Messages

This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.

31

The Polling Pit / Re: Best Unix OS / BSD / Linux distro

« on: September 05, 2009, 04:12:04 PM »

Yast isnt' required, you can use typical configuration options (text files, GUI editors). That said, many things in Yast I actually like. By any chance, were you using Gnome? I'm personally not all that excited about Suse's default Gnome desktop.

and package management / installation was way still slower than with Ubuntu (i.e. minutes to calculate dependencies)

Sounds more like Fedora than Suse in my experience. sudo zypper up is fast. Now, I will admit that DOWNLOADING of packages is slow. This is one of the "immaturities" I meant, it downloads, installs, downloads, installs. It takes forever and fails if your net dies. This IS being corrected in 11.2.

for some things I had to use CNR, and for some reason I also had to use smart as well.

I can't imagine a reason in hell you'd "need" to use those, unless they were the ONLY way to install something. That's a case you'd not find on Suse, and wouldn't be solved by other distros. Unless you're blindly following tutorials... but that's not a "must". zypper has replaced all other package management in Suse. zypper is even modularized and handles the Yast package installation.

I didn't try it for long, and I might not be recalling some things accurately, but what I remember is a general frustration in setting up all the software I typically want on a Linux box

All of the things you listed I've experience with the 10.x line, but not 11.1. With Suse's one-click installs, I can't think of a SIMPLER way. Literally, the OpenSUse website has buttons like "Click to install KDE 4". One click, root or sudo password and it's on it's way. Repos added, refreshed, downloaded and installed.

Don't take this as a bash against Ubuntu. I have been a dpkg fanboy for YEARS and it's still probably the best package manager for any distro that's currently had a stable release. It beats zypper on 11.1 but I think it might equal zypper on 11.2 and surpass it by 12.0.

something which on Ubuntu only requires adding 3-4 repositories and running a batch of apt-get commands.

I should also note that after Karmic, Ubuntu will be re-organizing their repos. Those "main universe multiverse restricted" might require you to be more specific, but the details are still being hammered out. And to REALLY make use of Ubuntu, the PPA repositories are there (Chromium Browser 64-bit, for instance).

32

General / Re: Japan is dead.

« on: September 05, 2009, 04:01:28 PM »

Good call on btjunkie, BTW. Always one of my absolute favorites.

33

The Show / Re: 1st post. 2 things..

« on: September 04, 2009, 09:16:18 PM »

as far as i understand the woman was young, cute and the sole female in the demonstration. she was on the edge of a very dangerous cliff..

She wasn't alone. She wasn't even the only female.

And she was visibly armed.

What's your problem? The only danger she was in came from the men with flashy lights and the socially-accepted ability to put their hands on their guns and order a half-naked woman into the back of their car. That, by the way, was what she was protesting against.

34

The Polling Pit / Re: Best Unix OS / BSD / Linux distro

« on: September 04, 2009, 09:06:03 PM »

Kubuntu is good because it is built on Ubuntu and its great package management system, but it's not the most solid / best KDE distro by far.

Since 11.1, OpenSUSE has has a new dependency resolver, zypper. It's still immature and a little rough around the edges. The upcoming release, 11.2 is slated to fix a lot of the issues I saw on 11.2. I've been a Debian fanboy for years, but OpenSUSE might equal Debian's package management on pure technical merit.

OpenSUSE is also shifting to a more modular approach with their repos, so users can construct out of modules (KDE 4 is a module, Kernel is a module, Wine is a module, Virtualbox is a module) of various builds (super-stable, current, testing) to get each component in the exact stage of development/disrepair they need. Perhaps you want a rock steady kernel because everything "just works" but you want the latest and greatest KDE 4 release, you can do it.

Once zypper is polished and the modular repos hit, I would state with confidence that OpenSuse is the best Linux distro unless you're a Gentoo ricer zealot.

35

The Show / Re: Basement.freetalklive.com

« on: September 04, 2009, 08:54:29 PM »

I don't feel like this is desperate. You might, that is your business, but $50 for someone filling out a web form. I have never heard of a per inquiry deal like that before.

It's the norm in web advertising. Most make payout triggered on some action. Nobody gets paid (for instance) on Google ads for Netflix unless someone actually signs up for NetFlix. The trigger can be different for each business.

36

General / Re: Japan is dead.

« on: September 04, 2009, 08:51:57 PM »

People in Japan are at least minimally aware of libertarian ideas?  I'd like to see the source on that...

Battle Royale.

Moral of the story? Trust the government, especially to educate your kids, everyone dies.

37

The Show / Re: Wed Sept 2 Show, the Worst Ever

« on: September 04, 2009, 08:31:59 PM »

I love a lot of what Sam does but he needs to acknowledge that his actual scientific knowledge is around zero and not pretend that "intuition" substitutes well for "experiment".

I agree pretty much 100% here. I think Sam is a great guy. I find him less-than-entertaining on FTL.

38

The Polling Pit / Re: Does FTL need more female co-hosts?

« on: August 31, 2009, 07:13:34 PM »

I don't think it matters. I'm not sure if it's the way the show runs or the personalities of the co-hosts, but unless there are only two co-hosts who speak up enough for me to even think they affect the show all that much. And one's good and the other I don't like, so they sorta cancel each other out.

39

General / Re: Car accident and dealing with insurance companies

« on: August 28, 2009, 07:29:14 PM »

The only issue at hand in my mind is "were you at fault in this accident". The ticket for no insurance is BS, even if driving without insurance isn't the brightest of moves.

Realistically speaking, I think they're going to sue you for the $13K. Realistically speaking, I think the civil court will find the fact that you drive without insurance (when the state mandates it) to be acceptable proof that you're a negligent driver. I'm not saying it's RIGHT, but I'm saying it's likely to happen.

