XP but wanna try something else...

[polom79]

I have been using various the MS OS's as they come out over the years. I would like to get away from MS if I can, but am not sure where to look for a reliable OS. MS seems to think charging alot for their system is ok. I do not agree with this, so what is a better OS?

[mikeL]

If you want to try Linux, Mandriva, Fedora, Ubuntu. They are very user friendly, but you might want to dual boot, or even run Linux from a cd (I think Ubuntu will) until you decide if you want to keep Linux or not. I'm sure someone will let you know of any distro's able to run from a cd, I've used Knoppix from a cd, but that is to retrieve files from dying harddrives

http://iso.linuxquestions.org/ downloadable linux distro's - and forum
www.mandriva.com/en/download
http://fedora.redhat.com/
www.ubuntu.com/ubuntu

Mike

[polom79]

Thanks for the links to the various OS, is there one that is better than the others? What is the easiest to work with, and what about Red Hat?

[jayb1234]

I agree that running a ubuntu live CD would be a good idea.

If you don't like it, you will still have your windows OS intact and won't have to mess with uninstalling ubuntu and rooting out the leftover odds and ends

[mikeL]

If you are going to check out Linux and don't want to bother with installing run the live cd version. I personaly have no experience with any live cd distro, but it should be very easy, just boot from the cd and your running linux.

However If you want to install linux on a hard drive, the easiest way to do this would be to install linux on a separate hard drive. That way windows won't be trashed, and still usable.

As for which distro is better ? from a begining stand point, and ease of use in my opinion would be:

Mandriva, SuSE, Fedora, Ubuntu. There are many more distro's out there, these are the most common, and user friendly.

Red Hat used to be free, but now Fedora has taken it's place.

Mike

[peekaboo]

i installed ubuntu and used it for a few days.
it may be user friendly by linux standards, but by windows standards it's terrible.
the hell you have to go through to change the screen resolution....
terrible.

[faulkner132]

Originally Posted by peekaboo i installed ubuntu and used it for a few days. it may be user friendly by linux standards, but by windows standards it's terrible. the hell you have to go through to change the screen resolution.... terrible.

You only used it for a few days so this is a completely unfair statement. I use XP at work everyday and have only Ubuntu on my home machine for over a year and can tell you this simply is not true.

Installing programs are easier in Ubuntu, the menu system is more stream-lined, there is no need for 10 anti-spyware/virus programs, hence the system is infinitely easier to maintain. With regards the the screen resolution, it takes 2 minutes to fix and then you never have to worry about it again.

Ubuntu is very easy to install on a second hard drive:
http://www.132solutions.com/ubuntu.php

[glc]

Maybe so, but it's kind of ridiculous to expect a newbie to edit an xorg.conf file manually at a command line just to fix screen resolution. A very minor issue to someone experienced like you, but very intimidating to a newb.

[faulkner132]

Originally Posted by glc Maybe so, but it's kind of ridiculous to expect a newbie to edit an xorg.conf file manually at a command line just to fix screen resolution. A very minor issue to someone experienced like you, but very intimidating to a newb.

I understand completely what you are saying, but considering many install guides as well as the official Ubuntu install guide document this (with step-by-step instructions on how to fix it), I don't think it is unreasonable.
9 out of 10 times it isn't even an issue to begin with.

[glc]

It sure was an issue with my Kubuntu install and it took me a while to find a solution out there that I could comprehend, and I'm not a total command line newb.

[faulkner132]

When I had problems the first time I followed this guide:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Fi...esolutionHowto
I found this using the documentation link on the website and then searching "resolution".

Keep in mind, I was a _complete_ Linux newbie at the time, so I had no idea what they were talking about for the most part. I just followed the steps and it worked... took about 15 minutes the first time.

If you want everything to "just work" right away, by all means never leave a commercial OS, after all this is what you are paying for.

Linux is a fantastic OS considering you never have to pay a dime and it does everything, for the most part, a non-gamer home user does right out of the box. The only catch is you may have minor issues like this starting out, but after you fix them (if there even are issues) everything just works.

