Foo - Why are there so many linux geeks on BF?

One thing that's surprised me is the number of linux users on BF. Why is that such a high percentage of cycling nuts like an operating system that most of the general public doesn't even know about? Seems like ideally, people should not even know or care what their OS is. After all, do you know who built the computer for your car (or what software it runs on)? No one worries about that because the thing works.

I have wondered about this too. I do have a few theories. First, cycling is a physical activity. Programmers are generally in the office for 8-14 hours a day, and cannot get out to do anything physical. Cycling requires some hardware, and choosing bike components is just as geeky as choosing peripherals for your PC. Second, with Linux, there is a lot of mix and match, which is exactly what you do in cycling (i.e. brakes with shimano, cranks with campy, etc ...).

Because there is a large proportion of linux geeks on all forums? Or they are more likely to enter into geeky conversation on forums whereas someone not interested in the OS, is more likely to be in the cycling section of a bike forum instead of the "hangout" section.

Currently running Ubuntu, but still dual booting because I haven't figured out how to set up ESD so I can unplug my wireless usb headphones and switch to speakers and have it play.

I got into cycling for the exact reason spingineer mentioned. I work 10hrs/day at a computer. My biggest physical exercise at work is when I occasionally have to walk from my office to the server room to physically check a computer out. And, now that my office adjoins the server room, that's not much exercise!

About the first thing I did when I got the bike is make a database to hold my daily weight readings, then wrote up some PHP to generate a daily graph. Getting up and putting new data into that graph, for some reason, is really motivating for me. My next purchase will be a nice bike computer to add more stats for my database so I can have more graphs. I don't know why it works, but it keeps me going.

Linux FTW!

Joey

It would be interesting to see what everyone's occupation is. Which occupation has the most recreational cyclists?

I was wondering the same thing. Is it because Linux is used mainly for web applications and the guys that build them hang out on the web?

I'm a software consultant and everything I work on runs on Windows or IBM platforms. You don't see many traditional business apps (accounting, point of sale, reporting, etc.) running on Linux. Whether I like it or not, Microsoft runs my world.

http://sokrates.mimuw.edu.pl/%7Esebek/pub/linux-pics/Linux-penguin-huge.jpg
first the interwebz then the WORLD!!!!111!!!!1!!!1

I was wondering the same thing. Is it because Linux is used mainly for web applications and the guys that build them hang out on the web?

Possibly. In regular life, I have a computer related job. I ride to get away from that stuff. I still had dialup at home until last year and I still have an ancient computer which I don't intend to replace because I already spend too much time in front of a monitor.

Actually I dislike linux. I am a unix person....

The reason why for me was simple, I wanted to start biking and this was a good forum with good information with some damn witty people (back in the day) The MTB forum dragged me in as a perm member pretty easily.

Its also an old school feeling, I ran a bbs back in the day (80's) and had a few thousand members that we could talk to every day and make friends with. Bikeforums originally, was small and intimate allowing that exact same feeling.

I was wondering the same thing. Is it because Linux is used mainly for web applications and the guys that build them hang out on the web?
I can't say this is exactly true. Most of the time, when I use Linux, it's for network apps. Windows just doesn't have networking tools that Linux has (which is what I need in my job). For example, Linux has tcpdump, MRTG, TCP Replay, nmap, just to name a few. And if I need to use office, I use openoffice.

PS My condolenses for Michigan ...

I think the attraction is much more basic.

As cyclists, we're attracted to a form of transport or exercise or recreation that's outside the norm in contemporary American society. You're supposed to travel by car or exercise in a gym (if at all) or do whatever is fashionable this week for recreation. We don't.

So it's not a big stretch to find that when it comes to our computers, we also don't mindlessly follow the herds.

Edit: Besides, using open-source operating systems and applications frees up fundage that can be used for more important things, likes bikes and bike *****.

Seems like ideally, people should not even know or care what their OS is. After all, do you know who built the computer for your car (or what software it runs on)? No one worries about that because the thing works.

Right. And when was the last time you installed a new program into your car?

Because we are ALL beautiful and unique snowflakes.

Right. And when was the last time you installed a new program into your car?

Is this rhetorical? I have friends that have modified the software on their cars with aftermarket mods.

Besdies, until recently you couldn't buy a pc with linux on it. In fact, most companies still don't do it here. So you need to modify the os to make it more customized,

You're on a message board, 'nuff said.

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There's a lot of members on BF, 1600 online right now. So there's always some linux users here.

I've always used Unix and now Linux at work for server applications. I just used a knoppix bootable CD to rescue some files from an XP pc that wouldn't boot. And it 's great for network troubleshooting, too.

