Newbie alert!

[Signum]

I am a full time nerd. I have wanted to switch to Linux for a while now because I heard of its stability and Internet capabilities. So I went out and bought Mandrake 6.1, a distribution I heard about and researched, and I thought I was ready. Apparently I wasn’t, judging by the amount of problems and issues I had, and the lack of instant messengers it appeared to have. So I put it off for a week, and that became two, and eventually I ended up with 2.5GBs of wasted hard drive space I needed (on an 8GB HD). So I deleted it. I recently downloaded Mandrake 7.2, now that I had upgraded various parts of my computer (Hard drive, video, case, processor, motherboard, and cd-rom). It took me an entire day to install it, but I finally got it done. I felt proud. Then, I successfully got my Internet service working (cable, a really annoying thing to get working) and felt even prouder. I am now thinking of switching over completely, and changing windows to a 4 gig partition (on a 30 gig drive), however, I have a few questions (some not directly related to Linux):

1) Is there a good firewall prog for Linux?
2) Is there a good html editing prog for Linux (eg, for win98, there’s dreamweaver)?
3) Is there a good dvd movie player for Linux? I have powerdvd for win98; can I emulate that with wine?
4) What’s a good zip drive prog (parallel port)?
5) Can I have some advice on general Linux use?

I would appreciate it if you could answer some of these questions, and I really hope I don't sound too "professional" with this post....

Signum (Judd)

[configure]

Good firewall -- ipchain http://www.linuxnewbie.org/ubb/biggrin.gif
Good Application Source -- http://freshmeat.net


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..and Bill Gate said, "Just a few billion bugs, aint that nice?"

[prince_kenshi]

You sound like me. I purchased and abandoned Mandrake 6.5 a few months ago. I left it because they didn't support my sound card. Then my friend bought Suse 7.0 a couple of weeks ago and I made copies of it (for once, the copies were legal). All my hardware seemed to work on it, and now I have internet access in it so I've been sticking to Linux rather than Windows. I'm slowly learning the ropes.

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Prince Kenshi
Son of Bahamut

[mdwatts]

Read the NHF's here. There's one on basic Linux commands etc.

Also search the forums for your topics and I'm sure you'll find the answers there.

I find this site to be helpful. Has info on zip drives http://linux.nf/stepbystep.htm

[jenbass]

The O'Reilly books are the business - In A Nutshell and Running Linux. One is an overview, the other is full of commands.

I read somewhere the other day that you can get dreamweaver for linux now.

[hambleto]

In addition to trying freshmeat.net you might also want to try tucows.com and select the linux option. One thing I love about linux is that if you can't find the program today. You might be able to find it tommarow since so many people are constantly writting new and better programs to run under linux. I think you will be pleased with the OS.

[Linuxman]

don’t have anything to add, but wanted to say “welcome” and enjoy your stay here at the Hotel LNO.

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ADOPTION not abortion. Proud father of an adopted boy.


NFL Playoffs Week 1
Ravens 21, Broncos 3
Regular Season
W 12
L 4
Playoffs
W 1
L 0
Next Week, at Tennessee.

The winner of this game will go to the Superbowl.

[Strike]

Originally posted by Signum:

1) Is there a good firewall prog for Linux?
2) Is there a good html editing prog for Linux (eg, for win98, there’s dreamweaver)?
3) Is there a good dvd movie player for Linux? I have powerdvd for win98; can I emulate that with wine?
4) What’s a good zip drive prog (parallel port)?
5) Can I have some advice on general Linux use?
1) IPCHAINS, yeah. Or PMFirewall (but "full time nerds" like myself use the former)
2) full time nerds use vim, screw WYSIWYG
3) dunno
4) not sure what you mean, you can treat it as a normal disk, I believe...
5) don't be afraid to ask, but be willing to do a lot of research: http://www.linuxdoc.org http://www.freshmeat.net http://www.linuxnewbie.org http://www.linuxnewbie.org/ubb/biggrin.gif