X-Original-To: alpine-user@mail.alpinelinux.org Delivered-To: alpine-user@mail.alpinelinux.org Received: from mail.alpinelinux.org (dallas-a1.alpinelinux.org [127.0.0.1]) by mail.alpinelinux.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 87A27DC0D76 for ; Fri, 18 Dec 2015 12:15:14 +0000 (UTC) Received: from mail-io0-f178.google.com (mail-io0-f178.google.com [209.85.223.178]) (using TLSv1 with cipher ECDHE-RSA-RC4-SHA (128/128 bits)) (No client certificate requested) by mail.alpinelinux.org (Postfix) with ESMTPS id 15475DC0387 for ; Fri, 18 Dec 2015 12:15:13 +0000 (UTC) Received: by mail-io0-f178.google.com with SMTP id o67so87371095iof.3 for ; Fri, 18 Dec 2015 04:15:13 -0800 (PST) DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=relaxed/relaxed; d=gmail.com; s=20120113; h=mime-version:in-reply-to:references:date:message-id:subject:from:to :cc:content-type; bh=w6Vl/fE3uT3xv8IIh4l5d/uXpJ/K0M1Cxb533wiKXEY=; b=EBykMlJJy62MlMfNpRnPxVLX1FzwjA8Jhn1knFz6ld1PKNk+myOk85dQsJO5Zyyf6Z mCH7gFzaoPb4wGfEITagKEfSCgzucYn2ryw5SRbR/Ufa0Z+Is2FaUuOD51echWIEesDq zWaSic+T4eOIWrkeCaAzDSmz7/v4Ui2gcWVaH1AlNyyLjlYSG2NKVBDq0O1vQwFXGhVl pIvlRSAoF9+g5AlE9VGtnMlXGC7Dzbirkgvv4QjdTZMuWCnO++xi0K3vb1DBQ7B8dLuW 1p9FLE+21nle6m4PVnyvDQfBPV/X2yY1STYhCOG7CXjLuGtYy2dQ9kJkQX6YWFCiapZR kGAw== X-Mailinglist: alpine-user Precedence: list List-Id: Alpine Development List-Unsubscribe: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Received: by 10.107.130.169 with SMTP id m41mr4489542ioi.18.1450440912882; Fri, 18 Dec 2015 04:15:12 -0800 (PST) Received: by 10.107.134.87 with HTTP; Fri, 18 Dec 2015 04:15:12 -0800 (PST) In-Reply-To: <5673F02D.3040307@openmailbox.org> References: <5673F02D.3040307@openmailbox.org> Date: Fri, 18 Dec 2015 07:15:12 -0500 Message-ID: Subject: Re: [alpine-user] Hard/Software compatibility + Free Software Agreement From: Donald Allen To: MG Cc: alpine-user@lists.alpinelinux.org Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary=001a113ed33861508a05272b17d1 X-Virus-Scanned: ClamAV using ClamSMTP --001a113ed33861508a05272b17d1 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 I am not an Alpine developer nor am I associated with the project in any way, other than as a user of the system. I will answer what questions I can below, but I will comment -- I hope you won't be insulted -- that the nature of your questions suggests that you are not knowledgeable about Linux. If I am right, then Alpine is not a good introduction to the Linux world. It's a little bit like trying to learn to drive on a motorcycle. There are many Linux distributions to choose from and if I'm right that you are new to Linux, I would suggest trying Linux Mint, Ubuntu, or Debian. Arch is very good, but requires more advanced knowledge to install and use. The same is true of Slackware, which has the additional problem of having last been released over two years ago. I am not familiar with Red Hat and its derivatives -- Fedora, CentOS. On Fri, Dec 18, 2015 at 6:38 AM, MG wrote: > Dear Alpine Linux, > > I'm very tempted to use your OS. Before starting, as I'm not an > experienced user, may I kindly ask you some help on those questions: > > - Is your OS compatible with a laptop LENOVO THINKPAD R400 > (64bits, Type: 7443)? > (http://www.cnet.com/products/lenovo-thinkpad-r400-7443/specs/) > That's a fairly old machine, if I'm not mistaken. I have an R500. I have not tried Alpine on it, but I have run other Linux distributions on it (Debian, Arch) and they worked well. There were no driver issues (video, audio, wifi). I *have* found that I've had issues with Alpine on a couple of PCs, specifically problems with X (screen goes blank shortly after X comes up and can't be brought back), where other Linux distributions (and OpenBSD) worked fine. The proof is in the pudding. If, despite what I said above, you decide to try to install Alpine, back up the machine completely before doing anything and give it a try. If things don't go well, restore your backup. > > - If not, what parts should be changed? > > - Can I install your OS from Libreboot (free BIOS)? > (http://www.libreboot.org/) > - Do you plan to get the agreement of the Free Software Foundation for > your OS? (https://www.fsf.org) > That question doesn't make a lot of sense. Alpine is Linux and, as such, a major part of Alpine is Gnu software, which comes from the FSF. No agreement necessary. > > - As your OS seems independant, is it compatible with other common > softwares? Firefox, Tor, Skype, Tox, LibreOffice, Enigmail, KeepassX,... > Again, it is Linux. Yes, Firefox runs on it. I have not tried the other applications you mention. From my experience, there are two issues with compatibility: Alpine uses a different C library than most Linux distributions, and differs from most Linux distributions in its use of a more secure version of the kernel and other security-related measures. These differences can cause compatibility issues. Also, Alpine seems to be intended for use in embedded systems, where hardware resources are limited and security is paramount. It can be used as a desktop system on a conventional PC, but it doesn't offer as rich a collection of packages as other Linux distributions, such as the ones I suggested above. I already thank you for your consideration and wish you all the best! > > - M.G > > > > > --- > Unsubscribe: alpine-user+unsubscribe@lists.alpinelinux.org > Help: alpine-user+help@lists.alpinelinux.org > --- > > --001a113ed33861508a05272b17d1 Content-Type: text/html; charset=UTF-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
I am not an Alpine developer nor am I associated with the = project in any way, other than as a user of the system.

