Linux users out there...

I consider myself to be an above average computer user, but I don't know too much about operating systems. I am curious about Linux. What's the deal with it? It is suppose to be a better OS than Windows. Why? I need some inside scoop about it. Which one to use for a beginner and why? Basically I don't know what I don't know. :shrug:

Read this:

http://linux.oneandoneis2.org/LNW.htm

The title of the article is "Linux is Not Windows," and pretty much is a philosophical breakdown of the differences between *nix-ish style systems (Linux, Unix, BSD), Windows, and to some extent Macs. The pitfall most Linux newbies run into, especially those who are highly competent Windows users, is that somewhere in the back of their minds, what they expect is Windows for free. That is, they associate Windows with Computer, and a lot of unlearning often needs to be accomplished before they can accept something simple, such as the fact that with Linux you can choose your desktop GUI. To most people accustomed either to the typical style of a Windows machine or a Mac, that is simply a foreign concept. Sure, you can tweak the Windows GUI to look a certain way, but it basically behaves one way and one way only. Not so with Linux where you have KDE, Gnome, WindowsMaker, and a dozen or so other desktops from which to choose.

Other than that, this could get complicated, so I'll keep it to a simplistic introduction.

Whether Linux is better than Windows depends, in part, on your philosophical world-view. I know that sounds weird in the context of something like this, but it's true. On technical grounds, a case could be made either for Windows or Linux or even some other OS, and the debate would rage day-in and day-out. For example, ask yourself what you mainly want in an OS. Do you want to install it, not mess with it at all, and have it mostly just work straight out of the box? Or, do you want to install it, have it mostly work with a little effort, perhaps including finding the right driver or workaround for some exotic piece of hardware you have, and have the freedom to customize it the way you want? Do you want a system for which tons of anti-spyware and virus protection applications exist, some of the best for free, or do you want a system that due to its underlying structure can't be harmed in the same way by spyware or viruses? Do you want someone else deciding for you how your computer behaves, or do you want to do it yourself?

Oh, and, should you want to, would you like to be able to install the entire system, including applications, multiple times on as many systems as you like and never have to call in a registration number, or do you like installing your OS and then living in fear of the day you need to reinstall because you then have to deal with a Windows Customer Support rep to make it work longer than 30 days?

That's the difference between Windows and Linux in a nutshell.

The best thing for a Linux newbie to do, imo, is to download and burn a LiveCD, something like Knoppix Live, put it in your CD drive, boot from the CD, and just play with it. This particular distro (distribution) has excellent hardware detection, uses the KDE desktop GUI, which is good for Windows users, and is a fully functional Linux system that allows you to see what kind of things it has to offer ... on one CD. You can't tweak it a lot in this form, but you can get a look at it and see how it might run on your system. (Side Note: Whenever I fix someone's computer that's been hosed by a virus, I use a LiveCD to start the system and rescue data. People are amazed, thinking I've "fixed" their computer. No, I simply bypassed Windows. The computer wasn't broken. Windows was.)

If you decide then it is worth playing with, good distros for beginners are Unbuntu, SuSE, Fedora Core 4 (I don't recommend 5 for a beginner), Mepis, PCLinux, and a few others. The latter two are more Windows-like and geared toward the former Windows user than the others, particularly PCLinux, which also has a LiveCD you can try.

Before settling, I went through 6 distros, installing them, playing with them a day or two, then un-installing and going for the next. I started out with SuSE and am currently typing this from a Slackware box, the latter allowing a more total degree of freedom of how the system functions but also requiring more work to get it that way.

If this makes no sense, my apologies. It's hard to do a columns of positives and negatives comparison with this. To truly appreciate Linux requires a different way of thinking about computers, i.e. we make them work the way they want rather than some software design team dictating to us how it must work.

I'll do a little more research and then give it a go.

http://us.releases.ubuntu.com/releases/5.10/

I would suggest you check this out - the "live" cd image boots off the CD and runs (Ubuntu) linux without touching your hard drive O/S.

You can browse the web, try the interface, etc. to get an idea...

Remember: the CD version will run *much* slower than if you were to install it on your hard drive.

Ubuntu is one version I was going to try out.

You can get a live version of ubuntu here: http://www.ubuntu.com/download

Try ubuntu on the live cd, then load. it's easy to dual boot, so you don't have to dump windows.

If you understand Hard Drive Partitions, you can Dual Boot. :)

(this post is almost 1 year old. Newer versions of Linux are available for download. The proceedures I used are still current.)


So many flavors to choose from.
Last month, I installed 11 different flavors of Linux, looking for the best fit.

You can go here and download ISO's of all these versions and try them out FOR FREE!!

http://www.linuxiso.org /


For my rather generic box, only three versions recognized almost all my hardware, and installed without hassles.

SuSE 9.1
Knoppix...Kanotix
Ubuntu

The sole hardware exception common to all versions was my scanner (HPScanjet 4470C on USB). Most versions correctly identified the scanner, but the software interface failed to initialize. In Linux defense, my scanner is NOT on the hardware compatibility lists.

