Normally, I don't bother with replies, but a few points need to be clarified.
First of all, I know precisely what I am writing about. I grew up using DOS 6.2 batch files and programmed in Pascal......and Basic...and Fortran. Of course DOS6.2 and UNIX (and Linux) are dissimilar..ask yourself: why am I using Linux ? and it should answer the question for you: Linux is far, far, far better. The point I was making loud and clear was that essentially you worked at command line level in DOS; Windows blew that away; why regress to that level with Linux<nobr> <wbr></nobr>.. if you don't want to ?
Second, try thinking novice ONLY and then use vi. You will feel as if you are back in the DOS command line era or the shell. Of course experience makes it easier...but think novice and think convenience. I can do everything point and click..you cannot do that in vi. Again, the point is that point and click opens the doors to wonderful software running in native Linux... I prefer that.
Third. I do not use a network..it is a standalone PC, therefore, systems admin is a specialist occupation to me, even if it is not to others in that particular world. Accepted fully that such people will currently need the command line...but not always. The advances in GUI's for sys admins are galloping ahead. And would I prefer them, absolutely.
Finally, a scan of all the comments to Robin's article reveals the usual tug of war. Those who like working with lean mean machines at the command line level reckon the you have to use command line and the shell to fully appreciate the power and speed of Linux; those like me who prefer friendly GUI's say so and are often put down. Come on people: Linux really is for everyone. If you want to use only the shell and command line, you have that choice; if you want to use only the GUI and various window managers, you can do that too; and if you want to use both - guess what, you can ! Ultimately, Linux is about choice and freedom and if I want the freedom to ignore the command line...I can have it.
Learn about Linux
Download Linux
Get Linux help
Re:Thankyou Robin for an honest summation
Posted by: Cy3ttariA on January 06, 2004 08:04 PMFirst of all, I know precisely what I am writing about. I grew up using DOS 6.2 batch files and programmed in Pascal......and Basic...and Fortran. Of course DOS6.2 and UNIX (and Linux) are dissimilar..ask yourself: why am I using Linux ? and it should answer the question for you: Linux is far, far, far better. The point I was making loud and clear was that essentially you worked at command line level in DOS; Windows blew that away; why regress to that level with Linux<nobr> <wbr></nobr>.. if you don't want to ?
Second, try thinking novice ONLY and then use vi. You will feel as if you are back in the DOS command line era or the shell. Of course experience makes it easier...but think novice and think convenience. I can do everything point and click..you cannot do that in vi. Again, the point is that point and click opens the doors to wonderful software running in native Linux... I prefer that.
Third. I do not use a network..it is a standalone PC, therefore, systems admin is a specialist occupation to me, even if it is not to others in that particular world. Accepted fully that such people will currently need the command line...but not always. The advances in GUI's for sys admins are galloping ahead. And would I prefer them, absolutely.
Finally, a scan of all the comments to Robin's article reveals the usual tug of war. Those who like working with lean mean machines at the command line level reckon the you have to use command line and the shell to fully appreciate the power and speed of Linux; those like me who prefer friendly GUI's say so and are often put down. Come on people: Linux really is for everyone. If you want to use only the shell and command line, you have that choice; if you want to use only the GUI and various window managers, you can do that too; and if you want to use both - guess what, you can ! Ultimately, Linux is about choice and freedom and if I want the freedom to ignore the command line...I can have it.
#