Zmid Posted August 28, 2004 Posted August 28, 2004 Right, here's the deal. I'm wanting to have a good look at Linux, basically because I've heard good things about it and want to know if they're true firsthand. Here is what I know about using Linux: 1) It's an operating system.2) There is various different versions of it, quite a few of which are free.3) See 1 and 2. :P My plan is to dual-boot Linux and XP, so, two things I really need to know - what would be the best version for a total, complete and utter noob to Linux (preferably one of the free ones) and where I can get a good 'beginner's guide'.
ImmortalSnafu Posted August 29, 2004 Posted August 29, 2004 http://www.knoppix.org/ Supposedly you can give Linux a try by just booting right off their CD. That way you can see if you like Linux before you go through the hassle of a full install. I haven't ever personally used this distribution of Linux, but I believe Theta got it to work recently. Btw...Linux is great, almost as good as Mac :D.
ThetaOrionis01 Posted August 29, 2004 Posted August 29, 2004 Another n00b here.... I did try out the knoppix distribution (once I had got past some n00b pitfalls) and found it both easier and more difficult to use than XP. Within a few minutes of booting into Knoppix I had connected to IRC, had an instant messenger program running, and was trying out the two different browsers which were included with Knoppix. There's also a tutorial available online, and some forums, where I found the answers to the n00b pitfalls. Most of the difficulties were caused (so the experts tell me :D) by the fact that since I booted into Linux from a cd there were a few things I couldn't change - the screen resolution being the major irritating factor. I also didn't like the browsers and irc client which were included in the distribution, but just a brief google search on linux irc clients brought up quite a choice. Again I was told that x-chat is usually a lot more customisable than I found it. What I'm doing at the moment, in preparation for the switch to Linux, is looking at a few applications, until I find the ones I like (just switched to the Mozilla Firefox browser), and familiarising myself a bit more with Linux. Knoppix is great in that it lets you experiment with Linux for a while but doesn't make any changes to your hard drive. The distributions which have been recommended to me are Mandrake and Debian. As far as I know all Linux distributions are free, but some are also available to buy. The dual boot option is something that would interest me too - can anyone outline any major difficulties one might encounter in that? Any recommendations for Linux irc clients, btw?
Community Manager Dark0ne Posted August 29, 2004 Community Manager Posted August 29, 2004 As the Red Hat Linux people will tell you... Linux = Server operating systemWindows = Home operating system They have the dignity themselves to say that (their version of) Linux is most useful as server software. At their conference in London recently they even went so far as to say if you're a home user, go to Microsoft rather than ANY of the Linux or Unix releases. I support this view. Until Microsoft fails me I'll continue to use their software.
Stormscape Posted August 29, 2004 Posted August 29, 2004 Windows is the devil's operating system. Linux could be useful as home crap. But since when do those Red Hat guys know anything? see my sig. :D
Community Manager Dark0ne Posted August 29, 2004 Community Manager Posted August 29, 2004 RHE is the most stable, updated and generally accepted as the best version of Linux out there. No doubting that.
Zmid Posted August 29, 2004 Author Posted August 29, 2004 Well, by the sounds of things, Knoppix would certainly be a good option as it would allow me to get my teeth into Linux without the risk of buggering up my hard drive. :D RHE is the most stable, updated and generally accepted as the best version of Linux out there. No doubting that. Is it also noob friendly, though?
Breton Thief Oriana Posted August 29, 2004 Posted August 29, 2004 Yeah, Linux, Unix, Eunechs... Wallabys, and Vegetarian Vampires. Personally, from what Ive heard about linux, its much more secure than windows but not as user friendly. Eunechs? What does it do, guard your harem of a hard drive?
Community Manager Dark0ne Posted August 29, 2004 Community Manager Posted August 29, 2004 Is it also noob friendly, though? Its n00b friendly but will set you back a 100 bucks.
Stormscape Posted August 30, 2004 Posted August 30, 2004 Mandrake is n00b friendly. By default it installs the GUI, and by default it boots to GUI.
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