The Difference between Linux Distributions and Windows

Linux is an operating system.

Ubuntu Linux is a sub-distribution/flavour/variety of the Linux operating system and to complicate matters is based on the Debian distribution of Linux ....

Structure is like this

Linux
......... Debian
....................Ubuntu

Why so many?

Linux is for hyper nerds like Linus Torvalds (initial developer of Linux) and Mark Shuttleworth (founder of Ubuntu and 1st South African into Space)

Debian is for super nerds.....

Ubuntu is for you and me, and is a user-friendly system evolved from above with GUI's (graphic user interfaces) and designed to operate like Widnows and Mac OSX.

Linux is based on the UNIX OS developed in the '70's and '80's.

The architecture of Linux systems does not allow for 99.9% of scripts/programs to run with out the adminsitrators permission, unlike Windows systems, where .exe., .com and some .dll files can run, without permission, as soon as they enter the system. It is the latter function, that is the origin of most viruses/malware/spyware infections.

Widnows vs Linux vs Apple

I have been called out to three clients with Windoze machines in the last three weeks 'cos they could not find a user friendly way to install:

a) a printer
b) a webcam
c) a sapo router

Windows user friendly??????....Ha!

However, I was called to transfer a client's data from his old XP laptop to a brand spanking new Apple 15" Macbook Pro... what a dream!

It's a BMW of PC's! The client who has always felt challenged by his XP machine was roaring around on it when I arrived. However, linux knowledge was useful to configure the inbuilt samba server to talk the XP machine. Mac OS X and upwards is unix (forbear of linux) under the hood.

Very user friendly but these machines are pricey.

However, interesting to note that FNAC in Guia are pushing them big time.

Furthermore, like Linux, with an Apple OSX machine you can select your install language on first boot so there is little risk of buying a laptop in Portugal with Windows aboard and find its installed in Portuguese and then have to buy another copy of Windows in English and do a fresh reinstall.

XP/VIsta Switching between 3g Mobile accounts

A technical question:

System: Windows XP/Vista

I travel a lot and have 2 3g dongles/providers -

One from say from Vodafone UK
One from say Vodafone Portugal

Each dongle is tied to the indvidual sim/provider and is blocked.

Can I configure dial-up software in XP to recognise each individual dongle when I plug it in, instead of having to reconfigure it each time I switch accounts.

Any thoughts would be useful.

Thanks

Alentjeo Adsl Woes

Why don't you consider a 3G pay as you go dongle to start with as discussed above.

I have to comment that as you are at Zambujeira, I suspect that even when you get your line in, broadband speeds will be at the bottom end of the advertised range. I am not sure where the local sub-exchange is, but I doubt that adsl speeds in that part of the Alentejo will not be great and if you are more than 2-3 kms from the local DSLAM, and dependent on overhead cables, expect climatic conditions to regularly impact on the line quality. Also, make sure your the electrics on property is properly earthed, keep a spare adsl router in the cupboard as lightning strikes and power cuts regularly fry these units.

I was called to a client a couple of years ago, situated between Lagos and Burgau. They needed broadband. Their phone line had a history of regularly frying fax machines owing to lightning strikes on overhead phone cables. I refused consequently to install Sapo over the landline because I could see what was going to happen, (i.e regularly fried modems/routers). I did however, rig them up a vodafone dongle on a yearly contract. I then attached this to a router and at one stage they had up to five machines running on it, although I would not normally recommend more than two or max three machines over such a system. I subsequently installed a similar system at Ingrina near Vila de Bispo where a property was to far from the exchange to install adsl over the landline.

The problem with a dongle solution will probably traffic volume as data transmission rates over the 3G network will be higher than over landline.