Guidance needed...

[SofTek]

Hi,

I'm fairly new to Linux...
And now the time has come for me to install a distribution of my own, and I'm currently considering the following:

1) Mandrake
2) Gentoo
3) Debian

Therefore I would be a very happy boy, should you guys be able to advice me in my choice... I'm looking for pro's, con's and general suggestions..
Since this is the first time I actually install linux on my own computer - I'd like to run it alongside windows... Is that a problem (a part from the fairly obvious problem that I am actually using windows :p )

Also, I'm looking for a linux distribution that'll allow me to set up my old pentium (133) pc, as a server (firewall, ftp, email and webserver). I know that most linux distributions contain software for setting up some of the services (i.e. apache) but I still haven't had luck finding a distribution containing the applications I need, which will run on my machine...?
Any suggestions (almost of any sort) are most welcome...

Thanks in advance

SofTek

[TOTALLYn00b]

Since Debian is 7 cds, and gentoo takes like 20h to install,
I would recomend Mandrake ;)

For your router-conputer, I wld reccomend a small router distro (www.linuxiso.nl)

[AussieJohn]

For the easiest intro into the world of Linux I would MOST STRONGLY reccommend you start off with Mandrake 9.1. If you decide at a later date that you want to get more into the guts of Linux then you could consider other Linux OSs but frankly I don´t think it is necessary. Mandrake is by far the most user friendly.
Only geekos would say otherwise.

Cheers. John

[chrism01]

In terms of user friendly, I'd like to put a vote for RH. And it comes with everything.
Just FYI, although a distro may be called user/noob friendly, don't forget that you've always got the full power access to the system by opening an xterm or 2 and doing everything from the cmd line... which what I do on RH.

HTH
PS Aussie John, Cairns; great town mate !!

[SofTek]

Hi,

Thanks for helping me out - I ended up downloading the Mandrake distro... Can't wait to get started now!

About RH, then I wasn't really considering that - mainly cause a friend of mine (who's running debian) told me to stay far away from that distro... But it sounds like he was wrong ;) Maybe I'll give it a try once I get a better feel for working with Linux in general... Who knows?


Anyways, just wanted to thank for the replies, that I got...

And a happy Easter to all of you...

SofTek

[as649453]

I agree with the other for Mandrake. It's very nice and eay enough for new users.

By the way, since you will start with MDK, you should give a look at the Use Linux At Home (http://www.uselinuxathome.com/ENindex.htm) website. Tutorials there can help you save a lot of tiem for doing things like get and install software, configuring KDE, installing java...

Good luck!

[MB[DK]]

I shouldn't be saying this, but I believe there are 1.000.000 posts about first distro choice.

[vernr]

Mandrake 9.1

[Atealtha]

I would choose Red Hat over Mandrake anyday. Mandrake just feels too kiddy for me. They also like KDE, which just feels WAY too bloated for me.

I have minimalist tendencies, thats why I like LFS/Gentoo style OSes. If Mandrake sems like a good choice fo you, go for it. But I suggest you read this (http://www.phatvibez.net/reviews.php?ID=mdk91) first.

Putting the install process aside, I think useability is determined mostly by which Desktop Environment/Window Manager you run. Distros just have added software to get you started off (and for Mandrake, you get a load of their *Drake software).

Gentoo takes a long long time to install. Mandrake, I just don't like. That leaves you with Debian. I never used it, but people say it's good.

[AussieJohn]

Altealtha. You sure know how to disguise a poison pen. Most of the claptrap written in ¨Read This ¨ does not effect the ordinary fairly new user to Mandrake. To say that it is too Kiddy for you means it is too simple for you to use so you assume it can´t be good enough.

You don´t like KDE because you think it is too bloated !!! You do not say how or what you mean which is typical of people who make such unsubstantiated statements.

In your own words ¨you have minimalist tendencies¨ . Mate ,you sure do.

[AussieJohn]

Altealtha. You sure know how to disguise a poison pen. Most of the claptrap written in ¨Read This ¨ does not effect the ordinary fairly new user to Mandrake. To say that it is too Kiddy for you means it is too simple for you to use so you assume it can´t be good enough.

I dropped Red Hat because it rarely fully installed properly and when it did I had to waste time trying to my Epson Scanner to work and further I had to go to the XMMS website to get the MP3 plugin before I could play any MP3s.
In Mandrake it was whiz bang and everything worked.
Red Hat is doing a Microsoft namely starting to believe its own publicity.

You don´t like KDE because you think it is too bloated !!! You do not say how or what you mean which is typical of people who make such unsubstantiated statements.

In your own words ¨you have minimalist tendencies¨ . Mate ,you sure do especially about presenting ¨Facts¨

[AussieJohn]

Altealtha. You sure know how to disguise a poison pen to put down Mandrake. Most of the claptrap written in ¨Read This ¨ does not effect the ordinary fairly new user to Mandrake.

To say that it is too Kiddy for you means it is too simple for you to use so you assume it can´t be good enough.
You have to spend hours and hours installing before you believe that you have a respectable Operating System, do you??? I certainly don´t because I have better things do do with my time, such as USE MY OPERATING SYSTEM.

I dropped Red Hat because it rarely fully installed properly and when it did I had to waste time trying to my Epson Scanner to work and further I had to go to the XMMS website to get the MP3 plugin before I could play any MP3s.
In Mandrake it was whiz bang and everything worked.
Red Hat is doing a Microsoft namely starting to believe its own publicity.

You don´t like KDE because you think it is too bloated !!! You do not say how or what you mean which is typical of people who make such unsubstantiated statements.

In your own words ¨you have minimalist tendencies¨ . Mate ,you sure do especially about presenting ¨Facts¨

[taser]

mandrake 9.1 is the best choice for a beginner,
but i do agree that it is a very software bloated os

[Atealtha]

I gave him the site link because he wanted guidance. Wether he finds it useful or not is his decision, I just wanted to help out. This community is not about attacking other's that offer a word to a Linux newcomer, got that? And I did say:

If Mandrake sems like a good choice for you, go for it.

So use your distro, whatever it may be while I spend two whole days installing mine. I really don't have any interest what you do.

To say that it is too Kiddy for you means it is too simple for you to use so you assume it can´t be good enough.
Lastly, I never said it's too simple for me, and that it's not enough. I was giving my opinions on Mandrake to help a fellow guy out. The key word is fOR ME. It's very rude when I offer some words and people come and put words in my mouth.

[SofTek]

Hey again...

Please don't flame eachother just yet...
I appreciate all the suggestions and views, which you guys have posted... And I ended up going for Mandrake (even after taking into account that there were some obvious "cosmetical" flaws...)
Though I'm afraid that not even Mandrake is simple enough for me :)
Have had quite a difficult time so far, attemting to set up a internet connection through af cisco 677 router... (Seems that it is normally such an easy thing that I haven't been able to find too much info on the net about it...)

Well, keeping my head high and I'm confident that I'll be able to make it work (someday)

Once again thanks - Nice to know that there are people out there who takes the time and effort to help us newbies....

Kris

P.S. Lookout for a future post about my networking issues... Cause if I don't resolve them myself, I'll turn to this forum for advice...

[serz]

You should go to Mandrake. I think Gentoo may be hardcore if you're just starting. If you get bored of Mandrake, go try Debian or other distros like Redhat.