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10-19-2001, 02:42 AM
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#1 |
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Member (10 bit)
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Location: Birmingham, UK.
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Best version of Linux
I use Unix servers at work so I'm interested to have a dual boot system at home (win98/Linux).
Thing is there are so many different versions of Linux I don't know where to start. Thanks for the advice in advance. |
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10-19-2001, 07:58 AM
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#2 |
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Staff
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Location: Arlington, TN
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Ah, a troublemaker. This question often times causes bitter disagreements among people. But we're not like that here. The most popular distros commercially are Mandrake, RedHat, SUSE and Caldera OpenLinux. Some other ones with tremendous appeal but not as commercially successful are Debian and Slackware. I have used most of them and kind of settled on Slackware. But really any of them will work. Mandrake for 'Newbies' is probably the easiest to setup and learn with. It also has the most bell's and whistles.
Two that you should avoid are Corel and Proactive Synergy Paradigm.
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10-19-2001, 04:16 PM
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#3 |
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Member (9 bit)
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Location: Atwater Mn. USA
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Ah yes distro wars, hey they are all based on the Linux kernel so they are all good.
I agree with Marving, Mandy generally the easiest to install, and has lots of gui goodies, plus is very cutting edge for the latest software. So does SuSe. Slack is also very good, but a little harder to install, imho. Debian, is vertually bullet-proof (and able to turn women into stone according to some Deb zealots'  ), but is a text based install, difficult for a first time user. RedHat is of course the defacto standard in the US. Not any better or worse, it just tends to get used as a yard stick.The best part is, that since any distro is so cheap and easy to get you can try as many as you like, till you find your perfect match. So have fun and try them all. OOPS!
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10-20-2001, 03:33 AM
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#4 |
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Member (10 bit)
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Will probably try Mandrake as I'm a newbie to Linux - where can I get it from?
Thanks for all your advice. |
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10-20-2001, 05:32 AM
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#5 |
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Staff
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10-20-2001, 05:36 AM
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#6 |
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Member (9 bit)
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Location: Atwater Mn. USA
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Mandy can be downloaded for free as an ISO from their website, if you have a fast connection, ordered from Cheapbytes for a couple of dollars, or purchased from places like BestBuy or even Wal-Mart.
One thing I should have mentioned, check your hardware out against a list to see if it is supported. Hardware support is very good these days, but it never hurts to check. The biggest trouble is modems. If you have a hardware modem, you are in like Flinn. Soft modems are difficult to get working, if not impossible. But there are a few that can be made to work. OOPS! |
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10-24-2001, 09:08 PM
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#7 | |
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Quote:
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10-25-2001, 01:29 PM
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#8 |
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Member (11 bit)
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Blue Springs, MO
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If your a newbie, I'd recommend you buy a good book as well as the software. That means you shouldn't try to install from a download, at least not the first time. Most of the boxed distributions come with books. You can also find books with distributions attached. I started with RedHat because it is sort of the "standard," but I have heard a lot of good things about Mandrake. Mandrake is coming out with a new version (8.1) sometime this month. I have ordered it, but it hasn't shown up yet. I am really enjoying Linux. I spend more time at home with my Linux box than my (wife's)Windows machine.
CH PS, I note that you use Unix Servers at work. Since Linux is a Unix clone, you might not be the classic beginner straight from Windows. I don't know what your definition of "newbie" is, but if that means somebody who is struggling to understand Linux basics, I guess I am still a newbie. (At my age, I will probably always be a newbie.) Last edited by Computer Hobbyist; 10-25-2001 at 01:53 PM. |
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10-25-2001, 04:00 PM
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#9 |
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Member (10 bit)
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Birmingham, UK.
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Yeah I use Unix at work so I'm pretty familar with various commands and structures. But I'm still not really sure what to expect from Linux on first installation.
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10-25-2001, 04:45 PM
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#10 |
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Member (11 bit)
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Blue Springs, MO
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If you have a good understanding of your own hardware specifications and how you want to partition your harddrive, Linux installation isn't all that difficult. I still suggest you spend $40-$80 to get a distro with a book. After you read the chapters on installation, I suggest you spend some time planning before you start installing. This is especially important if you are doing a dual boot install. Since you are creating a dual boot system, don't forget to back up your Windows data before you start playing with partitions. Fdisk is a really unforgiving utility.
CH Last edited by Computer Hobbyist; 10-25-2001 at 05:02 PM. |
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10-26-2001, 02:11 AM
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#11 |
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Member (10 bit)
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Birmingham, UK.
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I've loads of experience with fdisk and use it very carefully. Especially as one of my friends answer to everything is "FDISK".
Generally after he's near a someones computer you can hear them crying something about lost data.
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