Thanks for your help and educating me abit, Milos.

About the thing with packaging: You're right. Why does RPM even exist? Didn't we have .debs and apt back when it was created? And while Linux companies (and community) need to do that ad campaign, we need many distros. Having competitors forces distro makers and maintainers (I know firsthand) to keep up, thereby improving distros at large. Why does RPM exist? I don't know. Personally I think spt and .spks (my package tool) should take over the world, because it has dependency resolution, source compilation, remote upgrading (like apt-get), and binary distribution capability. If not spt and .spks, then apt-get and .debs. But that's just me writing at 11:22 at night. I gotta go now.

I liked the interview. Has some interesting things in it. But the comments people make about mandrake club.. yes it has some issues on its support by the company but there is files that arent available to non club members . I think its worth the money to spend just because i dont buy the distro in a box and i am happy with it. So i figure giving a lil bit of money for support doesnt hurt me.

I'm only a newbie but I beleive Mandrake is responcible for getting me hooked on Linux. Thanks for creating it my friend!

Steve

As a present user of Mandrake Linux v9.1, I have been closely following the outcome of their financial situation and looking at future developements with a keen eye. I want to find their next generation an improvement in as many areas as possible.

Most specifically, what I would like to see, is hardware drivers become available where they presently are not available. Far too many hardware devices do not function in Linux. Yes, I know that providing drivers is costly, but in order for the average user to move into Linux, their hardware MUST be afforded those drivers so as to function as seamlessly as possible.

I would consider paying a bit more for my hardware if I knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that the hardware I chose was Linux compatable. And, I also understand that bloating the system with those drivers is not conducive with maintaining stability. What I propose is that the hardware developer provide, within their website, a specific place for obtaining those drivers as needed for a specific device or on the installation CD.

I also am not enamored by Mandrake Club.

I have seen far too many responses that are dubious answers or incomplete / non-existant answers. I am not Linux competent by any stretch of the imagination and more's the pity. Like most other Linux newbies, I have a long road ahead before I can do even the simplest config functions and most of the replies I viewed were far above me for my comprehension.

Fortunately for me, I have searched for and found other sites that do speak "newbie" adequately enough for me to understand, somewhat, about how to deal with the Mandrake Linux system.

My personal goal it to become totally free from the heavy-handed yoke of Micro$oft's systems.
A burden I no longer wish to bear, thank-you-very-much!

Good luck to Mr. Gael! I'll be watching with interest.

SloHands,

I couldn't agree with you more on all your well made points!
I very much want to totally leave MS behind but hardware support and installation is not as good as we would like. I am hoping that with all our continued support this will quickly get better!

Stevetgn

PS which sights have you found that speak fluent "newbie"

Stevetgn

Actually, Stevetgn, there are several.

The thing is, you must decide which sites appeal to you, the individual.

I frequent Bitbenderforums.com and have been there for a couple of years now. There are several members who are knowledgable and are most willing to help anyone and everyone they can. Actually, I have encourage many of the members there to delve into Linux. To abandon Windows. All were reluctant, but then came to understand the they had to learn how to use Windows in the first place. Now they should learn a new system and judge for themselves which system appeals to them and serves them best.
Lockergnome.com has a newsletter that is appropiate for new users that is very good.
And, of course, LinuxQuestions has provided many insights and assistance to me. I do peruse others questions and the answers provided.


I have determined that what one person finds helpful, another person cannot fathom. As has been my case ............ often.

Again, it all depends on what appeals to the individual as to where good information comes from.
Just as there are many who glean valuable information from Mandrake Club. I do not. But then, that is my ability to decern what I can comprehend.

Bottomline?

There is no absolute answer that will apply to everyone.

I hope this will be helpful.

Thanks Slohands, I'll check those sights out

When I first started out, I started searching Google and found more or less what I needed. Then I saw there was one site that was almost every time in my hits and it did solve almost all of my problems: LinuxQuestions.org
I think it is hard to get more noob then I was then, so I can't imagine that people don't speak 'newbie' here...

I kinda think that I've said just that, elluva!

Actually it's not, but such a discussion leads nowhere...

I understand what you mean when you say:
I have determined that what one person finds helpful, another person cannot fathom
but I've seldomly had this here, I did encounter this often on other sites and fora. If you don't understand an answer here, post it and there will always be someone that makes it clear. Therefor, I really can't understand why you should...

OK... this is getting too subjective to still matter, but you get my point.

That is my point, ellva and it does lead somewhere!

And being subjective or not is moot.

There have been and still are, times, when no matter how much 'clarification' or 'explanation' is provided, the answers are just plain 'unfathomable'. (ie: I just don't get it!)

I do not intend to beat this into the ground either! But, it is important that those who are intending to help understand that those of us who are less adept at figuring out the procedures in Linux are unable to comprehend what is provided.... for whatever reason.

THAT is my point! It remains valid! And I greatly appreciate all the efforts made in trying to get me to where I get it!

Just as I have skills that others might find incomprehensible, no matter how I tried to explain them. But, after a time, you would understand! It would become clear.

I have 'played' with Linux now for 4 years, off and on. It still remains pretty much a mystery to me. Yet, I persist! And, little by little, I get it!

I have spent far more time trying to comprehend Linux, than I have trying to learn Windows. With Windows it has been a process of "plugging holes" with third party software. Not so with Linux and that is the beauty of Linux and why I persist in trying to learn the Linux system. I pray that the developers will continue to work on Linux. To make it even better.

I am just a user and will most likely always remain, just a user. That does not make my efforts less valuable!

Oh, don't doubt about it. But this OS for peons, espesially for windows user is very difficult for using. In fact, the windows OS is a more simple than Linux, so these users choose windows.