Which Linux is right for me?

[Fryguy]

I'm a TOTAL newb when it comes to linux and it's brethren. I was brought up on DOS, win 3.1, etc (running win98 right now). And since I'm going to be majoring in Comp Science when I get to college (senior right now), I really want to expand my horizons and learn linux along with programming in C (I'm famliar with BASIC, but that's a newb language that you can't do anything with nowadays)

Here's a rough breakdown of what I want to be able to do:

Internet, email, AIM, programming interfaces, MP3s, burning, and being able to port to windows to play games (such as CS, diablo2, Q3A, etc). I also need a relatively easy to use word processing program for papers.

Possible conflicts that might arise hardware-wise

Prebuilt HP computer is what I currently have, with everything still stock except for a voodoo5 PCI. This box will soon become a custom built AMD 1.4 with DDR-ram. I also need easy install of a NIC for my cable connection (heard that some distribs have problems w/ NICs)

As you can see, I ain't a total newb, but I have no clue what I'm doing when it comes to linux. In case you didn't notice, I want something for desktops, not offices. And I like to be able to tweak with stuff once I learn about it, and I'm very concerned about speed and efficiency, one of the main reasons for switching over to Linux.

So what would be a good distrib for me and what else is recommended? Should I learn as I go or go and buy a book (or 2) and read as I go?

[s1nn]

mandrake is easy to setup and they give you a boatload of software burning mp3 players audio imagining etc.... as one advances most tend to move on to more advanced distros that require more tweaking to get setup i.e. Debian Slackware or the Various BSD :) offrerings as far as starting out though Mandrake or Redhat they are both very compatible with each other and there is a NHF that breaks down most of the major distros--good luck

[Fryguy]

If I start out with something like Mandrake now, how hard/how $$$ is it to upgrade later? Since I've already got all the software I need from the mandrake distrib, I can just download another distrib online and use all the software from mandrake right?

[OliverW]

Originally posted by Fryguy:
<STRONG>If I start out with something like Mandrake now, how hard/how $$$ is it to upgrade later? Since I've already got all the software I need from the mandrake distrib, I can just download another distrib online and use all the software from mandrake right?</STRONG>

If you have a broadband connection you can download your CD's for free. Eventual upgrades (as in next build, not as in extra's) are free downloadable. You can start with Mandrake, but as you want to do your major in computer science, you just might want to know a little more about linux and how it really works (settings and tweaking by hand), Debian and Slackware would be a good choice for that.

[Fryguy]

I'm able to download whole distribs online? I knew I could download linux online, but I didn't think that I could get whole distribs. I figured it'd be easier to just buy the first one so I get everything I need, and manuals and stuff, then from there I can download a different distrib online later on, a more advanced one, and use software from the previous distrib to "fill in gaps" is anything wrong with this? Or is there no point to spending $40 on a distrib in a store and I should just DL one?

[7]

Hey

I'd seriously recommend buying three different distros from cheapbytes (http://www.cheapbytes.com) and installing them all (this will aid learning all the nooks and crannys immensely). The first distro should be something along the lines of Mandrake/Redhat because any idiot can install them. Mess on with it (compile and install a kernel, upgrade individual programs..) and you will soon learn the basics.

Once you've got the basics down move on to your next distro (could be hours, could be days/weeks).Something along the lines of slackware, something that doesn't hold your hand. You will prolly have loads of problems installing a non-helpfull distro like slack, but _all your problems are fixable_, and LNO is here to help.

After you know what the difference between the distros, you can make an informed choice about which is best (debian, obviously :) )
If I start out with something like Mandrake now, how hard/how $$$ is it to upgrade later? Since I've already got all the software I need from the mandrake distrib, I can just download another distrib online and use all the software from mandrake right?

It will cost nothing to mve distros if you can be bothered to download it. You can ask some of the distro-zealots to post you a disk, im sure any of them will be happy to spread Linux disks.


I don't have any experience with Mandrake, but I wouln't bother trying to 'upgrade' . You will probably have to install the newer distro over the last, trying to preserve the /home directory.
But all this will come later.

(upgrading and downgrading with debian is easy, because of the three tiers of stability/tested programs, as you will learn later)

Post back! We're here to help.

[Fryguy]

alright, I'm going to start out with Mandrake and work from there. Now I see they have distribs for download for all different type of processors. My current processor is a celeron 500, so I'm in the 586 category right? And if I upgrade to a 1.4 AMD, I'm in the same category right? What version do you guys recommend I go with? Is 8.0 ok or should I try either the new beta or possibly an older version?

