Starting from nothing...

[Advaik A. Flask]

I am starting from the very begining. I don't even know what linux looks like or how it works. I don't even know what one of my programs work on it all I know is I am fed up with Windows 98 oem2 and need something better! I have some general questions about Linux. In IRC my friends tell me to get Linux-Mandrake because it is the best for newbies. I have gotten it (Both cds iso of 7.2) and have no idea how to install it (actually I have not burned it yet but figured I'd ask so I wouldnt totally screw up my system before I even start). I have read through the NHF but they did not have the very begining so I figured someone could help me. Also is there a walkthrough that will teach me from installation to somewheres in the middle? If not I'll just read the NHF.

The main reason I wanted to post this is to find out what one of these programs/languages work with Linux so I know what to get please just say works, doesn't work, or don't need.

Languages:
BASIC
Visual Basic (I hope! I like it because it's so easy to make a quick program but I know it was made by M$ :( )
C
C++
Asembly
Flash (Not important since I'll most likely use windows for this since I know Linux doesn't support Adobe programs unless it's changed)

Programs:
BulletProof FTP type program (don't know if I need?)
GetRight type program (don't know if I need?)
mIRC (if not what is a good IRC program?)
PowerDesk Explorer (don't know if I need?)

And my final question:
What is Linux most like? Mac, DOS, Windows 3.x, or Windows 9x? And do I have to type in/learn lots of commands like DOS?

Thank you so much for your time and I hope to be a part of your community soon!

[Dru Lee Parsec]

Languages:
>BASIC

I believe so. I never use it myself.

>Visual Basic (I hope! I like it because it's so easy to make a quick program but I know it was made by M$

Nope

>C
>C++
>Asembly

Absolutly! THe Gnome C++ compiler "gcc: comes with every distro I've seen. I havn't coded in assembler in years but I know there's a compiler for it. Not sure what the name is, perhaps someone else can lead us to it?

>Flash
Hmm Not sure. I've never even tried to install it.

But don't forget Fortran Cobol and Java. They're all supported on Linux quite well. (I'm a Java guy myself)

>Programs:
>BulletProof FTP type program
Yep it's called ftp. All the original Unix programs like ftp, telnet, rlogin, ssh, and so on all work on Linux right out of the box.

>GetRight type program
I'm not familier with GetRight. But there are several good office programs out there. Star Office and KOffice are both free.

>mIRC
>(if not what is a good IRC program?)

Xchat. I use it every day. Works great.

>PowerDesk Explorer (don't know if I need?)
Is this a file explorer? If so then there are several. And most distributions will give you several to choose from.


>And my final question:
>What is Linux most like? Mac, DOS, Windows
>3.x, or Windows 9x?

OK, this is one of the cool things about Linux. It looks the way you want to make it look. There are several good window managers. KDE and GNome are 2 good ones. Check out www.themes.org (http://www.themes.org) They have all kinds of desktop themes that you can use to make your desktop look any way you want. And it gets better. Each user of your computer can have his own look. When I log on to my computer I use Gnome with any one of various themes. When my wife logs on she uses KDE with a Macintosh theme. Looks just like her iMac.


>And do I have to type in/learn lots of
>commands like DOS?

Yes and no. The window managers do a lot for you just like with Window 98 or 2000. But the nice thing is that you also have access to SERIOUS power via the command line. Really, once you learn how to get around the OS you can stop right there or go on to learn as much as you want.

Now, let me give you a couple of suggestions.

1) Buy Partition Magic if you want to put Linux on the same computer as Windows.

2) go to www.cheapbytes.com (http://www.cheapbytes.com) and get the Mandrake 7.2 distro for only $3.99 What a deal!

3) You may want to get the book "Running Linux". It's a great all around reference.

Good luck and welcome to the family.

[ 05 March 2001: Message edited by: Dru Lee Parsec ]

[bdg1983]

BulletProof FTP: If you want an ftp client that's a lot like this in terms of interface, I direct you to gftp.
GetRight: I've been looking for something like that, actually. Someone suggested I try this downloader (http://www.krasu.ru/soft/chuchelo)

[Tyr-7BE]

Screenshots of Linux Mandrake (http://www.linux-mandrake.com/en/fscreenshots.php3). This is what your desktop could look like. Highly customizable, very stylish, sleek, speedy, sexy, and stable. Once you learn a little about the OS, you'll grow to love it. And yes, there are excellent equivalents to everything you mentioned in your programs request...Mandrake 7.2 comes with all of them. Take a look at Mandrake's hardware section on their homepage and make sure everything is compatible with linux. Make sure Plug N Play is DISABLED in the BIOS, and go to work! The manual or readme that comes with Drake will tell you what to do. Good luck.
Also, VERY HIGH RECOMMENDATION: buy a linux book. Doesn't matter what type (since Mandrake is fully compatible with Red Hat, a RH book should do you fine). My first linux book was "The Red Hat Linux Bible." I still use it today and I'm running Debian. A simple textbook, if well written, is a huge wealth of knowledge and can see you through a smooth install, as well as teach you to get around the OS. Spend the 30 or 50 bucks and make a great investment.


[ 06 March 2001: Message edited by: Tyr-7BE ]

[ 06 March 2001: Message edited by: Tyr-7BE ]

[Tyr-7BE]

Originally posted by Dru Lee Parsec:

1) Buy Partition Magic if you want to put Linux on the same computer as Windows.


Does DiskDrake do everything that Partition Magic does? I know that Partition Magic is extremely sophistocated, but I believe that DiskDrake (included with Mandrake) will be all he needs...unless DiskDrake can't resize partitions...you need to be able to resize partitions. If Diskdrake can't do it, you can always buy Partition magic...or if you're strapped for cash you can always "buy" via IRC...whatever gets us another linux convert :)

[Dru Lee Parsec]

I'm not sure that diskdrake can resize a partition that already has data on it. But I know that Partition Magic can so I always suggest PM. If someone know if diskdrake can resize a partition without losing the data on that partition I'd like to know because it would save another $40.

Thanks.

[JALU]

I was under the impression that DiskDrake could resize a functioning windows partition without losing data, although I have never tried it.