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General discussion

Linux ? point me in the right direction!

Jun 2, 2005 6:12PM PDT

OK, here?s the deal, I am not new to the CNET forums and usually hang around the XP forum (see my profile) - as you will see I am no ?newbie? in general ? however, I know next to nothing about Linux operating systems.
I woke up this morning and decided, using a spare hard disk I have (4Gigs), I would set up a Linux OS with just open sourse apps. I have a stand alone computer and use a dialup connection - To the OS, I initially intend adding a basic suite of applications such as mozilla and Open Office.
My question is this, which ?distribution? would be best suited to my needs. I suppose I am looking for a basic distribution, one that I can tinker with and learn, and yet one that is not too complex ? The distribution should perhaps be a smaller clone of some of the larger versions so an upgrade or expansion would be a natural progression.
Any recommendations, links, or leads would be much appreciated.
Regards,
Peter

Discussion is locked

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SoB answer.
Jun 2, 2005 9:08PM PDT

Just kidding.

I have 2 distros I use.

1. Knoppix. It's a zero install boot CD that lets you get a feel without installing. It's a data lifesaver too.

2. Suse. I've tried many and keep coming back to Suse. Get the latest version you can.

Bob

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Suse 9.3
Jun 2, 2005 11:14PM PDT

Hi Peter

I also have Knoppix 3.7 and Suse 9.1 and just yesterday installed Suse 9.3.

It does its own partioning and very easy to install.

Purchased the 5 cd set as I only have cd/rw.

It includes Firefox 1.0.3 and I have install Thunderbird both available for Linux from Mozilla.

Hope this helps
Ray

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Bob and Phil, thanks..
Jun 3, 2005 1:17AM PDT

Version 9.3 is only available by $purchace$ -

Version 9.2 is available as a "live" version to be stored and ran from a DVD (1400Mb) - as my 13yrs old daughter decided she had a better use for my DVD burner this is not an option.

Version 9.2 is also available via a FTP server to server download/install (3 Gb) - as I just have a simple dialup connection that is also not an option.

Version 9.1 can be downloaded in ISO form (700Mb)and is termed a "personal" edition and is stored/ran from a CD r/w.

However, ferreting around the FTP sites I discovered a well kept trade secret, that is, one can (hopefully?)download version 9.2 in a basic ISO (60MB)version - this can then be burned to a CD r/w and then used to install a basic system - which will then facilitate the installation of the remaining package from the ftp server.

Why does life have to be so complicated all the time??

Thanks again,
Peter

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Suse 9.3
Jun 3, 2005 2:17AM PDT

Hi Peter

I have a slow dial-up so I opted to purchase Suse 9.3 Professional 5 cd set at the following location:

http://pctech101.com/products.php?cat=221

Cost 11.99 shipping free took about two days to arrive and they offer free Linux books on pdf that you can copy.

Just a little more info
Ray

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SUSE 9.1
Jun 20, 2005 1:02PM PDT

HEy I am also a newbie at linux but I have downloaded the "live" version and it ran perfectly. I tried to install the full 9.1 version from linuxiso.org but it clashed with my old windows install and took some real finagling to get back to Windows. ALSO if you have wireless devices linux is not for you! Linux has not been really friendly with wireless equitment from what I have seen. I think that SUSe would be a good choice though. If you dont mind exchanging alot of time, effort and a ENORMUS LERNING CURVE for a distro that fits you perfectly try gentoo.

