Loving Slackware

There aren't enough Linux users over at aquaxp, so i figured this would be more fitting here.

After digging through many distros and finding myself with most.

Redhat and mandrake were too propietary. I really admire redhat, but i feel like i am using microsoft linux (sorry)

mandrake is cool, but was missing a lot in making it easier (little things that made a difference to me like kppp)

debian was bleh, and had kinda old versions of stuff. (i have dial up) and i haven't tried suse in a while.....

i also did freebsd, but that is really made as a server os instead of a desktop os.

but slackware seems to be a nice happy medium. all the stuff that i read in unix books and in how tos seems to be working fairly well, all is as it should be, and it actually has the newest kernel and kde 3.1

so, its quite nice :boob_shake:

i reccomend it to those that are using redhat etc. mandrake is the nicest that i have used otherwise. it recognized everything, includeing my tv card (windows xp won't do that) but slackware kicks ass

#27305

Yeah, I love Slackware too. You'll learn a lot more about Linux using Slackware.

Check out: http://www.linuxpackages.net for up to date slackware packages.

I have to disagree though,BSD makes a better Desktop OS than Linux. I use FreeBSD 5, and it runs like a dream, even on my crappy hardware. Much better than Linux. The only reason I dont use it full time is because it relies heavily on Ports, and I dont have internet in FreeBSD. :6

That, and I dont feel like deleting Slackware to be able to run BSD on my new system, ive spent too long customizing it.

#27310

i want to try slackware, but i can't find any drivers for my dinky xircom softmodem.

what's the point of using an os if you can't get on the internet.

#27319

Maybe you should just buy a new modem that works w/ linux. I mean, they're only like $15-20.

:canadian:

#27322

you should get one for bsd

Do you know how well bsd would cope with my laptop?

and how difficult is it?

thanks,

fissy

#27324

i have laptop, so an external one's more expensive and it's pretty lame to have to carry it around whenever i'm on the move.

anyways, i'm realy enjoying using windows server 2003 right now.

#27325

BSD is no harder than Linux. Its the same concept and 3rd party programs, the kernels just different, so a couple of commands are different, but most are the same.

BSD doesnt cope w/ laptops well though, id suggest sticking w/ Linux for that.

BSD doesnt have as many programs, but it can run almost all Linux programs in emulation, so thats not a problem. Also, ports gives you access to thousands of programs that are sure to work, it makes updating a breeze, but you have to have the internet.

Remember, you running the same programs as in Linux (Xfree86, KDE, GNOME, Mozilla, GIMP, whatever), so they will be controlled the same way, though programs seem to run better in BSD much of the time.

I suggest trying FreeBSD 5.1, its coming out in a couple of weeks, and 5.0 is great, so 5.1 will update the somewhat out of date packages (xf86 4.2). FreeBSD installs almost exactly the same way Slackware does, so if you can do one, you can do the other.

If your happy w/ Linux, theres not much of a point in switching though.

#27327

Sounds interesting..

I wouldn't mind trying it out - i don't mind a bit of learning you know

Unfortunately i only have a laptop at the moment so it will have to wait.

Thanks for the information

#27328

It might work fine w/ your laptop. Its just that there arent as many drivers written for BSD, so its harder to get strange hardware working.

Try searching your laptop model/name in Google-BSD: google.com/bsd , and also check out Google groups.

#27337

i may have to give bsd another run, if you say it runs much better.....

in terms of modems, hardware modems are the only ones that will EASILY run on a non win system, and they are MUCH MUCH better. i do isp tech support, and crappy little winmodems are a big problem. the downside is you can get a winmodem for $10-30, but you shell out at least $50 for a hardware modem. alas....

check out linmodems.org (i think its .org) they have ways to get some winmodems working under linux (and hopefully bsd)

#27663

thanks, laydros.

i've been to that site a million times looking for updates to winmodem drivers ever since i install suse linux and others as well.

but for some reason, my dinky Lucent's xircom softmodem AMR has yet to be supported

and yes, i know hardware modems are better... i just didn't know that my laptop would come with a softmodem when i bought it. if only manufacturers were more specific.

#27679

If you guys have 2 computers, you can run Windows on one of them, running Internet, and turn on ICS (internet connection sharing), and it uses DHCP to share your internet over your LAN. It allows any Linux client to access a Windows ISP/Modem instantly.

Its what im doing, and it works great. It works on dialup fine, thats what I have.

You need Windows 98SE + to do it.

#27846

yeah, thats my setup right now. i have a winxp box working as a firewall/print/filesharing server.

but i would like to move it over to linux or bsd. just some features and stuff that i would like to use.

one question.....

i am useing a laptop that has a touchpoint. and it has 3 buttons. the usual function of the third button is to hold it down, and moving the cursor will make you scroll. is there any way to get that to work under linux??? i know its very software oriented, because under windows it works in explorer, but not in phoenix.

#28490

I have no idea.

Heres a tip I just learned:

Slackware can install Redhat 9 RPMS great. Just make sure you have the RPM package installed from the Slackware disk.

Then just do: rpm2tgz file.rpm , and it will convert it into a TGZ package for you to install. Great, aint it.

#28498

wow thats a nifty trick.. ill have to try that out on my friends slackware... hehehe redhat rpms installing on slackware.. i like that hehehe

thansk for that info constra

-bolero

#28674

Yeah, they install better on Slackware then on Redhat.

Make sure you've met the dependancies though, because TGZs have no dependancy checking built in.

#28680