Subj : Re: Which Linux for a beginning desktop?
To   : comp.os.linux
From : Mxsmanic
Date : Mon Feb 28 2005 09:56 pm

GreyBeard writes:

> You asked ....
> 
> I'm an Oracle consultant.  I use the SLES and RHES to develop and provide
> support for my customer base.
> 
> I'm also a registered trainer of Java, Oracle DBAs and Oracle developers.
> I use all the above as learning environments, as environments to develop
> demos and as presentation environments.
> 
> As well, I have several production Linux-Oracle systems.  I make it a
> point never to upgrade a production system without having tested on an
> independent system.  Based on your comments below (cannot afford to spend
> hours ...), seems like you don't bother with this approach.

What do you actually put on your own databases?

> And the Dell laptop provides:  1) portable production office environment
> (billing app, presentation tools, dev tools); 2) with the swappable disks,
> allows me to test and confirm questions in environments closely resembling
> the customers'; 3) a W2K environment for the few times I want to play
> StarCraft Brood War, or need to print on a printer that uses a
> Windows-based print engine.

So it's a pretty non-critical environment.

> I can't afford not learning about these things - helps me avoid lawsuits
> around incompetence.

So you use your systems for other people, not for yourself.  That's a
crucial distinction.

> And I having tested variants helps with professional
> credibility, which seems to be appreciated by my customers. But then, as a
> graduate engineer, I may have a unique approach here.

As opposed to whom?

> To quote you - see above.  As for 'no life' ... in addition to my
> consultancy, I'm also a classical singer.  And I use Linux and Lilypond to
> typeset music scores for my choir and opera company and as a hobby.

What happens if a computer problem prevents you from doing the
typesetting?

> And getting the next app's CDs, inserting and pressing enter a few times,
> and getting the updates, and so on.  Been there.  Even my mother, who fits
> your definition of a 'normal end user', has given up on Windows.

Spontaneously, or with encouragement from her son?

> Perhaps.  And perhaps it's because they are *your* SCSI disks.

I didn't build them myself.  One is a Seagate Barracuda and the other is
a Quantum Atlas or Fireball, I think (it has been a long time since I
looked).

> My SCSI
> disks AND tape drives on Adaptec 29160s & 39160s work just fine - in all
> the listed environments. Truly plug and play.  Had less problem with
> those than on NT3.5 or 4.

Are you running FreeBSD?

-- 
Transpose hotmail and mxsmanic in my e-mail address to reach me directly.

.