Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 15

Thread: Which Linux

  1. #1

    Question Which Linux

    Hello everyone, this is my first post.
    Im currently a windows user (cries in shame), Ive heard good things about linux and was thinking of switching. However there are several versions of Linux available, and i was wondering which version the peoples of AO suggest

    Thanks
    Cykat

  2. #2
    Leftie Linux Lover the_JinX's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2001
    Location
    Beverwijk Netherlands
    Posts
    2,534
    for beginners I'd suggest Red-Hat or SuSE...

    For more advanced... slackware
    ASCII stupid question, get a stupid ANSI.
    When in Russia, pet a PETSCII.

    Get your ass over to SLAYRadio the best station for C64 Remixes !

  3. #3
    Junior Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2002
    Posts
    7
    Red hat 7.2 or Mandrake 8.1 - I prefer Mandrake - try a few and see what you prefer. Debian and Slackware are not for beginners - they will put you off linux if you try those!

  4. #4
    I was thinking about getting linux because I have heard really good things about it.

    I was thinking of learning phython (or python not sure on the spelling) as a starting computer language, instead of perl, because perl is really free form, several ways to do the same thing.

  5. #5
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Oct 2001
    Posts
    752
    There is also Mandrake. SuSE and Mandrake are geared to be user-friendly. Red Hat is easy too, but not quite as easy as SuSE and Mandrake. I'm currently running SuSE 7.3 on my box, and it's working really good. I am noticing some issues, however. For instance, it doesn't support a parallel scanner. It also doesn't seem to like the SCSI interface too much. My burner is on SCSI, and the burner programs that come with it don't see the burner. It also doesn't mount at all some of the time.



    I also run Red Hat on a junker box. I used to run it on my main box, but it just didn't seem to cut it for a workstation. It makes a great web server OS, though. It's very stable on my junker box, but when I ran it on my main box, it had problems.



    Mandrake is probably the easiest of all the distributions, but I have also heard that it's not exactly the most stable. I ran it VERY briefly, and just wasn't too impressed. It's easy, but I'm out to learn Linux, not have it handed to me on a platter. It has a bit of a windows feel to it, with its default KDE interface. I tend to prefer Gnome, as it cuts the crap. Even though I don't like it too much, it is a good one for a beginner, especially if they're a slow learner.

  6. #6
    Junior Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2001
    Posts
    1
    Ok, I've got much more reason to cry in shame than CyKat, I'm running XP *hangs head* ...the indisgression of youth, what can I say? Anyway, it sucks and I'd like to get Linux. Mandrake 8.1 comes highly recommended by a friend, but I'm wondering if I'll be able to handle even that since I have virtually no experience working with code outside of Basic and HTML/Java script. I can edit existing code by process of eleimination w/o too much trouble, but here's the question... Do I need to learn a programming language to get Linux to do what I want it to? Help?

    You may speak now, if you are able.

  7. #7
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Oct 2001
    Posts
    752
    No, you don't have to know how to program to run Linux. In fact, you can be quite happy on Linux without knowing how to program. However, if you know C, you can edit the kernel, and tweak the OS however you wish.

  8. #8
    AO Curmudgeon rcgreen's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2001
    Posts
    2,716

    Thumbs up

    Once installed, different LINUX distributions
    are virtually identical.
    I found my knowledge of DOS to be helpful
    in learning the linux command line interface.
    It's like dos on steroids.
    The GUI can be configured to resemble
    WINDOWS if you like.
    I came in to the world with nothing. I still have most of it.

  9. #9
    thanks for all the responses.

    Im kinda clueless though, whats GUI?

  10. #10
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2001
    Posts
    461
    GUI = Graphical User Interface.

    in other words, all the pretty collors you see on your screen and click on, etc..etc..

    Good luck with linux. I would go with Suse or Mandrake, or possibly RedHat for a first time user.

    There will be some frustrating moments in your first couple days, but it will get better. You will probably want to get a linux for dummies book or some other simple guide, just to get yourself familiar with the file structure, commands you would use in a shell, etc.. etc..

    Good Luck,

    IchNiSan

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •