Promptpal

[danbaron]

Who, besides me, hates the Windows console window?

:x

http://www.promptpal.com/index.shtml

[John Spikowski]

Who, besides me, hates the Windows console window?

There is more to Windows than just the command console to hate. Switch to Linux and stop pulling out your credit card for band-aid solutions.

[danbaron]

I like Linux.

It was all I used for a few years.

I'd be happy and grateful to dump Windows.

[ErosOlmi]

Wow, this is a great tool. I didn't know about that.

In the past I did some experiments trying including Windows command prompt into a personalized windows control. I was able to achieve some results but this is much more advanced.

[matthew]

If you're after a free alternative to PromptPal you could always get Console (http://sourceforge.net/projects/console/) from SourceForge & then download all the GnuWin32 tools from here (http://gnuwin32.sourceforge.net/).

[John Spikowski]

I like Linux.

It was all I used for a few years.

I'd be happy and grateful to dump Windows.



Why would you go back to Windows then? I haven't found anything I can't do under Linux that would require me to use Windows including running thinBasic, Oxygen or any of the other Windows Basic offerings.

Did I forget to mention Linux and the software available for it is free and open source as well?

[danbaron]

Why?

Because of isolation.

I was confined to using only Linux software.

Maybe, if I had a high speed internet connection I could do what you have done, but, I don't.

Linux software is slight compared to Windows software.

Additionally, Linux software can be much more of an ordeal to install properly, especially when, a particular program must be compiled for a particular brand of Linux.

[John Spikowski]

Additionally, Linux software can be much more of an ordeal to install properly, especially when, a particular program must be compiled for a particular brand of Linux.

I don't seem to have that problem. I just open the Synaptic Package manager, select what I want to install and end of story. No reboots (unless it's a new kernel) like Windows and the package manager only installs software that is for your distribution.

I hate when people complain about things they either haven't tried or too lazy to update their skill level. I'm surprised you returned to Windows after using Linux for years. What was it again that made you return to Windows?

[danbaron]

I have zero affection for Microsoft.

I thought monopolies were illegal, at least in the United States. But, apparently I was wrong.

As I recall, when I was using Linux, the only way to be able to use Windows software, was through something called Wine. If I remember, there was just a small list of programs that Wine could run. Additionally, my impression was that even when it did work, there was a giant performance loss.

As I said previously, my internet connection is very slow (56K). I cannot download big programs. For instance, there was no way I could download a particular brand of Linux, I would have to buy the CDs or DVDs, and have them mailed to me. And then, there were many times when I would receive the discs for some brand of Linux, and they would not install. During the installation, either I would get some cryptic error message, or, the installation would just stop. And, my memory is, if you want to have a real adventure, try installing BSD (I realize that it is not Linux in the strict definition).

I used to spend a lot of time looking at this site,

http://distrowatch.com/ .

I had Red Hat installed. Then, for the average user, it became Fedora. I had bad experiences trying to install Debian, Ubuntu, Slackware, FreeBSD, Vector, TurboLinux, PCBSD, Mandriva, Nexenta, PCLinux, and one version of SimplyMEPIS (these are the brands I still have the "discs" for).

SimplyMEPIS, Fedora, and Scientific worked good for me. My best experience was with CentOS.

Unless I am mistaken, Ubuntu only supports network connections - I found that out after the installation.

Additionally, much of the Linux software that works, seems to me to be substantially more primitive than corresponding Windows software. An example would be the KDE programming environments/tools.

I guess I could now have a dual boot machine. Theoretically, it seems like a good idea, but, what would I gain?

I was going to install Cygwin, but, unless I am mistaken, it is about 500 MB. For a 56K connection, forget it. And, you cannot order disks (CDs/DVDs) for it.

There are many programs (for instance, Python) where for Windows, you can download the installation program. But, for Linux, you have to download and then compile the source code. If you do it through your Linux package manager, often you can only get an older version - if any (if the program is not popular, then you may be on your own).

[John Spikowski]

Can I assume then that you never update your Windows box due to your slow connection? Most of my Linux updates are less than 10 megs and typically in the couple meg range.

I think I would update my internet connection as the most important task at hand. Why make your life miserable all due to your 1980s modem like connection? Is it availability or your unwillingness to pay more than a few bucks a month for a decent internet connection?