I really like Mandrake, and worked hard to get it installed, but was unable to get my Net Card working. I even bought and installed a NetCard that was on the Mandrake Hardware Compatibility list and no luck. During BOOT always the same error message {NET CARD eth0....FAILED}. I spent several late nights trying to "build a kernal with a tarball"..lots of fun, but no success yet. Someone with more Linux experience could get this working.



I also downloaded and installed :

Mandrake 10,,,10.1...10.2(peek)

Debian 3r4 (install options confusing for me)

Fedora Core 3 (would like to try again)

Slackware 10.0 (over my head)

Lycoris (almost a disaster...maybe a bad disk)

Knoppix...cool and easy

Kanotix Bug Hunter(a Knoppix knock off update)

SuSE 9.1 (smooth and easy)

Ubuntu 4.1 (Warty) (elegant, my favorite)

Many of these have released a "LIVE" disk that you can run from the CD. Simply boot your box from the CD and get a look at the fully functional distro. Of course, it is slow, but you can get an idea if your hardware is compatible.

Distros known to have a "LIVE disk:
Knoppix
Kanotix
SuSE
Ubuntu


My suggestions for playing with Linux without trashing WinDoze.
I am migrating from WinXP, and will be using WinXP as my primary OS until I am comfortable with Linux.

Partition Magic 8.0 has a tool to partition the HardDrive for Linux installations.
Partition Magic 8.0 is available for download over the Net for about $32.00. I used it without problems.
AVOID LETTING THE LINUX INSTALL PROGRAM PARTITION YOUR HARD DRIVE.
Windows utilities or Partition Magic may not be able to undo partioning performed by Linux install programs.

PartitionMagic doesn't run well from within WinXP, so you will probably have to boot from the PMagic floppy to create the Linux Partitions. To avoid any confusion with Drive Letters, put the experimental Linux partitions at the end of your HardDrive (or at the end of a 2nd HardDrive). I am using about 7 Gigs for the Linux partitions and that is way more than enough.



Almost all of the Linux Installs recognized the pre-partitioned Linux Partitions and asked if this is where I wanted to Install. Say YES.
(Note: Fedora Core was vague at this point in the install, so I backed out, not willing to risk my Windows partitions).

Linux will automatically install a boot loader (Grub or Lilo) that will let you choose either Windows or Linux at boot.
Both worked on my system without problems.
You can edit the boot loader to make Windows the default boot until you are confident to default to Linux.



Removing Linux from your Box without trashing Windows
Easy.

Step 1)
Use the already installed LILO (or Grub) to boot to your Windoze System and use PartitionMagic to delete the Linux Partitions.

*If you are using XP, you will probably need to boot from the PMagic floppy instead of using the Linux loader to boot to Windows (since XP seems to hate PartitionMagic).


Step 2)
Boot from a floppy that contains the Dos partition utility FDISK, and type "FDISK /MBR" (without the quotes). This will remove the Linux boot loader (Lilo or Grub).
My system was ALWAYS restored to the regular Windows configuration after these two steps.

Caution Note: My DOS boot floppy is from WinME and contains the latest preXP FDISK command. I don't believe XP comes with an FDISK utility, so make sure you have a BOOT Floppy that has a functional FDISK utility that can work with large Hard Drives. I KNOW the FDISK in ME will work. I believe that Win98se DOS Floppy will work, but cannot vouch for it. FDISK was able to remove the Linux boot loader (Grub or Lilo)("FDISK/MBR"), but was unable to read or delete the Linux Partitions. PMagic was necessary to delete these partitions from the HardDrive.

I have read online that you can use the XP BOOT CONSOLE to restore the MBR (master boot record), but I have never used that method.


Summary: After looking at the versions listed above, I preferred UBUNTU. UBUNTU diverges a little from traditional Linux in the methods of logging on as SU, but is conceptually consistent. SuSE was equally as functional, my choice was subjective. I currently use Ubuntu to browse the Internet and play with the Linux system. I am still using XP for my Graphics Software and Games.


Linux has a HUGE online community that is very helpful.
I have bought a “How To” book on the nuts and bolts of Linux (Inside Linux, Tobler) and am working my way through, learning to work from the command line. The Learning Curve is steep and a little frustrating at times , but overall, it is fun. I am learning the system of the future and can always boot to WinXP when necessary.

Good Luck.
Remember to have FUN!

Well, maybe "joy" is too strong a word. But it's great.

I'm going to say something that irritates a lot of people, but my experience has born it out countless times: Linux is much, much easier to install and set-up than Windows is. It's true. Linux's drivers ship with the OS and for the most part Just Work. Windows' don't. The difference is, most people get Windows installed and set up for them before they buy their computer.

That said, I'll put in my two cents about why I prefer Linux as a desktop operating system to Windows:

1) The software vendors aren't constantly trying to sell you shit you don't need.

