much time to look around at the scenery. It's like 30 minutes before you know you've been shot!

Score: 0

By dvferret

posted Apr 16, 2008 - 6:31 PM

lol

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

posted Apr 16, 2008 - 2:00 PM

lmao...

Score: 0

By jspratjr

posted Apr 16, 2008 - 6:10 AM

Too bad for you - no problems with Vista here.

Score: 0

By zenarcher

edited Apr 16, 2008 - 7:24 AM

Not everyone is a gamer. If they are a serious gamer, than Linux is not for them. Personally, I'm not a gamer, I'm not running old hardware and Linux does everything I want and need it to do. And, it does it well. Not being a gamer, I don't have a clue what Crysis nor The Witcher even are, so I guess I'm not missing anything, anyway. If I were using Windows, I still wouldn't know what either of them are, so it would make little difference to me.

I have licensed copies of Windows XP here and I have Linux, as well. Linux serves all my wants and needs, including some nice scientific applications, photo editing, publishing and such, so I have no reason to run XP or anything else.

I do have one XP machine for gaming, as my wife has two or three Windows only games she likes to play.That box is never connected to the router, only is used off line, and is never updated. Again, it just does what I need it to do for a specific task. Other than the few games played on it, no other third party software is installed, so it runs reasonably stable, which is more than I experienced when installing third party applications.

I've added up what I would have to spend on comparable Windows applications to do what I do with Linux, all with free software and it's not worth the expense.

In all fairness, my wife has Linux games she enjoys, which would not be available to her under Windows, either.

Score: 0

By fewt

posted Apr 15, 2008 - 11:31 PM

We aren't talking about Vista here.

I can quote the title, and the MacOS comment, but it's probably unnecessary.

Concerning Crysis or The Witcher, yeah you'll absolutely want Vista for that no doubt. Come to think of it, you still wouldn't have to throw the hardware out like you would if you wanted a Mac.

:-D

The Exchange server thing is a closed protocol problem, but agreed it's a problem. Some versions of Outlook work in Wine, and there's also VMWare (that's my MO).

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

posted Apr 16, 2008 - 8:34 AM

I could spend the money on VMware...and Windows...or just get...and use Windows.

*shrug*

Score: 0

By fewt

edited Apr 16, 2008 - 8:38 AM

Spend money on VMWare?

apt-get install vmware-server

Use the CD key off of the bottom of your machine, and use my how-to to dual boot your native install in vmware and still native even (if you want).

Meh, there is no "wrong" answer. There is nothing wrong with just getting and using Windows.

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

posted Apr 16, 2008 - 9:21 AM


apt-get install vmware-server

Full version? Legal? (Serious question, I haven't used VMWare in Linux since the late 80's.)

Score: 0

By fewt

edited Apr 16, 2008 - 9:29 AM

It's a 100% legal version of VMWare server. It's in the partner repos, which aren't enabled by default.

You can enable them by going to System -> Administration -> Synaptic Package Manager -> Settings -> Repositories -> Third Party Software then clicking the partner repo checkboxes.

Or, if you don't mind editing a text file:

sudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list and remove the # from the partner lines, save exit, and then sudo apt-get update followed by sudo apt-get install vmware-server.

You can get a free license key by going to:
http://register.vmware.c...ntent/registration.html

By late 80s I assume you mean late 90s. I seem to recall beta testing VMWare < 1.0 around 1999. ;-)

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

posted Apr 16, 2008 - 1:59 PM

Decades may be off a bit.

When was Mandrake at it's ~7.0 release?

Score: 0

By fewt

posted Apr 16, 2008 - 2:18 PM

Sometime in 2000 I believe.

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

posted Apr 16, 2008 - 5:27 PM

Heh...okay, maybe 2 decades. :p

Score: 0

By zenarcher

posted Apr 15, 2008 - 6:00 PM

Having used the Spring version from Alpha 1 through the final release, I have to say it is excellent and personally, my first choice of Linux distributions. I run it on three desktop systems and one laptop system here (both the 32 bit and 64 bit) and it's been flawless. All hardware including wireless and multifunction printers detected and configured, as well as extremely stable. Boot time is much faster than with 2008, as well. I used OpenSUSE and Fedora for about three years, but have returned to Mandriva on all my computers.

Score: 0

By God Dammit

posted Apr 16, 2008 - 4:27 AM

KDE is a buggy POS desktop environment compared to Gnome. The only thing KDE once had that Gnome didn't was the visual effects. Now that Gnome has the very same visual effects there is no reason for KDE to exist. The KDE developers totally screwed up what looked like a promising desktop environment (KDE 4) by simplifying too much. For one thing, KDE 4 only has a 24 hour clock with no option to change to a 12 hour clock. The applet that lets you change resolution doesn't let you change the type of monitor or graphics card driver if your hardware is incorrectly detected either. This can result in an 800x600 max resolution when a monitor's native resolution is 1920x1200.

