Should I jump into Linux?
Andrew
installing Linux on a home machine. I'm an applied math graduate student,
and I use my computer quite a bit. Like most folks I use the web and e-
mail, but I also write papers using Word and use Telnet and FTP to access
and utilize Matlab from home. I don't do any programming, except
mathematical programming using Matlab.
-I've read and watched all the excitement about Linux, and I'm wondering
what advantages installing Linux would offer to someone like me?
-I'm a TA, and I have to use a Unix spreadsheet program called Xess. My
Microsoft spreadsheet program doesn't seem to be compatible. Is there a
Linux equivalent that is freely availble that would be compatible to Xess?
-Is most Linux software free? More specifically, I have to write my
thesis using LaTex. Is there a Linux version of Tex that is free?
The bottom line, is that I'm not a Windows hater or Windows lover.
I use my computer as a tool to get information and get my work done.
Would Linux be a good step for me to take?
Thanks for any help you could give me....Andrew
--
Posted via CNET Help.com
http://www.help.com/
Jan Schaumann
> I am looking for any advice and wisdom people have about 'an average
> Joe' installing Linux on a home machine. I'm an applied math graduate
> student, and I use my computer quite a bit. Like most folks I use the
> web and e- mail, but I also write papers using Word and use Telnet and
> FTP to access and utilize Matlab from home. I don't do any
> programming, except mathematical programming using Matlab.
>
> -I've read and watched all the excitement about Linux, and I'm wondering
>
> what advantages installing Linux would offer to someone like me?
> -I'm a TA, and I have to use a Unix spreadsheet program called Xess. My
>
> Microsoft spreadsheet program doesn't seem to be compatible. Is there a
> Linux equivalent that is freely availble that would be compatible to
> Xess?
Generally, *any* unix-program will also run on Linux. I don't know xess,
but http://freshmeat.net/projects/xess/ tells me it is for Linux as well.
I usually use gnuermic for spreadsheets on Linux, tho.
> -Is most Linux software free? More specifically, I have to write my
> thesis using LaTex. Is there a Linux version of Tex that is free?
>
Almost *all* software for Linux is free. If it isn't, you can most likely
find a program of equal quality that *is* free. And Linux does, of course,
come with LaTeX on most installations, as well as LyX (a graphical
front-end to LaTeX).
> The bottom line, is that I'm not a Windows hater or Windows lover.
>
> I use my computer as a tool to get information and get my work done.
> Would Linux be a good step for me to take?
Linux would be an excellent step for you to take - especially for the
scientific student you will be able to appreciate the way Linux
andLinux-software works.
-Jan
--
Jan Schaumann <http://www.netmeister.org>
Why is it that we rejoice at a birth and grieve at a funeral? It is because we
are not the person involved. -- Mark Twain
ray
I AM an xess user, and it's pretty nice. It importted my Excel stuff problem
free. Since then, I haven't needed to look back.
--
Ray R. Jones
Errors have been made. Others will be blamed.
r...@raymondjones.net
HTTP://raymondjones.net
David Rysdam
Hash: SHA1
And Andrew Spoke:
>-I've read and watched all the excitement about Linux, and I'm wondering
>what advantages installing Linux would offer to someone like me?
Stability, power and flexibility. There is MUCH free
scientific/mathematical software for Linux
(http://SAL.KachinaTech.COM/sal1.shtml), including a Matlab workalike
called "Octave" (http://www.che.wisc.edu/octave/).
>-I'm a TA, and I have to use a Unix spreadsheet program called Xess. My
>Microsoft spreadsheet program doesn't seem to be compatible. Is there a
>Linux equivalent that is freely availble that would be compatible to Xess?
Yes. Almost all "Unix" software runs on Linux with no problem. This
is especially so in the last year or so as software vendors have put
out Linux versions (often just repackaged with a new label). As for
Xess: http://freshmeat.net/projects/xess/?highlight=xess
>-Is most Linux software free?
