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Offline whabangTopic starter

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Best linux distro for beginner.
« on: February 12, 2003, 04:55:59 PM »
Hi folks!
I'm trying to learn a bit about linux, but I don't know were to start.
Which distro should I select as an absolute novice in the linux world?
 :-?
Beating the dead horse since 2002.
 

Offline mikeymike

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Re: Best linux distro for beginner.
« Reply #1 on: February 12, 2003, 05:04:07 PM »
I'd suggest a few good books first.  Unfortunately I can't suggest any good Linux books.  As for suggestions of a good beginner's Linux distro, I'll just as helpfully suggest "none of the above".

I'd suggest FreeBSD instead.  Unless this is a project of yours associated with an AmigaOne you just bought?

A useful thing to know for anyone else answering your question is, "do you have broadband", as some UNIX variants allow you to easily download new stuff (software/updates).

sorry this isn't a very helpful reply, and possibly bordering on inciting trouble in a forum, but I haven't found a Linux distro that wasn't a total PITA, and I've tried a few.  Starting out on FreeBSD is much easier going, IMO.
 

Offline whabangTopic starter

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Re: Best linux distro for beginner.
« Reply #2 on: February 12, 2003, 05:10:43 PM »
I was thinking about FreeBSD first, but there's no support for niether my GFX-card or my USB ADSL modem. :-(

Quote
Unless this is a project of yours associated with an AmigaOne you just bought?

Yeah, right! Like I could afford that! :-)
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Offline spihunter

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Re: Best linux distro for beginner.
« Reply #3 on: February 12, 2003, 05:21:25 PM »
Try Red Hat 8.0 I've been using it for a while.
its pretty stright foward and it supports alot
of hardware. If you have broadband you can just download the iso's off of their site.
 

Offline Calen

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Re: Best linux distro for beginner.
« Reply #4 on: February 12, 2003, 05:24:55 PM »
Mandrake and Redhat our quite simular, i tried both but went for Mandrake as it had some support for my broadband modem.
I have since then deleted them both as one bloated OS is enough.
 

Offline asian1

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Re: Best linux distro for beginner.
« Reply #5 on: February 12, 2003, 05:31:35 PM »
Hello
Try this book (based on Caldera):

Sam's Linux Book + CD
 

Offline asian1

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Re: Best linux distro for beginner.
« Reply #6 on: February 12, 2003, 05:38:09 PM »
Hello
Try online Linux Tutorial:

Linux Tutorial
 

Offline iamaboringperson

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Re: Best linux distro for beginner.
« Reply #7 on: February 12, 2003, 05:46:13 PM »
i prefer mandrake, but any linux will do!
just pick one and install it
so many people plan and worry about installing linux, and ask "which distro should i use?"

just get a spare HDD, pick a damn distro and install it
if you dont like it, you can always go over it with enother
keep trying new distros

ive tried a number of distros and they are all pretty good

just make sure you dont give up ;-) if it seems to get too hard.  for a beginner it will seem very difficult to install and use, just keep trying and EXPERIMENT!!!
 

Offline Desolator

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Re: Best linux distro for beginner.
« Reply #8 on: February 12, 2003, 06:02:36 PM »
Go for SuSE Linux, the boxed set.
The manuals are outstanding for a beginner, better than RedHat IMHO.
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Offline whabangTopic starter

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Re: Best linux distro for beginner.
« Reply #9 on: February 12, 2003, 06:06:01 PM »
Thanks, guys!
Right now it seems like I'll download mandrake.
I'd go for printed manuals etc, but I can't afford it. ;-)
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Offline Desolator

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Re: Best linux distro for beginner.
« Reply #10 on: February 12, 2003, 06:11:09 PM »
aah, too bad, then I can't sell you my SuSE Linux 7.1 box..  :-D
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Offline Paul_Gadd

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Re: Best linux distro for beginner.
« Reply #11 on: February 12, 2003, 06:16:37 PM »
@whabang

Just get a file sharing program and download the manuals,

Linux bible,
Linux for beginners,
Linux in plain english,
Red hat bible,
Mandrake 1000 tips

etc etc.
 

Offline jdiffend

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Re: Best linux distro for beginner.
« Reply #12 on: February 12, 2003, 07:19:31 PM »
Caldera Personal was easier to get started with than any other version I've tested.  I'd have to put Mandrake 2nd and Redhat 3rd.

For the most complete version (last I checked) SuSe seemed to be the best.

Redhat has some issues and the admin where I work refuses to use it.  Not sure why.  He prefers BSD over any Linux anyway.
 

Offline mikeymike

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Re: Best linux distro for beginner.
« Reply #13 on: February 12, 2003, 07:22:03 PM »
Quote
I was thinking about FreeBSD first, but there's no support for niether my GFX-card or my USB ADSL modem.


The graphics card support would be by X[free86.org], not FreeBSD itself.  That would be the same for any UNIX variant, so you're not going to get a graphics card supported in Linux but not in FreeBSD, unless you're talking about a laptop or something.

As for the USB ADSL modem, how did you check?  You may need to recompile the kernel to support the modem, but on FreeBSD that isn't difficult.  I can run you through that in one very short and simple email :)

FreeBSD website
Xfree86.org site for graphics card support
 

Offline whabangTopic starter

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Re: Best linux distro for beginner.
« Reply #14 on: February 12, 2003, 07:30:45 PM »
Quote

mikeymike wrote:
Quote
I was thinking about FreeBSD first, but there's no support for niether my GFX-card or my USB ADSL modem.


The graphics card support would be by X[free86.org], not FreeBSD itself.  That would be the same for any UNIX variant, so you're not going to get a graphics card supported in Linux but not in FreeBSD, unless you're talking about a laptop or something.

As for the USB ADSL modem, how did you check?  You may need to recompile the kernel to support the modem, but on FreeBSD that isn't difficult.  I can run you through that in one very short and simple email :)

FreeBSD website
Xfree86.org site for graphics card support

Hmm... Perhaps I was wrong then.
I couldn't find Kyro II under the supported HW list.
I'll check again.
Thanks.
Beating the dead horse since 2002.