Score: 0

By zenarcher

edited Apr 16, 2008 - 7:19 AM

To be fair to KDE, you might have mentioned, as KDE states, that in the current state, KDE4 is not yet a production product and is merely offered in it's current form to give people an idea what to expect with the release of Version 4.1. Each of the incremental changes from 4.0 through 4.03 have corrected many of the basic issues, including resizing the taskbar, etc. KDE has been very clear about this and has recommended that anyone wanting a fully functional KDE4 wait until Version 4.1 is released.

Since there are approximately an equal number of KDE users to GNOME users...as well as other desktop choices favored by others, I'd say you've failed to make your "KDE is a buggy POS desktop environment compared to Gnome" message heard across the Linux community. As most Linux users say, "It's a matter of choice."

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

posted Apr 16, 2008 - 9:20 AM

To be fair to KDE, you might have mentioned, as KDE states, that in the current state, KDE4 is not yet a production product and is merely offered in it's current form to give people an idea what to expect with the release of Version 4.1.

I love that.

4.0 is a release. 4.1 is a patch. You and everyone else may want to play pretend as hard as you can that 4.0 was a "beta", but it wasn't.

That said, it *was* a major rework of the Environment from the ground up and problems/issues are to be expected.

What is amusing is that the Linux zealots are always slamming MSFT for the very thing they are praising KDE for. Gotta love double-standards, don't ya?

Score: 0

By zenarcher

edited Apr 16, 2008 - 9:46 AM

Yes, 4.0 was a release, but not a production release and if you have read any of the KDE information on 4.0, you are aware of that. It has been repeatedly stated by KDE that until 4.1 is available, which I believe will be around August, many of the basic functions are not even configured to work. None of the major Linux distributions have KDE4 as the default KDE desktop for that reason. Many have included KDE4, so users, who wish to see and follow the direction KDE4 is going, have the opportunity to do so.

Maybe I am a "Linux zealot," depending on your definition....in any case, I'm a satisfied Linux and KDE user. Nor, did I in any way "slam" MSFT. I use Linux because I believe in "choice." And, to me, that means using whichever operating system works for the individual, whether MS, Linux or MAC. All I am saying is that KDE made it very clear to people who follow their development of KDE4, that it was not released as a "user ready" environment.

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

posted Apr 16, 2008 - 1:57 PM

Yes, 4.0 was a release, but not a production release and if you have read any of the KDE information on 4.0, you are aware of that

Wow. More BS. Didn't see that coming...

None of the major Linux distributions have KDE4 as the default KDE desktop for that reason.

No, the reason would be because it sucks. Not because it isn't a production release.


Maybe I am a "Linux zealot," depending on your definition....in any case, I'm a satisfied Linux and KDE user. Nor, did I in any way "slam" MSFT.

never claimed you were or did either. Just drawing parallels and using you post as an example of the double-standard.

All I am saying is that KDE made it very clear to people who follow their development of KDE4, that it was not released as a "user ready" environment.

That could much easier have been accomplished by not releasing it as 4.0, don't ya think?

Score: 0

By fewt

edited Apr 16, 2008 - 10:07 AM

KDE 4.0 was only sold as not being a production release because it sucked a$$ and the KDE team needed to save face for their flop.

Unfortunately, it took them till 2008 to make it not look like Windows 95, and well now it looks like Windows 98 with a black theme.

From the KDE 4.0 release:
http://www.kde.org/announcements/4.0/

The KDE Community is thrilled to announce the immediate availability of KDE 4.0. This significant release marks both the end of the long and intensive development cycle leading up to KDE 4.0 and the beginning of the KDE 4 era.

That doesn't imply non production, and nor does this:

About KDE 4

"KDE 4.0 is the innovative Free Software desktop containing lots of applications for every day use as well as for specific purposes. Plasma is a new desktop shell developed for KDE 4, providing an intuitive interface to interact with the desktop and applications. The Konqueror web browser integrates the web with the desktop. The Dolphin file manager, the Okular document reader and the System Settings control center complete the basic desktop set.
KDE is built on the KDE Libraries which provide easy access to resources on the network by means of KIO and advanced visual capabilities through Qt4. Phonon and Solid, which are also part of the KDE Libraries add a multimedia framework and better hardware integration to all KDE applications. "

http://www.kde.org/annou...screenshots/desktop.jpg

I downloaded a live CD with it and played for about 10 minutes (which is significantly less time than I spent with my MacBook Pro before returning it) My children are better GUI designers.

Sorry KDE team, but it sucks.

Hopefully it sucks less now that it's 4.0.3, but I doubt it.

It just feels Windows 98, and has no character. Nothing yells I'm a really cool platform, use me.

k* is yet another turn off too

It sucks, I'd rather use Windows MacOS or Gnome (read anything else is better).

I'm sure some people like it though, so take my opinion with a grain of salt.

Score: 0

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