Yes, but that's not the question you really mean to ask, after all if
Linux had no software it would all be free. What you mean to ask is
"is there a free equivalent of (or actual version of) everything
a normal Joe needs". The answer to this is "yes" as well.
> More specifically, I have to write my
>thesis using LaTex. Is there a Linux version of Tex that is free?
Absolutely, I've used it myself. There's even a graphical editor call
LyX (www.lyx.org--which I've also used). Both free (and Free).
> The bottom line, is that I'm not a Windows hater or Windows lover.
>I use my computer as a tool to get information and get my work done.
>Would Linux be a good step for me to take?
Ask yourself two questions:
1) Am I getting my work done as well as I could?
2) Am I willing to go through a certain amount of pain and frustration
if I will end up better for it?
- --
My public encryption key is available from www.keyserver.net
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Comment: For info see http://www.gnupg.org
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8ZiTHgWMZUVBHp+KDuovCc4=
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Brian & Colleen
> I am looking for any advice and wisdom people have about 'an average Joe'
> installing Linux on a home machine.
At last, a question where my newbie opinion may have some value. I've been
'playing' with Linux for about 9 months. At home I am totally Linux (my last
Mandrake 7.1 update did not go well and I clobbered my Win'95 partition).
From what I've noticed so far:
- there are programs available for almost everything you'd want to do. The
one thing I miss from Windows is my fax capability. I've got efax downloaded
and installed but haven't managed to configure it to actually do anything.
- the variety of command line utilities in a standard Linux install is
staggering. I'd forgotten how useful simple text files could be if you've got
all the utilities to manipulate them
- compilers, interpreters and scripting languages are "standard equipment" (I
like Python myself)
- the learning curve on a lot of the stuff is very steep and newsgroups are
vital. This one is wonderful for newbies.
- there is a great variety in the quality of the applications available but
the price is right on most of them. StarOffice is a pig on my system (40 MB
Pentium) but it handles all of my word-processing, spreadsheet and
presentation requirements, once it finally loads.
I now find myself at work missing simple things like grep and emacs
(really!!) on my Windows machine at work.
Brian Smith
grey...@direct.ca
http://mypage.direct.ca/g/greybria
PoD
>[snip]
> -Is most Linux software free? More specifically, I have to write my
> thesis using LaTex. Is there a Linux version of Tex that is free?
LaTex should be included with most (if not all) distributions.
Cevat Ustun
using linux for quite some time now. In making the transition, the only
one commercial program that I looked for was Mathematica
and sure enough, you can find that for linux too (I'm
sure you can find Matlab also). As for spreadsheets,
there are quite a few choices, but in my experience, it is usually
best to use one that is compatible with Excel as profs can
(and sometimes do) ask for the grades at the end of semester
in this form. Now if you _must_ use Xess ... :)
As I'm sure you realize, it is possible to have windows and
linux coexist on the same hard drive so "jumping" doesn't
necessarily have to involve a _complete_ break with the past.
If you have _any_ doubts about trashing your windows
partition, you may want to get an old hard drive (say an
800MB one or so) and try that in place of your usual drive to
install linux and see if you like it. These old drives should
be pretty affordable and worth it considering (however
remote) the possibility of trashing your system due to
inexperience or whatever.
Good luck.
Cev.
Andrew wrote:
> I am looking for any advice and wisdom people have about 'an average Joe'
> installing Linux on a home machine. I'm an applied math graduate student,
> and I use my computer quite a bit. Like most folks I use the web and e-
> mail, but I also write papers using Word and use Telnet and FTP to access
> and utilize Matlab from home. I don't do any programming, except
> mathematical programming using Matlab.
>
> -I've read and watched all the excitement about Linux, and I'm wondering
> what advantages installing Linux would offer to someone like me?
> -I'm a TA, and I have to use a Unix spreadsheet program called Xess. My
> Microsoft spreadsheet program doesn't seem to be compatible. Is there a
> Linux equivalent that is freely availble that would be compatible to Xess?
