Posted: 3/12/2009 7:01:55 AM EDT
| I've been toying with the idea of switching my desktop over to linux (Dell E310). I'm a pretty simple guy when it comes to computing, no gaming or AV editing. Just web stuff, word processing and music, occaisionally some photoshop. I know there are many versions of Linux available, what do some of your recommend? What is the transition process like going from XP to a Linux system? |
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I'm not a Linux expert. But, you can get a program like Virtual Box and try the Linux versions that interest you. I'm typing this on PCLinuxOS09. It's a Virtual OS running on Sun Virtual Box inside my Windoze 7 host operating system. Most of the Linux distros allow you to boot from a CD to try it out without installing it on the HD. Download the disc image off the web and burn to a CD. I've tried Ubuntu 8.10. it works but I'm not too crazy about it. I'm trying PCLinuxOS 09. So far, I like it. But I'll need a couple more days of trying it in a virtual machine setup before I install it on a HD. ZM |
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Quoted:
I'm not a Linux expert. But, you can get a program like Virtual Box and try the Linux versions that interest you. I'm typing this on PCLinuxOS09. It's a Virtual OS running on Sun Virtual Box inside my Windoze 7 host operating system. Most of the Linux distros allow you to boot from a CD to try it out without installing it on the HD. Download the disc image off the web and burn to a CD. I've tried Ubuntu 8.10. it works but I'm not too crazy about it. I'm trying PCLinuxOS 09. So far, I like it. But I'll need a couple more days of trying it in a virtual machine setup before I install it on a HD. ZM I have been using linux for a while and I have to agree going with Virtual box is really the best option you get the best of both worlds. |
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www.distrowatch.com is your friend. Down the right side are the "distribution rankings". Yes, ubuntu is at the top. They have a hell of a marketing bunch, and I do like it.
Download the iso, burn the iso (image file) to a cd. Most linux distros have a "live CD" option, where you run the whole os from the CD-rom, and it doesnt F-up your OS on your hard drive. I am not a linux expert. However, every problem except 1 was able to be answered wit heither a google search, or a quick post on ubuntuforums.com . Linux is great if you like tweaking with it. I like my OS to be just that: an operating system. There are about 4 threads foing right now in urban commandos about linux. Some have turned into what may LOOK like a pissing contest by an outside observer. A lot of good info in those threads regarding what linux is and isnt. One particularly good thread is entitled something like, "Is linux ready for the mainstream?" Just back up everything to an external HD, set up the PC to dual boot (After the bios splash screen, you can decide to use windows or linux...), and install linux. |
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Quoted: I've been toying with the idea of switching my desktop over to linux (Dell E310). I'm a pretty simple guy when it comes to computing, no gaming or AV editing. Just web stuff, word processing and music, occaisionally some photoshop. I know there are many versions of Linux available, what do some of your recommend? What is the transition process like going from XP to a Linux system? Are you sure Linux is going to meet your needs better than what you have now? |
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For what I use my PC for (web surfing, Open Office) Linux is wonderful. A lot of people use Ubuntu and it is a nice OS. The new 9.04 version is due out around April 23rd.
I personally do not use Ubuntu because of all the "we are the world, touchy-feely, kumbaya" BS that is promoted by the Ubuntu community and developers. It takes nothing away from the OS but I can do with out that crap. That said, my wife uses PCLinuxOS 2007 on her laptop and I'll be installing the new 2009 version for her this weekend. I futzed up some files on my desktop's HD with WinXP installed but when it comes back I'll install PCLinuxOS 2009 on it. Others have spoken of the "Live CD". Linux allows you to run the OS from the CD/DVD-ROM drive, allowing you to take it for a test drive before you install it on the HD. In fact, I'm typing this now using the PCLOS 2009 Live CD WITH NO HD INSTALLED IN THE PC! To get a Linux distro, go to http://distrowatch.com/ and do some research. When you download a distro you're actually saving the .iso disc image and you'll need to burn that image onto a CD. A nice freeware tool I use for Windows is ISO Recorder. Download it and follow the instructions. I use PCLinuxOS because of all the distros I've tried, this one "just works". If you'd like to try it download it from one of these MIRRORS. I don't recommend the ibiblio mirror since it's the one the PCLOS Team uses to sync the repos on the other mirrors but the other ones should work. Good luck and tell us how it goes! |
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Quoted:
I personally do not use Ubuntu because of all the "we are the world, touchy-feely, kumbaya" BS that is promoted by the Ubuntu community and developers. It takes nothing away from the OS but I can do with out that crap. THAT'S WHAT WE CAN DO TO MAKE OUR OWN LINUX DISTRO!!!!! No touchy feely crap! Every menu will tell you off, or call you a goat humper! Zombie ARFCOM Linux! "SIIHPAPP!!!" |
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Quoted: Thanks guys. I'll give virtual box a look. I basically want a bare bones operating system. Firefox, songbird and my word processor are all I need. I wish I could get windows 98 back. FWIW - you don't have to use virtualbox. Microsoft Virtual PC is a free download from Microsoft, and is a bit more user friendly. That said, for some reason Ubuntu takes FOREVER to install on it. Once installed it runs fine. VirtualBox may be better in that regard. I use VirtualBox on my linux machine and VirtualPC on on Vista machine. |