[7]

Whoops, took too long typing, two extra replys.

Yeah, you can download full distros (any distro! Thats because they are bound to the GPL (you can see our code if we can see yours licence) ) - ISOs and burn them.

You can download, but if your new, you should really buy a boxed distro and a idiot/dummies book. (sh*te, but good for someone whos just starting and doesn't know left from right (been there!) ) manuals and sometimes telephone support is availible ( but LNO is higher quality, no joke ).

&lt;just noticed your new post. Stop typing so quick! :) &gt;

the (i)(3/4/5/6/)86 means
&lt;INTEL(/compatible ship)&gt; (revision) (INTEL) &gt;
the nubmer (386/486/586/686/) means it has been optimised (ment to be run on) for that spec. processer.

If you move to a better chip, you should recompile your kernel to take advantage of that.

[ 14 September 2001: Message edited by: 7 ]

[Fryguy]

Well the 1.4 machine is going to be a whole new box (new case, new mobo, new everything) so that means new HD = new install. I was just curious as to if I'd need a different build for each processor or not.

[evulish]

Start with Debian! It may not be the easiest install (but it is pretty damned quick), but it's beautiful once it's installed...apt-get (Debians package manager) makes it SOOO easy to upgrade...all you do is apt-get distupgrade and wait :)

If you don't wanna dive right in, my recommendation is SuSE. I'm not much of a fan of MDK...but RedHat is OK if you don't want something hardcore

[Fryguy]

Well my only experience with text based OSes is DOS, does that change your mind in recommending debian off the bat?

what are the main differences between mandrake and redhat?

[7]

ah, evulish, Debian is a miracle, but only those who learn its ways can control it.

The existing 'build' (compilation) will work okay, because it is built to run i385'6 (intel chips).

one sec, more...

[ 14 September 2001: Message edited by: 7 ]

[7]

You really shouldn't start on Debian.

Well my only experience with text based OSes is DOS, does that change your mind in recommending debian off the bat?
what are the main differences between mandrake and redhat?

Text means nothing, its just an installer. You will soon know exactly what the installer does. But don't start on debian/slack.

[ 14 September 2001: Message edited by: 7 ]

[teeitup]

You could try Progeny.
The easy way to Debian Nirvana. :cool:
www.progeny.com (http://www.progeny.com)

Good Luck

[Counterstrike]

Libranet is good too, if you're running more advanced hardware, buy or download a distro with a newer kernel so your hardware is better supported. You'll be glad you did, and so will your hardware. If you feel like learning how to recompile your kernel (it took me a few times to figure it out because I'm slow ;) ) then buy anything you want. When I first started I tried a lot of different distros, and I've noticed that perhaps the easiest installing for newbs is Mandrake 7.1. It comes with kernel 2.2.17, so you'll probably have to upgrade it. I'm not sure about what kernel MDK 8.0 comes with. Libranet 1.9.1 is shipping now and it comes with kernel 2.4.3, XFree 4.0.2, and KDE 2.1.1 ... pretty much everything you need to get something going right away.

Links for your pleasure:

Libranet - http://www.libranet.com/
Debian - http://www.debian.org/
Slackware - http://www.slackware.com/
Mandrake - http://www.linux-mandrake.com/
RedHat - http://www.redhat.com/

If you want to download, I recommend checking out LinuxISO at http://www.linuxiso.org/ ... it may be a slow download, but it'll give you links to all the main linux vendors and give you an ISO image instead of making you pick and choose from a multitude of files on an FTP server (that was a pain when I first started too).

As for differences between distros (I don't know if anyone addressed this yet), basically it's what's packaged with it besides the main stuff. I know MDK comes with a multitude of extras (including StarOffice 5), as do most other distros.

Word processing shouldn't be an issue, StarOffice 6, which is slated to come out fairly soon (I don't know an exact date though, someone else help me out?), is supposed to be the sh*t. StarOffice is totally compatible with all MS Office products and files.

I don't know what else to really tell you... except welcome to the wonderful world of Linux!

:D

[Fryguy]

My hardware is pretty basic/crappy right now, but will be all top of the line stuff when I get the new computer. I think that I am going to start with mandrake first, then rebuild/recomile everything later to a different setup (like slack or debian possibly)

[private part peterson]

Well I'm a big rap for Debian personally, I've been using linux for 6 months and while I've had the occasional glitch it's been a dream.

Of course, it may have something to do with my computer being a prehistoric pentium 133 (well supported coz it's so old, and debian doesnt put much strain on it).