Which Linux?

[Allen]

Ok, I'm a complete noob when it comes to Linux, so go easy on me! I have been interested in trying it for a while now (not just because of this recent M$ scare!) and don't really know where to start.

Need something easy to use, easy to setup, looks good and does the job. Also as much compatibility as possible! Will probably do a dual boot for the time being, keeping Windows for every day stuff/gaming and try to learn Linux when I can and use it for surfing too.

Someone mentioned MEPIS so I'm downloading that, and also downloading Mandrake to see what they are like. What do you think?

[Matthoulb]

Well i'm using Fedora and think it's very good, i am very new to it also Fedora will require you to use the command line to do some things, but i am finding this to be a good learning experience and well the bits you do in the command line are simple anyway

Also it looks great with KDE 3.2 installed

I am 'attempting' to set it up as a media PC at the moment but i think this maybe a bit to much of a challenge for me!

Mandrake is meant to be quite an easy one to get going with, but like i say it all depends on how much you want to learn, and what you want to learn.

[directhex]

I'd say MEPIS (/me waits for moans from other people) as an excelent learning experience based on a ROBUST system (Debian) rather than the more flakey Red Hat. It's starting to get a teency bit out of date now (next release due in April), but the power of the Debian package management system it relies on is a simple "apt-get upgrade" in a console to update everything oon the system to the latest versions

and yes, it's easy to get started with!

[gamezfreak]

I personally use Gentoo Linux which is absolutely superb in terms of features and facilities. But it is very difficult to setup.

Whatever you do, don't get Mandrake Linux, its just a windows clone, you don't really learn any Linux information from it.

www.gentoo.org

[floppybootstomp]

I have Mandrake 9.1 installed, if you're going to go for Mandrake, give V9.2 a miss, it's buggy.

It is easy to use, especially if you're used to Windows, but as gamezfreak said, you won't really learn an awful lot about Linux.

However, the console is in there and you can use all the text commands you want.

Have used Red Hat as well, before it became Fedora, that was OK. I've only messed about with Linux though, I really don't know much. Managed to get online, sort out e-mail account, get my printers (networked) set up, and used the Office Suite OK. Oh, and played CD's and mp3's. That's about it, really.

A member at another Forum I'm on has just written an excellent tutorial for installing Slackware, it's quite long, but thorough. If anybody wants a link, let me know.

[Hitman]

Go for Mandrake.

Very easy to set up, and use.

[Matthoulb]

...but the power of the Debian package management system it relies on is a simple "apt-get upgrade" in a console to update everything oon the system to the latest versions!

I use "apt-get" with Fedora as well as yum.

They both allow you to update or install things which makes life a whole lot easier!

and i installed MythTV today

[gamezfreak]

*plug*

Gentoo has by far the best package management system in my opinion. Using a thing called "portage" you get your apps compiled + install by initiating one simple command: -

emerge packagename

Thats it.

[directhex]

much like apt-get install packagename in debian

which doesn't take 36 hours just to get into a working state

[Craig]

I have been a Slackware man for over two years, but then i moved onto Debian (Used Woody CD's then apt-get dist-upgraded to Sid, the unstable version) and i loved it But last week i decided to give Gentoo a go, after hearing alot of hype about it, had a few hicups with the install, nothing major, the documentation is good also. The only problem is that the install took the best part of a day, and emerging KDE took 8+ hours, i for one do not want to wait that long for my packages. Id give it a miss

[gamezfreak]

I think the install is one of Gentoo's strong points, It teach's you more about how to use the commandline and what basic commands do. So when you come out of the install you know what need's to be done, instead of waiting for it to be done for you.

It holds a brilliant package management system, and best of all It has the most helpful, friendly and informative user community that I have ever seen.

I vote Gentoo.

[Dave_07]

How many different Linux's are there ?

[gamezfreak]

Find out here

[Allen]

Heh, most of this is double dutch to me... I'm gonna wait and d/l one overnight/during work whilst parents are away.

I think I can d/l all of the above and see what they are all like. Thanks for the input guys!

[Dorza]

You could try Lycoris Linux. Looks similar to WinXP and is easy to setup (so they say). Ive tried it and thought it was pretty good, but it wasnt hardcore enough so i went over to gentoo, which i have yet to install successfuly . You could also try College Linux.