[Info-vax] vtAlpha and marketing bullshit

[Paul Sture]

On Mon, 19 Dec 2011 22:31:48 +0000, ChrisQ wrote:

> On 12/18/11 17:17, Paul Sture wrote:
> 
> 
>>> If I had to pick a Linux, for most of the last decade or so and for
>>> most of the likely applications (desktop, server, realtime) it would
>>> have been SuSe. Other Linuxes are available.
>>>
>>>
>> Agreed, though with the latest release of openSUSE (12.1) the first few
>> desktop apps I tried either didn't work or had greatly reduced
>> functionality.  Is .1 the new .0 ?
>>
>>
> Haven't tried 12.1, but have been evaluating various linuxen this year
> and suse (11.3) does seem to be the most sorted in terms of
> functionality, robustness and things like library and application
> revision level. For example, it was the only one that would build a
> gnu cross toolchain (gcc-4.6.1 etc) almost out of the box with few
> missing components. Last used it extensively around 6.2 vintage and
> even then, it seemed pretty bulletproof.

I found 11.n (and the then current version of Fedora) would freeze every 
other day or so on my PC.  It runs fine under VirtualBox and Windows 
though.  I also have Linux Mint 10 under a VM on that system for mail and 
surfing and that's fine too.  I don't like the later versions of LM 
because they introduce the Ubuntu inspired game of "Where's the scroll 
bar?" and my trusty old fDEC/Compaq mouse doesn't have one. :-)

> Debian is pretty good as well, though not quite so up to date as Suse.
> Currently evaluating Debian squeeze on sun v240 andso far, all ok.

I've come across several recommendations to use Debian for server work 
and <insert favourite flavour here for desktop work.  With virtual 
machines, this is quite achievable on one system (and you can adjust the 
memory each has to suit your workload).

> Alpha Linux development seems to be at an end. Shame, as there are still
> many machines out there that could benefit from having a modern,
> properly sorted os to run on them. Yes, I know we have vms, but it's
> expensive and hard work in terms of getting open source software
> running on it...

The withdrawal of Hobbyist patch access has been a serious demotivator 
for me :-(

-- 
Paul Sture