Re: down for the count

[Kirk Wood <cpt.kirk@1tree.net>]

Without trying to slam anyone, I would not take an install problem on one
machine to mean much. I also wouldn't take a lack of install problem to
mean much. I can truthfully say I have never had a problem installing
Winblows 3.x on a machine (and did it many times). Anyone care to say it
is superior?

I have had trouble with a Slackware install. But I also worked through
said install. As for the problems in maintaining RedHat, I think the
problem that some run into is trying too hard. I have installed both RPM
and the compile thing. For some, RPM is easier. For others, it will lead
to problems later. (Domn, that is starting to sound like so many other
things with computers and life in general.) But for most things, there are
straight forward tools to do your configuration for you. My complaint
about RedHat is that you get many things installed that you don't know
about. Then again, I think that a great thing would be a database with all
dependancies listed for each package. Yea, I know RPMs provide that (in
theory). But there is no tool (for any distro I have seen) that allows one
to plan ahead seeing all dependancies and configure the system to install
just the way you want it minus perhaps the settings.

I think going with a preconfigured machine is a good idea. It won't take
any longer to wipe out the installed OS then if you get one with
Winblows. I mean really, fdisk covers a multitude of sins. If you know you
are going to run linux and that is an option for the machine it makes
sense. You can always blow it away and install a different distro. (And
you can later do the same thing to that distro. I know it is obvious, but
too often it is forgotten.)

-- 
Kirk Wood
Cpt.Kirk@1tree.net
------------------

Seek simplicity -- and distrust it.
		Alfred North Whitehead