= I will answer what questions I can below, but I will comment -- I hope you = won't be insulted -- that the nature of your questions suggests that yo= u are not knowledgeable about Linux. If I am right, then Alpine is not a go= od introduction to the Linux world. It's a little bit like trying to le= arn to drive on a motorcycle. There are many Linux distributions to choose = from and if I'm right that you are new to Linux, I would suggest trying= Linux Mint, Ubuntu, or Debian. Arch is very good, but requires more advanc= ed knowledge to install and use. The same is true of Slackware, which has t= he additional problem of having last been released over two years ago. I am= not familiar with Red Hat and its derivatives -- Fedora, CentOS.

On Fri, Dec 18, 2015 at= 6:38 AM, MG <m.g@openmailbox.org> wrote:
Dear Alpine Linux,

I'm very tempted to use your OS. Before starting, as I'm not an
experienced user, may I kindly ask you some help on those questions:

- Is your OS compatible with a laptop LENOVO THINKPAD R400
(64bits, Type: 7443)?
(http://www.cnet.com/products/lenovo-th= inkpad-r400-7443/specs/)

That's= a fairly old machine, if I'm not mistaken. I have an R500. I have not = tried Alpine on it, but I have run other Linux distributions on it (Debian,= Arch) and they worked well. There were no driver issues (video, audio, wif= i). I *have* found that I've had issues with Alpine on a couple of PCs,= specifically problems with X (screen goes blank shortly after X comes up a= nd can't be brought back), where other Linux distributions (and OpenBSD= ) worked fine. The proof is in the pudding. If, despite what I said above, = you decide to try to install Alpine, back up the machine completely before = doing anything and give it a try. If things don't go well, restore your= backup.

- If not, what parts should be changed?

- Can I install your OS from Libreboot (free BIOS)?
(http://www.libreboot.org/)=C2=A0

- Do you plan to get the agreement of the Free Software Foundation for
your OS? (https://www.fsf.org)

That quest= ion doesn't make a lot of sense. Alpine is Linux and, as such, a major = part of Alpine is Gnu software, which comes from the FSF. No agreement nece= ssary.

- As your OS seems independant, is it compatible with other common
softwares? Firefox, Tor, Skype, Tox, LibreOffice, Enigmail, KeepassX,...

Again, it is Linux. Yes, Firefox runs on = it. I have not tried the other applications you mention. From my experience= , there are two issues with compatibility: Alpine uses a different C librar= y than most Linux distributions, and differs from most Linux distributions = in its use of a more secure version of the kernel and other security-relate= d measures. These differences can cause compatibility issues.
Also, Alpine seems to be intended for use in embedded systems, = where hardware resources are limited and security is paramount. It can be u= sed as a desktop system on a conventional PC, but it doesn't offer as r= ich a collection of packages as other Linux distributions, such as the ones= I suggested above.

I already thank you for your consideration and wish you all the best!

- M.G




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