Nice username...haha :)

Because people who use Windows don't sit around and brag and talk about it all the time. ;)

Because people who use Windows don't sit around and brag and talk about it all the time. ;)


true, but i'm not sure what you'd brag about.

true, but i'm not sure what you'd brag about.

Thats part of the whole Linux thing, you kind of have bragging rights almost as to what you've done with your own box. :P

http://sokrates.mimuw.edu.pl/%7Esebek/pub/linux-pics/Linux-penguin-huge.jpg
first the interwebz then the WORLD!!!!111!!!!1!!!1

That's a big penguin!

[QUOTE=tsl;5236951
Edit: Besides, using open-source operating systems and applications frees up fundage that can be used for more important things, likes bikes and bike *****.[/QUOTE]

Now that's the most logical explanation I've heard yet.

It's the only way to Fold SMP.............:)

One thing that's surprised me is the number of linux users on BF. Why is that such a high percentage of cycling nuts like an operating system that most of the general public doesn't even know about? Seems like ideally, people should not even know or care what their OS is. After all, do you know who built the computer for your car (or what software it runs on)? No one worries about that because the thing works.

The key point is because the thing works, which has not been my experience with windows. If your stuck with the mistake of a windows machine purchase than linux is a cheap and easy fix.

Why are there so many windows noobs?

Why are there so many Mac posers?

One thing that's surprised me is the number of linux users on BF. Why is that such a high percentage of cycling nuts like an operating system that most of the general public doesn't even know about? Seems like ideally, people should not even know or care what their OS is. After all, do you know who built the computer for your car (or what software it runs on)? No one worries about that because the thing works.


I'm not a Linux geek. I'm a BSD, Solaris, MacOS X and AIX geek. But I know Linux pretty well. I just don't like it as much.

I got interviewed by CommuteByBike, and they brought up that a lot of bike commuters are involved in tech stuff. My perspective is that cycling makes sense, especially for transportation. It's among the most efficient modes of transportation ever conceived. It's healthy, fun, and logical. Geeks are also logical, and will do what makes sense.

My other point was that when you're looking at cyclists in the blogosphere (or in forums), you're bound to find a higher percentage of geeks than if you were looking at cyclists on the street. Forums and blogs require a little bit of tech knowledge. A random sampling of bicycles on the street in China or the Netherlands would probably yield a significantly smaller percentage of geeks.

I'm not a Linux geek. I'm a BSD, Solaris, MacOS X and AIX geek. But I know Linux pretty well. I just don't like it as much.

I got interviewed by CommuteByBike, and they brought up that a lot of bike commuters are involved in tech stuff. My perspective is that cycling makes sense, especially for transportation. It's among the most efficient modes of transportation ever conceived. It's healthy, fun, and logical. Geeks are also logical, and will do what makes sense.

My other point was that when you're looking at cyclists in the blogosphere (or in forums), you're bound to find a higher percentage of geeks than if you were looking at cyclists on the street. Forums and blogs require a little bit of tech knowledge. A random sampling of bicycles on the street in China or the Netherlands would probably yield a significantly smaller percentage of geeks.

Good point. In this town of 10,000pop I would bet 8000 ride (no joke). I betcha there is, tops, 20-30 of us on various forums and really thats pushing it. Only one other on here I know of, 5 or 6 on ridemonkey, maybe 10 or 15 on nsmb and all of us overlap those two sites. I would even go so far as to say 5 of the 20 are actual pros making money haha...ya small percentage for sure.

Is this rhetorical? I have friends that have modified the software on their cars with aftermarket mods.

Besdies, until recently you couldn't buy a pc with linux on it. In fact, most companies still don't do it here. So you need to modify the os to make it more customized,

I've yet to see an aftermarket mod that actually installs new software into the computer. It either modifies the operating parameters or replaces the computer altogether. Not the same thing at all.

My point being that if you define and control what's allowed to be done on a computer to the point that the end user CAN'T change it or add new programs then it's very easy to have something that 'just works'

It's when you have to start dealing with making everything that's on there work well with programs that you've never heard of, or maybe even don't exist when you're designing/programming your computer/OS that you start running into the 'fun' stuff. ;)

I use Linux distros because there's so many different variants of them. I also use the BSDs when the needs require. I like to try new things. This is why I bike, because there's so much to learn!

Plus most Windows users are probably playing games or on MySpace. ;)

Because we are ALL beautiful and unique snowflakes.

lol

Plus most Windows users are probably playing games or on MySpace. ;)

The games I play helped me pay for my computer.

I started being a computer nerd in typing class in 7th grade, where it said "type the paragraph 5 times" then i learned about copy and paste :p so i would type the first paragraph perfeclty, and copy/paste it. I didn't learn to type fast till later :rolleyes: but the teacher was not computer saavy so she had no idea how i was done so fast and so well.

then i found out the computer was a good pr0n delivery system and i was hooked! (14yrs old...)

