I Just Installed Linux and... (VANITY)

July 06, 2004 | ME

[SaveTheChief]

I thought I would make jump into the open source world today. Linux is supposed to be more stable, robust, and powerful than Windows, and the relatively easy system requirements made it a good choice to load on my older Athlon 1000 PC.

The installation process was simple enough too. I threw in the SUSE disc and waited as the computer did the rest. The new OS is up and running without a hitch.

But for some strange reason, I cannot get the darned thing to make my Sound Blaster Live soundcard to work. In an attempt to Google a solution, I found out that a fix might not be as simple as downloading a driver and running an executable file.

I've read bits of the documentation that came with the OS, and bits from websites concerning the issue, and it is apparent that I might need to do some things with the Kernel as well.

I know there are Linux groupies here. Do any FReepers have any suggestions how I might tackle this challenge? Am I making it a bigger challenge than it really is?

While I am at it, I want to be able to run MythTV. I currently have an ATI TV card but the MythTV site says that ATI cards are not supported. Do any of you run this program? I'd appreciate knowing what you've found works best, especially in terms of hardware.

Thanks!

[Warhammer]

Have you tried Crossover Office? I've heard from a Linux guy in my office that it runs many of the apps that you run under Windows (it even does Lotus Notes!).

I haven't tried it yet because I'm too cheap to buy it right now. I'm dual-booting my laptop with MEPIS and Win2000 right now and haven't made the switch to Linux-only (yet). I had SUSE 9.2, but I like MEPIS better (except that I can't get the bootloader to boot Windows by default like I could with SUSE, oh well.)

[N3WBI3]

I have heard great things about CO but i have never had the need for it OpenOffice does 99% of what I need.

[ShadowAce]

Are you using LILO or GRUB for your bootloader? This is assuming your bootloader is Linux, rather than Windows.

[Bulwark]

You didn't mention which version of SuSE you installed...

I installed 9.3 and my SB Live was detected and configured by default.

[Bulwark]

That reminds me, will Linux present special problems on a laptop?

I use SuSE on my thinkpad with no problems. It even properly set up my wireless.

[Redcloak]

I just have way too many peripherals that wouldn't work either, like my new HP multifunction device (nope, no driver exists)

Really? Are you sure? HP is a Penguin-friendly shop. Perhaps you didn't research the matter thoroughly enough.

[SaveTheChief]

The sound card was detected but for some reason it was not running, according to the hardware manager. I have SUSE 9.3. The problem was getting the sound to actually come out of the speakers. That was a user error that was corrected rather early in this thread.

Looks like I have a lot to learn about Linux. My first impression is that Linux is everything Windows should have been, had Bill Gates not been in such a hurry to compete directly with the Apple OS. From reading about it and my first test drive, Linux seems to be pretty powerful and flexible, but a lot more complex from the user end when it comes to configuration. Now, this might be a false impression, but it is my first one. Either way, I am still encouraged to learn and see what I can do with it.

[clyde asbury]

..maybe someday I'll try again.

If you would like to skip the large download, you can buy the CDs or DVDs through links at distrowatch.com for a few dollars.

[NoClones]

one can tell that you really know linux...although i know quite a bit about it, i'm never going to be an enthusiast

most of the people i know do not work in the computer industry...

linux, i am sure is great for those who have the time to spend tinkering. personally, i am way to busy to mess around putting this file here and that file there, or to go to a prompt/command line and typing in some commands to get something to work that, like it or not, in windows, probably will work out of the box...

one of my in-laws is a carpenter and had expressed an interest in trying out a design program...he was a mechanic in a nascar pit crew and can build a car from scratch but its not something he cares to do - by the same token he just doesn't have the time, nor do i, to play around with an os that isn't ready for the average consumer...

i mean, when was the last time you car needed service that you dug up the minerals, smelted the ore, cast and milled the metal and installed the part(s) into your auto yourself? probably never

linux/unix or whatever may be the fastest thing out there, but seriously few people have the time for it.

[Bulwark]

Well... linux is as hard or as easy as the distro you're using. SuSE definetly veers towards the power user side of things, however, some things are definetly easier than in windows.

Like if you pop in a CD or a memory stick, it's automatically taken care of and an explorer window opens for you. Fairly slick I think.

Check out Kaffeine, Amarok, and K3b. Kaffeine is a very nice media player, and it can handle just about *any* media format you can throw about it. Amarok is one of the best music players I've seen on any platform. And K3b is, hands down, the best burning software available for linux.

If you get really daring, you can always try using APT to keep your system totally up to date (far more than SuSE update does).

[clyde asbury]

linux, i am sure is great for those who have the time to spend tinkering.

With distributions of Linux mutating and becoming more sophisticated all the time, it's now a matter of learning which one fits your needs. You won't need to reinvent the wheel unless you go with an obscure distribution.

