Fires back

While looking at someone that attacked another of my posts I found this survey on his blog. I figured to be fair to him and his fellow Linux fanboys I would complete the same survey. (Also after responding to him I read more of his blog to find… while he is almost twice my age and attacking my reputation I have been using Linux longer than him… go figure)

Since when are you a Linux user?
Freshman Year… so 1996

Was it difficult to do your first install?
Not really, Slackware 3.6 had a nice textual menu system (and last time I checked they still do)

Did you especially select your hardware for Linux?
No, I just grab extra hardware I had sitting around.

Was there hardware you never got to work with Linux?
I have had issues with the latest and greatest hardware in the past.

Did you have any prior knowledge of Unix?
I first started working with System V

Have you ever compiled a kernel?
Yes. Pretty much a must if you want the computer to really work for you.

Have you ever written a device driver?
For from scratch for Linux, but I have patched a few on my own

Have you ever compiled a device driver?
oh yeah…

Have you ever compiled an application?
Yes, and I’m not referring to ones I write. It’s a little nuts to have to compile everything just to stay on the cutting edge

Does every application have to be compiled this way?
No, if you feel like waiting, or you find the nice maintainer you can get compiled packages.

Can't you upgrade?
Upgrade on Linux. You want it to work correctly right? Sure some user apps can be upgraded relatively easy. But Linux makes DLL hell seem nice.

Are you a proficient programmer?
Umm, I think so. I have been programming since I was about 5 years old an

Linux is a FOSS system. Do you have your own projects?
Yes. I wrote cl4others. Allowing Linux users a taste of ClientTrust when Novell was still saying they were never going to support it.

You are pretty much a FOSS person. Do you hate Microsoft users?
I used to be all for Free/Open source. And I used to hate Microsoft. I have been a convert to the “dark side”. There is just something that makes more business scene about spending your time to make money and then enjoy the rest of your life.

What is your Windows experience?
I have used every version of Windows since 3.1

Do you hate Microsoft?
Used too.

Are there times you require Microsoft products?
Yeah, and now I prefer them.

How much time do you spend on the CLI?
Okay, I really started working with computer hardcore in 1992. Was there really much beyond CLI back then :)

Is Linux really much more secure than Windows?
Linux is much less secure. Especily when you have physical access to the machine. Anyone can be “hacked” on any system if they don’t think about security. Just look at the newest attacks for Mac OS-X

What is the biggest hurdle to move to Linux?
Not that much, at least for me. I came from a command line background. I still do some of my best working in CLI. But it does take a lot more time to get a Linux system running than it does for a Windows machine. It’s also nice having a central service for updates like Windows Update.

Is there something you can't do with Linux?
No, not really. But it does take much longer and require more “pieces”

What do you like about Linux?
It’s a great tool. And for some things it just simpler. But I enjoy spending my time working on app not supporting the platform.
What do you recommend to Windows users who want to convert to Linux?
Stick with windows.

People might find it difficult to choose a distribution.
My preference has always been Slackware. And it will drive most people crazy. Too me Linux doesn’t need a GUI so I might be the wrong person to ask.

What desktop should I choose?
When I do use a GUI on Linux I perfer KDE

What if I run into a problem?
about the only thing I use google for is search. You can also try the ”man” file in your distro.

I gladly want to switch to Linux, but there is this single application I need to have.
you can use VMs but it really depends on what you are trying to do. If it is hardware dependant such as 3D games or video editing, you will either dual boot or have a second system.

Something else?
nope.