Linux and Non Linux

[clarkey456]

Can anyone tell me the divergence between a linux based system and a non linux based system?

[jimux]

Think of a Linux based system as a laptop PC which boots into a specific software application (usually Enigma) So is as flexible as a Linux PC (don't compare with a MS Windows PC which is much less flexible). ie everything can be changed, additional applications can be added, users can write shell script programs, etc. I use an old TM9100 as a network file backup server.

Functionally a' non-linux' satellite box will have a different operating system where the TV software is more closely tied into the operating software and will have very limited scope for user change - it either works or does not and you are totally dependent on the supplier for any change. If it works well then generally it is faster/slicker than a linux based box of similar power (cpu speed, memory) as the enigma code is less efficient as it is in a high level scripting language rather than compact machine code.

Having said that you may well find that some apparently locked boxes actually run Linux, just like most satnav and some mobile phones. Even my £20 Alcatel One-Touch phone runs linux .