"Roach Palace" Linux PC Overview

Here's a look at a computer build I did back around 2008 or so. This computer was built so that we didn't have to use the "Operation Panopticon" DVR computer for web browsing and similar tasks. It was intended to be a "value" build right from the start and it actually turned out as an exceptional example of a "value build". I was actually pretty confident that the CPU in this system was a Pentium 4 520, which would have been a 2.8 GHz CPU. I'm not sure how it came to have a newer 3.4 GHz Pentium 4, nor have I checked to see exactly which model it is. I'm certain that I never changed the CPU after doing the initial build, so my guess is that I found a better part and used it instead. Keep in mind that the goal here was not to build a high end "screamer" of a PC but rather to reach a good level of performance with well balanced hardware at a low cost. While there could be improvements, the hardware in this system is pretty well balanced. And now, the promised Linux commentary. (Consider yourself warned. I have lots of Obnoxious Opinions and don't mind sharing some of them.) As it is, I have a tremendous amount of respect for the GNU/Linux operating system and the concept of free and open source software (F/OSS). Many F/OSS programs are of much better quality than similar commercial offerings. Oftentimes they are of exceptional quality. I believe the existence of software that one is free to use, distribute, study, expand upon or otherwise improve is vitally important to society. Linux works very well in some places, especially with regard to embedded computers. I have to admire the way it can be run on a highly diverse number of computing platforms. How much hardware it supports, and supports reasonably well is nothing less than amazing, especially when you consider how many hardware manufacturers either refuse to provide or provide incomplete/incorrect documentation about their hardware. Now the (abbreviated, thanks to Youtube) criticisms...one long standing beef I've had with Linux in general is the sheer amount of "user directed hostility" involved in using or maintaining the system...or, as I've heard it put, "if it was hard to write, it should be hard to use". Well designed software allows the user to get started relatively quickly and easily, with more advanced capabilities placed in such a way that the user can gradually pick up and run with them. To be fair, Linux has made tremendous strides in this area, but there is a lot more to do, especially when dark, difficult parts of the system are just "papered over" and sometimes throw the user into the abyss without explanation or any way to figure out how to fix things. Which brings me to... ...the so-called "Linux Attitude". While this in no way describes every Linux user, there are some who feel that anyone who asks a question or questions the way things are done is "stupid" and worthy of contemptible treatment or worse! That's no way to do things. I don't mean for any of this to sound offensive, to upset anyone, or to seem as though I'm picking on Linux just because I can. I'm not. I've used commercial Unix (particularly IBM's AIX), as well as other free Unix-like systems from the BSD family. In both cases I have noticed that these systems do have better behavior on some of these points. If you're still wondering where I'm coming from, I'd recommend reading this article: http://www.catb.org/esr/writings/cups... . I also made a posting concerning my feelings about Linux in 2010. If you haven't had enough of my book-length video descriptions, you can read it here: http://greyghost.mooo.com/linuxpost.txt Note: If any security software complains about that link, I suggest you look into better security software. There is not, nor has there ever been, anything even remotely malicious about the site. The issue has to do with the fact that the server lives on a "home-grade" Internet connection. Again, I welcome constructive commentary, even if you disagree with me. Let's just keep it polite and not resort to name calling or other rude behavior.