[peekaboo]

i'll admit that using trying something for a few days is not a very long time but i had work to do and couldn't spend all my time learning how to configure everything so i could work on ubuntu.

for resolution, i gave up and reinstalled.

i couldn't view media on web pages and that seriously bugged me.
my vlc install didn't work for some reason.

i probably did something wrong but i don't think that i'm an idiot and i have enough things to do that require an effort.

why can't any of you linux geniuses find a way to make the command line (terminal?) at least a little more friendly?

all the advantages of linux sound great but if i have to spend hours googling for the right text command to do something that really is simple in windows, then linux has some major improvements ahead of it.

i'm not giving up completely but i will probably give a different distro a try.
feel free to convince me that i'm wrong because i do want to be able to take advantage of what linux has to offer (or at least claims to offer).

[mojo]

If you're uncomfortable with the idea of using a command line at all, that's one thing. But are you saying you prefer the DOS command line to linux? The linux command line is more useable than any other command line I've used, bar none. When I'm forced to use DOS I feel completely crippled.

[faulkner132]

peekaboo, I'm not at all trying to be rude here, but I think some "tough love" might be in order so your expectations are set correctly.

Originally Posted by peekaboo i'll admit that using trying something for a few days is not a very long time but i had work to do and couldn't spend all my time learning how to configure everything so i could work on ubuntu.

You didn't learn how to use Windows overnight, so what makes you think you can do so with Linux?

Originally Posted by peekaboo why can't any of you linux geniuses find a way to make the command line (terminal?) at least a little more friendly?

I'm sorry, but from this statement, it is obvious you didn't do any research before trying Linux. Linux, unlike Windows, is built off the command line.
Number one thing to remember is Linux is not Windows (http://linux.oneandoneis2.org/LNW.htm) and it's goal is not to be Windows. If you want an OS that works like Windows, why are you trying something else?

Originally Posted by peekaboo all the advantages of linux sound great but if i have to spend hours googling for the right text command to do something that really is simple in windows, then linux has some major improvements ahead of it.

Again, you didn't learn Windows overnight either.


I went through the same challenges you are going through now when I swapped, so stick with it. The Ubuntu Forums are a good resource for lots of common questions: http://www.ubuntuforums.org
My guides may help: http://www.132solutions.com/ubuntu.php

[peekaboo]

are you asking me?

i guess i'm missing something here because i don't get the idea behind having to memorize text commands in order to get things done.

when i have to google for dos commands i hate that too but it's very rare. it seems to me (please correct me if i'm wrong) that with linux is it's a constant search for someone else's text command.

[faulkner132]

If you are either intimidated or simply never want to use the command line, Linux is definitely not going to be an OS you will like, regardless of what distro you choose.

The Linux GUI's (GNOME, KDE, etc) are built off of Linux, which is a command line OS. It is very powerful, stable, and easy to use, but there is a learning curve. In your case, since you don't like the command line, I would suggust you either stick with Windows or try Mac OS (but that could get expensive).

Again, I'm not critisizing at all, just giving you the straight facts.

[Ob1]

Originally Posted by peekaboo are you asking me? i guess i'm missing something here because i don't get the idea behind having to memorize text commands in order to get things done. when i have to google for dos commands i hate that too but it's very rare. it seems to me (please correct me if i'm wrong) that with linux is it's a constant search for someone else's text command.

command line can be a lot faster then pointing and clicking all day long to find a setting once you understand it. think of it this way, how many times do you google to find a gui setting say to change the virtual memory on your windows pc, or something along those lines. with command line you open one window to do all of your work and if you dont know command you type help or /? and it gives you the list of possible commands

[peekaboo]

i am not intimidated, i just don't want everything i do to be an effort.

for someone who is not worried about the price of software at this point, what's the big advantage of using linux?

my system rarely crashes (can't remember when it ever did that wasn't a direct result of me messing around trying to learn), so i don't really get the whole stability hype.

i'm kinda like mulder from x-files, i want to believe.
i just need some good old fashioned convincing (the short experience with ubuntu obviously didn't knock my socks off).