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Linux distro - possible direction
Jun 3, 2005 11:49AM PDT

Hi AussiePete,
Noticing your Aussie connection, the May edition of APC has a DVD with SimplyMEPIS 3.3 on it. It burns easily on to a bootable CD and gives you an immediate choice if you want to use it as a "LiveCD", or install it to your HD. It is an excellent Debian type distro - am using it right now.
Cheers
"septus"

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Septus thanks..
Jun 3, 2005 1:55PM PDT

Presume you meant APC=aus personal computer mag

Had a look at their web page and it appears in the June addition they have other distro offerings, namely, "Xandros Desktop OS 3.0.1 OCE" - It says,
----------
Xandros is a well-known Linux desktop solution based on the award-winning Corel Linux OS. It includes an easy GUI installation with automatic disk partitioning, industry-leading hardware detection and configuration and seamless file and print sharing on Windows networks. Xandros is said to be the only Linux distro that's a viable replacement for Windows XP.
-----------
or goto:
http://apcmag.com/apc/v3.nsf/dir/cd

Are you familiar with "Xandros"? If you believe what they write, it seems to be one of, if not the best.???

Regards,
Peter

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Reply;
Jun 3, 2005 4:18PM PDT

If working with windows network is what you are after then yes it problaly is one of the better one; but aside from that..there is nothing to brag about. I find that it's not as responsive as Mandrake/Mandriva.

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Vouch
Jun 4, 2005 3:53AM PDT

I can honestly say that everyone's choice of distributions listed here are well worth trying. I've tried a lot of distributions and can understand your situation because I was stuck with dial-up. My suggestion is to:

1. Use the FTP transfer idea that was mentioned to install SuSE.

or

2. Go online to pctech101.com like phil66. I bought SuSE 9.2 from them and they seem very reliable.

-Simon

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Xandros/MEPIS/Mandriva all excellent
Jun 3, 2005 10:11PM PDT

Hi Peter,
Yes, apc. They provide a dvd instead of CD nowadays. I have used Xandros for at least a year and also installed it on one machine with community/tourist access. The youngest and oldest (i.e with little Win experience) find it easy to use. An Epson printer worked immediately, and Xandros found all my hardware, my only minor annoyances with it is that I have been unable to write to the ''Win/C'' drive in contrast to with MEPIS and Mandriva 2005 64 bit (?my own ignorance) and the x2 K3b speed limit. They all have minor frustrations and it is much of a tossup which one to go for. MEPIS is my present ''darling'' (installed on a 2nd HDD) and can also be run as a ''live CD''. I have not tried SuSE.
Cheers
''septus''

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Xandros
Jun 17, 2005 1:14PM PDT

Xandros Linux

I've also ran Xandros in on a network with WinXP systems and Xandros was much easier to use, learn and get up and running. I've used Suse 8.1, but I was more let down with the amount of knowledge that I had to learn along the way to even get it working than the simplicity and automation of Xandros.

If I had to point someone in the right direction my hand would be pointing toward Xandros...

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Xandros Desktop
Jun 17, 2005 1:29PM PDT

I've been plahying with Xandros for a couple of months, and I find that it's a very easy to work with distro.

I have a laptop with WiFi built in, and I had not been able to find a distro that would recognize and set up the WiFi adapter.

I installed Xandros, and it not only found the WiFi, it set up all the parameters, and all I had to do is type in my network key, and I connected instantly, and reliably.

The hardware discovery is quick, easy, and accurate, and the distro comes with a very good graphical interface, and several productivity applications and suites as part of the package. FireFox, OpenOffice, and several other apps are there, and more can be downloaded as you need them.

It all fits on a single CD, which is available as an ISO, and using BitTorrent, you get the download fast enough to make it workable for a dial up connection.

Dan

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Thanks all...
Jun 5, 2005 2:38PM PDT

you have all been very helpful - this is my plan;
1/ have downloaded Xandros 3 Full installation ISO (46Mb) but it didn't install as it seems - it still requires an FTP network to be setup (looks for a network card) - so I have put that on the back burner.
2/ Downloading, as we speak, Suse 9.1 Personal ISO (700Mb)- think this one can run Live as well as on the hard disk - so may be I'll give it a Live test run first.
3/ Also going to down load Knoppix Live ISO.
4/ Will buy APC magazine and try and get Mempis, or if not Xandros.
5/ Have ordered the "free" Ubantu - if the popularity ratings are anything to go on this seems to be one of, if not, the best.
6/ will also at some stage download Mandake 10.1 (3X700Mb ISO) and give it a try.

