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Is Solaris a good OS???

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Original Message
Name: El-Trucha
Date: March 15, 2004 at 11:52:58 Pacific
Subject: Is Solaris a good OS???
OS: Windows XP
CPU/Ram: 1.4 GHz/224 MB
Comment:

Is Solaris a good operating system??
Is it hard or easy to use???
What are the minimum system specs. for the latest version???
Thanx! ;)

El-Trucha


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Response Number 1
Name: taurus
Date: March 15, 2004 at 17:37:21 Pacific
Reply: (edit)

It depends on how you define "good!" Of course, it is much better than any version of Windows and in term of how easy to use or setup, it would be a little harder to install it but once you get used to the layout or structure of it, it's not that hard. It takes a little time to learn or get used to things in Solaris... Remember, you had to learn how to navigate in Windows when you first used it so don't expect you know everything right away when you jump into Solaris. For more info, go to http://www.sun.com.

taurus


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Response Number 2
Name: El-Trucha
Date: March 15, 2004 at 17:56:57 Pacific
Reply: (edit)

Ooohhh...I see...I will try it then!!!
Where can I download it from???
Thanx!


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Response Number 3
Name: taurus
Date: March 16, 2004 at 04:57:06 Pacific
Reply: (edit)

You can't download it for free!!! You can request a copy of Solaris 9 x86 for a minimal charge (mostly for shipping and handling) from Sun if you work for non-profit or educational institutions... Otherwise, you have to pay for it. Now, my question for you is which one do you want to use: Solaris or Debian Linux???

taurus


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Response Number 4
Name: El-Trucha
Date: March 16, 2004 at 11:40:27 Pacific
Reply: (edit)

Ok!! I will have to buy it then... :'(

Yes, I am bored of Windows, and I wanna try many OS's...I am planning to use Debian Linux, Solaris, and OS/2...and maybe others...(like BSD...)
Thanx!

El-Trucha


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Response Number 5
Name: alien2xx
Date: March 16, 2004 at 13:12:12 Pacific
Reply: (edit)

You don't have to pay for it as long as you 'download' the images and it's for 'educational' purposes, this means not use in a company, or something like that, but for home use you get a free license; You just need to register to be able to download, painless and easy. You can either download the SPARC or x86 version, the x86 version is used for regular PC's, SOlaris comes with 3 desktops to choose from if you install them: CDE, GNOME and KDE, all 3 included on the iso images, being CDE the defaul one.

Enjoy!


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Response Number 6
Name: El-Trucha
Date: March 16, 2004 at 14:33:21 Pacific
Reply: (edit)

Ooohhh...thanx!! I will download it then!!
Now;
1. What is the website???
2. How many CD's is it??
3. Is KDE the same one that comes with Knoppix Linux???
Thanx all!!

El-Trucha


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Response Number 7
Name: alien2xx
Date: March 17, 2004 at 09:17:34 Pacific
Reply: (edit)

THe set is 6 CD's (SPARC version)
CD1 - Install CD >needed
CD2 - Software CD 1 of 2) >needed
CD3 - Software CD 2 of 2) >needed
CD3 - Documentation CD 1 of 2
CD4 - Documentation CD 2 of 2
CD5 - Java Enterprise Develp. CD

CD6 (optional) Supplemental CD, this CD can be download as a separate CD (freebees from Sun), you will see this when you download the others, inside this CD you will find the extra software,libraries,ftp,compilers,etc... very much needed, I suggest you get it too. KDE is included in this supplemental CD, CDE and GNOME are installation from the first set.

and yes, KDE is the same one that is included on knoppix, it's version 3.1.1a, not sure which is the one on knoppix3.3... but if we take that the new version of KDE is 3.2 then it should be the same 3.1.x.. looks nice.

For x86 PC it may be the same set, not sure.

alien2xx


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Response Number 8
Name: alien2xx
Date: March 17, 2004 at 09:19:09 Pacific
Reply: (edit)

Sorry, you can download from www.sun.com, you will see the option 'downloads' on the left side of the page.

:-)


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Response Number 9
Name: El-Trucha
Date: March 17, 2004 at 12:10:44 Pacific
Reply: (edit)

Ooohh...thanx!!
I'll have to buy some more CD-R's...
Anyways, I'll try to download them when I get home!! (I'm at school right now...)
Another thing:
Does someone know a FAQ that tells you step-by-step the Solaris installation???
Another thing, what are the system specs?? (including the hard drive space...)
Thanx!!

El-Trucha


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Response Number 10
Name: alien2xx
Date: March 18, 2004 at 06:19:35 Pacific
Reply: (edit)

Best bet is to go to www.sun.com, there is a lot of documentation about it..
Just bootup with CD1 and just follow the instructions, not much to it...


