Marmot (Mike) Assistant Organizer of Southwest Florida GNU/Linux Users Group

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Member of this
Meetup Group since

February 17, 2003

Introduction

I originally moved to Fort Myers in 1998 after graduating from McMaster University in Canada (Comp. Engineering & Mgmt). I currently work as a software developer with a local company, providing services for cellular carriers nationwide.

What is your favorite distro?

I've tried several -- Slackware, RedHat, Mandrake, Debian, Ubuntu, Gentoo etc. My favorite is Gentoo. The package management system is solid, and the online support forums are among the best I've ever seen. Ubuntu and Debian score highly too.

How long have you been a GNU/Linux user?

On a friend's recommendation, I downloaded mini-linux in 1992 onto 1.2 meg floppies. It was enough to boot the kernel and run a few basic commands, but at that point, it was just a curiousity. Slackware 2.2 hooked me in '94.

Do you like GNU/Linux more for it's price or performance?

The price is definitely nice, but I wouldn't use it if it didn't work for me. I like the reliability--it's stable, plus I don't have to worry about a virus / spyware infestation.

Have you gotten any relatives or friends interested in GNU/Linux?

A couple of previous roommates ran it on their computers as a result of my influence. At work, our development workstations run under Linux, as do all of the services we offer to our customers.

Do you feel that GNU/Linux is just another Operating System? Why or Why Not?

If it were just another operating system, it wouldn't get much attention. Linux is different because it is controlled and defined by its users, rather than a particular vendor.

Additional Information

"I'm hoping that with this group, we can all show each other the cool things we're doing with Linux, learn new tips/tricks, and most importantly, have fun doing so."