OT sorta, another reason to love linux

[Dave]

I've got an old Gateway P3 notebook which should have been retired long ago. But it refuses to die and it's OK for what I need it for, so I don't see the sense in replacing it. I installed Windows XP on it (clean install, formatted hard drive). Then I installed linux on it also (dual booting). Since then, I've noticed a pattern, which I've tested many times (so I know it isn't a fluke).

If I boot XP on a full battery charge, the old battery lasts about 15 minutes before the notebook will shut itself down.

If I boot linux on a full battery charge, I can use this same notebook for WELL over an hour on battery power. Sometimes it's made it past TWO hours before the low battery light starts flashing. Note that the low battery light will flash (while using linux) for a good 15 minutes or so before the system shuts down.

Can't argue with results like that. -Dave

 

[Dave]

Not bad!


Which distro did you use?

an older version of puppy ( 3.?, booted multisession CD, then installed to hard drive)

works great! -Dave

 

[Dave]

O> >>

Puppy?? Puppy?? You're comparing a full blown operating system [WinXP]
to an itty bitty little distro that will fit on a 128MB stick of
RAM???

You're claiming that puppy is not a full blown operating system? It's just as capable in every way as Windows XP or Vista, so I think you've just demonstrated your own ignorance here.

And then you're amazed that it uses less resources than WinXP??

No. Not even surprised. All distros of linux use less resources than WinXP. But you should be pissed at Microsoft for that.

Holy shit! You know I once compared the milage I was getting in my
golf cart running to the store to my pickup, running the same errands.
And, do you know that, WOW, my golf cart beat the pickup hands down!!
Now isn't THAT amazing??

Yeah, you should be pissed that your pickup is so inefficient.

My point was, how is it that running similar software, one OS manages to use roughly 12% as much electrical power as another? I guess you could say that this makes linux a very environmentally friendly ("green") operating system.

Hey, if puppy can do it, what is Microsoft's excuse??? -Dave

 

[Dave]

O

Exactly, Linux doesn't even come close to fitting my needs or the
needs of the vast majority of other real PC users.

That's only true up until about age 16 or so. Other than games, you can do anything else you want to do with linux, including opening, editing and saving Microsoft Office format files. You should note that most business servers are switching to linux also. As Microsoft software is written primarily for business use, this doesn't bode well for the future of Microsoft.

Windows runs the
games, but it also runs the big money making applications in
business and science. Macs used to run the graphics applications,
but now even they are being written for Windows first. Have you seen
those recent Apple Computer commercials? One of them boasts about
"Office for the Mac". But Office is written by Microsoft, you know?
At one time Microsoft threatened Apple that it wasn't going to write
Office for the Mac anymore. That would've killed Apple, and still
would. Apple survives because Microsoft lets it, and Linux isn't
even in the picture.

Most large businesses that run linux on their servers would disagree with the statement that linux isn't even in the picture. If it wasn't in the picture, their systems would literally grind to a halt. -Dave

 

[Dave]

Does that include wrapping your lines when you post to USENET?

Y'know, I've seen other people mention word wrapping or something to that effect. But I read my own posts with sylpheed (the software that I'm using now), Agent (most people should be familiar with that), Outlook Express, and Windows Mail (Vista version of Outlook Express) and my own posts look fine with all those programs. What the frick software are you running that you are having a problem reading this?!? -Dave

 

[Dave]

Are the power management settings set up /exactly/ the same?

Why should that matter? That only becomes a factor if I let the system set idle, and I don't let the system set idle. If I'm not using it, I power it down (completely). -Dave

 

[Dave]

Actually, there is a possible reason for this. I've done some
experiments here, and determined that my antivirus software
(Kaspersky), messed around with the Windows idle loop.

Before the AV software, the processor drew about 13W.

Hmmmm . . . don't know about that. I installed avg free on it, almost as an after-thought. Not sure if that changes anything. -Dave

 

[The Seabat]

Puppy?? Puppy?? You're comparing a full blown operating system [WinXP]
to an itty bitty little distro that will fit on a 128MB stick of
RAM??? And then you're amazed that it uses less resources than WinXP??
Holy shit! You know I once compared the milage I was getting in my
golf cart running to the store to my pickup, running the same errands.
And, do you know that, WOW, my golf cart beat the pickup hands down!!
Now isn't THAT amazing?? Bozo.

 

[John Doe]

Not bad!


