Should I go for Linux?

Basically, I'm getting more and more frustrated with Vista. I do want to keep it though.
After I get a larger hard drive (I only have a 60GB one at the moment), do you think it would be advisable for me to try out Linux. I basically have 0 knowledge on it, but I have yet to hear a negative comment about it.
Basically, I need help on determining how program compatibility is, how to establish a GUI with it, etc. etc.

Basically, I have zero knowledge, and need all the information I can get. I will be getting a bigger hard drive shortly, and do not ant to bother with backing up crap. I'll be wanting to start from scratch.

Also, I'll be needing help with establishing a dual boot too.

I guess you guys can begin helping by telling me about Linux, what the different versions are, how to use it, etc etc.

EDIT: BTW, I have an e1505...1gig ram, x1400, 1.86 core 2 duo, 60 gig 5400 RPM

Thank you guys so much

 

I'm moving this to the Linux forum.

We have a Linux Guide for the Newbie for you to look at. We have a few threads on dual booting as well.

Find out what distro is right for you here:
http://www.zegeniestudios.net/ldc/

Once you have found a distro you like, download it, burn the ISO and install. Post any questions you have about Linux. We are glad to help out.

 

A few good "starter" distros would be (K)Ubuntu and Knoppix. Ubuntu is really popular among forum members... so you'd probably be able to get lots of support with it.

 

i just went to the distro test...whatever a distro is...and it said ubuntu was a god choice. I'm kinda anxious and want to download now, but I know it would be smarter to not do it quite yet. How is program compatibility??

 

What do you mean by program compatibility? There aren't many programs that run on Windows AND Linux, but there are often Linux analogues to many popular applications (aMSN, OpenOffice, GIMP, etc.)
You could run Windows in Linux through an emulator (VM Ware?) but it's probably better just to dual boot.

 

ahhh yeah....maybe I should do some research on this for a bit...lol. I haven't a clue on what that stuff is. Gimme a week to look into and understand Linux a bit more and it's terminology.

I'll be back this weekend...

 

Anamish - Most Linux distrubutions have Live CD's which you can run on your system to get a feel of Linux. This does not install anything on your HDD or affect your system. I would suggest running the live CD first before installing linux. Ubuntu for example has live CD which also includes the full install. So, you can download the live CD run it and then see if you are comfortable with it before installing.

 

That it is.

As for program compatibility, it really depends on what programs you are talking about. If you want to play commercial games, like FEAR, Oblivion, etc. then stick with Windows. If you're doing 3D modelling, then there are a number of compatible programs for Linux, but some do not have native versions. For basic home/office tasks, Linux is perfect. It has office suites, instant messenger clients, and all the other jazz a non-gamer would love. And for the low, low price of a blank cd.

Look through the front page of this section, there are a number of threads detailing how to prepare your computer for installing Linux. Over the next week, I'll be writing an illustrated guide to installing Linux on your system. It will be based on Ubuntu, but a lot of the theories and setup items are near identical across the board.

 

-actually my friend said a while ago he had a linux CD..not sure if it was ubuntiju or whatever . I could ask him if he still has it.

and to Lysander, I would still like to play things like FEAR and Halo2 and stuff like that. That's why I would dual boot linux and vista...I would use vista for games and games only (hopefully driver support will be better soon)... But the thought of using a STABLE operating system for normal commputer operations appeals to me greatly. That's why I'm interested, and plus, I like trying new things.

 

Then Linux is definitely a good option; it's nice not having to run antivirus applications for once

 

yea, that is a good feeling knowing i can boot up, and not have to worry about antivirus programs bogging down the start up.

as for programs, like they said, there are substitutions for just about everything on windows. im still in that baby stage of linux, so i cant give you too much info, but so far, i like what i see

 

"But the thought of using a STABLE operating system for normal commputer operations appeals to me greatly. That's why I'm interested, and plus, I like trying new things."

Why not simply run XP? It's a stable, mature OS that still has massive support for games. In most cases it runs games just as well, if not better than Vista.

However, if you like to experiment as I do, then I would recommend dual-booting XP and Linux. XP will occupy less HD space and perform as well as Vista, while you can use Linux for daily use. Vista is still buggy and lacks support. Just look at all the threads complaining about "this has crashed" or "drivers don't work".

 

I'm thinking about going to XP again, but I'm tired of XP. I think I'm tired of Windows as a whole.

But I see tons of potential in Vista, and I really do think in the next 3 months, support will be up to par of what is expected of an operating system. And if I were to use Linux, I could possibly go experiment-happy, and cause problems with Linux...therefore, in order to keep myself sane, I'd need a fall-back that I would be able to recognize and know how to use.

I have yet to hear a bad thing about Linux, save the difficulty of getting used to. I hear it runs very well, not a RAM/CPU/HDD hog either.

So....Ubuntu (sp??), why is that a popular choice/what's the difference between them?? And is Linux really difficult to use whenever a GUI is established???

