Posted on 07/01/2010 5:00:14 PM PDT by Mmogamer
I was looking at the Ubuntu and Lime linux threads, I would like to try using linux. Which is best for a complete noob such as myself? Lime seems to be easier? How do I go about getting it going after a download?
Just wondering, heh.
Thanks
While I don’t run Linux all the time, I’ve installed it a hundred times over the years, and Ubuntu has generally been the easiest to get up and running, and fully patched.
If you have time to spend then for free it's cool but I'm too busy for that crap.
By far the easiest U*nix to use is Mac OS X
pingarooski!
Probably true ,, but you can only run it on overpriced hardware.
Everytime I try linux for the desktop it never makes it up to the hype is is overly difficult for what I want it to do.
I haven’t heard about this lime thing though. Maybe that will be the ticket. Ubuntu was getting closer to being a near complete desktop OS but it still left me saying meh.
Always curious to hear what is missing for you....
I installed Fedora 13 and have been stunned at how well it deals with M$ machines and with wireless - other versions of *NIX were a struggle but this has been a pleasure.
LiME: A Linux based MPLS Emulator
not sure what it is.
As a newbie+ myself, but who has tried just about every popular Linux distro there is and there are a LOT of flavors (see http://distrowatch.com) - I think the PCLinuxOS and Linux Mint are the best, better than the more ubiquitous Unbuntu. Actually, i would pick Knoppix as the best. but you are not supposed to install it. And in fact, most Linux distro are most likely illegal in the US (this should get some responses) or soon become so, due to their coming with or downloading codecs and sometimes other coding which are under patents, and which you can use under Windows because MS pays for the license to use them, or have authored them itself.
Some Linux distros do not come with them, but will let you download them, which you will need to play certain formats (like WMV). For this case, i use do not knowingly install these codecs, and try to use versions of distros that do not include them, like the Linux Mint universal installer, or LCLinux OS Minime version, while using Windows XP for my major work.
You also have to aware there is a substantial learning curve in using Linux. While many Linux advocates minimize this learning curve, ,all one has to do is look in the forums at what users must do for many basic issues. You have will have to get used to using what is called a terminal, and running commands that begin with terms like sudo, chown, etc. Trying to gain full permissions to read and write to a second Windows NTFS drive can be particularly difficult depending upon the distro.
Also, while Linux has made great improvements, yet due to many manufacturers not providing drivers, getting some hardware to work can sometimes take more doing than is typical under Windows. You also do not have as great a variety, of the same quality, of freeware as for Windows, not matter what some Linux advocates say, nor is getting and installing it as easy as under Windows.
For customization, i find the KDE desktop to be the best.
If you still want to keep Windows, you choose to dual boot, bu what i do is unplug the Windows drive (my case is open) and install Linux on a second drive, and then with both plugged in i choose which to boot from by tapping the F8 key (with some BIOS it is different) on boot up. But i do not use Linux much.
It’s just too complicated to do stuff.
even the package install wasn’t all it was promised to be. I keep biting at Linux after someone promises it is better than the second coming of Christ. So I try and am disappointed. A little truth in advertising would really help Linux out.
For example, I was told the installer would automagically install everything you need. I think it was RPM. What I wasn’t told is you have to have the right version and dont’ try to mix and match. So if the software you want isn’t available yet...well you’re back to hunting for libraries and installing all kinds of stuff hoping to have the right software cocktail.
That was the most frustrating thing with Linux. It burns me everytime. I don’t want to compile software I want to install it and run it. If I see software available I expect to be able to install it not wait for someone else to compile and package it for my flavor of linux.
While Linux is cool for do-it-yourself stuff it’s a PITA when you just want to get something done.
Yes, Fedora 13 was the most adroit with the wireless I have on my netbook. I tried many of the major distributions out of curiosity on that hardware (Debian, Ubuntu, Mint, Sabayon, and PCLinuxOS), and none of them were as good with that hardware as Fedora 13.
However, Fedora is kind of famous for pushing out RPMs that aren't always ready for prime-time.
As a defense against an unfortunate kernel release (or kernel clash with other packages) I would suggest increasing the value of "installonly_limit" in /etc/yum.conf to 6. That should give you a number of kernels that you have available in case of problems. (Also, one might want to increase the timeout in /etc/grub/grub.conf to 10 or so seconds so that you have time to specify a different kernel when you boot.)
Been there. But it is getting better, though the aforementioned legal issues would require me to buy codecs for fuller capablity. But being able to run certain Windows programs under WINE, like TheWord Bible program, helps.
But I have been looking at a new one....ZORIN....for a first release they have done a good job.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.