It is polished, professional, fast, stylish, takes advantage of all my notebook features, and includes a cool utility for Wireless Access Roaming (WAR).

Which leads to my one complaint. DHCP doesn't work with wireless. I can connect and get an IP but there is no DNS and I can't ping past the gateway.

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Y'know, if I could pay $100 for a CD that installed Linux with essentially no effort on my part, I'd do it. I only need a browser and the ability to read and create .doc files (for other people's benefit); for my own work, I use software for which Linux versions are readily available.

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Is six mouse clicks too many??

Xandros

The machine I'm using to type this message is running Xandros.

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But I'm now officially too old to play with a new operating system just for the hell of it.

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Originally posted by Oliver Cromwell:
Y'know, if I could pay $100 for a CD that installed Linux with essentially no effort on my part, I'd do it.

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I use the Fluxbox window manager with no icons, no menu bar, no wall paper, no pictures; just a blue background. I don't need all the other junk.

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That's another nice thing about Linux...choice. If you want a flashy graphical user interface, KDE and Gnome keep getting flashier all the time. Xandros has its own proprietary "Xandros File Manager" which it slaps on top of KDE. It actually "looks" alot like Window$...which is either a blessing or a curse depending on your point of view

I want to get away from MS software big time but I am not very computer savvy. Ms. Cartman is much more knowledgeable, but reluctant to leave the MS hegemony. Anyone want to give me some simple advice about switching? I would like to get rid of Windows/Explorer but I do not even know where to start. Should I take my computer to a store and ask for Linux and firefox (I think) or can I download/buy a cd to install the programs?

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Should I take my computer to a store and ask for Linux and firefox (I think) or can I download/buy a cd to install the programs?

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You can run a few Linux distributions from your CD (just pop a CD with a Linux distribution into your CD drive and reboot your computer and have it boot off the CD) using a LiveCD Distro to see if Linux is for you, it leaves your Windows hard drive alone so if you're not impressed you haven't destroyed your old configuration ... contrary to popular belief, Linux is not for everyone.

It all depends upon what you want to do with your computer ... I am a firm believer that someone with Linux knowledge can get a version of Linux to run every possible applications and service that they can run under MS Windows, but not everyone has that knowledge, and Linux distributions are configured to fulfill sepecific subsets of computer functions ... some distros are configured for simple desktop functions, some are configured to do multimedia functions, others for things like servers, firewalls, development, etc.

Check out this page which lists quite a few Live CD Distros. If you see something that looks interesting, just click on the link in the Download column, download the distro, burn onto a CD, shove it into your CD drive, and reboot ... try several if you can, as some are better than others.

Note that some of the download links are Bittorrent downloads, so if you are interested in one of these distros then you will need to download and install an applications like Azureus first ... then download the torrent file, open it in the Azureus application and let it download the distro for you, usually much faster than normal downloads. For Azureus, you will also need to download and install the java run time if you don't already have it, before starting the application.

So in summary:

1) Browse the list of Live CD Distros.

2) Pick one (or more, suggested) that look like it will meet your requirements.

3) If any of the distros you want use bittorrent to distribute, then:

3a) Download and install java run time.

3b) Download and install Azureus

4) Download the distros

5) Burn onto a CD

6) Boot your computer from the CD.

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I haven't had WingNut's problem, btw. I use wireless just fine.

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However, SUSE used the prism2_pci driver which Mandrake should have been able to use, but wouldn't.

I also continue to encounter problems with Mandrake's automounter.

Overall, I have to say, SUSE is looking much better. But they also have a ton of money behind them with Novell and I have been a Madriva Club member now for over two years.

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Originally posted by Cartman:
Should I take my computer to a store and ask for Linux and firefox (I think) or can I download/buy a cd to install the programs?

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If you can find a shop that does that, yes. Check with your local
Linux User Group (LUG). There are lug's just about everywhere.

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Originally posted by WingNut:
SUSE is like an odd mix between Debian and RedHat. For example, it uses RPM's but I have had a difficult time figuring out where it stores some config info or even how to stop and start a service without a GUI.

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Services in SUSE are mostly under the /etc/rc.d directory. do an "ls" there and you will see a bunch of files such as "nfs" ... just type "./nfs status" or "./nfs start" or "./nfs stop" well you get the point.

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Originally posted by Raos:
I'm still not sure what distro I should go with. I use my laptop for pretty diverse functions, like typing notes, and editing/mixing sound files, so I want one that's pretty competent all around. I can play around and fix minor problems, but I'm definately not really tech savy, so need something relatively simple. I'd prefer free, but I would be willing to pay a bit for a good distro. What would babblers recommend for me to try?[/QB]

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You probably want a "Multimedia" distro, as most of them include most of the middle of the road document editing programs.

I like Mandrake (Mandriva now,) not necessarily the best at any one thing, but once you install and follow the instructions at Easy Urpmi you have access to all kinds of great and useful applications through a click and point interface.

You want a good sound editor? Open the package manager; do a search on "sound", or some similar search term; click on the various returned packages and read the descriptions to see if they sound useful; if it sounds good, select it and install (along with any needed dependencies) automatically; try out the app; if it's not what you wanted, uninstall it with another click of a button and try another application.

The specs for such a "clunker" that I would recommend would be a Pentium II or K6II machine with 128 MB RAM and a 4 gigabyte hard drive. You'll of course need a CD-ROM drive and preferably a high speed internet connection.

You can probably find a machine of this vintage (1998) in a local yard sale this spring/summer.

You can get away with a lesser machine, but as a first time Linux installer you typically install more "stuff" then you actually need. The newer Linux distros will run with 64 MB RAM but it is pretty pokey.

Bear in mind that I wouldn't even bother with Windows XP on anything less than a 500 MHz. Pentium III with at least 256 MB RAM and preferably 512 MB.

You want a high speed connection because most modems are software modems or "Winmodems" that are designed to run with Windows. Many of them will of course work with Linux but you don't want the hassle as a "newbie".

Notebooks are a bit trickier then desktops because they tend to have proprietary "function" buttons that may not work properly under Linux. Although I understand that IBM Thinkpads tend to be the easiest to convert to Linux.

I run both Xandros and Mandrake right now. Xandros is dead easy to install...the easiest Linux I've ever installed (easier than Windows!) But, it does lock you in to a limited number of applications.

Mandrake is a little bit harder but has a lot more applications in the freebee install.

Mandrake, which is based in France recently bought out Connectiva which is a Brazilian-based Linux distro...so they've renamed themselves "Mandriva".

Anyway, just "play" on your junk box for awhile with various Linux distros until you find one that you like.

Eventually, you'll find yourself using the "old" Linux junk box more than your "newer" Windows box...and then I can almost guarantee you'll switch over to Linux.

BTW just noticed that this was my 2100th post on babble!

[ 21 April 2005: Message edited by: radiorahim ]

[ 21 April 2005: Message edited by: no1important ]