Re: .bin file and other annoyances

[Kevin Bucknum <kevin.bucknum@xxxxxxxxx>]

On Sat, Nov 7, 2009 at 12:50 PM, Jon Paris <Jon.Paris@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> The big problem for me as a Linux/Unix newbie is what the hell to do
> when things don't work.  Right now that renders it impractical from a
> work perspective.  I need stuff to "just work" - when to make the OS
> do that causes me more grief than with Windows that's when I begin to
> wonder.
>
> The strides Ubuntu in particular has made in the 2 years since I last
> seriously looked at it are amazing - but for me it still doesn't seem
> "ready for prime time" unless you are a Unix hack. So me - I'll be
> staying with my Mac for the foreseeable future. But I will see about
> using Linux for file servers etc. in the Network
>
>
> Jon Paris
>
>  <http://www.Partner400.com>


While I don't really consider myself a unix hacker, I do push the edge as
compared to most on this list so far. My main work environment is a 64 bit
linux desktop. It's Gentoo which a little more complex than Ubuntu, and I do
have to maintain both 32 bit and binary (as opposed to the source base that
Gentoo is based on) pieces to get my work done.  I can't really change my
primary work environment but I don't mind throwing up a virtual desktop and
playing around in that to work through some of the issues that come up and
for the time being considering it a new desktop install.

Goals for the time being.
1. A basic linux desktop distro install with a list of tools that a "normal"
iSeries developer/admin can install and use.
2. Some sort of blog to document all of this.

Even though I use linux on the desktop full time, I agree it's not ready for
prime time. That said, we are aren't exactly normal users. Most users don't
ever even install an operating system, hell most don't even upgrade they
just buy a new computer. I think if we can just get a basic system up and
documented, we will overcome a big hurdle.

Questions are:
1. What distro. Ubunutu seems to be the desktop choice. I'd go with current
- 9.10 right now. I prefer KDE, but I'll go gnome unless there is an
overriding preference.
2. Bits - 32 vs 64. It's very different running 32 vs 64 in linux. While I'd
like to go 64, 32 is probably best as a reference platform.
3. Where to document. I'm not a normal blogger, so I'm open to suggestions.

Kevin Bucknum