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vpmanchester
Phone Credit Vampire
Joined: 19 Jul 2006
Posts: 1139
Location: Customer Services Rep
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Posted:
Sun Feb 11, 2007 1:42 am |
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I am thinking about changing to Linux and would love to know the best info sites/magazines that are user friendly. I find an over-abundance of information from Google that only confuses my brain cells, so if anyone knows of some really good info sites for someone who is totally new to Linux and if any of the magazines are better than the other, please let me know
cheers
vp |
_________________ Lagos, Nigeria to Tamale, Ghana |
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remu
Master of Master Baiters
Joined: 08 Apr 2006
Posts: 571
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Posted:
Sun Feb 11, 2007 1:48 am |
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I would personally recommend Ubuntu for new users of linux... easy install program and good forums to get help when you get stuck. http://www.ubuntu.com |
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DrWho
Baiting Guru
Joined: 14 Jan 2004
Posts: 5486
Location: Where ever I go, there I am
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Posted:
Sun Feb 11, 2007 1:55 am |
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I tryed ubuntu and didn't like it. Mainly I think because they try to make it as windoz as possible so the parts that give linux its usefulness are all overly protected. I have used Mandrake/Mandriva for 10 years and like it.
You have to define "best info and sites". Really the best way is to load it as dual boot and play with it. I recommend looking at the newsgroups for a feel of how what kind of problems come up and how to work through them. Remember you will see the negative side as people only post their problems. You can go to a windoz newsgroup and see the same things.
What info do you want?
I sort of remember something about a site for linux noobs. I'll add it if I can find it.
To start google "how to linux" and read through the titles about install. Or any other topic that looks good. |
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vpmanchester
Phone Credit Vampire
Joined: 19 Jul 2006
Posts: 1139
Location: Customer Services Rep
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Posted:
Sun Feb 11, 2007 2:20 am |
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Thanks I will have a look at both. I have never been much of a WiNdOwZ fan and always found DOS programs to my liking back in the day and used to run BBS..but Winders won out in the end and I did not really have time to fiddle..now I do.
When I did a newsgroup search 100's came up and it is basically where to jump in at. I definatly want the dual boot system..just in case.
Just like the difference between Ubuntu and Mandrake/Mandriva, I would like to know the pro's and cons of each and there are a couple Linux magazines around..if one is more popular than the other. How different are the different variations of Linux? For example if I started with Ubuntu because it is like what I am used to (winders) then move onto Mandrake/Mandriva where I have more flexability ....or are they apples and oranges? |
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mugu_cultist
Master of Master Baiters
Joined: 02 Apr 2004
Posts: 857
Location: Deep 13
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Posted:
Sun Feb 11, 2007 2:23 am |
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I've been recommending VMWare to everyone who wants to try out different OS distributions. VMWare server is free, lets you run more than one at a time, and there are a bunch of different pre-built VM images available for Ubuntu, SuSE, Fedora, etc.
http://www.vmware.com/products/free_virtualization.html |
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MotherFelix
Not quite a Newb
Joined: 25 Oct 2006
Posts: 31
Location: Lurking in the shadows.
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Posted:
Sun Feb 11, 2007 2:34 am |
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You dont even have to go as far as actually, setting up your box for dual-boot. I started off using Puppy Linux live-cd and went from there. If you use a cd-rw, it gives you the option to save without having to mess with partitions and all that too. Theres a few distros that have live-cd's like slax and dsl too. Just keep in mind that you'd eventually run out of space that way. Theres also the option of using a flashdrive if you wanted to... or your iPod. Eh.
I really liked Puppy for w/e reason. |
_________________ Not new, just back and improved. |
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eamonn
Master of Master Baiters
Joined: 14 May 2005
Posts: 621
Location: Standing on the edge, looking down
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Posted:
Sun Feb 11, 2007 2:53 am |
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I tried Redhat, Mandrake/Mandriva and Suse before settling on Kubuntu which is Ubuntu with KDE.
If you use automatix, it sets up everything you need for a running system.
I'd suggest trying a live CD/DVD distro to get a feel first.
(now if only I could get my card reader working...) |
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DrWho
Baiting Guru
Joined: 14 Jan 2004
Posts: 5486
Location: Where ever I go, there I am
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Posted:
Sun Feb 11, 2007 3:03 am |
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You get hundreds of newsgroups because each distro has their own group. Find the general Linux one. I'll put the full name when I get to my regular computer.
There aren't many linux magazines I don't think that is the way to go anyway. Magazines just sell parts and have general seasonal articles.
The difference between distros is usually their file structure and how they institute some of the protocols (I don't think that is the right word) For example Mandriva uses the Redhat type of system set up using SysV. So how they boot and how they run certain scripts are the same. But SUSE/Norvell or Ubunto use a different procedure. Once you learn to use a linux distro you could change to different one with not too much trouble. No more than going from windoz 98 to XP and having to relearn where they moved all of the standard control functions and the new "start" menu.
Some of the difference between distros is the GUI they use. If you stay strictly in the GUI, as long as you use the same GUI, you probably wouldn't have much trouble changing. But you can run Mandriva strickly in the KDE GUI and make it like windoz and then branch out to root user, command line interface and compiling your own programs later.
One thing I can point out that I have seen many beginners assume, is that linux is not like windoz so don't go into it with that mind-set. Windoz is a complete proprietary system with the GUI and the OS built as one system. In Windoz, M$ decided what you wanted the GUI to look like and gave you a few small adjustments to that to let you feel that you are in control. Linux is an OS, period. You can run a GUI to make it easier, which everyone does, obviously. There are 10 different GUIs (that I can think of right now) you can load in your system. The visual part of linux you see is related to the GUI and not to Linux. KDE is good, I use Windowmaker. So, you need to think of the OS and the GUI as two separate things in Linux and don't confuse the look of a distro with the actual functioning of its OS. If you want 100% control over your GUI and adjust everything possible, get Enlightenment. It take a while to set it up but it will look exactly like you want it to.
