Ages ago I downloaded the Red Hat version of Linux. I wanted to get something newer and was wondering if anyone knew of a version that was free and could be downloaded on the internet.
I've heard of Mandrake, but I believe that costs money.
I'm quite the noob when it comes to Linux, but I have an extra computer now and wanted to experiment and play around with it, so any links for teaching noobs how to use Linux would be awsome too.
I'll probably try to Google it as well, but thought maybe someone had something they preferred and would share.
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There are very few flavors of linux that you have to pay for, but many that you have the option to pay support to.
check out http://www.linuxiso.org for easy links to most of what's out there
check out http://www.linuxiso.org for easy links to most of what's out there
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Anyone have suggestions of what to try? Keep in mind that I'm very new to this, however I can follow detailed instructions easily (I do, in fact, know how to read :D).
Anyone have suggestions of what to try? Keep in mind that I'm very new to this, however I can follow detailed instructions easily (I do, in fact, know how to read :D).
Slackware and Debian are good choices for beginners.
Red hat sort of became Fedora.
Fedora and Mandrake are the easiest to use but you won't really learn Linux.
Just pick a distro and download the ISOs. They will each come with their own documentation.
Red hat sort of became Fedora.
Fedora and Mandrake are the easiest to use but you won't really learn Linux.
Just pick a distro and download the ISOs. They will each come with their own documentation.
DeBian is fo beginners? Since when?
Maybe it's because I have a really really old distro and stuff, but it was clearly not an easy install. Especially with video drivers and stuff.
Right...Red Hat/Mandrake are the easiest to learn, but you can learn Linux using any distro. It's just that some like Red Hat/Fedora are easy to isntall/use and don't really require you to ever mess with kernel and other stuff and you can always use the KDE, etc...If you really want to LEARN it, the tools are avaliable and you can certaintly mod kernel or not use KDEs and stuff and just resort to good old BASH...
Maybe it's because I have a really really old distro and stuff, but it was clearly not an easy install. Especially with video drivers and stuff.
Right...Red Hat/Mandrake are the easiest to learn, but you can learn Linux using any distro. It's just that some like Red Hat/Fedora are easy to isntall/use and don't really require you to ever mess with kernel and other stuff and you can always use the KDE, etc...If you really want to LEARN it, the tools are avaliable and you can certaintly mod kernel or not use KDEs and stuff and just resort to good old BASH...
I would suggest getting RedHat Fedora Core 3 or 4. It is probably the easiest to install and use. With the exception of nvidia and nforce drivers (and probably ati drivers, but don't know since I don't have an ati card), it should recognize all your hardware without you having to configure the kernel.
I've tried Mandrake as well, but did not like it at all. Had lots of problems with nvidia drivers.
I've also tried Debain 3.0 r5 and didn't like it either. You have to set up the kernel, which is not fun if you are new to linux. (And even after configuring the kernel, I still had all kinds of undetected hardware).
If you do decide to go with Fedora, I would suggest going here. The link is for FC3, but you can change the 3 to 4 for FC4 (there is also a link on the FC3 page for FC4). All kinds of good info for getting everything set up (like nvidia drivers, java, video codecs, web server, multimedia players, etc.)
A lot of users will tell you to use KDE for your gui, but I would suggest checking out both KDE and Gnome and choosing the one you like more. I personally like Gnome better than KDE. (As long as you have the base for both installed, you can run KDE apps under Gnome and Gnome apps under KDE)
Oh, and another good site for linux is http://www.linuxquestions.org/
Edited, Fri Nov 25 17:22:12 2005 by DataRaider
I've tried Mandrake as well, but did not like it at all. Had lots of problems with nvidia drivers.
I've also tried Debain 3.0 r5 and didn't like it either. You have to set up the kernel, which is not fun if you are new to linux. (And even after configuring the kernel, I still had all kinds of undetected hardware).
If you do decide to go with Fedora, I would suggest going here. The link is for FC3, but you can change the 3 to 4 for FC4 (there is also a link on the FC3 page for FC4). All kinds of good info for getting everything set up (like nvidia drivers, java, video codecs, web server, multimedia players, etc.)
A lot of users will tell you to use KDE for your gui, but I would suggest checking out both KDE and Gnome and choosing the one you like more. I personally like Gnome better than KDE. (As long as you have the base for both installed, you can run KDE apps under Gnome and Gnome apps under KDE)
Oh, and another good site for linux is http://www.linuxquestions.org/
Edited, Fri Nov 25 17:22:12 2005 by DataRaider
Thanks for the tips all, I'll try Fedora first then. I use an ATI Radeon 9800 pro for my card, should be an interesting install.
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