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View Full Version : Venturing into the world of linux

Robert
22-11-2006, 23:05
I've wanted to try it for a while, but never got around to it. What's the best linux distro to use? It'll be going on my laptop, which I use for word processing etc.
Daz
22-11-2006, 23:09
(K, X)ubuntu (http://www.ubuntu.com/), if you're a relative noob. Nicely wrapped in cotton wool with a decent userbase on their forum, and good one stop wiki (http://ubuntuguide.org/). Be sure to get automatix (http://www.getautomatix.com/) after you're set up, it's just a much easier way to get a browser that will do everything (firefox with java/flash etc), and support for a lot of common formats (mp3, divx) installed with no hassle :)
Robert
22-11-2006, 23:11
So it's definately a good base to build on, or would you suggest starting on something harder?
Burble
22-11-2006, 23:12
Start off easy something easy then if you want to, have a go at something a bit more involved. Ubuntu (or one of the variants) are a great start but if you fancy being thrown into the deep end along with the sharks then have a look at Gentoo.
Daz
22-11-2006, 23:13
Well, it's a good place to start and get familiar. It's debian based, which means everythings pretty standard and where you would expect, with GUI's for pretty much everything if you're not used to a proper CLI yet. When you really want to learn the nuts and bolts of it, try a Gentoo install.
Will
22-11-2006, 23:26
heh - I have an redhat box which hasn't been properly used for a while - I've mainly just forgotten how to use it, and not needed to use it :embarassed: should really get round to using it more - but can't find a real use for it.
Daz
22-11-2006, 23:27
That's the key really. You need a project which you can throw linux at to really get to grips with it. A goal to attain.
Will
22-11-2006, 23:28
That's the key really. You need a project which you can throw linux at to really get to grips with it. A goal to attain.

Yup like any computer project or any project in general - if there is no goal, you get bored.
Daz
22-11-2006, 23:31
Mine was a vpn server of some description to handle windows clients. I've used a number of projects with varied results all round, but still to this day never actually achieved what I set out to do :embarassed:

Easy to see why people buy hardware solutions these days :p
Burble
22-11-2006, 23:33
Mine was a box to do IP masq, Samba and a few other odds and sods. That was 1998 I think.
Mark
22-11-2006, 23:36
Mine's a file/print/web/proxy server and general mess-about box. :)