Having not used any other distro I can't comment on those but I can list the things that I think are good about Mandriva. Others can list why they think their distro is best.
Program installation is through RPMs. Just click and it is installed. they even check that you have all the required libraries and program installed before install that program and tell which ones you need.
All system setup can be done by wizards in the system control panel. Sort of like windoz. Or you can set it up manually.
They use a very common structure for programs and locating files. /etc system files and config files. /usr for programs. /home for user accounts. /boot for boot files and the OS kernel, /opt is usable but is not used for any default installations, /lib for library files.
The installation can be all default and you don't have to do anything. Or you can customize which programs you want to install. Also you can customize the boot procedure, GUI boot with invisible log like windows or line by line listing of what is going on while the computer is booting.
Mandriva comes with 7 GUIs; you can install all or pick the one you like and not install the others.
The boot process is controllable. You can boot certain services and remove the others you don't need. Using either the boot wizard or the SysV program.
All I can think of. But remember that you can install any other program in almost any distro you use.
Quote: |
card reader working |
Mine works fine in Mandriva.
Added:
I found a link for you.
http://www.grokdoc.net/index.php/Switching_to_Linux
It is a bit business oriented and just seems to discuss equivalent programs. |
_________________ "i think you people do not know whom you are talking of,i am not in any terrorist organization or planning any such of terrorist activities."
"i am not a terrorist and your america cia cna also investigate me."
"i am not a terrorist.send the shit stuff and let me get it fillied."
x12
"To Serve Man" |
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Ivor Grimey Colon
"Trophy slut"
Joined: 16 Jun 2005
Posts: 1338
Location: England
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Posted:
Sun Feb 11, 2007 2:32 pm |
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Just to add my belated 2 cents:
I'd recommend Kubuntu. It's easy to install and use, and has every package you could possibly want at your fingertips. They stick to a "one job, one application" policy in the default installation, which not only means it all fits on a single CD, but you aren't swamped with apps that do the same thing in a slightly different way. And it uses KDE, which is awesome.
If I was less morally bound, I'd recommend openSUSE, which I use on my lappy because of compatibility issues with Kubuntu. As long as you uninstall the ZENWorks software management "utility" as soon as possible (or dont install it in the first place), it's the most compatible, easiest to install and configure distro I've used. |
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vpmanchester
Phone Credit Vampire
Joined: 19 Jul 2006
Posts: 1139
Location: Customer Services Rep
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Posted:
Sun Feb 11, 2007 3:07 pm |
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Thats perfect, Thanks. That answers quite abit for me, I was finding all the distros abit confusing....but it makes more sense now, I will do some more research which I have abit better idea what to look fo now. It's been a few years since I have done any kind of computer related work that actually make me have to use my brain, now the kids are grown I am looking forward to learning more about Linux.
cheers
vp |
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music man
Baiting Guru
Joined: 22 Sep 2005
Posts: 14807
Location: East Harlemshire , yo!
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Posted:
Sun Feb 11, 2007 3:36 pm |
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I'm with the Ubuntu crowd. One of the reasons is the very good support that is available @ www.ubuntuforums.org.
The only thing that I can't get to work is my canon ip1000 printer but linux support for printers is a bit hit or miss at the best of times!
certainly the Live CD route is the one to follow- it allows you to try out loads of different distros, check for hardware support etc. |
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leccy
Baiting Guru
Joined: 26 Sep 2004
Posts: 2036
Location: shithole in Scotland
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Posted:
Sun Feb 11, 2007 5:18 pm |
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vpmanchester wrote: |
I was finding all the distros abit confusing....
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That's the ugly part of Linux. IMO it's not all that important if you go with one of the popular ones.
The only reason I would chose to try a different distro would be in a situation where a number of devices weren't recognised in a fresh install. Some distros may offer better driver support without the need for manual configuration. If your system uses common interfaces and hardware then you are unlikely to have any problems.
I use Fedora installs simply because most ISP's will offer that for a server build. If I found I was forced to change distros because I couldnt resolve an issue then I would simply stop using Linux.
I prefer to use XP on a home desktop but if I were to install Linux then I would be installing Ubuntu. Simply because I can see here many people are using it with no issues. The only important thing you need to know is what ones to avoid - or distro's which have very annoying things. I very much doubt that you would need to look at any pro's/con's and find that another distro would have been more suitable. |
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iMike
Elite Baiter
Joined: 21 Jan 2005
Posts: 1371
Location: Ministry of Serendipity
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Posted:
Sun Feb 11, 2007 5:52 pm |
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I previously used RedHat & SuSE (up to version 8.0 ) on a PC & found SuSE by far the easiest to install & configure. I was never much a fan of windoze either. Also used SuSE ppc & Yellow Dog on an old G3 iMac.
Never really bothered with it after OS X came out, although there was a software package which allowed Debian applications to be run under X11 - used that to run Evolution for a while until I eventually switched to Thunderbird.
Oddly enough I recently had the urge to install Linux again on a spare hard drive on the old PC which I keep for the odd bit of windows software I don't have an alternative for. Downloaded Ubuntu, ran OK from the CD (if a bit slow) but couldn't get it to install. Kept hanging at stage 1 or 2 of the installation process. So I reinstalled the old favourite SuSE v 8.0. |
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