> -Is most Linux software free? More specifically, I have to write my
> thesis using LaTex. Is there a Linux version of Tex that is free?
>
> The bottom line, is that I'm not a Windows hater or Windows lover.
> I use my computer as a tool to get information and get my work done.
> Would Linux be a good step for me to take?
>
> Thanks for any help you could give me....Andrew
>
> --
> Posted via CNET Help.com
> http://www.help.com/
--
Jerry L Kreps
How does Octave compare with MuPAD or Sci-Lab? Is it character based like
MuPAD or graphical?
On Fri, 29 Sep 2000, David Rysdam wrote:
>-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
>Hash: SHA1
>
>And Andrew Spoke:
>>-I've read and watched all the excitement about Linux, and I'm wondering
>>what advantages installing Linux would offer to someone like me?
>
>Stability, power and flexibility. There is MUCH free
>scientific/mathematical software for Linux
>(http://SAL.KachinaTech.COM/sal1.shtml), including a Matlab workalike
>called "Octave" (http://www.che.wisc.edu/octave/).
>
>>-I'm a TA, and I have to use a Unix spreadsheet program called Xess. My
>>Microsoft spreadsheet program doesn't seem to be compatible. Is there a
>>Linux equivalent that is freely availble that would be compatible to Xess?
>
>Yes. Almost all "Unix" software runs on Linux with no problem. This
>is especially so in the last year or so as software vendors have put
>out Linux versions (often just repackaged with a new label). As for
>Xess: http://freshmeat.net/projects/xess/?highlight=xess
>
>>-Is most Linux software free?
>
>Yes, but that's not the question you really mean to ask, after all if
>Linux had no software it would all be free. What you mean to ask is
>"is there a free equivalent of (or actual version of) everything
>a normal Joe needs". The answer to this is "yes" as well.
>
>> More specifically, I have to write my
>>thesis using LaTex. Is there a Linux version of Tex that is free?
>
>Absolutely, I've used it myself. There's even a graphical editor call
>LyX (www.lyx.org--which I've also used). Both free (and Free).
>
>> The bottom line, is that I'm not a Windows hater or Windows lover.
>>I use my computer as a tool to get information and get my work done.
>>Would Linux be a good step for me to take?
>
David Rysdam
Hash: SHA1
I've never used MuPAD or Sci-Lab, but Octave is character based. That
is, the "native" interface is character based--but I believe you can
also pipe the output to gnuplot to do graphs and so on. I haven't
used it much myself.
And Jerry L Kreps Spoke:
iD8DBQE51g5W8mkEvJSZJO8RAhFUAJwNqpwczNw2UDfvAKI2RgfGBUN3LQCfRrcq
K4tWbbauUamhgdFxz0oXx6k=
=y+Zf
-----END PGP SIGNATURE-----
cos...@ais.com
Andrew <ah...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> I am looking for any advice and wisdom people have about 'an average
Joe'
> installing Linux on a home machine. I'm an applied math graduate
student,
> and I use my computer quite a bit. Like most folks I use the web and
e-
> mail, but I also write papers using Word and use Telnet and FTP to
access
> and utilize Matlab from home. I don't do any programming, except
> mathematical programming using Matlab.
>
wondering
> what advantages installing Linux would offer to someone like me?
My
> Microsoft spreadsheet program doesn't seem to be compatible. Is there
a
> Linux equivalent that is freely availble that would be compatible to
Xess?
Our company, AIS, develops and supports the XESS spreadsheet products.
What version of XESS are you using and what kind of problem are
you having? We are currently upgrading our clients to version 5.0.
Have you reported your problems to sup...@ais.com or to local
support at your university?
Please contact our support group and we will be glad to help
with any problems.
P.S. Evaluation versions of XESS 5.0 are available for many
systems, including Linux, at http://www.ais.com but the Web
site itself will still reflect version 4.1 for a few more days.