[danbaron]

I do make relatively big downloads. I am downloading the latest version of Haskell now - it is 90 MB. But, getting it all is like, a 24 hour job. And, Earthlink, will close my connection every few hours, "for my security".

Everything goes back to my wife being sick for many years. Because of that, I haven't worked for almost 12 years. Therefore, I have little money. Financially, I am always right on the edge. Therefore, I live in an unincorporated area outside of Palmdale, California. Previously, there was no way for me to get high speed internet. Now, there are some options. But, for me they are expensive, and, I think, ripoffs. The last thing I want to do is to subsidize corporations like AT&T, or Time Warner. I'm not one of those hysterically happy mannequin consumer robots, like they show in their commercials. To me, the ultimate purpose of life is not being able to watch the movie of my choice 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Maybe there is something wrong with me, but, I am convinced that no corporation is primarily interested in helping me.

[John Spikowski]

Athena's medical bills are now over 3 million and her last 10 day stay at the CCU was $36K. There is nothing you can tell me about financial disaster that I haven't already lived through. I would stop programming and using the internet if I had to use a 56K modem.

[danbaron]

"I hate when people complain about things they either haven't tried or too lazy to update their skill level. I'm surprised you returned to Windows after using Linux for years. What was it again that made you return to Windows?"

I didn't see it at first, but now I do. Notice that he italicized, "years". To me, he was saying that I was lying when I said I had used Linux for several years. I was complaining about something that either I had not tried, or, was "too lazy", to learn about. And, he cannot, or, is "too lazy" to, construct proper sentences, i.e., the first sentence in the above quote.

Additionally, he was the one who brought up the topic of Linux, not me. Additionally, I didn't complain about it, he asked me why I stopped using it. Then, when I told him, he replied with the quote, indicating that I was lying.

Then, he asked why I didn't have a high speed internet connection. When I told him, he replied by comparing his level of financial disaster to mine. And, he went on to say, that if he had to use a 56K connection, he would, "stop programming and using the internet".

Did you ever notice the type of person who intentionally continues to interact with someone who he has contempt for? It is the opposite of what I do. When I don't like someone, I try to do all I can to avoid the person. Someone who instead seems "drawn" to those he dislikes, I would classify either as sadomasochistic, or very very lonely - willing to communicate even with those he hates, rather than no one at all.

Are people like this the reason that in this age of insulated (in the sense that you are never physically in the presence of the other person) electronic communication, the word, "troll", was borrowed from Norse mythology? My idea of what the word troll originally meant is, a dumb hairy biped who lives under a bridge and tries to impede those who attempt to cross over it.

Maybe, for a person like this, evoking a negative reaction is much better than, generally being, "invisible", to everyone else.

To me, being an internet troll, is a coward's revenge.

:oops: :o :p

[John Spikowski]

Dan,

If you would stop your babbling and contradicting yourself with statements you make, I wouldn't ask for clarification. I think you're using your wife's illness as an excuse to feel sorry for yourself and not seek the means to improve your situation.

I find it hard to believe that you couldn't find any work in 12 years due to your wife's fault of getting ill. Call me a troll if you like but you need to do something other then sit in front of your computer all day and night posting nonsense and off topic posts.

John

[danbaron]

Hopefully, this is my last correspondence with you.

As I said previously, I think to you, I chose not to work so that I could visit my wife every day of the year, at a special nursing home, which is 60 miles from my house.

I feel sorry for myself? I think I never even mentioned my situation, except with respect to you crying about yours.

Interestingly, you are the only one who has complained about me posting, "nonsense and off topic posts". Get the proprietor to agree with you, and, I will stop posting everything. Because, I have never heard even one word of complaint from the person who I believe to be the proprietor. Are you his official spokesman?

Maybe I didn't realize it, and this site belongs to you. If so, then inform me. If not, and you are unable to get the owner to publicly agree with your opinion, then, I guess I'll continue to post what I want to post.

(And, it's my "wife's fault of getting ill", right? Great man, great.)

[ErosOlmi]

Dan, I'm sorry.

John has the ability to go from one utility to Linux to personal considerations to nonsenses in few posts.

As admin, for the moment I will just close this thread reserving the freedom to do further actions if needed.

Regards
Eros