Want To Try Linux, whats it like?

[whr2206]

I want to try Linux for once. I've heard that it gives you muchf lexibility, and options etc. What will I need to know when I install linux??

[GaryRouth]

Hi Whr2206

Lots of sites and lots of info available to find out. A quick Linux search
on your favorite search site will yield many sites to visit.

Here's a recent discussion and review of some of the most recent Linux
distributions over at ExtremeTech:
http://www.extremetech.com/article/0...3D19911,00.asp

They also discuss a related OS, the BSD family:
http://www.extremetech.com/article/0...a=20072,00.asp

Lots to like about Linux.
...Gary

[juanito]

A packaged distro with book or a book with distro, such as Red Hat Linux for Dummies, is the way to go, the first time out. If you are unhappy with Win Doze and not afraid to learn something new, you will probably like it.

[Scat Cat]

I have recently started duel booting mandrake 8.0 with windoze 95. (2 months ago). I got a copy from cheeplinux.com.

I must say, I was very nervous about the install, but I went with the idiots install and it could not have been easier. Even partitioning the drive was so easy I couldn't believe it.

Once up and running I realised that I had ALOT to learn. Even in the KDE gui I felt a bit lost. But with some playing around I can now do most things quite easily. I have loads to learn still.

Overall I would say I am very impressed with the ease of install.
The desktops look good and can be configured untill the cows come home.
The amount of applications it comes bundled with is awesome.
If you don't mind tinkering and learning it's great, and there's loads of help
on the net, linuxquestions.org being one of the best.

I must say that I have been a bit disappointed by the flakeness of the system though. I don't know if it is my personal install but the system does crash sometimes (for no reason), and some of the applications don't work all of the time. (hmm sounds like 95 to me)

Having said that it cost a fraction of windoze, is continually being upgarded (again can upgrade cheaply), has stacks of free applications waiting to be downloaded (sourceforge.net) and is the perfect way to while away a few hours while you grapple with all those new commands and learn a useful skill.

My advice would be get yourself a cheap copy of a recent release and wang it on your computer.

Good luck.

[Reedimus]

if you have high speed internet access you can download it for free.

[Iman74]

Laugh all you want but my first time loading Linux I refered to Unix for Dummies book. But what I learned about Linux is that you need to put some serious time into learning it; which I was not and am not willing to do at this point in time. I don't think it's a hard OS to learn after fooling around with it a little, I gathered if you DON'T know your way around the OS like any other OS it's going to look a bit intimidating.

[Scotty]

I can tell you from the experience that I have had with linux the past few weeks that don't mess around with anything but 7.2!!!!!! I have been messin with all the dummy books and finally just broke down and bought the "Red Hat Linux 7.2 Unlimited Edition by NEGUS" $49.95 (OS included) I installed it and as soon as I logged to root I was on line and surfin!! No configuring the connection or any thing

[tironsi]

Scotty: Nitpicking here...but if you meant you run linux as root you probably shouldn't do so, at the very least just so you don't mistype some rm -rf command and wipe out something you didn't want to.
If you need to run something as root just open another terminal and type su, and close it once you're done.

just a friendly reminder from someone who has been burned (though not to badly by running as root

[Scotty]

hmmmm Thanks! I got a long way to go also. I really don't care if I crash this pc cause it is a spare pc that I use all the time for playin around and testing. This is the third time I have reformated today, so I do appreciate all the help cause this is the next step to learnin code by default I think!

[whr2206]

hmmm I might give it a shot, If I can put together a spare pc to screw around on.