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Connecting to the Internet
Some more notes, this time on Internet connection, sound card,
RAM, mouse, and printer.
It's time to connect to the Internet. First step: get Linux
to find the modem. At first it doesn't: it is looking for an internal
modem. I guess at selecting a serial port from the dialog box,
and I guess right on my first try. Not only does Linux find the
modem, it queries the modem to find its optimal parameters. I
am able to dial up my ISP.
I am connected to my ISP, but Netscape Navigator doesn't work.
It complains it cannot locate the URLs I type in. I do some more
research and find a reference to Web browsers not connecting with
URLs. The FAQ suggests editing a certain file to place a #
(comment-out a command). Oh great. I tentatively try using the
text editor; find the file; insert the #; save the file;
and try Navigator again. It works!
With Netscape Navigator working, I cruise the Internet. Overall,
I don't find Linux faster than Windows 98). But I do find that
loading cached Web pages is much, much faster under Linux.
The last thing I try is Corel's automatic update service. When
I make the connection, a bunch of data is exchanged. Eventually,
a tree-like display shows a large red X next to several items.
After a while, I wonder if the icon is not an X, but two angle
brackets: ><. I try to find out what the >< refers
to, but fail. No update occurrs (perhaps there is none yet). This
one remains a puzzle.
Saturday 11 March
I finally have the sound card working. Via OSS (open source sound)
drivers, Linux is supposed to support most sound cards. I have
read, however, that one class of sound cards will never be supported.
At first, I wondered if I have one of those. Checking the Corel
Linux KnowledgeBase, I read that I need to use the ModConf
command since many sound cards are not automatically detected.
I am dubious that the ESS Sonic 1 PCI sound card is supported.
To my surprise, it is! The sound is finally working, not that
I particularly care about sound (I usually have all sound effects
turned off in Windows).
According to the documentation, Corel Linux is set to access
a maximum of 64MB RAM; my computer has 192MB RAM. The documentation
states that I need to add a parameter to a file to increase the
limit from 64MB to 192MB. I never got around to doing that, which
is just as well, since the ???????????? utility shows that Linux
is indeed accessing all the installed RAM.
Corel Linux can set mouse acceleration, but not mouse speed.
I like a fast mouse that crosses the entire screen in one inch
of mouse motion. The lack of speed control makes the mouse seem
sluggish. An upFront.eZine reader, >>>>>>>>>>>,
suggests ??????????????
I can't get Linux to recognize any printers connected to my computer.
After thinking about it, I understand why: the Epson color printer
is connected via USB (not supported by Linux, yet); the Lexmark
laser printer is connected to the network (and I haven't checked
the Lexmark Web site for Linux network printer drivers yet). I
add a parallel cable to the Epson, and I am able to configure
Linux for the printer. Problem, though: the Linux driver for Epson
supports a maximum resolution of 360x360dpi; my Photo 750 is capable
of 1440x720 dpi. .
Next week, Part VIII: Conternet