1237e11a7c0b
tech



Hello Wayne - 

WC>> I'll do the low level stuff as root and create a user
WC>> account for myself after I setup my permissions for the
WC>> use of things like printer, network and modem. This should
WC>> keep me out of harms way. 

CA>> I'm told that is a wise thing to do. I've never setup a
CA>> 'user account' for myself and have always been 'root' on
CA>> all of my machines since I am the only 'user'. :-) 

CA>> I was referring to the necessity to un-mount devices etc.
CA>> rather than the automated way that Windows (and other OS)
CA>> do it. 

WC> I have to alter two files to mount hda1 on boot but have no
WC> plans to do so. As need arises I'll mount them from root
WC> and umount once I'm done moving files. 

I wouldn't necessarilly mount the FAT partition each time at
boot myself. Good luck with remembering to un-mount the FAT
partition when you _do_ mount/use it. ;-) 

--8<--cut 

WC> Found Dillo browser is already included as is AbiWord word
WC> processor. 

Ah ... good, I thought you might have the version of KNOPPIX
that does not include AbiWord (it's been deprecated apparently). 

WC> Still prefer Firebird browser though which is included and
WC> the same release I've got in 98 :-) 

Firebird is OK but I prefer the full Mozilla myself. :-) 

--8<--cut 

CA>> Most FIDO BBS will be sending you Pkzip'd archives not
CA>> GZIP'd nor BZIP'd archives. :-) 

WC> Wonder if Ross Cassell's Linux based BBS offer a Linux
WC> native decompression - compression option, I'll check next
WC> time I'm there. 

I never looked for a Linux compressor on a FIDO BBS but it's
possible I suppose?

WC> Saved a detailed web page on the use of Tar and Gzip. ect.
WC> Need to snag MultiMail for Linux as well as the home user
WC> Linux version of F-prot. 

Tar was a bit confusing for me since some versions have the
built-in 'compress' function and some archives use Bzip2
instead of Gzip. 

WC> The syntax for telnet transfers is going to take some
WC> research on my part. I've seen references to a BSD - Linux
WC> hack of ztelnet but as yet no download link. 

I have the Slackware v3.5 binary and the documentation for
ztelnet. May even have the source code, not sure. Zmodem use
from ztelnet is not as automated as it normally is in DOS or
Windows terminal software. 

WC> SCP stands for Secure Copy and is another possibility I
WC> need examine to see if it's suitable to this use. 

The only SCP I've used is a DOS binary that creates floppy
image files. 

--8<--cut 

CA>>> If you intend to _create_ files you will need Windows for
CA>>> the foreseeable future. 

WC>> I'll pickup Abiword as word proccessor so I can have
WC>> MSWord compatibility and WP can convert. 

CA>> Word processing is only one way to create files. I was
CA>> thinking of graphics file manipulation/creation,
CA>> sound/music file manipulation/creation, and others. :-) 

WC> There's a pretty impressive assortment of multimedia,
WC> sound, video and munipulation apps native to Knoppix. 

I didn't see all that much but I'm not familiar with all of the
names of the binaries either. 

WC> I need to lose the Rockwell sound card - modem combo and
WC> slap the Turtle beach sound card in there before I try the
WC> Audacity MP3, WAV, ect application. Native T.V. video card
WC> app. in there too. 

KNOPPIX won't use my brother's onboard sound device either. 

WC> Two of my favorite old arcade video games are there as
WC> well, Galaga and Asteroids. 

I fiddle with an online version of Asteroids now and then. :-) 

--8<--cut 

WC> Verizon used to allow one to stay online for extended
WC> periods but now seems to log you off at 5 hours tops even
WC> with activity :-( Time to change providers, it's my 150
WC> Hrs/Mo and I should be allowed to chose how I use them! 

My brother's ISP, PeoplePC, does the same thing. Nasty IMO. 

--8<--cut 

WC>> So smimplee a cihld kood due it ;-) 

CA>> Not quite that simple. You've had time to acclimate
CA>> yourself to the 'hda' and other Linux terminology while
CA>> using the other mini-installs. From ground zero the
CA>> terminology would be a bit of a stumbling block I suspect. 

WC> Intimidation-wise for sure for most but I like puzzles and
WC> obscure syntax like this... well much of the time until it
WC> takes me too long to work around a snag. 

If you enjoy obscurity *nix will keep you contented for a long
long time. 

WC> I've still some things to learn from those mini-intalls and
WC> thats why I've got the spare Linux native partition, later
WC> I may tack it on in Knoppix on boot. 

If you make copies of a mini-install the nice part is if you
trash it you can restore in minutes. :-) 

--8<--cut 

WC>> You know that's one of many things I'll have to look into.
WC>> No bother now the man pages and HOW_TO's are on the local
WC>> drive :-) 

CA>> Linux only installs manpages for installed binaries (each
CA>> archive of a binary includes it's own manpages). If the
CA>> binary is not installed you will not find it's manpages
CA>> either. 

WC> I think Knoppix installed *EVERYTHING* here. Hey I've not
WC> even 1/10th explored all the GUI apps on KDE let alone the
WC> command line. 

WC> So far all the man pages I've invoked have shown up. 

KNOPPIX doesn't include _every_ Linux binary. At times you will
need to search the Internet for 'manpages' for binaries KNOPPIX
didn't include. 

--8<--cut 

WC>> For March I may change ISP's to 1/2 price local outfit or
WC>> go DSL where I'm at not sure which yet. 

CA>> If you're considering going DSL then there is no need for
CA>> the 56k modem. Any decent modem is OK as a 'backup' for
CA>> emergency use once you have DSL. 

WC> Five year warrantee on the hardware external I've in mind
WC> and the cost for the local ISP is only 9.95 unlimited
WC> dialup. BTW the dialer in Knoppix connects and negotiates
WC> way faster than Windows' dialer. 

WC> The big attraction to DSL is all the Linux freeware out
WC> there and streaming multimedia. 

Point is, if you could decide if you will be using dialup or
DSL now you could avoid buying a modem you won't have a use
for. ;-) 

--8<--cut 

CA>> The Winamp lookalike included with KNOPPIX seems quite
CA>> good here for most music files. I would recommend either
CA>> CuBase or Timidity (I prefer Timidity myself) for MIDI
CA>> music files (there are links to Timidity at my website
CA>> MIDI page). There are 5 meg and 8 meg GUS patch files
CA>> available for CuBase and Timidity, you don't _have_ to use
CA>> the 30 meg EAW GUS patch files. I vaguely remember some
CA>> talk of a RealAudio Linux app but no name comes to mind
CA>> for that one. 

WC> Audacity? 

Audacity is a WAV file editor/recorder. It doesn't play MIDI
files. 

CA>> I'm still wondering about graphics. I have GIMP from
CA>> GNU/Win here and it's not an easy program to use IMO. I'm
CA>> looking for another user interface that is more familiar
CA>> (to me). 

WC> Got GIMP, haven't used it yet. 

I found the user interface to be a bit confusing. Multi-level
menus make finding the tools a bit frustrating. Memorization of
where the tools are 'buried' in those multi-level menus seems a
necessity for ease of use. 

>
>        ,                          ,
>      o/      Charles.Angelich      \o       ,
>       __o/
>     / >          USA, MI           < \   __\__
 

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