Arthur Coston
Applied Information Systems
> -Is most Linux software free? More specifically, I have to write my
> thesis using LaTex. Is there a Linux version of Tex that is free?
>
> The bottom line, is that I'm not a Windows hater or Windows
lover.
> I use my computer as a tool to get information and get my work done.
> Would Linux be a good step for me to take?
>
> Thanks for any help you could give me....Andrew
>
> --
> Posted via CNET Help.com
> http://www.help.com/
>
Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.
Chris Menzel
> I now find myself at work missing simple things like grep and emacs
> (really!!) on my Windows machine at work.
For a complete bash shell under NT with all the standard gnu
utilities, load the Cygwin tools: http://sources.redhat.com/cygwin/.
There's also a nice NT port of xemacs.
Chris Menzel
Tony Lawrence
> The bottom line, is that I'm not a Windows hater or Windows lover.
> I use my computer as a tool to get information and get my work done.
How can you use Windows to any degree and not hate it???
--
Tony Lawrence (to...@aplawrence.com)
SCO/Linux articles, help, book reviews, tests,
job listings and more : http://www.pcunix.com
Andrew
>Tony Lawrence wrote:
>
> Andrew wrote:
>
> > The bottom line, is that I'm not a Windows hater or Windows
lover.
> > I use my computer as a tool to get information and get my work done.
>
>
> How can you use Windows to any degree and not hate it???
>
> --
> Tony Lawrence (to...@aplawrence.com)
Tony,
I am by no means a Windows apologist, but...
It's easy for me not to hate it. I don't dig into
the nuts and bolts of it, I just use it.
It's easy to access all the software I need,
it's easy and intuitive to manage the files I create,
and I can easily get and share information.
I understand there are stability problems, and
I probably crash a couple of times a week. This is
annoying. But, everything I need to do always seems
to be at my fingertips. I never have to go to some
manual to figure out the correct command to type in at
a prompt.
Now my initial post was a question about the
advantages of going to Linux. You're reply was a
question, not an answer. I'd be interested to here your
view about the advantages. I should also point out, that
I'm not totally ignorant of Unix. The last two summers
I've worked at a government lab using SGI High Impact
workstations. I appreciate the stability, but I was constantly
asking questions about what commands I needed to do simple
computer tasks.
For me to switch to Linux would mean overcoming
a learning curve (and a steep one at that). I want to
know is it worth the cost in time, for me to invest in
learning all these new commands.
Thanks,
Andrew
Thanks for your reply. It was very
helpful. I'm leaning towards making the jump, although
I'll probably wait until a semester break to
look around at all the flavors of Linux.
Thanks again,
Tony Lawrence
>
> I am by no means a Windows apologist, but...
> It's easy for me not to hate it. I don't dig into
> the nuts and bolts of it, I just use it.
And that's what I mean: how can you use it to any degree and not
come to hate it?
>
> It's easy to access all the software I need,
> it's easy and intuitive to manage the files I create,
> and I can easily get and share information.
>
> I understand there are stability problems, and
> I probably crash a couple of times a week. This is
> annoying. But, everything I need to do always seems
> to be at my fingertips. I never have to go to some
> manual to figure out the correct command to type in at
> a prompt.
Stability is an issue, of course, but that's not what I meant.
Yes, it's childishly easy to do simple things. However, it's
horribly complex or completely impossible to do any more than
that. There are so many things I can do in an instant at the
command line that you either cannot do at all or can do only with
great difficulty. I don't understand how anyone who really uses a
computer can ever stand to run Windows- it's so pathetically
weak.
>
> Now my initial post was a question about the
> advantages of going to Linux. You're reply was a
> question, not an answer. I'd be interested to here your
> view about the advantages. I should also point out, that
> I'm not totally ignorant of Unix. The last two summers
> I've worked at a government lab using SGI High Impact
> workstations. I appreciate the stability, but I was constantly
> asking questions about what commands I needed to do simple
> computer tasks.
