microchip,

Looking at the results from your GTX560 machine (#167410), I would say that your GPU is bad.

Matt

Why do you think IBM adopted it? Because the software was so amazing? For Christ's sake, the early versions were bug-filled.

In the initial planning, IBM was pushing its own OS for the PC-compatible, only the BASIC-interpreter was to be made by MS. After time, when IBM saw their new OS didn't progress as planned, they went to MS and MS agreed to deliver the OS. Billy initially planned to write it himself but soon went searching at other firms until he discovered QDOS that MS bought for 50.000 dollars and developed it further.... if you want more history, there's this amazing search engine called Google that can help you

No, because Billy boy exploited yet another opportunity ;)

Ad-hominem attacks to "try another universe" don't work on me ;)

At least you recognize that your earlier version was not accurate. Of course Bill exploited opportunities; you seem to think that is a dirty term. Is that what you call an "Ad-hominem" attack? I can never tell with people trying to argue against history.

Actually, no. The limitations are only in your little experienced mind. You also might wanna read up on why Windows became the default on all sold PCs (hint, hint, MS pays HW manufacturers) and also read on what happened during the UNIX wars that your beloved Bill exploited to become the dominant player

Oh boy, for someone who "used vi even before most on this forum were born", you surely don't know a lot of history

You aren't even close. MS became dominant because IBM adopted it, and let Bill Gates keep the copyright on the software (DOS). Try an alternative universe where you explanation might be more accepted.

The point is that I am not adverse to trying out something new (or else I would not be trying out Mint, would I?), but that the same type of limitations that existed many years ago on Linux and its precursor Unix are still with us. They have not made much progress on user friendliness. That opened up a huge door for MS, and Bill stepped right through it, to the eternal annoyance of Linux fans ever since.

This is the problem with most people. They try out something totally different and new to them, see it doesn't work like the thing they're used to, and get discouraged and go back to their familiar stuff.

I was using the vi editor under Unix before most people on this forum were born, and dearly hoped never to see it again. I think I will keep it that way.

But as with most such discussions, after asking why Bill Gates is a billionaire rather than the developers of Linux, the partisans ignore the results. I would not expect anything less.

LOL? This is your reply. I tried software X many years ago, I didn't like Software X for OS Y, so all software made for OS Y must be equally bad, including the OS Y itself. You might wanna look up logical fallacies. I'm sure yours classifies as one

If my mom can learn to use Linux in a week, knowing how my mom thinks and acts, I'm sure many more people will have no problem learning it too. It's just that they lack some things that prevents them, like little time, lazy, no interest, busy with other stuff, etc

In reply to your partitioning issue, the reason people don't know how to do it, is because Windows is pre-installed on PCs. 90% of people buy PCs with it already functioning so they don't need to bother or learn how to do it. If you need to install Windows yourself, Windows itself already makes a sane default that you just need to accept. Guess what? Most if not all Linux installers do the same. Regular people don't install Windows. They are happy if all is set up and they can use it. If something goes back and they can't fix it, the PC shop will do it for a small fee. This is what I call "dumbing down" people

Personally, I'm very thankful UNIX and Linux exist. Without them, I would never have learned how to program, set up servers, write websites, automate tasks and let the computer work for me without me looking, and even get into crunching (which is thanks to Linux).

Anyways, I'm not trying to convince you here. Not ever trying to change your mind. Just don't make assumptions based on very limited experiences and throw out statements like "I didn't like X so X must be bad for others too as I'll never recommend it".

In response to Bill Gates. Guess what? Gates didn't got rich from writing Windows himself. He stole and built on already existing, often raw, technology. This in combination with his genius-like, business-centric mind is what got him the money.

I won't try to respond to all of your diatribe, there is no answer to a vacuum anyway. But you managed to totally miss the point about vi, even though I had clearly stated that I was trying out Linux Mint now. The point is that I am not adverse to trying out something new (or else I would not be trying out Mint, would I?), but that the same type of limitations that existed many years ago on Linux and its precursor Unix are still with us. They have not made much progress on user friendliness. That opened up a huge door for MS, and Bill stepped right through it, to the eternal annoyance of Linux fans ever since.

I can use Linux too once it is set up; ask you Mom to get GPUGrid running under BOINC while remotely monitoring it. But the even more basic question is why bother? You have not attempted to answer that one, except for vindictives against Bill.

This is the problem with most people. They try out something totally different and new to them, see it doesn't work like the thing they're used to, and get discouraged and go back to their familiar stuff.

I was using the vi editor under Unix before most people on this forum were born, and dearly hoped never to see it again. I think I will keep it that way.

But as with most such discussions, after asking why Bill Gates is a billionaire rather than the developers of Linux, the partisans ignore the results. I would not expect anything less.

I think Linux is fine if you use it in your work, but hopeless for home use. Bill Gates need not worry about his MS stock, unless they do themselves in by Win8.