Forum Home
Press F1
Thread ID: 43872	2004-03-30 01:26:00	i have problems with linux and one more hardware question!	yingxuan (3330)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
225922	2004-03-30 01:26:00	I've come across this term called "shell" in linux and i don't know what it means.Does it just mean the different users that is logged into the system? Im using windows 2000 and was wondering what an operation needs to enable mulitple users.How does the operation system enable multiple users?Is it something to do with the server? I am soon to buy a laptop at the end of the year.I c that if i buy a cheap laptop the specification might say that the laptop does not have a graphics card.It will say something like 64mb of memory may be allocated to the graphics.I was wondering is it possible to buy the laptop which does not have a graphics card.After buying the laptop take it into a shop and somehow ask them to install a graphics card so that the graphics do not require the ram from the laptop .The graphics card will have its own memory by its own. Do u actually see a different in speed if the laptop does not come with a graphics card vs allocated memory to the graphics.Do u see a big difference in speed?	yingxuan (3330)
225923	2004-03-30 02:21:00	Laptops (generally speaking) do not have a separate graphics card, nor can you add a card . What it has been manufactured with is what you get . All commonly available laptops have either dedicated on-board video memory or use the main memory . Do you see a difference in speed? Doing what with the laptop? Generally no, if you need more main memory then fit more . Apart from that you cant do much with a laptop . Basic rule, apart from main memory and replacing the HDD, you simply can't upgrade a laptop . You know how small they are, now you know why they are so small .	godfather (25)
225924	2004-03-30 02:23:00	> .I was wondering is it possible to buy the laptop which does not have a graphics card.After buying the laptop take it into a shop and somehow ask them to install a graphics card so that the graphics do not require the ram from the laptop . Are you pretty wealthy? Thats quite an expensive option, well out of most peoples reach if indeed you can find a laptop with a graphics slot. A cheap laptop certainly won't have one. Best to forget about it. ;-)	Fire-and-Ice (3910)
225925	2004-03-30 02:31:00	A "shell" is the environment which a user is used by . :D If you remember DOS, the standard *nix shell is a much more powerful version of that . An OS needs to be designed to handle multiple users, otherwise there is no protection of one user from the misdeeds of another . In a *nix, there are a number of user slots set up, each with a login programme waiting for business, and as a user logs in, a session is created . That will usually run a copy of bash or csh (command interpreters) , so it's commonly called a shell . Each session is independent . . . it has its own virtual memory allocated, and can't access the memory or files of another user without permission . It can't access the kernel/operating system functions directly . So this has to be designed in from the start . It can't be "added on" and have any real security . There were various multi-user layers added to DOS, but they were more often multiple "data entry" stations to a single programme . Netware is a true multi-user server operating system . . . it used DOS as a programme loader . Windows was "designed" as a graphic interface to DOS, which is a single user disk file manager and programme launcher, rather than an OS . ;-) The NT family is based on (plagiarised ;-)) from DEC's VAX/VMS OS, but . . . Almost all (I'm not brave enough to say all :D) laptops have builtin video . Almost all laptops (;-)) don't have PIC or AGP slots . There's no room . So if you must have a video system of your choice, you will have to find a laptop which has that one built in . Or find a laptop which can have one added .	Graham L (2)
225926	2004-03-30 02:54:00	thanks so much is there a tutorial on linux?I needa know how to change shells,use info,man and creating files using vim.Can't see it anywhere online	yingxuan (3330)
225927	2004-03-30 03:06:00	Try FAQ80 here ... ;-) "linux tutorial" to Google should find plenty ... Don't use vim. joe, jed, pico, .... are much nicer. "man man". "man info" If you are logged in to a "black screen, you are probably using the bash shell, and you don't really want to change shells ... more precise terms would be "change consoles" or "change sessions". You can get another virtual console with Alt/F2 or Alt/F3 or Alt/F4 (up to Alt/F7). You get back to the original session with Alt/F1. If you are using a GUI, Ctrl/Alt/Fx works ... and Ctrl/Alt/F7 is reserved for the GUI X-Window server.	Graham L (2)
225928	2004-03-30 03:30:00	By the way, if you might want to put Linux on the laptop, look here (http://www.linux-laptop.net/) first. There are problems with many laptops. They are best avoided. ;-)	Graham L (2)
225929	2004-03-30 03:59:00	Try this for a tutorial: www.icon.co.za	JohnD (509)
225930	2004-03-30 11:08:00	> I needa know how to > change shells,use info,man and creating files using > vim.Can't see it anywhere online The command "chsh" will change your shell (check out "man chsh" for documentation). But I'm not sure if thats what you really want, the standard bash shell is fine. Do you mean changing terminals, eg xterm, Eterm, konsole, gnome-terminal, etc? re VIM: Its not an easy program to start with, you have to learn quite a bit even to get started. If you have vim installed then "vimtutor" should be installed also. I would recommend installing gvim (in the vim-x11 package usually), its a bit easier to start with.	bmason (508)
225931	2004-03-30 19:59:00	> By the way, if you might want to put Linux on the > laptop, look > here (http://www.linux-laptop.net/) first. > There are problems with many laptops. They are best > avoided. ;-) how right you are just check my thread, my problem roots lie in the 1024 limation I think	beama (111)
1 2