The difference is learning to drive a car vs. taking public
transportation. The subways and buses take you where they go,
but only to those places, and only under certain conditions: you
can't tow a trailer with public transportation, you have to
travel on their time schedule, etc. Your involvement is minimal;
you need barely be smart enough to read the most simple signs,
and you need remember almost nothing. Learning to drive,
however, takes effort, requires more involvement and
intelligence, and will probably require much more memorization:
"How do I get to Pittsfield from Boston?" etc.
>
> For me to switch to Linux would mean overcoming
> a learning curve (and a steep one at that). I want to
> know is it worth the cost in time, for me to invest in
> learning all these new commands.
If the subway takes you everywhere you need to go, use the
subway. It's cheaper and far easier.
Hartmann Schaffer
Andrew <ah...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> ...
>It's easy for me not to hate it. I don't dig into
>the nuts and bolts of it, I just use it.
i really can't say much about it since i never really used it
(occasionally helping out a friend with a windows machine and hating
every minute of it), but ... i didn't touch dos because compared to
unix it was too gigantic a step backwards, i diodn't touch windows
because i had both os/2 and linux running when they came out with 95,
and compared to those two it simply didn't offer anything that would
make me switch.
> It's easy to access all the software I need,
>it's easy and intuitive to manage the files I create,
>and I can easily get and share information.
most linux distributions now come with KDE and / or GNOME (which i
prefer) which give you the same kind of user navigation as windows,
with a few extras that windows users can't even dream of (multiple
desk tops e.g.). details probably differ, but the concepr is about
the same, so it shouldn't be very difficult to get used to (online
help, to the extent that it's available, is better)
> I understand there are stability problems, and
>I probably crash a couple of times a week. This is
>annoying. But, everything I need to do always seems
>to be at my fingertips. I never have to go to some
>manual to figure out the correct command to type in at
>a prompt.
>
> Now my initial post was a question about the
>advantages of going to Linux. You're reply was a
>question, not an answer. I'd be interested to here your
>view about the advantages. I should also point out, that
>I'm not totally ignorant of Unix. The last two summers
>I've worked at a government lab using SGI High Impact
>workstations. I appreciate the stability, but I was constantly
>asking questions about what commands I needed to do simple
>computer tasks.
if you have enough disk space left, you can install linux next to
windows on your computer, being able to chose when you boot. there
are also two systems available that let you run your windows programs
under linux: wine (gpled, ships with many distributions) and VMware
(commercial, about $400(?), gets very good reviews by its users). so
you can try it out without taking windows off your system
> For me to switch to Linux would mean overcoming
>a learning curve (and a steep one at that). I want to
>know is it worth the cost in time, for me to invest in
>learning all these new commands.
as i said above, with kde or gbome the learning curve shuld be gentler
hs
Trevor Brown
: -I've read and watched all the excitement about Linux, and I'm wondering
: what advantages installing Linux would offer to someone like me?
: -I'm a TA, and I have to use a Unix spreadsheet program called Xess. My
: Microsoft spreadsheet program doesn't seem to be compatible. Is there a
: Linux equivalent that is freely availble that would be compatible to Xess?
: -Is most Linux software free? More specifically, I have to write my
: thesis using LaTex. Is there a Linux version of Tex that is free?
Most Linux software is free, yes. Basically, you need to download it... a
Linux distribution will provide a fair amount of sofware. Yes, there is a
Linux version of Tex that is free, only I've never used it, so I can't say
more than that.
: The bottom line, is that I'm not a Windows hater or Windows lover.
: I use my computer as a tool to get information and get my work done.
: Would Linux be a good step for me to take?
The hardest thing is getting it installed... oh, and make sure you install
as much as you possibly can... I did an "everything" install, and I'm
running Redhat Linux 6.2. Installing "everything" means you don't have to
worry about whether you have the necessary tools later... like to compile
software, and so on. Of coure, you will need enough disk space to do all
of this. Once you've installed, things should look very similar to the
UNIX you've worked with before. Linux is basically UNIX for a PC.
