I want to try out Linux

osmose1000 · Post by **osmose1000** » Sat Jul 08, 2006 6:50 pm

I've already had forays into Linux on Ari's computer, and I've got a spare computer minus a harddrive, mouse, and monitor lying around, so I thought, "Why not set it up and run Linux on it?"

Of course, the setup itself won't happen for a bit. First, I need to find out how much money I can throw towards the harddrive - I won't need that much space since my Windows baby will still be my main computer, but ordering and recieving will take, if done on Monday, three to four days. Then I have to find a monitor - I'm fairly sure my volunteering in the computer department at the local hospital can nab me a spare CRT. Same with the mouse.

What I want to know from our Linux friends is which type and build should I get? What are the pros and cons? The things I really want are the ability to work on my network (I want to get a wireless card for this, but if software supports only ethernet it's acceptable, not to mention it costs less for me), and ability to act as a web server (If I can get through my two routers). Other than that there's not much that will affect me, so besides network support, go with what you think is best. I'm also going to need some help installing it - I'm hoping I can catch Ari or Nick online when I do the deed.

Conglacio · Post by **Conglacio** » Sun Jul 09, 2006 1:09 am

If you want to save on the hard disk, I have heard that there are ways to boot up Linux over a LAN, even if the server is on Windows.

osmose1000 · Post by **osmose1000** » Sun Jul 09, 2006 8:06 am

Nah, I found a 15 gig harddrive for $20, that's good enough for me. The whole thing is that it might eventually end up being my brother's main computer (to get him off of mine for good), and he's going to want actual harddrive space.

Delphi · Post by **Delphi** » Tue Jul 11, 2006 6:18 pm

If you're a newbie to Linux, I might suggest Ubuntu Linux. It's a good distro for people switching from Windows. I started off with it, and now I'm starting to move away that I'm more familiar with Linux.

osmose1000 · Post by **osmose1000** » Wed Jul 12, 2006 3:28 am

Yeah, that's what Ari suggested too when I asked him.

I doubt I'll be switching over though - Windows has too many advantages over Unix-based OSes. :P

Delphi · Post by **Delphi** » Wed Jul 12, 2006 5:41 pm

*looks around*

Are you looking to start a fight?

osmose1000 · Post by **osmose1000** » Wed Jul 12, 2006 7:25 pm

Ain't my fault that most everything is either built to run on Windows or has a Windows version. At least, everything that matters. :P

Not to mention it's ease of use - anything I've ever attached to my computer, excepting my Xbox controller, either already had the driver ready to be installed in XP or was quickly downloaded and installed by XP, without my having to put in anything but a few clicks.

The best part, though, is that I don't feel a need to bad-talk any other OS (The above sounds harsh but doesn't really say anything particularly bad about the others) - Mac and Linux have their advantages, but they don't apply to me. Linux and Mac zealots, on the other hand... when a few thousand Mac users email a single person about their horror at his sticking a PC in a Mac case and giving away the G5 components, it's a little crazy.

Delphi · Post by **Delphi** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 6:35 pm

For the average user, I'd say there's one major thing to note about (at least some) Linux distros: the ease of finding and installing new software. So much is out there, and a lot of it is already available through a nice interface in packages that go right into your system, without having to search the internet and then find stuff without trial versions, etc. I miss a few of the things I was familiar with in Windows, but it's not like there isn't enough stuff to replace them.

And I have to say, the zealots can be a bit scary, and I'm trying to qualify myself as more of an "advocate" than a "zealot," but I suppose my classification isn't entirely for me to decide.

osmose1000 · Post by **osmose1000** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 8:38 pm

YOUR A ZEALOT YOU HAVE NO CHOICE RIGGLEFRAGGLE

Gryphon Avocatio · Post by **Gryphon Avocatio** » Sat Jul 15, 2006 2:34 am

Ubuntu = evil. I hate that damn little distro. It's soooo watered down--it practically assumes you've never used a computer before. And it uses Gnome. But I don't want to start a linux flame war.

Moose, you'd be better off with something a little more bulky and powerful. Try Suse 10.1 or Fedora 5 or something (those are what I use). Check out http://www.linuxiso.org , they have EVERYTHING.

I haven't had to install any drivers on either of my linux distributions for any of my hardware to work, by the way. It all worked right from the moment I installed it. Learn what you're talking about before you beat on it. Though to be fair, I hear that there are problems with wireless under a lot of distributions (but then again, i don't use wireless, so my above statement still stands :archy), but there are ways around it. I have attached a Playstation controller to this and it worked :P.

And Delphi is right, there is plenty of easy to install software readily available that comes with most distributions. If you can do it on Windows you can do it on Linux, usually faster and for cheaper.

And Delphi, Moose is always looking to start a fight :P

osmose1000 · Post by **osmose1000** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 9:56 pm

Fair enough, but I still loves me my Windows.

Shireroth

I want to try out Linux

I want to try out Linux

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