 

ubuntu is popular because it is completely free for one. you can even order a cd for free. but also because people say its alot easier than other distro if its your first stab at linux. not only that, but there is a huge fan base with lots of support. and with new versions every six months, its pretty sweet

 

Try PCBSD and DesktopBSD, they are based on FreeBSD Unix OS.

 

Your last two posts are about trying PCBSD and DesktopBSD, Arabian. You don't have to spam the forum with it.

The thing with the BSD's is that they don't have near the hardware compatibility nor the application support (or rapid development) that Linux has, and that's what many people want. If you're just checking email, a BSD is fine, as is, say, Ubuntu LTS, and many other systems. But for playing games, performance graphics, wireless support, etc. that most people consider necessary, BSD just doesn't fly.

 

I'm coming in a bit late here, but definitely go for dual-booting Linux! As others have said, Ubuntu or Kubuntu are great choices for one new to Linux. I should note that both Ubuntu and Kubuntu are both the same thing - Ubuntu simply has a default desktop environment of GNOME while Kubuntu uses KDE. You'll find (sometimes rabid) fans of either GNOME or KDE when that topic comes up... hence the "separate" distributions that really are the same distribution with different defaults. Either version of Ubuntu will let you run any Linux application out there, and there is a great resource for people new to the Ubuntu world at the unofficial ubuntu starter's guide. It'll tell you how to accomplish certain functions (like installing Flash or playing DVDs) and get you familiar with some programs used to accomplish those things.

In order to get the dual-boot going, you really only need about 4GB of space for a full installation of Linux. Until you get that 4GB or so, then use the "live cd" to just test it out. It's really a full working OS that will give you a great introduction to using desktop Linux. It's also what you boot into to install the OS onto your ~>=4GB partition - so you won't be using 2 CDs or anything anyway.

Good luck - you'll find plenty of people ready to help you with problems if you decide to go for it!

 

Oh come now, 2 posts is hardly spamming the forum. I'm sure I have posted highly similar things in succession before. Haven't you?

 

I would suggest a different route.

Debian, the distribution that Ubuntu is more and more loosely based upon, is a much more desktop environment agnostic offering. As such, it's much more versatile not only for specific tasks where you don't want much overhead, but also when you're experimenting. It's installation is quite a bit more hands on and complex than Ubuntu (though still much more automated than some other options), but it has an excellent handbook available which will guide you through step by step.

The end result is that you're easily able to install and play with a wide variety of software without being under the impression that you're breaking something (thanks to Ubuntu's heavy integration, which is great, but not always so). You'll also come out of it with a much better understanding of Linux fundamentals.

But, it does depend on if you just want something which works, or if you want to learn about the operating system and why and how it does what it does.

If you just want something to work, I also suggest Fedora, Zenwalk, and Dream Linux.

 

How do you figure he was spamming? Isn't advise just advise? Isn't BSD just as open source and free as Linux? I'm not sure where you anger is stemming from.

Absolutely. And also no ad-ware issues as well!!

Great...many Linux distros are extremely stable and will do all the basic ops that you want.

Certainly, but there are other advantages to using free open source software. XP is pretty stable for those who aren't infiltrated with viruses, ad-ware, bloat, fragmentation, driver issues, and corrupt registries.

This is a great idea for those who are ambivalent about getting into Linux, or want to play with it before making the move.

I hear you. That's why the open source community has so many options - from UNIX (Solaris) to the numerous Linux distros to BSD os-es.

Ubuntu just takes Debian and simplifies things further. It makes the root harder to access, so screwing up files are harder to do. The GUI in Linux distros are NOT hard to use, and will be familiar for any Windows user.

I like this idea as well, for the more tech savvy. Debian is a bit more techie, and you will enjoy dealing more with the command line than you have to with Ubuntu. Like said, the installation is more involved as well.

 

No hard feelings here, I just suggested them to in 2 different posts with questions from 2 users, so let the user try and choose what is doing the job for him.

Beside I don't code in PCBSD or DesktopBSD, nor I'm member on any of them, Linux and BSD are great and they can get along, I wish you didn't need to bash BSD

 

Absolutely! I believe the mission of the Linux forum is to do the same. Indeed, the description includes BSD for the Linux forums. Thanks for some balanced input here.

 

I'm not bashing BSD, I'm saying that if you don't know about BSD already, you'll probably be disappointed by it because it doesn't have the flashy features or compatibility that Linux provides. BSD is great for many things, including rock-solid desktops, OpenBSD for firewalls/routers, etc. But it doesn't have the hardware compatibility and features of Linux, which is what people (especially on notebooks) need.

 

I like BSD and wish it had better hardware and software support. In many ways, BSD is more "free" than Linux, which is what attracted me to it in the first place. But it won't recognize my display, wireless card, or media buttons out of the box, and the wireless card is a big deal for me. That and the fact that the syntax is different from Linux and I'm just taking one thing at a time right now.

 

Go ahead man. That's the best decision you ever taken !.

I suggest you Ubento...its sound very interesting.

before starting i suggest you to pick up some linux book from amazon..

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http://www.computer-space.com

 

I think you mean Ubuntu...

 

Sorry its a mistyping error:

I meant Ubuntu.

thanks