: Thanks for any help you could give me....Andrew
--
Trevor
William W.
the artist formerly known as Tony Lawrence said:
>
>Stability is an issue, of course, but that's not what I meant.
>Yes, it's childishly easy to do simple things. However, it's
>horribly complex or completely impossible to do any more than
>that. There are so many things I can do in an instant at the
>command line that you either cannot do at all or can do only with
>great difficulty. I don't understand how anyone who really uses a
>computer can ever stand to run Windows- it's so pathetically
>weak.
People have been remarkably well-trained not to expect much from their
computers. They still regard them as glorified typewriters.
In the days when non-computer people just wanted to use a computer as a
supplementary tool and couldn't afford to spend a lot of time and effort
learning a sophisticated system, the ease of the Macintosh interface
made sense. But now, we have lots of people using computers for several
hours a day every day with designs and interfaces that were optimized
for infrequent users. Unfortunately, the mentality hasn't caught up
with the needs. Most computer users would probably be better served by
learning how to use a more powerful and controllable system, but it's
hard to explain the benefits of a command line to someone who still
thinks about what a computer does in very simplistic terms.
--
It is pitch black.
You are likely to be spammed by a grue.
Andrew
How can I be more clear!!!! You again answer my
specific question with another question and some metaphors
on learning to drive.
Yes, I use my computer frequently as a tool to do
my work, and as I've indicated, that only requires use certain
capabilities of my machine. I don't need to write scripts
or tinker so my machine is optimized to the n-th degree.
So I ask you, the country driver non-subway person, what
specifically am I missing that will make my computing life so
much better? I have a finite amount of time in my life, and
there are more important things in my life than messing around
with computers. BUT...I would be willing to invest time into
learning Linux, if it would make what I do easier, AND give me
capabilities that I didn't have before (that are valuable to ME).
What are these things of value in Linux? That's what I
want to know, so I know whether Linux will be valuable to me.
I have no doubt that Linux is superior in many ways. But if it
isn't going to significantly help me, than it isn't worth the cost.
Despite my exasperated tone as I approach midnight, I
do appreciate your time in answering questions about Linux.
Thanks,
Tony Lawrence
>
> Tony,
>
> How can I be more clear!!!! You again answer my
> specific question with another question and some metaphors
> on learning to drive.
>
> Yes, I use my computer frequently as a tool to do
> my work, and as I've indicated, that only requires use certain
> capabilities of my machine. I don't need to write scripts
> or tinker so my machine is optimized to the n-th degree.
It has nothing to do with optimizing. It has to do with doing
work. Whatever your work is.
>
> So I ask you, the country driver non-subway person, what
> specifically am I missing that will make my computing life so
> much better?
I really can't tell you how it can help you specifically, because
I don't know what you do. My own work involves web pages,
programming, and moving data from one format to another, email..
I am constantly, all day long, manipulating files, data, changing
formats, searching for patterns.
More to the point, when I find myself doing repetitive tasks, I
automate them through scripting. For example, I maintain the FAQ
for the comp.unix.sco.misc newsgroup. I took it over from the
former maintainer just a month ago, and the first thing I noticed
was that adding factoids was a major pain in the butt- I had to
add the text, update the index, update the modification history,
and then create the text-only versions that get posted monthly.
I also needed to integrate the new information with my own
customized search engine. I wrote a Perl script to do all that
for me (and yes, you can have Perl on Windows but believe me- it
is NOT the same, not because Perl is different but just because
Windows gets in your way).
When I add articles to my web page, I have similar problems-
updates of index pages, cross-references, etc. Again, scripts.
