---LINUX
 
> Maurice is much more the expert than I, however
> if you'd like a novices perspective?
 
 === I just wrote Maurice that I wouldn't ask any
 dumb questions before reading up on Linux for
 some basic background info, but here's a few
 questions for you, not too dumb, I hope.
 
> I've Knoppix Linux here which can run entirely in RAM
> if you've enough or be installed to the hard drive.
 
 === Various versions are available in the
 library here - Knoppix, Redhat, Slackware,
 Debian, and a few others - with manuals and CDs.
 Do you mean your Knoppix can load from a floppy?
 Or a CD? How much RAM would I need? And what
 size is Knoppix anyway? Sounds tiny.
 
> Installed it in an hour then with a few tips
> from the gurus setup a user account which is
> VERY important lest someone use the power of
> this O.S. against you operating as root user
> while online.
 
 === Now I'm dredging my memory from way back,
 but does that mean that someone with a knowlege
 of UNIX can gain access to your system?  If so,
 how likely is that to happen? Seems pretty remote.
 
> Had K-Mail, multiple browsers, newsgroups and
> dialer setup in no time at all. Knoppix comes with
> a nice word processor as well as autodetects most except
> bleeding edge hardware and winprinters, winmodems.
 
 === Multiple browsers?  Meaning?
 
> My hard drive crashed and burned before I could
> get past the last two obsticles to setting up an
> OLR and ztelnet to use fidonet from Linux offline.
 
 === Obstacles?  What do you mean by obstacles?
 
> I could telnet into BBS's easily and post or
> reply online however.
> Even without the larger font Maurice mentioned I
> found Linux easier on these tired eyes.
 
 === Hmm. So the larger font option isn't
 available in Knoppix Linux?
 
> Much cleaner look than Windows (but similar in
> many respects), and loads web pages faster.
 
 === How about the icons? To visually impaired
 folk, icons look like nothing more than  tiny
 smudges on the screen.
 
 PM> From what I've heard Linux's is a -steep- learning curve.
 
> Most versions ARE and the complex powerful
> functions available are a steep learning curve
> as well as being dangerous operating as root as
> well.
 
> Knoppix gives you an easy to setup familiar GUI
> operating system that you can learn as you go
> while still being productive with the tools that
> load up onto the desktop.
 
 === Well. I'm interested, just from the talk
 I've heard about it, but no hands on knowledge yet,
 and only the vaguest idea about it being Unix
 based and thus more controllable.  However, like
 I said to Maurice, I may be dreaming in
 technicolor considering the backed up stuff I
 have to deal with and the investment in time
 that I understand Linux requires. I once owned
 one of those massive Unix tomes with 1000 or so
 pages of small print that, despite good
 intentions, I never got around to - and this
 Linux idea may end up the same way. Nevertheless
 thanks for taking the time to write up your
 experience with it. Hands on experience is I
 suppose the final test, and you seem to sound
 pretty positive about it. At any rate, it's much
 appreciated.
 

--- Maximus/2 3.01