It appears Ubantu, Mandrake, Mempis, Fedora, Suse, and Knoppix are the most popular in the order given, with Ubantu being far the most popular (according to http://distrowatch.com/index.php?dataspan=4 ).

Anyway thanks all!
Peter

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Mandrake 10.1 rather than Mandriva 2005?
Jun 5, 2005 7:40PM PDT

Hi Peter,
I did find Mandriva 2005 (64 bit) an improvement on the older (2004) Mdk 10.1 (32 bit) but may not compare like with like. I had an installment problem similar to yours with Xandros 3 on one machine (OK on two others), but from memory the "VSA" alternative under "shift - troubleshooting" worked, i.e. it could have been caused by my older AGP card/monitor.
Cheers
"septus" (aka

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Mandriva 10.1 vs LE2005
Jun 5, 2005 11:55PM PDT

I'm on a name and version overload here - thanks for pointing that out - in one FTP site they called LE2005 Mandrake 10.2!
The "official" name is Mandriva (so I have also just found out) and not Mandrake which is the old name. It's bad enough with the funny names, never mind all the versions and different forms they come in (ISO, CD, DVD, live, ftp, HTTP, torrent, official, limited,.... )
Anyway thanks Septus, am back on track!

Peter

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A Question We've All Struggled With
Jun 10, 2005 9:45PM PDT

Wow, I'll bet there isn't one of us "Linux Investigators" that hasn't struggled with the question of "which Linux distro is right for me ?".

I?ve been dabbling in and out of Linux for about 6 years now. I?ll be the first to admit that if your computer needs go no further than Microsoft Office / Internet Surfing / Emailing / Listening to music and Photo Editing, to me there?s little reason to pay the hellishly high prices Cousin Bill [Gates] is demanding these days. Then, when you add product activation, yearly licensing fees, etc. to the Microsoft carta, one has even more reasons to embrace Linux. I?ll tell you, running any variant of Linux with the KDE 3.3 desktop / OpenOffice v2 / GIMP v2.2 / Mozilla Firebird & Thunderbird is super combination that would put a smile on the majority of Windows XP user?s face !

So my first point is ask yourself "which software do I want to run ?" Then, obviously, make sure the Linux distribution contains it.

You can?t beat Knoppix for a Linux distro that will run entirely off a 700-MB CD. It?s incredible, and, a fantastic way to sample what Linux is all about WITHOUT screwing up your hard disk. It?s a tad slow, as you would expect from running entirely from the CD, but it?s still very tolerable. Knoppix is up to version 3.9 of Knoppix now, and it has no problem accessing my wireless network / working the printer & scanner / my digital camera /etc. Mepis Linux 3.3 takes second place in this category. With Gnoppix, Mandrake Live, and SuSe Live rounding out the top 5 in my opinion. I?ve also tried ?Dyabolic Linux?. It too runs entirely off the CD, but what might make it interesting to you is that it?s geared towards ?Music Enthusiasts?. (and I don?t mean just ?listening? to music. But editing and manipulating it as well. Kind of like AcidPro / Sound Forge etc.)

In the full blown category of Linux, (the ones that install on your hard disk and require you to repartition it), again, I?ve sampled numerous distributions. The winner ? SuSe 9.3. Second place goes to Mandriva 2005; with Fedora Core 3, Ubuntu 5.4 and Slackware 10.1 rounding out my top five in this category. What I like about SuSe 9.3 is it?s simplicity (for a Linux OS !!). Installation of the Operating System and application software is almost on par with Windoze. (and let me tell you, installing software on many a Linux systems can indeed become a nightmare FAST !)

Video drive issues with ATI cards has always been my biggest challenge with any Linux distribution. Followed by Scanners issues as it tries to install the ?Camera? as a ?Scanner?.

Long winded answer... hope it helps.

