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General discussion

Planning On Trying Linux For The First Time...

Apr 18, 2011 8:22AM PDT

Does anyone have any tips for a noob like me? I've been a Windows junkie since 2003 and haven't even tried Linux though I've heard of it for YEARS. Any tips?

Discussion is locked

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PClinuxOS is what I use, but...
Apr 19, 2011 1:07AM PDT

there are many distros. out there that are very good. So try them all if you have the curiosity.

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You can run Linux from CD/DVD directly
Apr 19, 2011 7:58PM PDT

So it is very easy to try. Just download, burn image and boot from it. Wink

http://distrowatch.com/ may have many useful and fresh information about Linux versions, distributions, download links etc.

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Mandriva Linux
Apr 19, 2011 10:28PM PDT

Is perhaps the easiest distro there is http://www.mandriva.com/en/

Tip:
If you are a Windows User use KDE Desktop Environment
If you are a Mac User use GNOME Desktop Environment


When you load Mandriva follow the Wizard and will show place to load either KDE or GNOME or Customize. The default is KDE but you can choose both if you go with Customize.

The best way to learn a new distro is to use a Live Distro.
Mandriva One, PCLOS, Knoppix and many others have a Life Distro. What that does is, download the ISO file, get a blanc CD, double click on the file and will burn a Bootable Disc. Boot the computer with the Disc and it becomes a Hard Drive. Nothing is loaded unless you tell to do so. If you do not like the distro, reboot the computer and remove the Disc. The loss is just a CD, $0.10 perhaps?

Good luck on finding the right choice for you Happy

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tried few, no much difference, try Fedora and Ubuntu, easy
Apr 19, 2011 11:21PM PDT

I was in the same situation few weeks ago. I have Linux bundle, includes many different linuxes called Linux Jazz, it came along with my training set and I tryed and installed few. The installaton screens are different but otherwise I can't see much difference. After installation they all look identical with Gnome or KDE as an interface. Debian, Ubuntu, openSUSE and Fedora were easiest to install. It is really just few clicks. The most difficult is Slackware, it has no graphical installation and shows menues after menues. I gave up after browsing it for about an hour.

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Try Ubuntu
Apr 24, 2011 12:09PM PDT

More people use Ubuntu than any other distribution, so you should probably try it first; there are a lot more people who can help or who have written tutorials on "How to do xyz" applying to Ubuntu than to any other distribution.

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I do not want
Apr 25, 2011 3:20AM PDT

To start an argument about what distro is better. I can say this, Mandriva is well documented is been around longer than the *buntus (over 10 years) and I can say is more easier to use than any other distro that I tried. Even my 70 year old mother in law uses Mandriva. There is no really a need to use the command console and %99.9 of the time all is done via GUI.

Again, not trying to start a what distro is better war but stating some facts that seems people are not aware of them.

Happy

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Not a distro war :-)
Jul 11, 2011 11:20AM PDT

It doesn't matter if Mandriva has been around for longer. Linux changes so quickly that old tutorials no longer work - in fact, they might even break your system. What matters is how many people are writing tutorials for the latest versions of distributions, and the reality is that there are more tutorials (as far as I can see) for Ubuntu users than there are for Mandriva users.

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Try Mageia
Jul 12, 2011 2:48AM PDT

Since all the Mandriva developers have gone to Mageia why not try it
It comes in gnome or kde etc

I have tried Mandriva but prefer the new Mageia
Can be used as live cd so you can try it before installing to harddrive

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Yes
Jul 14, 2011 3:40AM PDT

Mageia is coming along really nice.

I still saying that Mandriva is more Zero Config. As far community, they are great lending a hand. I think the *buntus are more snobbish for my taste

The only thing that requires some thought and I think is with all Linux Distro is configuring a Wireless NIC, some just plain work, others refuse, and others can be as easy as using the ndiswrapper with the MS sys files and inf.

Most Intel Wireless NICs works really easy, the ones with Atheros Chipsets seems to work really well with the ndiswrapper. So the key is, if you want a Wireless NIC to work is not really about brands is more about what Chipset is in.

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Option
Jul 17, 2011 8:04PM PDT

Starting up with Ubuntu is probably the best choice. Besides the fact that it is easy to use. It has the largest community, ready to support you.

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a few tips
Jul 24, 2011 7:21AM PDT

My best tip for you: You're going to get a lot of people telling you what distribution is "best" to start out on. Honestly though there are tons of distributions that are easy to use and good to start out on; which one is "best" really comes down to a matter of personal opinion. Find a distribution that you like the looks of, then ask about how easy to use that distribution is. Also check out the forums and see if they are active and helpful. If you find out it's very user friendly and the forums are great, go for it! Happy

Distrowatch.com - Great place to look for new Linux distributions. Gives a short review of each distribution, screenshots, a list of installed software, and the link to download them. Also features a list of the most popular distributions by rank.

This is a list of software in Linux that is comparable to various Windows software you may be accustomed to. It may help ease the transition a little. Happy

Lxer.com - A Linux news website that features a lot of tips and reviews of distributions, along with news on what's going on in the Linux community. I only wish this site was around when I started to learn about Linux, it would have helped a lot.


I hope some of this helps. Good luck! Happy