A true newbie......OpenLinux?

[Kameleon]

I am fairly new to the linux scene, and I purchased a LINUX MANDRAKE product, but I also own a book called "THE COMPLETE IDIOT'S GUID TO LINUX - second edition" which has a cd with Caldera OPENlinux 2.3 on it. I have the mandrake linux system installed, but the book goes through step-by-step installation and user guides.
Is it best to just use the book with my current LINUXos? or should I install the new one and go through the book that way? I only ask because I want to know if OPENlinux 2.3 is OLD or CRAP....
Thanks for any input,

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Kameleon - the newy!

[theflash]

Well, OpenLinux 2.3 isn't really old. no version of Linux really is if you upgrade all the parts like the kernel, XFree, etc.

But the stock version of 2.3 would contain older "parts" than some of the newer distros RedHat 7.0 for example.

In fact, I've got a thread on here about Caldera OpenLinux 2.4.

[CMonster]

Caldera OpenLinux 2.3 is nice but I prefer Mandrake 7.1 or 7.2 - Mandrake has more options and is just easier for those new to Linux.

With OpenLinux you only get KDE as a choice of window managers and the OpenLinux CD that comes with the book is usually a so-called "lite" version that does not include as many goodies. However, one of the things I miss from OpenLinux is "LISA" the Linux System Administration tool.

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CMonster says, "You can't choose the right OS if you don't have a choice."

[prince_kenshi]

I have that exact same book. I got it for Christmas. I have SuSE 7.0 on my comp and it seemed to do alright. However, it seemed that every time that they said there were two commands to do something and one command was easier, I only had the difficult command. That's just craziness if you ask me. Maybe I'm still used to Windows but wouldn't the standard installation include all shell commands and utilities like that? Surely SuSE doesn't disinclude them. (Is that a word?)

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Prince Kenshi
Son of Bahamut

[mdwatts]

I've been using OpenLinux since 1.3 and now currently use eDesktop 2.4 at home (Desktop and Laptop) and in the office. I'm very satisfied with Caldera's products and their support.

Caldera has quite a good knowledgebase here http://support.calderasystems.com/caldera that should help if you have any problems.

[CMonster]

Just for the record I also started with Caldera - I think it was OpenLinux 1.2 with the 1.3 kernel.. And I've owned/tried every desktop iteration of Caldera since up to and including that 2.4 Technology preview in which the KDE2 buttons didn't work right. I loved 2.4 eDesktop (except that Real Player was already way outdated)-even Wine worked almost perfectly out of the bright yellow box.

For me Linux was a brutal learning curve, especially since I never read any of the documentation unless I absolutely had to - I was a point-n-click win-bred-baby - where the ^&^%& was my "C" and "D" drive anyway?? "Mount?" what the %^$& does mount mean? Documantation? - we don't need no stinking documentation.

Caldera did have some great tools back then. I did my first kernel recompile on Caldera just to get sound working - that's when I learned that "100% Sound Blaster compatible" was a bold face lie.

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CMonster says, "You can't choose the right OS if you don't have a choice."

[This message has been edited by CMonster (edited 04 January 2001).]

[Kameleon]

After I do learn linux (which shouldn't be too long seeing is how I am a computer nerd...lol), which distro would you guys suggest me moving to? Slackware?
Whcih do you think is most stable and would you recommend for a server?
Thanks for the input,


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Kameleon - the newy!

[CMonster]

Many people I respect keep chanting "Slackware" - they say it's a little more difficult to setup but much better in the long run.

Me? - I think I'm too lazy for Slackware.

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CMonster says, "You can't choose the right OS if you don't have a choice."

[shadwyll]

As far as deciding which distribution to use for servers, I would recommend trying out several on a spare computer; I keep a 2nd hard drive installed just for new versions that make it out. Sooner or later, one will stand out above the rest for you...

When I first got into Linux, back in '95(?), I downloaded the 10 floppy MCC distribution when Win 3.11 decided to die on me; I couldn't find Win install media, so bought OS/2 just to download Linux. :P From there, I went to Slackware; from Slackware, I went to Redhat 3.0.3. From Redhat, I went to Debian. Debian to Caldera. Caldera to SuSE. SuSE to Debian. Debian to Redhat. Redhat to Mandrake. Mandrake to Redhat. On and on and on... Currently, I'm with Debian 2.2r2 with some unstable elements, namely X4.02, because I really, really like apt. Still, Redhat has more of a "draw" for me, because that's the first distribution that made me say, "Hey, kewl, I can do this with Linux?!"

It's a matter of personal taste and experience.