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(NT) (NT) thamks, I will reply soon
Jun 16, 2005 5:59AM PDT
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Have you any comments about GNOME
Jun 18, 2005 12:07AM PDT

I just downloaded and installed Fedore Core 4. It runs just fine thus far.

I am unable to do a physical connection to the internet with this PC, therefore I am researching a suitable wireless card (desktop machine).

Is there a "Linux Big Brother" site where a newbee (2 weeks) like me could get help?

Is there a comparison matrix available to we guys to compare your likes /dislikes and features / lack of features.

Leslie in Montreal

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Ubuntu
Jun 16, 2005 10:30PM PDT

I've been using Linux since around '95, and have run just about every distro out there.

Currently, I'm more impressed with Ubuntu Linux as a desktop than any distro I've ever run. I find it incredibly easy to install, use, and keep updated.

It's based on Debian GNU/Linux,with some differences rolled in. The Ubuntu team (which consists of Debian programmers/contributors who are paid to maintain Ubuntu) takes the latest "bleeding edge" version of Debian as a base every six months, stabilizes it, and turns it into the next Ubuntu release. This contrasts with Debian's "we'll release it when it's ready" philosophy, which means that their release cycle is significantly longer than every six months.

The other key distinguishing factor is Ubuntu's community. Ubuntu's forums are about the most user friendly that I've ever seen. Newbies are free to ask questions about basics that might get them flamed on other Linux boards.

I could go on and on about how great Ubuntu is, but I'd not do it justice. The best thing to do is download the CD or DVD images from their site (http://www.ubuntulinux.org) and install it. If you're hesitant to install in order to try it out, they have a live cd, so you can try Ubuntu without having it ever touch the data on your hard drive. Just be advised: running any Linux distro from a cd is significantly slower than running it from your hard drive. Don't go thinking that Ubuntu's slow because the live cd experience isn't blazing fast.

For pure server systems, I recommend Debian 3.1 ("Sarge"). My second choice for desktop linux would be any of the latest SuSE distros. They're nice as well, but I prefer the Debian/Ubuntu apt and dpkg based approach vs. rpm for package management. Having used both extensively, I think that apt is quicker and easier to maintain.

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Ubuntu definately has my vote.
Jun 16, 2005 11:20PM PDT

I like many new users have struggled with various distributions of Linux. I have used fedora Core, Debian, Redhat, FreeBSD etc. I downloaded Ubuntu from their website and also printed the documetation from the "Unofficial Ubuntu Guide" at

http://www.ubuntuguide.org/#repositiries

I hade a complete working system including all updates and also attached to my other windows pc's using Samba, and printing to my networked printers in under 3 hours. Finally, an easy distribution for us "Linux Newbies". I really like the "apt-get" approach vs. the RPM approach to get apps. "It Just Works". I also really like their (Ubuntu Developers) mission statement. "Make it totally free and make it work.

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New Linux User
Jun 16, 2005 10:42PM PDT

Welcome to Linux. I have been a Linux user myself for at least a year now (I still have to use Windows) and I still have to sit and figure some things out on my own. If you are looking for a distrabution that wont make you pull your hair out, check out Ubuntu (www.ubuntu.org). They have their Linux distrabution for Free. You have have it shipped to your mailbox in about 6 weeks or so depending on the backorders. In thier package they include a live cd that you can put on any computer to help you get the feel of their Linux system and an install cd. If you don't want to erase the current file system, you can choose to use existing free space. (Note: partition can not take up entire disk for this method.) Grub (the bootloader that comes with most Linux distrabutions) will recognize the other operating system (Windows or Linux) and put it in the boot menu. Hope this helps.

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This sounds interesting
Jun 18, 2005 10:34AM PDT

Is there an easy way to restore the disk space if you decide to stop using it at a later date? Once you make another partition on the disk, is it there for good? (short of reformating)

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Great book and Disk set
Jun 16, 2005 11:01PM PDT

Greetings,
I found a great dook and disk set from "Cyberguys.com". It is called "Linux for Non-Geeks" by Rickford Grant. The book comes with 2 disks containing a distrabution of Fedora Project which is the free portion of Red Hat.
The book walks you through from putting the disk in the drive to networking, in another word A-Z. I found it to be very understandable and easy to use.

