VanLUG Email Archive
Well, it *was* a pretty enthusiastic group.
In summary, your points are good. We should certainly remind people not
to buy new hardware before checking to make sure it's supported.
However, we shouldn't dissuade people from taking Linux for a test drive
on older/existing hardware. Quite often, it works quite well!
Specific comments:
First of all, I think it's safe to assume that 90% of those attending
the InstallFest will be technically adventurous folk like those already
in the VanLUG. Some will be students, others will be IT folk,
scientists, or engineers who want to find out what all the fuss is about
and have decided to start playing around with Linux in their spare
time. They'll simply be coming to the Installfest looking for a
jumpstart into Linux, and can handle leaving with a few minor loose
ends. We're *not* trying to sell Linux to those who feel uncomfortable
looking under the hood unless they're willing to sign a support
contract.
If anyone seriously diasgrees with this assessment, we should discuss
this!
> The newbies -- the people most likely to be coming to an InstallFest -- are
> likely to be frightened by this. They'd rather have a collection of parts
> that's assured to work together, by some big name. But, as I recall,
> machines by Compac, IBM (Aptiva), or Dell are NOT likely to work with
> Linux.
I'm confused. Are you saying that some of these machines will simply
not run Linux? Or that not all of their peripherals will be properly
recognized?
I'm sure some hardware is just plain problematic but I've always been
amazed at how Linux would run (and run well) on anything I ever tried.
I've installed Linux on several Compaq laptops (LTE Elite 4/75CX), a
Dell 466/L, an IBM Aptiva 486, a Monorail (Pentium) 166LS, an AST 486
box, an Industrial Computer Source 486 box, a homebuilt box with an ASUS
VX97 motherboard, a box with a Shuttle 386SX motherboard, a box with a
noname 486-33 motherboard....
The only one that didn't work was the Industrial Computer Source 486
box, It simply froze up part way through the boot sequence even though
it apparently ran DOS and Win3.1 without difficulty. Later on, the
fellow that inherited the ICS box from me reported that it had stopped
working for DOS/Win. He suspected that stress cracks had severed some
traces on the motherboard.
> Does anyone know if what's currently being sold by the UBC Bookstore will
> run Linux? ( ???? :)
No. However, it's good point and we'll see if we can address that issue
before the Installfest. As Simon can attest, we're definitely making
friends there.
> It can be a chore and a struggle, to carry your new hardware to the SUB.
> If we have a high failure rate, and an angry mob on our hands, we may do
> the reputation of Linux more harm than good.
Failure rate? Few machines come with built in NIC's, so the only real
problem areas could be be sound and accelerated video. Generic VGA
always works (doesn't it), so they'll always have at least something
running.
-- Dave Michelson