Should I take the plunge to Linux?

240Z · Aug 14, 2004

I've recently become dissillusioned with Windows, and I am now considering switching to Linux. Ideally, I want it to be free (of course), easy to use and to install. I did a search on past GTP threads, and found Mandrake to be reccomended as user freindly. What all will I have to do to get it up and running, and is there any other versions/GUIs you would recommend? I would also like to know about how difficult it is to either partition to have windows and Linux on one machine, or to run windows as a virtual machine within Linux. Any help would be really appreciated.

240Z · Aug 14, 2004

Nobody?

CDailey · Aug 14, 2004

Chill man it's only been 2 hours. Fedora is good. It has a nice installer too. If you are just getting started and you dont want to actually install Linux, try out Knoppix. You download the iso, burn it to a disc and the entire operation system runs off the disc.

emad · Aug 14, 2004

I strongly suggest that you get linux dude. It's a great learning experience

Your best bet is to do as ITR said and get Knoppix. Once you get comfortable with Knoppix, get Fedora - not Mandrake. The reason for Fedora is because there are a lot more precompiled software packages available for it than there are for Mandrake. It makes life easier for newbies.

CDailey · Aug 14, 2004

Doh! That's what I meant! I knew there was a distro you helped me with emad, but I couldn't remember. *Edits orignal post*

Shannon · Aug 14, 2004

Another way of doing things is to get yourself one of those virtual PC things (like Microsoft Virtual PC or VMWare) and test out a few distros to see what you like. Once you get the knack of installing/configuring whatever distro you choose, you can go all out and physically install it.

240Z · Aug 14, 2004

Thanks a lot for your help. I was going to install Knoppix a while a go, but never got around to it. That's what I'll do now.

CDailey · Aug 14, 2004

👍 Not a problem.

Viper_Maniac · Aug 14, 2004

emad
I strongly suggest that you get linux dude. It's a great learning experience

Your best bet is to do as ITR said and get Knoppix. Once you get comfortable with Knoppix, get Fedora - not Mandrake. The reason for Fedora is because there are a lot more precompiled software packages available for it than there are for Mandrake. It makes life easier for newbies.

True but I've heard bad things about Fedora screwing up windows on a dual boot.

240Z · Aug 14, 2004

If I decide to go to Linux, I plan to buy a Knoppix CD and Fedora at once from xplinux.biz, because I have a bad internet connection. There are many listings for Fedora, which is confusing for a Linux n00b like me. Which one is just the plain OS? This is the link- http://xplinux.biz/shop/index.php/cPath/21_53

emad · Aug 14, 2004

This one
http://xplinux.biz/shop/product_info.php/cPath/21_53/products_id/113

Or This one
http://xplinux.biz/shop/product_info.php/cPath/21_53/products_id/115

both are good. The dvd is nice because you don't have to swap disks while installing

240Z · Aug 14, 2004

Thanks! I'll probably get the CDs, because my DVD drive is decrepit and only works as a cd drive.
I'll post an update when I get the CDs.

240Z · Aug 15, 2004

Update:

Well, today I went to Fry's Electronics and bought SuSE Linux. It comes with both a live CD and a regular install CD. I haven't tried it yet (I'm on my work PC), but I plan to install it on a dual boot, because the installer does it automatically.