Darrien wrote:

> 
>> > > For the first time, I have gotten pissed off enough to actually throw
>> > > computer parts about and smash them. My keyboard is missing the
>> > > little legs that prop it up at a comfortable angle now.
>> > >
>> > > After installing the wonderful XP operating system and enjoying its
>> > > wonderful stability for several days....I now find that it has
>> > > decided it no longer knows where either of my CD drives are, and the
>> > > stability issue extends to its steadfastness in refusing to recognize
>> > > them.
>> > >
>> > > Any advice?
>> > >
>> >
>> > Drop M$.  Use Linux.
>> >
>>
>> Just a thought, but whenever anyone mentions XP in this group there
>> always seems to be an autobot "ditch Microsoft, embrace Linux" response.
>>
>> Perhaps this is a silly question in light of my previous observation, but
>> surely there can't be Linux worshipers that have their Google groups
>> advanced search browser permanently configured to trawl for every single
>> mention of Windows XP - or can there?
>>
> 
> No, there's juuuust enough Linux lusers to cover every square inch of the
> computing world.
> 
> Anytime someone has problems with Microsoft products, all they can seem to
> say is: "Drop M$ (I'm so cool^W l337, I spelt M$ with a '$' hur hur hur)
> use Linux" Without bothering to say WHY you should use Linux.

Hmmm... apparently you take things _way_ too seriously.  I've contracted out
to Microsoft in various forms over the course of years, and am merely using
a symbolic (if not over used by some groups) representation of M$ for
Microsoft, based on _my_ feelings towards the company as a whole.  By doing
so, I'm certainly not implying that you, or anyone else read anything into
it beyond that.

Frankly, I'd prefer not even respond to such a blatant attack of character
as yours (and therefore pollute the flij message boards with some drawn out
TCO/CBA of *NIX vs Windows, or why one O/S is better than the other).

> 
> It's like a religious thing, they have to convert the heathens from their
> dark ways.
> 
> Hey Cory, if I ever meet you in real life, well... let me draw a situation
> for you.
> 
> Let's assume you are an auto mechanic (I know I'm giving you too much
> credit here but still, bear with me)

I'm not an auto mechanic.  Nor would I care to be.  I'm a Software Engineer.

> 
> I come in and say "I'm having problems with my Chevy and..."
> you say "Dude, AmeriKKKan cars suXX0rz. You need to buy an import"
> at that point I take a step back and a deep breath.
> 
> I then swing back, and kick you in the balls SO **FUCKING** hard, that
> if they didn't shatter into a million pieces right then and there, you'd
> spend the next 16 hours of your life having them surgically removed from
> your throat.

All I can assume is that you've got problems, buddy.

> 
> No one will take Linux seriously or even bother to try it out if they
> think that everyone
> that uses Linux is some unshaven unwashed hippie or pillow biting acne
> infested nerd.

What part of 'Drop M$, use Linux' made you assume that I'm unshavened,
and/or a hippie?  I'm liberal, but not a hippie... though I do have a big
zit I'd like to pop all over you.

> 
> Alan Cox, coder of the TCP/IP stack Linux uses: http://tinyurl.com/elq2
> 
> RMS, My sworn enemy and mastermind behind the GNU: http://tinyurl.com/elq5

I'm not much of a Stallman fan either, actually.

> 
> Eric bin Raymond: Self proclaimed "Geek". First class redneck and right
> hand man to RMS:
> http://tinyurl.com/elq7
> 
> and finally
> 
> Linus Torvalds: *THE* man. Coder of the Linux kernel and suprisingly very
> pragmatic.
> "Use the right tool for the job" is his mont famous saying.
> If more linux users were like him I might've used it instead of FreeBSD.

I have no beef with any of the BSDs, nor did I imply such in my post.
Just for you, I'll revise my original post to read:
"Drop Microsoft, use Linux (and/or a Berkeley derived UNIX)."

>
> 
> Still a pillow biting Mama's boy though: http://tinyurl.com/elqm