Thanks.. as Johnny would say "I did not know that.."
I am basically looking for converting my PIII system into a simple Linux Server running samba and the ability to browse the Net. Today it is primary. In two weeks it becomes backup.. hopefully by yearend 2004, it can move into a world of file servering only.
Kastelco brings up Netscape 7.1 for Linux (yes, I forgot that point). But he and I both know not all sites work with Netscape - Microsoft for one (yes lets all laugh at that statement).
If I only have two machines, the backup 2nd must be competent to work with most ecommerce sites. I can't say that is true... like TD Waterhouse, Sears, misc onlines in the US (wife does a lot of internet buying); and perhaps even some of the other brokerages like Ameritrade Canada; ETrade Canada etc.
But even Globe Investor Gold does not work with Netscape 7. Only (ahem - cough cough cough) 4.7x. (read: Bell what crap are you spinning? fire those globe programmers on principle alone and spend money to get that updated!)
Know what - I have no time to breathe let alone tinker with an O/S. Unless I can get a product up and running and browsing all these sites, I won't do it. I want to spend time writing misc investment programs to keep track of stuff - even at that, I have to actually program for work - (as if).
Honestly - ever since I flipped from 98SE to XP things have improved considerably. Before I had my 120GB drives broken into minimum 3 partitions.. so multiply that out for 5 drives and when I open stuff across a lot of those partitions - at times I have waited 30-45m for the "blue screen scan" to complete. With XP, I have converted to single partitions and now never have to wait after a crash. Based on that fact alone, why not keep it running XP; share out the drives and call it a fileserver? Not as crash prone as with 98SE. And use it to access all the sites no problem (via IE601 or NS710).
So basically, moving to XP sort of re-jigged my mind - and I say "Why Linux? Yeah why Linux?".
Blake
"When you have to shoot, shoot. Don't talk."
Tuco (The Good, the Bad and the Ugly)
"An umbrella with holes is better than no umbrella at all."
Dr. Alexander Elder on using stops.
