20 May 2006

Harry writes:
"I don't know about this ISO, but most Linux ISOs available for download also offer a md5 file that can be downloaded too. This file allows checking of the ISO before burning rather than after."

Yes, this ISO offers the MD5 file at the download site, yes I am familiar with the process of verifying, but for my 60 cents (the price of a CD) it is quicker and easier to just burn and boot, especially when I weigh the value of my time versus putzing around trying to remember (or relearn) a process I never use. Also, when you consider the overwhelming cost of this distribution is the download time, finding out it is a bad download before burning saves nothing, and in fact would have deprived me of a very illuminating (albeit damaged) first trial of accelerated Knoppix, which would have made the exercise a total waste of time.

Harry continues:
"Your inability to figure out how to use BitTorrent reflects poorly on you, not on BitTorrent. It's pretty well covered in the Downloading FAQ. I suggest that you read that and if you still can't figure it out, try asking."

My, my, aren't we touchy. My intention is not to slam bittorrent, or anyone else for that matter. I am simply not interested in wasting my time learning somebody else's latest digital fixation, especially when normal mirror channels suffice for a very inexpensive, hands off, braindead, download-burn-try, which, over a wide pipe, works perfectly most of the time. I have enough activities of my own, and like all humans, my brain capacity is finite.

Incidentally, I did visit the bittorrent site before downloading, and like many sites with a focus on the digerati, it is less than literate in the historical sense of the word. This is not intended to be a slam either, but simply an observation that many of you youngsters principally preach to the choir, without considering that there are many intelligent, talented, capable, interested folks, whose expertise lies somewhat outside that of the professional bit slinger - those who would rather spend their very finite resources on activities nearer and dearer to the heart. In my case, that would be plasma physics. One of the major purposes of LiveCDs is something of an outreach program to those of us who are so often treated as though we are complete morons, isn't it?

Harry opines:
"Sure anything can be a dog, particularly depending on other activity at the time (duh!),..."

Well, if you must know, the individual who told me about poor bittorrent performance was of the opinion that when very few downloads are occuring concurrently, or if most of the downloaders are "leeches", little is to be gained, especially over a wide pipe. The bittorrent FAQ, as you are no doubt aware, corroborates this opinion. Considering again the value of time, it was, and is, simply a wiser decision for me to set an unused computer going, and go do something else.

Oh, by the way, getting the opinion of a trusted colleague is "asking". It is possible to have an in person conversation with a living human being offlline, and some of us actually prefer the experience.

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Returning to the topic of this thread, which Harry must realize, being a moderator, is not bittorrent, but accelerated Knoppix, the principal points of my post were that this distribution has merit, and there are two barriers impeding wider distribution, namely:

1) The lack or mirror support, which unequivocally impairs accessibility, irrespective of the value of bittorrent, and

2) The fact that Japanese is a comparatively exotic language for most, and the distribution web site is largely in Japanese.

Elaborating more on the merit, even with a damaged ISO, the novelty of the boot mechanism is apparent. The creator of this distribution also offers an open source tool kit, so others may use the technique in their LiveCDs. Of course it is in Japanese, so those who are unable to read Japanese may not have noticed this when they visited the download site.

In closing, normally I am disinclined to participate in the egocentric, futile bickering that so many forum threads seem to devolve to so rapidly. Therefore, may I suggest that further posts stay on topic, which is, specifically, sharing your experiences with this novel distribution, or contributing constructive suggestions for improving its availability to those of us who are mere mortals, with no shame about our limitations. Criticising me about my bit slinging limitations is as insane and pointless as it would be for me to criticise you about your natural language limitations.