>> I still don't see why it's necessary to install a network protocl just
>> to run a text editor.
>
> That's because you're not grokking the similarities between Windows and
> Linux.
>
> Seriously.
>
> Try installing Notepad on Windows without installing Windows Networking.
>
> Oh, you can't do that.  Why?  Because Windows Networking is an integrated
> component of the operating system.
>
> Guess what - it's also an integrated component of GNOME, because
> interoperability matters.

The irony is, you actually /can/ uninstall Windows networking (and even 
the TCP/IP protocol). And Notepad still works. :-P

Plus, installing Windows isn't a 4GB download. Honestly, I can remember 
a time when all the Linux fanboys used to shout about how much leaner 
Linux is than Windows. Today a default install of most distros either 
involves DVDs or multi-GB downloads. It installs everything *and* the 
kitchen sink, and when I want to use a different text editor it *still* 
wants to download another couple of GB of data. ENOUGH ALREADY! >_<

>> Me and my dad tried updating OpenSUSE one time. After several days of
>> hell, we decided never to attempt this ever again.
>
> It's a shame you didn't come over to the forums and ask for some help.

Wouldn't that require me to figure out how to display IPv6 so that 
Firefox works again?

>> Uh, yeah. Updating Windows in-place isn't something I'd recommend
>> *either*...
>
> I generally wouldn't recommend it for any OS, but it can be a bit easier
> with Linux if your /home partition is separate from the rest of the
> system.  Worst case, you do a fresh install of the root partition and
> leave the /home data alone.

Same works for any OS.

(The only real difference is that since Unix has mount points rather 
than drive letters, you don't have this stupidity of applications which 
/assume/ your home folder is on partition #1...)

>>> RPM does a pretty good job of dependency management
>>
>> Well, some distros use RPM, some use .deb, some use something else
>> entirely. I've yet to see a package manager where it's entirely clear
>> what the heck is going on, or why selecting one small application
>> requires a 2GB download.
>
> Well, again, it comes down to understanding the interdependencies, rather
> than throwing your hands up in the air and saying "it's too damned
> complex for anyone to understand."

How about spending several years working with Linux and still not being 
able to get it to work right. Does that count? :-P

>>> but you have to take care not to add too many repositories
>>
>> I don't even know how to do that.
>
> In openSUSE: sudo yast2 repositories

OK. But the fact that I don't know how to do it demonstrates fairly 
conclusively that that isn't the problem I had.

>> Last time I tried this with VMware tools, it went something like this: -
>> Where are the kernel headers?
>> - No, the headers for the *running* kernel? - OK, now install gcc
>> please.
>> - No, the version of gcc that the kernel was compiled with. At that
>> point, I discovered that the version of gcc in question isn't available
>> for this release of Ubuntu. WTF?
>
> I can't speak to Ubuntu.  openSUSE has a pretty strict "no kernel
> upgrades" policy within a particular version.  (That doesn't mean "no
> updates" - security updates are backported by the openSUSE kernel team,
> and important enhancements frequently are as well AFAIK).  That means
> it's incredibly rare to have to deal with something like that with VMware
> once it's working.

I think I tried it with Debian and Fedora as well. Can't remember if I 
tried OpenSUSE.

This sort of thing tends to be typical of /any/ attempt to install 
something that isn't packaged. And even if the website has an RPM or a 
.deb, usually that just flips the package manager out because all the 
dependencies are wrong...

> It's a shame you don't ask questions in the Linux forums related to the
> distribution you use.  Those issues are often easily resolved, and
> novices can get help instead of just bitching "this damned stuff never
> works right!"

Yes, because I want to sign up to /yet another/ online forum just to 
make one piece of software install cleanly...

As I say, I generally just stick to Windows. When you install stuff, it 
just works.

(Not that I'm completely unsympathetic, you understand. "Linux" is one 
hell of a big moving target to try to hit...)

I love how I'm the biggest Microsoft-hater ever, and I've ended up 
defending Windows. When Linux came out, I really thought it was going to 
be the answer. Turns out it just brought a different set of problems...

-- 
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*

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