Or, for about $1000 you can go with a new mini-Mac. Whatever you like. But, you're right - change requires effort.

Distrowatch.com tracks 100 distributions in its hit page ranking.

1 Ubuntu
2 Mandriva
3 Fedora
4 MEPIS
5 SUSE
6 Debian
7 KNOPPIX
8 Gentoo
9 Slackware
10 Damn Small
11 Xandros
12 FreeBSD
13 PCLinuxOS
14 CentOS
15 SLAX
16 Libranet
17 KANOTIX
18 Kubuntu
19 Vector
20 Arch
21 Linspire
22 Red Hat
23 Yoper
24 Vidalinux
25 Puppy
26 PC-BSD
27 Minislack
28 aLinux
29 Gnoppix
30 Ark
31 Feather
32 Solaris
33 IPCop
34 White Box
35 Frugalware
36 GeeXboX
37 Devil
38 Kurumin
39 Turbolinux
40 Vine
41 SME Server
42 ClarkConnect
43 OpenBSD
44 LFS
45 Yellow Dog
46 Aurox
47 Scientific
48 Zen
49 Lormalinux
50 CRUX
51 PHLAK
52 Berry
53 Progeny
54 Novell
55 BeatrIX
56 YES
57 BIG LINUX
58 Foresight
59 Knoppix STD
60 FoX Desktop
62 Morphix
63 SAM
64 DragonFly
65 AGNULA
66 m0n0wall
67 LiveCD Router
68 NetBSD
69 Mediainlinux
70 CCux
71 Trustix
72 Lineox
73 Lunar
74 FreeSBIE
75 Astaro
76 tinysofa
77 rpath
78 GoboLinux
79 Conectiva
80 WHAX
81 MoviX
82 BLAG
83 Auditor
84 Mandows
85 Symphony
86 Kate OS
87 SmoothWall
88 dyne:bolic
89 AUSTRUMI
90 redWall
91 Linux+ Live
92 Tao
93 ParallelKnoppix
94 Onebase
95 QiLinux
96 Navyn OS
97 ADIOS
98 Linux4all
99 INSERT
100 Overclockix

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Nice list, got to look thru that!

[amigatec]

Welcome to the flock!!!


One OS to rule them, one OS to find them:
One OS to bring them all and in the darkness bind them
In the Land of Redmond where the shadows lie.

Linux the Ultimate Windows Service Pack

Registered Linux User 279399

[clyde asbury]

Nice list, got to look thru that!

On the distrowatch.com link that list is on the right-hand side, with links to each distribution. The left-hand side lists CDs and DVDs for sale.

Also on the left-hand side, lower, are reviews of various distributions. They do a new review daily.

Also, there are books such as Linux Bible by Christopher Negus that come with ten different Linux distributions - including a live Knoppix DVD. Negus' book is annual, and the 2005 edition is $27 at Amazon. Not sure when the 2006 edition is due.

[Golden Eagle]

*angles singing*

I'm guessing you meant "Angels". Thank goodness Linux isn't my religion.

[Golden Eagle]

The discussion, started in Post #32 by SaveTheChief, was about the size of install. In Post #39, you mentioned that Windows only takes up 1 to 1.5G, and N3WBI3, in Post #46, wondered if you were actually comparing apples to apples by including all the (equivalent) software that Linux installs.

There is no "equivalent" to MS Office for Linux. Starting with Outlook, Access, and work your way through Excel and Word. And FYI, "Linux" is only a kernel.

[Golden Eagle]

Really? Are you sure? HP is a Penguin-friendly shop. Perhaps you didn't research the matter thoroughly enough.

I looked, and so did several others similar to you on this website that thought they could find one that might work, but absolutely nothing turned up. The model # is 6210. There may be something now, but I've been happily using the device for several months now. Let me know what you find out, yea or nea, so far nea.

[Golden Eagle]

SuSE definetly veers towards the power user side of things, however, some things are definetly easier than in windows. Like if you pop in a CD or a memory stick, it's automatically taken care of and an explorer window opens for you. Fairly slick I think.

How in the world is that supposedly easier than Windows? My systems do that just as easily, and likely with greater compatibility.

[Redcloak]

Did you try looking with Google? Or did you limit yourself to MSN.com? Google would have turned up this page for you which clearly lists your printer as a supported device. (Kinda funny, ain't it, how MSN's search doesn't show that one in its top search results.)

[KoRn]

Check the hardware manufacturer's websites for drivers. If no luck there try google. The only thing that can bite you with using Linux is the limited hardware compatibility, and it's MUCH better than it used to be.

Really this is more of an issue with the Hardware Manufacturers and not Linux. It's their responsibility to make their stuff compatible with the various Operating Systems and not the OS developers.