Is a netbook a good/cheap way to learn the basics of linux?

I'm considering a basic linux netbook (Dell Inspiron Mini 9 - $199 today only 2/16/09!). I was thinking this might be a good way to learn the basics of a linux machine? I used linux back in college many many years ago, but haven't touched it since. Would like to at least be familiar with it.

I'd use it as a basic internet, scheduler, and office apps device (Open Office).

 

In my opinion, dual boot. Save your money and dual boot on your FX or N10. It is very easy to setup and can serve the same purpose as a whole new unit with two drawbacks: a reduction in usable space for your existing operating system(s) and a 5 second auto-boot wait time for the loader.

 

The cheapest way to learn linux is to get an 8 or 16 gigabyte USB drive and install on/boot off that. You take a performance hit, but it's easier than repartitioning your HD.

@Gengerald: Just out of interest, can you split an existing partition without formatting it? I've been meaning to find out...

 

Depends on what you want to do. If you just want to learn the commands, get a shell account somewhere or install cygwin or mingw on top of windows. For a full blown experience, the cheapest is definitely a Live CD or booting off a USB stick. Netbooks are OK but they're cumbersome and would be frustrating to learn on due to their lack of performance and small keyboards.

 

I agree, dual boot. Or use a virtualization program.

I suggest backing up your Windows files to another drive, an external drive or internal drive in an enclosure. Then install Linux in a dual boot system or use a program like VirtualBox in a Linux OS with Windows or vice versa.

The computers the OP has sounds like they would run Linux fine so at least one distro would work fine, probably. It just depends what the wireless/ethernet chipsets are in those computers but everything else sounds good. Webcams and a few other hardware devices might cause some problems but even those can have workarounds most of the time.

 

Yes you can, though there is a slight chance that the partition may get corrupted, and hence people recommend making a backup of data before doing it.

However, in my 10 years or so of use, I havent ever had a problem with repartitioning. I usually defrag the HDD, then repartition it.

 

Yes that is good advice because defragging the disk lets you use more space in most cases. If you are using the stock windows defrag utility a few passes are necessary before you resize the partition

 

Why are multiple passes required

 

Well it depends, on Vista if you actually let it run, multiple passes aren't going to do any good, and they will require much more time.

On XP though, doing multiple passes of defrag is needed just in general because it isn't aggressive enough. If you run it enough times until it starts and stops immediately that is basically where I tend to stop.

 

If you use the Command Prompt and type defrag c: , and it does it's thing then gives you a 0% defragmentation after, do you still want to do multiple passes? (vista)

 

Yeah, on XP I run it until it starts and stops within a few seconds. It will still compact the files more... again on Vista it isn't the same, since the entire defrag utility was changed.

 

Yeah - I noticed - and god looked down upon this new utility and was not pleased.

Seriously, was I the only one who liked watching the purty blocks?

/derail, sorry OP

 

I also say the same thing. Why buy a whole new machine to learn Linux(Unless you really were planning to already)? You can just dual boot on a machine you already have or put it on a large USB flash drive and play with it there.

 

I think installing using Wubi would be a good idea as you don't have to muck with partitions using that option.

 

I guess I should have noted that I am looking for something for my wife and I to share around the house for basic internet access. My N10J is just too nice and expensive to have us both use it around our kids.

Either way, I think I will dual boot or VirtualPC a Linux of some variety.