Hope this helps

Another new Linux user.........Suunsu

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Which Linux
Jun 16, 2005 11:06PM PDT

I would recommend you Download Knoppix 3.9.
It runs entirely from a CDRom. You download it as an ISO. This way you can try linux without having to install anything play with it and if you like LUNUX. Then I would recommend that you download a free version of SUSE. In my experience it will install easily on most machines. If you are unfamiliar with ISO there is a wizard on Windows XP to walk you through the burning process.
I run Suse on an older laptop and it gives excellent performance and has a lot of apps.

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Linux distro for newbie
Jun 17, 2005 1:35AM PDT

I'm also a "newbie" having been into linux for 5 years or so. My personal favorite is Knoppix 3.8 right now. What the other posters did not mention is that Knoppix can be installed to your hard drive and run fully from there. I've been doing that for several years between trying out other distros and "fighting" with Win2k. Yes, I "need" Win2k available on one partition for various reasons.
Hope this helps.

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Which Linux?
Jun 17, 2005 1:16PM PDT

I would recommend Xandros Linux for anyone making a transition from XP to Linux. It is easy and familiar. It also doesn't hurt that it networks with XP VERY WELL.

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Two worth considering first...
Jun 17, 2005 2:26AM PDT

Seeing that you are brand new to Linux, you may want to try out a "Live CD" distribution. Seeing that you have a Dial-Up, you may have trouble downloading even one 700 MB disk image in one week. (I know what it's like)

In the better part of the day, you can try "Damn Small Linux" or DSL for short. It is about 50 MB to download and runs off a CD. It has basic features like a graphical interface, file managing, some office stuff and Mozilla Firefox, and is a good "Mini OS" to start with.

You can get it from http://iso.linuxquestions.org

You can also get all the other distros listed in other posts from that site.

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Try Puppy Linux
Jun 17, 2005 9:14AM PDT

Hi Peter

I recently discovered the Mini-Distro "puppy" Linux and have found it to be ideally suited to some of the old kit that I still try to use (Pentuim I's with 32mb - 64mb of RAM)

I like it becuase it's simple, and straightforward to use and there is a good forum. It resembles an operating system from the late windows 3.11/windows 95 era. It comes with basic applications including a version of mozilla.

The homepage is here http://www.goosee.com/puppy/

I hope that it gives you as much enjoyment as it gives me.

Good Luck

Trevor

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Which Linux? - Suse 9.2+
Jun 17, 2005 3:00PM PDT

I have to agree with the posts regarding Suse, I've been using Linux for over 6 years and have tried and used quite a few including, Red Hat (5.2 - 9), Fedora Core (1 & 2), Knoppix, Morphix, Mandrake (7-9), Ubuntu, Xandros and Debian.

Since Suse 9.0 I keep upgrading to and staying with Suse. I live in regional NSW (Bathurst) but don't forget about SLUG - Sydney Linux Users Group who are quite friendly to new users. Their web site is at http://www.slug.org.au/ and their next meeting is very soon.

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Try Knoppix or Xandros.
Jun 17, 2005 9:01PM PDT

Knoppix is a cd based Linux with all the software you can expect, it runs from cd directly without any installation, but if you like it you can install it with a script included, just type at a console (command line) knoppix-install & voila, but first shrink your windows partition with Qparted (included also).

Xandros is more Windows users oriented, very easy installation, can even shrink your Windows partition to install himself, both (Knoppix & Xandros) detect hardware automatically Both have excellent software included.

Both can be downloaded for free, but if you want Xandros with all the software included you must pay for the deluxe version, Knoppix includes all for free, both can run several Windows aplications.

If you are a newbee, try one of this, both are very friendly.