FF 20 yrs, my car needs new tires, a headlight, brake pads, brake calipers, etc... also rising gas prices makes it about $35 to fill my little civic (not as bad as many cars, but still...) then i realized I can ride my bike to work, no gas, repair costs are minimal, new tires are $10, brake pads $12, so on and so forth.

so then its time to upgrade the computer. I've toyed with linux in the past but never as a desktop replacement. Windows Vista costs what $299? to $599 or something? Fedora 7 is free, comes with games, immune to most viruses and spyware, and reportedly stabler and faster than Vista? hmm easy choice there.

so i'm a linux using biker primarly because both methods are cheaper than the mainstream counterparts.

Right. And when was the last time you installed a new program into your car?
Given that most people do basically the same things with their computers -- browse the web, create documents, read email, etc, it seems like you should be able to get a computer and not have to add to it and update it constantly.

By the late 80's, word processors already had far more functionality than most people can handle even now. Email is still email. When you're browsing the internet, how much should the experience really depend on what browser you have?

People haven't really changed what they do with computers over time, yet for some reason, everyone thinks they constantly needs new hardware and software. The funny thing is that despite the extra power, the amount of time it actually takes boot up and actually perform various tasks doesn't decrease because the computers are crippled by bloated operating systems and software.

Cars are mechanically complex and subject to lots of abuse, but you don't need to know anything to drive them for years on end. But computers work so poorly that if your understanding of them isn't pretty decent, you'll get frustrated often.

The only reason you REALLY need to upgrade is because they keep coming up with 'newer, better, THE BESTEST EVVER WRITTTENNNN!' OS's and games.

Any IT person will tell you that if you lock a system down to the point where the user can only use the required (or allowed) programs and can't add or change anything then you'll almost never have support issues.

Of course, then they get bored and want to do <insert random stupid thing here that they shouldn't be doing on said computers, anyway> and start complaining.

I don't think I qualify as a Linux geek since for the life of me I can not get Wine to work or stay working.

I don't think I qualify as a Linux geek since for the life of me I can not get Wine to work or stay working.

Depends on what you're running, I've had WINE work, I've also had it be a complete waste of my time. While most people act like WINE fixes all issues with running Windows Apps on a Linux box, it doesn't by far in the real world. :p

I'd just dual boot if I was you and REALLY needed a few Windows Apps. It seems to be the popular solution.

I used to be a linux geek, back when Mandrake was a viable flavor. Now I'm enjoying being able to watch cycling.tv, but Gentoo is starting to look really interesting to me, so who knows...

I used to be a linux geek, back when Mandrake was a viable flavor. Now I'm enjoying being able to watch cycling.tv, but Gentoo is starting to look really interesting to me, so who knows...Yes but true geeks Fold...................:D

Yes but true geeks Fold...................:D

Fix your sig. :( It bugs me.

Yes but true geeks Fold...................:D

Seti@home ftw

http://www.xmission.com/%7Epsneeley/Personal/contact.gif

<<< F@h.

Fix your sig. :( It bugs me.
How is that?

Depends on what you're running, I've had WINE work, I've also had it be a complete waste of my time. While most people act like WINE fixes all issues with running Windows Apps on a Linux box, it doesn't by far in the real world. :p

I'd just dual boot if I was you and REALLY needed a few Windows Apps. It seems to be the popular solution.

Well, I am throwing in the towel with WINE and am going to try the Virtual Machine route. I really don't want to do a dual boot because the only reason I need windows is because I need Access. So rebooting every time I need to get into Access would be a real pain.

Check out cross over (http://www.codeweavers.com/) before you give up on Access running on Wine. I don't think it's perfect, but the last time I tried it, it worked really well with Access.

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There's a lot of members on BF, 1600 online right now. So there's always some linux users here.

I've always used Unix and now Linux at work for server applications. I just used a knoppix bootable CD to rescue some files from an XP pc that wouldn't boot. And it 's great for network troubleshooting, too.

The exact same thing happened to me about 3 months ago. My XP machine locked up
at work and the Knoppix CD saved all the data. I am running Ubuntu as my desktop OS now. I also manage
a bunch of Linux servers. Ha manage linux servers...piece of cake nothing goes wrong :)

And yes....clever UName.

Check out cross over (http://www.codeweavers.com/) before you give up on Access running on Wine. I don't think it's perfect, but the last time I tried it, it worked really well with Access.

No interest in having to buy something to do it and at this point I can not even get WINE to run again.

Oh well, your call. I found cross over to be really easy to use, so just throwing it out there.:)

Oh well, your call. I found cross over to be really easy to use, so just throwing it out there.:)

Well, they do have a trial version, so I guess I could give it a try first.