[lug] linux distro for a beginner

[Lori Reed]

Paul E Condon wrote:
> On Thu, Jun 16, 2005 at 09:36:57PM -0600, Todd Ruskell wrote:
> 
>>On Thursday 16 June 2005 08:44 pm, David Morris wrote:
>>
>>>In truth, if you're looking to get away from Windows just
>>>because you don't like Windows rather than that you
>>>specifically want to use Linux, I'd suggest getting a Mac.
>>>While I'll always use Linux on my servers and main
>>>workstations for a variety of reasons, MacOS X is the best
>>>OS I've seen for the average/low end computer user.  Because
>>>its based on BSD, you can even run most applications made
>>>for Linux.  It does have the drawback that you can't install
>>>it on x86 hardware but nothing is perfect.
>>
>>True, but Apple just announced last week it will be gradually migrating from 
>>IBM/Motorola chips to Intel over the next couple of years, so this will 
>>probably change soon.
> 
> But people who were at Jobs' presentation say that he indicated 
> he has some kind of hardware/software lock that will keep people
> from using his version of UNIX on anything other than his version
> of Intel chips. I'm not sure I believe it, but maybe some sort
> of ROM chip containing proprietary, copywrited software would
> make it illegal to run his software. 

Indeed. Using Intel chips is not the same thing as using PC mobos, PC 
bios, PC buses, PC power supplies, etc. Unless there is a major shift in 
Apple's world view (unlikely while Jobs is at the helm) these new 
machines will continue to be propriatary boxes.

Lori