What Linux should I start with?

[Designer]

I've never tried linux so I thought I would give it a go,

I've got a spare intel celeron 700MHz sitting around doing nothing with 192MB RAM and a 20Gig HDD, would this be suitable?

Like I say I know nothing about linux but I've heard there are different versions free for download, what would you recommend?

[LocoCoyote]

Your set up has more than enough power to run linux. Might want to check to see if your hardware is supported though. Most hardware is, with the notable exception of modems (winmodems or in other words software implemented modems. most external modems work fine)
I suggest SuSE 9.1 professional, but any main stream distro will do the job.

Go for it and best of luck to ya!!!

[bigandy]

LinuxISO

I tried out Mandrake before, and it wasn't that hard. I've heard that Mandrake, SuSe (as mentioned above), and Red Hat (the free version is Fedora), are the best ones to use if you're just starting out on Linux.

[abomb7682]

What knowlegde and experience are you looking to gain? The distro i learned on was slackware. Mandrake, Fedora, and SUSE are recommended to beginners because they have a lot of GUI based setup programs and configurators and they try to hide a lot of the inner workings. They wanna look and feel more like the "hold your hand" operating systems like the Mac OS. I hate that... I hate bloated themes and wizards and that ****in paperclip in M$ office...

Slackware gives you a better idea of whats unber the hood so to speak. Though some may find it harder to setup and configure, i found i learned so much more using an advanced level distro and getting my hands dirty in linux goodness.

If you need that security blanket feeling that windows gives you then yes, then id say try mandrake, (mandrakes free version comes with more features then SuSE's free version and fedora core 2 has some issues right now) but if your the type that compusivly tweaks things and takes things apart just to put them back together Slackware is rock solid. Debian and Gentoo are also considered more advanced distros, debian has the best package system around (good for servers that need to updgrade security pathes daily) and gentoo compiles completely by source (source code purists dont consider there to be any other way to operate).

If you have the time and enough blank CD's, nothing stops you from trying ALL of these distros on the same box. I'm trying to load debian and gentoo on my Xbox, hows that for tweak-freak.

Do some reading and dont let anyone tell you your OS of choice isn't any good... unless its windows... especially mellenium edition... what were they thinking?

[linuxbullet04]

Get Mandrake 10, its the best free downloadable distro right now, and its easy.

[Designer]

Thanks for your input guys, I might try a few, start off with Mandrake just to get a feel of it get to grips with the basics then move on to Debian so I can see what happens under-the-hood so to speak.

Thanks again.

Also am I right in thinking that when I download it I have to burn it to CD to install as its an ISO? So would I just burn that using any data burning software?

[bigandy]

You need to burn the files you download as ISO's. I'm not sure exactly what software you're using, but there should be an option somewhere to "Burn Image" or disc image, etc.. This is what you want to choose. Then select the first ISO file, and burn it to a disc, then the second, etc..

[Designer]

I'm just using the stuff that came with the DVD writer, InterVideo CD Creator.

Thanks for all your help so far guys

[LocoCoyote]

While it is true that SuSE and those others try to be user friendly by pushing the GUI....You don't have to use it! under the spiffy GUI is the same command line and tools you find in any other linux OS.
Don't discriminate just because she is sexy on the outside!

[Designer]

Thanks for the help so far guys, as i've still not got broadband yet (don't phone company's take there time) i'm getting a friend to download a few different ones for me including Mandrake and Debian.

[LocoCoyote]

Good choices. Best of Luck!

[Karnevil9]

If you want to try SuSE have your friend download the free evaluation disk. It doesn't install to the hard drive but lets you play around and see what it is all about.

[Designer]

Thanks Guys, I'm sure i'll end up asking lot's more questions in this forum now. Like I said I've always been M$ orientated so switchin to linux is new territory for me.

Well i'll be interested to see how well it works. Mind you anything not made my M$ probably has'nt got a million bugs in it.

[LocoCoyote]

or get knoppix....very good for trying linux out and it doesn't install to your hard drive either. all gain no pain!

[Designer]

Will try it LocoCoyote, still waiting for broadband to be installed at the moment so i'm stuck with a dial-up connection. Anyway i'll try and get a mate to do some downloads onto CD's for me soon

[LocoCoyote]

you know, for the knoppix I get it all the time with the magazines I buy (German editions where linux is a bit bigger than I understand it to be in the states). if you want email me an address and I'll send you a copy for nuthin.