Rob, while I agree with much of what you say, I have to say that being a 
newbie and not understanding the fundamentals is probably the best 
reason to /not/ run as root.

I started out with Corel Linux, which was also based on Debian and also 
reported to be a newbie-friendly distro, and I liked it. But it did not 
always run as root- I had to deliberately switch to root in order to do 
myself major harm (and I did, on a few occasions.) If I had always been 
running as root, I would have hosed myself early and often, and this 
would not encourage me to proceed with Linux.

Lee Einer

Derek Neighbors wrote:

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> Rob Wultsch wrote:
> | I have been reading about lindows some and it seems to me that some of
> | the hostility directed towards it might be iladvised.
> |
> | 1. First it is debian underneath that many of use know and love.
> | 2. Every review claims that it is easly to install.
> | 3. Why running as root always might not be the smatest idea, it will
> | make it much easier for a windows newbie to start to undestand the
> | fundamentals.
> | 4. It is a suscription based service as much as it is an OS. So most of
> | the programs are availible for free (as in both), but does that mean
> | that they will apt-get nicely? If Lindows can keep installation easy 
> and
> | bug free then is that not worth paying for?
> |
> | In case you were wondering I saw these recently and they sparked my
> | interest:
> |
> http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-Details.asp?EdpNo=608176 
>
>
> | (a diskless workstation for $169 which appears to have a kde desktop)
> | http://www.sub300.com/port.htm
> | (a 2.9 lb notebook that comes with a linux variant for under $800)
>
> I had a very long and nice point by point explanation with links to
> supporting documents prepared and right before I was ready to press send
> my 2 year old smacked the proper key combo to restart X... Ah the joys
> of the toddler and an unattended laptop.
>
> So I will sum it up much quicker this time.  Lindows is a company that
> does not share the same ethics as most of the rest of the Free
> Software/Open Source community.  I agree this does not warrant
> hostility.  What SCO is doing, does.  However, I would not expect people
> to be warm and fuzzy to them either.
>
> I think the cold shoulder extended to them at this point is deserved.
> It might sometimes show as being over calous or cold, but when you chose
> to not play by the rules the game makers have set, you have to be
> willing to endure the penalties.
>
> - -Derek
>
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-- 


Lee Einer
Dos Manos Jewelry
http://www.dosmanosjewelry.com