Which distro did you use?


an older version of puppy ( 3.?, booted multisession CD, then
installed to hard drive)

works great! -Dave

Puppy?? Puppy?? You're comparing a full blown operating system
[WinXP] to an itty bitty little distro that will fit on a 128MB
stick of RAM??? And then you're amazed that it uses less
resources than WinXP?? Holy shit! You know I once compared the
milage I was getting in my golf cart running to the store to my
pickup, running the same errands. And, do you know that, WOW, my
golf cart beat the pickup hands down!! Now isn't THAT amazing??
Bozo.

What's so bad about that? If it fits the user's needs, all is
fine.

Exactly, Linux doesn't even come close to fitting my needs or the
needs of the vast majority of other real PC users. Windows runs the
games, but it also runs the big money making applications in
business and science. Macs used to run the graphics applications,
but now even they are being written for Windows first. Have you seen
those recent Apple Computer commercials? One of them boasts about
"Office for the Mac". But Office is written by Microsoft, you know?
At one time Microsoft threatened Apple that it wasn't going to write
Office for the Mac anymore. That would've killed Apple, and still
would. Apple survives because Microsoft lets it, and Linux isn't
even in the picture.

 

[Matt]

Puppy?? Puppy?? You're comparing a full blown operating system [WinXP]
to an itty bitty little distro that will fit on a 128MB stick of
RAM??? And then you're amazed that it uses less resources than WinXP??
Holy shit! You know I once compared the milage I was getting in my
golf cart running to the store to my pickup, running the same errands.
And, do you know that, WOW, my golf cart beat the pickup hands down!!
Now isn't THAT amazing?? Bozo.

Do you feel the need to use your pickup on the golf course?

 

[The Seabat]

Not bad!


Which distro did you use?


an older version of puppy ( 3.?, booted multisession CD, then installed to hard drive)

works great! -Dave

Puppy?? Puppy?? You're comparing a full blown operating system [WinXP]
to an itty bitty little distro that will fit on a 128MB stick of
RAM??? And then you're amazed that it uses less resources than WinXP??
Holy shit! You know I once compared the milage I was getting in my
golf cart running to the store to my pickup, running the same errands.
And, do you know that, WOW, my golf cart beat the pickup hands down!!
Now isn't THAT amazing?? Bozo.

Do you feel the need to use your pickup on the golf course?

No, but I damn sure feel the need to use my golf cart running around
town. Freakin' oil companies!

 

[Matt]

The Seabat wrote:

Not bad!


Which distro did you use?


an older version of puppy ( 3.?, booted multisession CD, then installed to hard drive)

works great! -Dave

Puppy?? Puppy?? You're comparing a full blown operating system [WinXP]
to an itty bitty little distro that will fit on a 128MB stick of
RAM??? And then you're amazed that it uses less resources than WinXP??
Holy shit! You know I once compared the milage I was getting in my
golf cart running to the store to my pickup, running the same errands.
And, do you know that, WOW, my golf cart beat the pickup hands down!!
Now isn't THAT amazing?? Bozo.

Do you feel the need to use your pickup on the golf course?

No, but I damn sure feel the need to use my golf cart running around
town. Freakin' oil companies!

A new laptop can be costly too.

 

[John Doe]

O

That's only true up until about age 16 or so. Other than games, you can do anything else you want to do with linux,

Does that include wrapping your lines when you post to USENET?

Most large businesses that run linux on their servers would disagree with the statement that linux isn't even in the picture. If it wasn't in the picture, their systems would literally grind to a halt. -Dave

Yes Linux is a server operating system. Professionals nowadays
use workstations running Windows.

 

[John Doe]

Y'know, I've seen other people mention word wrapping or something to that effect. But I read my own posts with sylpheed (the software that I'm using now), Agent (most people should be familiar with that), Outlook Express, and Windows Mail (Vista version of Outlook Express) and my own posts look fine with all those programs. What the frick software are you running that you are having a problem reading this?!? -Dave

Maybe it's Linux wanting you to stand out among the crowd.

I use Xnews. It's written by Luu Trans who actually uses the
software he writes. Xnews might not be user-friendly, but it is
highly functional. Pretty amazing how many very useful controls it
includes once you find them. Out of trivia... can you (or someone
else who uses Xnews) guess how the name "Xnews" was derived? We
haven't gotten confirmation from the author, but it's easy to figure
(at least after you've heard it).

 

[Paul]

My point was, how is it that running similar software, one OS
manages to use roughly 12% as much electrical power as another?
I guess you could say that this makes linux a very environmentally
friendly ("green") operating system.

Hey, if puppy can do it, what is Microsoft's excuse??? -Dave

Actually, there is a possible reason for this. I've done some
experiments here, and determined that my antivirus software
(Kaspersky), messed around with the Windows idle loop.