And again, you are probably thinking "I can write .bat files" -
but that's like me describing a Harley Davidson and you piping up
about your tricycle! You do NOT have the power, and it's not
just the scripting languages themselves, it's the underlying OS
that gets in your way, and blocks you at every turn. You may get
it done, but it will take much more effort.
I have, like most of us, tremendous archives of email. Very
often, mail from or to someone that did not need its own folder
later becomes important enough or just voluminous enough to need
to be reorganized. I hate to think how you'd do that on Windows,
but it's dead easy for me.
I do the same sorts of things for my customers. You need a
"printer" that transforms the data it gets into a csv file, and
emails the result to a bunch of people, noting which of them
needs it with Unix line endings, which with Mac and which as
Windows? Does one of them need a summary? Does someone else
need to be notified that the files were sent? No problem. You
want an LDAP server that automatically picks up new users and a
phone book that drags data from that? And so on.. and again,
it's not that you CAN'T do this stuff in Windows, it's that it
will take you longer, it's harder, it will cost more. It's a
basic difference in philosophy- Windows makes it easy for you do
do the things it can do, Linux/Unix makes all things possible.
But if you are happy with your tricycle, be so. When I have to
work on Windows I am very often frustrated and annoyed by its
limitations- and it is not, as you might think, that I am
unfamiliar with the beast: I am (or was, I let it expire)
Microsoft MCSE certified. The problem is not me, it's just that
Windows is weak, clumsy, messy, stubborn and obstinate.
Unix/Linux is sleek, powerful, adaptable, willing and friendly.
Oh well, you either grok it or you don't. Good luck to you.
Osugi Sakae
wrote:
> Tony,
(I am not Tony, never met him, don't speak for him.)
> Yes, I use my computer frequently as a tool to do
> my work, and as I've indicated, that only requires use certain
> capabilities of my machine. I don't need to write scripts or tinker so
> my machine is optimized to the n-th degree.
> So I ask you, the country driver non-subway person, what
> specifically am I missing that will make my computing life so much
> better? I have a finite amount of time in my life, and there are more
> important things in my life than messing around with computers. BUT...I
> would be willing to invest time into learning Linux, if it would make
> what I do easier, AND give me capabilities that I didn't have before
> (that are valuable to ME).
>
> What are these things of value in Linux? That's what I
> want to know, so I know whether Linux will be valuable to me. I have no
> doubt that Linux is superior in many ways. But if it isn't going to
> significantly help me, than it isn't worth the cost.
>
> Despite my exasperated tone as I approach midnight, I
> do appreciate your time in answering questions about Linux.
> Thanks,
> Andrew
Please understand that as is the case with any tool, whether or not to use
it depends on what you are trying to do. If you can do everything you need
to do on Windows, and you have the software to do it already, then don't
worry about switching to Linux (unless just as a hobby or something).
From what you said (I think), your spreadsheet isn't supported under
Windows. So go to www.freshmeat.net and search for spreadsheets, then go
to the homepages for the results and see if they support Xess format. Or,
see what formats Xess will import from, and see if any of those are
available for Linux. If you don't mind spending some money, there are
several good spreadsheets available that might do what you need. The free
spreadsheets are also good for day-to-day stuff and may or may not do what
you need.
We can't really tell whether Linux is right for you, whether it has
something that will make your life better without knowing what exactly you
want to do. Sure, right now you may not write / need / use any scripts,
but if you switch to Linux and get some experience with it that some of
your daily chores can be automated.
I personally use Linux for these reasons:
1. Stable - never had normal use crash the system.
2. true multi-tasking - can you run seti@home and an mp3 player at the
same time that you are burning a cd under windows? I doubt it. I did it
once (on accident, forgot that seti was running) - and the cd burned just
fine. This is not typical usage, but it is not uncommon for me to rip one
cd while encoding another batch of wav files while listening to other mp3s
while surfing the net. I don't recommend trying this under windows.
3. Choice - lots of it, and no company trying to lock me into their stuff.
4. Free - both beer and speech.
5. Complete - comes with everything you need. Powerful stuff (no notepad
crap) and very little need to search for or buy other software.