PS. polom79, Sorry for hijacking your thread.

[Ob1]

i think the argument of linux being more stable then windows has narrowed since 2000 pro came out. im not linux expert and have only briefly played with linus Suse 9.1 Pro, i want to learn it to, but just havent had the time nor discipiline to sit down and learn it.

is Suse a good linux distro to learn off of? or should i try a different one to help me understand linux better? i just run these in my vmware program as a virtual machine.

[glc]

peekaboo, it's obvious to me there IS no advantage to you using Linux, given your statements and attitudes. This is NOT a slam, please do not misinterpret what I just said. I'm in the same boat. Windows does everything I need and is stable as a rock. However I do have a Linux box that I play with, I do not foresee it ever becoming my primary OS. If you are going to play with an alternative OS, you must be prepared for a learning curve. I know DOS like the back of my hand, but the Linux command line is NOT intuitive to me at ALL because of simple inexperience. If you do not have the desire or the patience to work with it and figure it out, then it's not for you, period.

[polom79]

Well I think I learned a few things from all the post to this point, sticking with XP is the way to go. Good luck to all and thanks for straightening out the issue

[glc]

If you want to get away from M$, there is going to be a learning curve no matter what you choose. This is the tradeoff. Linux is certainly reliable, but it is DIFFERENT. Once you have it wired, your apps will run the same way - a GUI is a GUI.

[faulkner132]

Did you ever read Linux is not Windows (http://linux.oneandoneis2.org/LNW.htm)?

I think this addresses all of your concerns and *should* be required reading for anyone considering switching from Windows to Linux. There already is an OS out there that looks and operates just like Windows... it's called Windows. The point being if you are happy, there is no reason to switch.

Originally Posted by Linux is not Windows Problem #1: Linux isn't exactly the same as Windows. You'd be amazed how many people make this complaint. They come to Linux, expecting to find essentially a free, open-source version of Windows. Quite often, this is what they've been told to expect by over-zealous Linux users. However, it's a paradoxical hope.

[peekaboo]

ok, read it.
a bit longish, but gets the point across.

before i decided to build my own computer rather than by a pre-built one (convinced by the good folks here at pcmech) i had never opened a computer case before.
i am no computer expert, far from it (although most people around me seem to think i'm a whiz) but i am much more comfortable around computers now and that makes me feel good.

i'd like to say the same thing about linux. every so often i'll hear/read something about linux and i have no idea what is going on. that makes me feel like an idiot. so many people praise/curse linux. i want to know what the fuss is all about.

i've installed ubuntu again (on a virtual machine this time).
i need (would appreciate) someone to hold my for the first little while. faulkner132, will you hold my hand? or direct me to a forum as good as pcmech for linux?

i need the basics to get up and running properly.
like how do i view media clips that are embedded in web pages? (mediaplayer clips).

PS. Should i start a new thread for my ubuntu help requests?

[faulkner132]

I think your intentions are in the right place, here are some good resources:

http://www.132solutions.com/ubuntu.php (my guides... shameless plug)
http://www.ubuntuforums.org/ - where I go when I have questions, extremely helpful
http://www.linuxquestions.org/ - for general Linux questions

[Ob1]

this book will hold your hand

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/boo...90596272&itm=4

[mikeL]

Here's a excellent book for a overall Linux overview (non-distro specific). It covers everything about Linux
http://rute.2038bug.com/index.html.gz

Good Luck with the Linux endeavor

Mike

[bosco]

as far as screen resolution in ubuntu. I have the Gnome version, not kubuntu. I changed mine through the GUI. So far ubuntu has been almost as easy as windows. I like it.

[noneoftheabove]

I am considering using ubuntu for my new computer but i have never used linux and i am wondering whether i will have driver problems with my gc and printer.
The gc is an ATI x1600 and the printer is an hp 1315xi all in one, they both come with windows drivers but no linux. so is there a way that i can still use those components?

[faulkner132]

http://www.linuxquestions.org/hcl/index.php