Before the AV software, the processor drew about 13W.

I noticed sometime after the AV software was installed, that
the exhaust coming from the PSU, seemed to be a bit warmer
than normal. I used my clamp-on ammeter, and found the idle
power to be much higher (about 4 times higher).

Then, I downloaded a copy of RMClock. One of the options of
that program, is to install its own "idle loop" tasks,
complete with HLT (halt) instruction. What an idle loop
is supposed to do, is do its housekeeping, then execute
HLT. The processor sleeps, until the next hardware
interrupt (which, in an idling computer, might be the
high priority clock tick interrupt - that interrupt event
occurs repetitively, so no danger of the computer sleeping
forever). The processor starts running again at that point,
and the scheduler decides what to run next. Using HLT for
intervals where the processor is not working, saves a lot
of power.

Based on my experiments, both Linux and Windows 2000 have *exactly*
the same processor idle current - but only as long as some piece
of software has not upset the Windows 2000 idle task.

Paul

 

[SteveH]

I've got an old Gateway P3 notebook which should have been retired
long ago. But it refuses to die and it's OK for what I need it for,
so I don't see the sense in replacing it. I installed Windows XP on
it (clean install, formatted hard drive). Then I installed linux on
it also (dual booting). Since then, I've noticed a pattern, which
I've tested many times (so I know it isn't a fluke).

If I boot XP on a full battery charge, the old battery lasts about 15
minutes before the notebook will shut itself down.

If I boot linux on a full battery charge, I can use this same
notebook for WELL over an hour on battery power. Sometimes it's made
it past TWO hours before the low battery light starts flashing. Note
that the low battery light will flash (while using linux) for a good
15 minutes or so before the system shuts down.

Can't argue with results like that. -Dave

Are the power management settings set up /exactly/ the same?

 

[Same Guy]

Thu, 22 May 2008 04:29:10 GMT: written by John Doe

Maybe it's Linux wanting you to stand out among the crowd.

I use Xnews. It's written by Luu Trans who actually uses the
software he writes. Xnews might not be user-friendly, but it is
highly functional. Pretty amazing how many very useful controls it
includes once you find them. Out of trivia... can you (or someone
else who uses Xnews) guess how the name "Xnews" was derived? We
haven't gotten confirmation from the author, but it's easy to figure
(at least after you've heard it).

....and Agent, but I just hit 'O' and it automatically wraps the line at
the edge of my screen. Still way to the right compared to the other
posts.



--


UDP for Google Groups
http://improve-usenet.org/index.html
Petition your NewsAdmin today to block all posts from Google Groups

 

[The Seabat]

O> >>

an older version of puppy ( 3.?, booted multisession CD, then installed to hard drive)

works great! -Dave

Puppy?? Puppy?? You're comparing a full blown operating system [WinXP]
to an itty bitty little distro that will fit on a 128MB stick of
RAM???

You're claiming that puppy is not a full blown operating system? It's just as capable in every way as Windows XP or Vista, so I think you've just demonstrated your own ignorance here.

And then you're amazed that it uses less resources than WinXP??

No. Not even surprised. All distros of linux use less resources than WinXP. But you should be pissed at Microsoft for that.

Then why didn't you compare it to Fedora or Red Hat or even Ubuntu?

Point is, you can't really compare the two. The apples and oranges
thing!
Again, they are NOT similar operating systems! You keep dismissing
that point.

Your hatred of Microsoft and your infatuation with Linux have clouded
your perception of reality. Your test was biased from the begining, so
your results are suspect.
And that's my final word on the matter.

 

[John Doe]

...and Agent, but I just hit 'O' and it automatically wraps the
line at the edge of my screen. Still way to the right compared to
the other posts.

If it's a problem, there should be a setting for number of
characters to wrap your posts.

I bought Agent 1.6 and 4.0, but I still use Xnews. I bought Agent
4.0 because I they finally included Ignore SubThread (ignore a
thread branch) and I wanted to encourage that. It's the greatest
filter you will ever use.

There is a discussion group specifically for Agent. There is also
one that deals with Xnews (news.software.readers).

 

[Dave]

I like to archive information about spammers and trolls.

I'd have to re-read the entire thread to be sure, but I sure didn't see any spammers or trolls in this one.

That's nice, but like it or not Microsoft owns the personal
computer.

You know where microsoft gets most of their profits? It sure as hell isn't Vista Home Premium. It's from OS licensing for business servers...the systems that are switching to linux at an ever-increasing pace. Microsoft may be dominant at the moment, but they are also in big trouble if they don't figure out how to reverse this trend. -Dave