6. Liberation - the more you learn about the Linux / Unix system, the more
you realize that you can do. With windows, I never had that feeling. Want
to try programming? No need to spend megabucks for the tools you need.
Need to find a better way to get your daily stuff done? Linux gives you
the tools. Windows makes you go find some commercial program that may be
too much or too little. Linux allows you to actually view your computer as
a powerful, programmable tool, rather than a cross between a type writer
and a VCR.
Anyhow, my two yen, and I realize it may not have answered your questions.
--
Osugi Sakae
Faheem Mitha
>I am looking for any advice and wisdom people have about 'an average Joe'
>installing Linux on a home machine. I'm an applied math graduate student,
>and I use my computer quite a bit. Like most folks I use the web and e-
>mail, but I also write papers using Word and use Telnet and FTP to access
>and utilize Matlab from home. I don't do any programming, except
>mathematical programming using Matlab.
There is a program called Octave which is very similar to Matlab.
>-I've read and watched all the excitement about Linux, and I'm wondering
>what advantages installing Linux would offer to someone like me?
>-I'm a TA, and I have to use a Unix spreadsheet program called Xess. My
>Microsoft spreadsheet program doesn't seem to be compatible. Is there a
>Linux equivalent that is freely availble that would be compatible to Xess?
>-Is most Linux software free? More specifically, I have to write my
>thesis using LaTex. Is there a Linux version of Tex that is free?
>
> The bottom line, is that I'm not a Windows hater or Windows lover.
>I use my computer as a tool to get information and get my work done.
>Would Linux be a good step for me to take?
>
> Thanks for any help you could give me....Andrew
Dear Andrew,
I have never willingly used Windows in my life. I consider the
interface pathetically inept, and it is terribly bad value for money
in general. Once you get used to using a decent Unix system, you will
never want to go back to Windows.
Try any of the free Unix versions available, the various Linux
distributions or the *BSDs, specially FreeBSD (www.freebsd.org). These
days Linux distributions are becoming very easy to use. They install
themselves, configure themselves, and you have to do very little. I
currently use SuSE (www.suse.com) and recommend it, though
unfortunately they seem to be becoming more greedy and
commercial-minded. Once I installed it (which was almost automatic),
it was pretty much ready to use right away. This may be a good
distribution for you, because it bunch of scientific packages ready to
install and run, like Octave, R (similar to Splus), and Scilab, and of
course Tex/Latex.
I hear Mandrake is also very user-friendly, but I've never used
it. Debian and FreeBSD are powerful and well-maintained volunteer
projects, but probably require more effort on your part. If you just
want to get running right away, use one of the big commercial Linux
distributions for preference.
Best regards, Faheem Mitha.
cos...@ais.com
The XESS spreadsheet has been on Linux since 1994. The current version
handles Excel files up to Excel 97/2000 (Open, Save, and cross
workbook references). I don't know the university where you are
a TA or what version of XESS they are currently using. XESS 5.0 is
the lastest and most of our university sites received it under
our early ship program.
A commercial shrink-wrap edition is available through various
retail channels for under US$ 70, including two large printed
manuals. Versions are also available for most UNIX, VMS, and
Windows NT systems.
BTW October 19th will be the ten-year anniversary of the release
by AIS of XESS 1.0.
Arthur Coston
Applied Information Systems
>
[ORIGINAL TEXT OMITTED.]
>
> Anyhow, my two yen, and I realize it may not have answered your
questions.
>
> --
> Osugi Sakae
>
Tony Lawrence
> (I am not Tony, never met him, don't speak for him.)
I am, so I shall :-)
> Windows makes you go find some commercial program that may be
> too much or too little. Linux allows you to actually view your computer as
> a powerful, programmable tool, rather than a cross between a type writer
> and a VCR.
Yes: http://pcunix.com/Opinion/gdunix.html