You should prepare for being sued. If you have some form of proof (photographs, eye witness statements, documented statements from the biker) that the accident was not your fault, make sure you can provide them in court. And again, prepare to be railroaded and found liable for the accident.

40

The Polling Pit / Re: Best Unix OS / BSD / Linux distro

« on: August 28, 2009, 07:20:27 PM »

fglrx wouldn't compile for me, but Debian had them prepackaged. That's the whole reason for having "distributions", isn't it?

Yes, though the fglrx driver supposedly has the ability to built itself into a Suse or Fedora RPM or a Debian or Ubuntu .deb. It's always filed in my experience with .deb.

41

General / Re: He or She?

« on: August 27, 2009, 06:56:11 PM »

I don't have a problem per se with gender seperated sports, though I do disagree with the idea that a certain group of people is better suited. I used to believe that "black people better athlete's" thing based off of my highly scientific study of the NBA and the NFL. There are just as many dumpy, unathletic blacks as there are whites.

I've heard some suggestion that American black people are better suited for athletics because "stronger" ones were bred during the time of slavery. These people will also tend to point out that only in the NBA are a bunch of rich white men allowed to buy, sell and trade strong black men who will in turn make them lots and lots of money.

The studies show this is wrong too.

I will say that, on the subject of gender seperation, with transgendered people becoming more and more visible in society, and more and more likely to enter sports, it's really really stupid. I have to really wonder how important gender is to the "spirit of competition" if you require genetic testing in order to tell. If you need testing that exact to qualify or disqualify someone, it's a good indicator that the gender line is unneeded.

And, in fitting with the "He or She" threat topic... This chick is 17 as of today and was born a man. I think it's a remarkable transition.

[youtube=425,350]ASv0QwqtXZY[/youtube]

42

The Polling Pit / Re: Any Windows users NOT switching to 7 RC?

« on: August 27, 2009, 06:40:50 PM »

I ask this in ALL seriousness, because I'm not sure if you're doing it intentionally, to be difficult, or if you REALLY don't see that you're doing it. I was once a FOSS Fanboy (Google "Kevin Dean Linux" and Free Software is predominant among the hits) and I used sneaky shit like that too. I've since realized it's at the very heart of why Linux people do a piss poor job of selling Linux to others, because they manage to have long conversations, and not even talk about what the other person is.

In just about every instance, including some where I wrote WHY I dispute your claims, you identify the OTHER point, and use it as if I'm wrong. For example:

ATI's parent company, AMD, was sputtering in it's death throes. They reorganized by splitting their chip design and fabrication companies in two and TAKING A HEFTY SUM from... get this... the goverment of Dubai.

I don't call government-subsidized anything "free market".

This should be clear - my dispute is with the claim that AMD is engaged in free market competition. I then explained why. I then made the mental leap that, being subsidized by a government, they have LESS incentive to respond to market signals such as people boycotting their devices for lack of driver support.

As far as I can tell, all you're doing is pointing out that they deserve to lose customers.

I agree with this point, fully, but it wasn't the topic at hand.

Here's yet another example of where you do that subtle "shift":

All you're doing is reiterating that F/OSS can solve many problems that proprietary software does not solve.

I wasn't talking about FOSS vs non-FOSS and until I proved your wrong, neither were you. I was refuting your claim that you couldn't play certain media, and I quite "without Linux".

Then I'm left to wonder how you rationalize that they are Windows-only vulnerabilities.

Point and counterpoint. Some people think incorrectly that one must propose the alternative in order to refute a point, but those folks are wrong. You made a statement, that Windows is the reason Google issues warnings as if Windows and not poor system adminstration, is the reason for said warnings. I refuted a negative trait you incorrectly applied to Windows. I did not make the claim, in fact the opposite, that other OSes did not have this trait.

Didn't you just get done thrashing ATI/AMD for their practices, and now you're asking for a new driver for their video card? Please, which way do you want this?

Again, that whole "shifting" thing. I don't want a driver for AMD's video card, I want a driver for MY video card. You also seem to be confused by the whole "time" concept. The fact that I PREVIOUSLY purchased an AMD chipset doesn't imply agreement with policy adopted AFTER the purchase.

Excuse me, you didn't read what I wrote again.

I was talking about SOFTWARE INTEGRATION of LOOK AND FEEL. Nothing what so ever to do with integration with the OS.

I'll work on reading shit that isn't there, will you commit to explaining yourself when you're speaking of a subset of things within the greater set mentioned in the conversation?

Macs aren't JUST software integration of look and feel, but includes integration between hardware and software capabilities which is the very purpose of an operating system.

I don't use Amarok 2 or Kopete

The fact that you don't use them is irrelevant. Both are official KDE projects with dissimilar interfaces.

This comes back again to choosing hardware AND software that fits ones needs and uses, and not blaming one for the failings of the other. You would understand that if you would read what I write.

I do read what you write. I'm fluent in English as well. Hell, I even agree with you, that evaluation of needs both from hardware and software are VITAL to having a positive, producitve outcome. I even agree that bolstering or challenging one is not disparaging or lauding the other. It seems to me that your writing, if it factors this in, fails to communicate it effectively, as I've explained with specific cases above.

With that, your last post and my opinions agree in general on the question of "Which OS is better" with the answer being "The one that meets your needs".

43

General / Re: Free Thought Association Game

« on: August 26, 2009, 08:29:05 PM »

Baskin Robbins!

44

General / Re: Free Thought Association Game

« on: August 26, 2009, 05:55:55 PM »

Tax free cigarettes

45

General / Re: DVD, game Age Ratings illegal in UK due to retarded government.

« on: August 26, 2009, 05:52:22 PM »

Did you really need more?