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Response Number 11
Name: El-Trucha
Date: March 18, 2004 at 11:56:22 Pacific
Reply: (edit)

Yes, right now I'm trying to decide between Linux and Solaris...which one is better???
Thanx!!

El-Trucha


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Response Number 12
Name: alien2xx
Date: March 18, 2004 at 13:56:35 Pacific
Reply: (edit)

Hard question... depending on your needs... both are *nix based.... more goodies for Linux distros... can get you better $$$ on Microsystem stuff with Solaris OS and their hardware.... mmmmhhhhh....

go to http://linuxiso.org and check all the linux distros there.. also a nice place to go and ask all kind of questions about them is www.dslreports.com on the unix section...
I like Linux but because my job I am learning (yes.. still learning) solaris os... all depends on your needs and what you want to do with it... Solaris is not meant to be a 'regular' desktop like Windows is, Linux distros can be meant more like that (Redhat, debian, mandrake, etc... so many!), I hear the easiest to learn can be Mandrake or Redhat, being the mostly popular distros...

good luck!
alien2xx


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Response Number 13
Name: alien2xx
Date: March 18, 2004 at 13:59:23 Pacific
Reply: (edit)

On the other hand, pick 2, make them dual boot and play with both on the same machine... see which one you like the best!!


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Response Number 14
Name: El-Trucha
Date: March 18, 2004 at 14:13:49 Pacific
Reply: (edit)

Ohh...ok, I would do that...but I don't have enough HDD space for both!!! now, if u say that Linux is better for a regular desktop, I will try installing Linux again (I couldn't do it the last time!!! it was too hard!!!) and if I don't like it, I will try Solaris...
Thanx for the suggestion!!! ;)

El-Trucha


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Response Number 15
Name: Thomas555
Date: March 19, 2004 at 01:44:49 Pacific
Reply: (edit)

Besides my Windows 2000, I have installed the following Linux Distributions on my desktop PC: SuSE 9.0, Mandrake 9.2, and RedHat 9. In the meantime, it is rather simple to make the installation. Also, in case of difficulties with drivers or program installations, there is a wide range of documentation and support forums. You also have to consider that these distributions have one of their targets which is providing easy to handle desktop systems for average home users.

During the last weeks, I also installed Solaris 8 x86 on my PC in parallel. It looks to me that the target of Solaris is professional operation on SPARC systems and not providing a smooth desktop system for home users. This means that you have difficulties with getting hardware drivers, getting an actual internet browser as well as getting plugins like PDF reader, flash player, etc. Also, there is a smaller range for documentation and support. So I can say it is rather interesting to install Solaris x86 as home user for experimental reasons but never for getting a fully equipped desktop system for home purposes.

Regards,
Thomas


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Response Number 16
Name: El-Trucha
Date: March 19, 2004 at 08:06:57 Pacific
Reply: (edit)

Ooohhh...I see...ok! I will try Linux first...and then (just because I'm curious) I will try Solaris...
Thanx!!!

El-Trucha


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Response Number 17
Name: taurus
Date: March 19, 2004 at 16:43:44 Pacific
Reply: (edit)

If you think Linux is hard to install, wait until you try Solaris... If you don't know jack about unix, better stick with Fedora Core (RedHat), Mandrake, or SUSE since they are much more user friendly and real easy to install, a few clicks here and there and you would have a nice Linux desktop running on your PC. Solaris is more for professional users or those who know a little about unix environment. If you don't believe me, try install Solaris and see how you make it out!

taurus


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Response Number 18
Name: El-Trucha
Date: March 20, 2004 at 07:09:45 Pacific
Reply: (edit)

Oooooohhhh.......I see...well, I'll try some of those then...
Thanx for the suggestion!!! ;)

El-Trucha


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Response Number 19
Name: Bobthearch
Date: March 30, 2004 at 22:07:48 Pacific
Reply: (edit)

I agree, if you're having difficulty installing Linux, you'll have difficulty with Solaris. If you really want a challenge, try Oberon - it'll make your head implode.

The most difficult thing about Solaris is getting it to install alongside other OSes. Windows & Solaris on the same hard drive works OK, but beyond that don't try to push it. The problem I had is that the Solaris file system is the same type used by Linux Swap. And Solaris requires at least two Primary partitions.

For Linux, try starting with some of the easier-to-use distros. For beginning, I recommend buying a box set Linux, like Mandrake PowerPack Deluxe that has everything you need, including real books that you can follow along as you go.

Lycoris is the absolute easiest Linux to install and use! You're off to a good start by trying Knoppix.

-Bob


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