From:	Jeff Weeks <pweeks AT execulink DOT com>
Newsgroups:	comp.os.msdos.djgpp
Subject:	Re: LInux vs. DOS
Date:	3 Mar 1997 22:33:19 GMT
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Mark T Logan wrote:
> 
>  I have been contemplating downloading LInux,
> and I have a few questions.

I reccomend it, if that means anything to you :)

> 1. I know Linux has a DOS emulator available.
>     Will the emulator allow me to do _anything_
>     that DOS would. i.e. lauch windows

Ahh... yes and no.  It works pretty good for me but some things just
won't run.  I can run games like doom and heretic.  I believe you can
run windoze but it involves adding a few libraries to windows I believe
(OS/2 does the same thing).  A better way (but not nearly as finished)
is to use WINE.  It's a windoze emulator which runs under X-Windows.

However, ideally, you will never need to run a windoze program every
again :)  Most people seem to use Linux for everything, but then boot
back into Win95 to run M$ Office... HOWEVER... most don't realise that
there is a very good (and free) office suit called StarOffice which is
available for Linux.  It's currently in beta stages (version 3.1) for
Linux but is very workable.  You can check it out at
http://www.stardiv.de (german... main site) or http://www.stardiv.com
(english... but not totally finished).

> 2.  Can I configure my system so that I can decide
>      during the boot sequence whether to run Linux,
>      or NT, or DOS, etc. ?

Yep.  Linux comes with it's own boot loader called LILO.

> 3.  How much hard drive space does Linux need?

I think you can run it (basic) with only about 30 megs.  X-Windows will
add a bunch to that, however, it's still probably smaller than Win95's
disk requirements.

> 4.  Is there a lot of software available for Linux?

I'd say so.  Maybe people pre-judge Linux by saying it has very little
software support but I've found the oposite.  I'm quite pleased with the
software I have, and... truth-be-known... all of it was (legally) FREE! 
I've got over 900megs (soon to be more... I'm getting StarOffice) of
Linux stuff and I'm perfectly happy.

> My thanks and gratitude to anyone who responds to
> any/all of my questions.

Righto :)

Jeff Weeks

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