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Technology/Slackware, (sdf.org), 11/27/2018
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I've mentioned that slackware was my first install back in
the 90s. It was version 3.0 or 3.1, I can't recall which. I
installed from a giant stack of floppy disks. It's an
experience that a lot of folks had back then.
My most recent experience with Slackware was installing
version 3.6 on an iOpener. It worked well, though I didn't
do much with it. I can't say whether any internet stuff
worked, I didn't try. Before that, I recall using version
12.x I think, but that was it. If I'm recalling correctly.
Today I reclaimed an old Acer AspireONE netbook from the
kids. Apparently it's too slow even for them. I decided it
was time to try out Slackware 14.2. The release cycle is
slow enough that I haven't missed anything by coming to the
party a few years late... gotta love slackware.
There will always be a place in my heart for slackware, but
I have to say, it's not that pleasant of a system to get
going, if you value your time. I love puttering on
computers, but I don't quite miss the very granular
involvement in the entire process. I still remember the
first time I setup a NIC in linux... a friend of mine and I
stayed up all night poking around at settings, and tcp/ip
was wizardy to us. It was fun, but I wouldn't want to repeat
it. Slackware, I feel, takes me a little too far back.
Of course, I'm online right now. Wifi worked pretty much out
of the box (a little poking around was needed.) I can't
really complain or compare perhaps, but it's not *exactly*
user friendly. Still, I can see the value, if you really
want a system where you know what's going on.
I'll leave slackware on here for that exact reason: because
this computer is old, and I'm tired of Ubuntu breaking on
it. Two release upgrades have messed up on here, forcing a
re-install. I know that won't happen with slackware. It'll
"jsut work.:."