This is huge to me. HUGE. Media players don't steal the associations to every type of file. My desktop doesn't get littered with links to ISP deals. I don't have to choose between crippled demos and shady cracked versions of software from Kerplakistan.

2) Linux doesn't lie to you

Windows is like George Bush: if it screws up, it can never admit it. It may try to keep running all the programs even as the computer dies. It may pop up an error message blaming you for its own bad design. When Linux fails, on the other hand, it says "Hey, dude, I'm dying now. Here's my guess at why: ..."

3) Package management

Linux has multiple GREAT package management tools, depending on the vendor you get Linux from. If you want to install new software, the package manager will find it, download it, (possible compile it), install it, and do the same thing for any dependencies that package has. So, if you want the GIMP (roughly equivalent to Photoshop), your package manager will get not just the GIMP but all the other little pieces of software you need before you get the GIMP.

4) User support

This really should be number 1, but I've already started numbering. The Linux user community is quite simply the best support I've ever received -- much better than anything I've paid for. Install an IRC client, go to irc.freenode.net, and join the channel for whatever you're having trouble with. A few people might make fun of you, but you *will* get help, usually pretty quickly.

5) Privacy and security

Linux software is generally made with privacy and security as core features rather than afterthoughts or plug-ins. You can encrypt your hard drive; you can encrypt your email. You can leave it hooked up directly to a cable modem with no little Linksys firewall without worrying about being hijacked by the Russian mafia.

6) Freedom

This one maybe should be number one also. Linux is closely related to the GNU project, which is an attempt to create a usable set of software that does not restrict the user's freedoms. You can copy Linux, modify it, share it with whoever you want, badmouth it, praise it, sell it to somebody, give it away for free to somebody -- whatever you want. The developers let everyone in the world see their source code, which means bugs and security problems are generally found -- and fixed -- very quickly. If only Diebold would do this...

7) Transparency

Linux teaches you how computers work rather than hiding it from you. If you're not really into hardware and algorithms and such right now, you won't see it immediately, but as you keep using Linux you'll find you understand more and more rather than getting more and more confused.

8) Programability

If you've only ever used Windows, you probably don't think of yourself as a programmer -- but you almost certainly are. Anyone who uses a computer for anything but the most trivial tasks ends up doing some form of programming. But the Windows (and Mac) mentality is that programming is a Big Bad Scary Thing and we have to hide the fact that "normal" people are doing it. But that's stupid. There's nothing dark and mystical about breaking down a problem into small steps and telling a computer to solve those steps -- and that's what programming is. Linux software gives you many more and much easier opportunities to program things simply and easily.

I'm not saying you'll start writing device drivers in your first week of using Linux (or even your first 5 years), but you probably *will* start editing configurations (which is a kind of programming), scripting mundane tasks (also a kind of programming), or setting up user interface macros (ditto again). Don't fear the code.

9) Linux makes you read

To be fair, some people call this a disadvantage, but I love it. Linux makes you read. You sometimes need to read what it says. You often need to read the manual for the software you want to use. I cannot stress enough that this saves time, and usually saves it very very quickly.

You'll learn three commands that will save you hours of time in just a few weeks:
man
info
apropos

Those are the gateways to one of the best documentation systems for any software I've seen.

10) Linux is made of small tools that work together

I could give my whole big spiel on this, but Neil Stephenson did it much better. Read this, if you're thinking of switching.

As a final tidbit, I'll give dmesg's reviews of the different kinds of Linux (and other Free OSes) you can get:
Section A: Live CD's (you don't actually install Linux, you just boot from a CD... great way to get your feet wet)
Knoppix
SuSE's live CD

Section B: "Commercial" or "User Friendly" distributions
Fedora: possibly the most popular distribution and one a lot of people start with
SuSE: (same people with the live CD above) very "corporate"-oriented, but also very nice. Costs money.
Ubuntu: non-commercial but very "new-user" oriented

Section C: Less "friendly" but still awesome distributions
OpenBSD: (what I use) not Linux but very similar. Great documentation, great hardware support, not exactly user-friendly for someone used to Windows, but something to consider
Gentoo: (what I started on) a great boot-camp if you have a few weeks you can live with your computer being half-functional. Also has the best package management system out there.
Debian: The "purist's" linux
Slackware: For the purists so hardcore they think Debian people have sold out

Start out with one of the LiveCDs (Knoppix is good). Play around. Don't be afraid; you can't break anything. If you like it, try Ubuntu. After that, you'll decide if you want to stay there or move on to one of the "Section C" systems.

As a final bit of advice: read. Read the instructions twice before you do anything. Then do it, and read the instructions again if it doesn't do what you want. Google any problems you have, and if that fails go to an IRC chatroom. You will be frustrated sometimes (but can you honestly say you've never been frustrated by Windows? The difference is someone will actually help you with these frustrations...) And most importantly, live free and enjoy...