Debian

[KenSr]

Would Debian be a good choice for a newbe to try linux?

 

[drag]

Steep learning curve is usually a problem. Debian isn't a distro that is designed with windows users in mind.

It has very good documentation, but it's technically minded. They way things like mandrake are desgined so that visual and mental cues people pick up from using windows are still usefull in Linux. The gui, the icons, the installation methods are something that most people comming from windows would be familar with. Debian on the other hand is something that would be pretty alien to most windows users. Not familar.

The good thing with things like redhat and mandrake is that it makes things a bit easier at the beginning, but the complexity you are faced with when you try to wrap your head around the functionality of the OS can be intimidating, and most gui tools serve only to distance you from whats going on.


My suggestion is to try out knoppix. It's a Linux Distro on a CD. It runs completely from the CD and is based on Debian. You can also use it to install Debian on your computer perminately. So if you like that try to install Debian using it and then that will give you a good idea with out leaving you with a non-functioning computer OS.

check out this place for some help

 

[KenSr]

OK I don't think debian is for me just yet.
Which would you recommend redhat or mandrake?

 

[lowtech1]

Try searching this AT forum for the anwers or FAQ.

If you have never try Linx, then Mandrake or Redhat would be a good choice. But, the best thing is try Knoppix live cd because you don't need to reformat your hdd or install. Then there is such thing as Damnsmall, Gnoppix, Morphix, MandrakeMove, PCLinuxOS & SUSE live CD that are quite slick for CD base distros.

And, then there is such thing as ClusterKnoppix that work exactly the same way as Knoppix, but it inclue OpenMosix kernel that will auto matically find other computers on the LAN and join it the the cluster.

Welcome to the cube, resistance is fultile -- you will be assimilated.

 

[lowtech1]

PS. This message is reply from MandrakeMove CD boot.

 

[Spyro]

Originally posted by: lowtech
PS. This message is reply from MandrakeMove CD boot.

Really? How does it compare to Knoppix from a linux-on-cd perspective?

 

[lowtech1]

Originally posted by: Spyro

Originally posted by: lowtech
PS. This message is reply from MandrakeMove CD boot.

Really? How does it compare to Knoppix from a linux-on-cd perspective?

MandrakeMove have a very nice boot screen and the configuration console is second to none (look nicer than Knoppix, and just as good as in functionality). Konqueror is more refine in MandrakeMove & PCLinuxOS than Knoppix, but it have less bundle apps than PCLinuxOS pre 4 (MandrakeMove variant & is better) and both have less than Knoppix. One great thing about PCLinuxOS is that it include the ability to install onto hdd & have urmp as the equivalent to apt-get.

The auto detection isn't as good as Knoppix, because MandrakeMove/PCLOS didn't auto detech my scsi tape drive or auto config my 3c950 networkcard. Knoppix & all Knoppix ofsprings auto detech all my hardware on first try, but MandrakeMove/PCLOS only find & config my network card when I auto detect it in the configuration console.

 

[earthman]

SuSE is the best distro as far as installability and what you get for your money. It's the one distro I've never had problems with.

 

[SUOrangeman]

You can also install KNOPPIX to your hard drive.

The first one of these Live CDs that allows HD install *and* a 2.6 kernel from the start will be my distro of choice. Mandrake does come close as it has the SATA controller drivers so that I can at least see my Raptor. 2.6 offers support directly in the kernel.

-SUO

 

[lowtech1]

Originally posted by: earthman
SuSE is the best distro as far as installability and what you get for your money. It's the one distro I've never had problems with.

What do you do with SUSE? SUSE is nice, but have you try Debian?

 

[Spyro]

Originally posted by: lowtech

Originally posted by: Spyro

Originally posted by: lowtech
PS. This message is reply from MandrakeMove CD boot.

Really? How does it compare to Knoppix from a linux-on-cd perspective?

MandrakeMove have a very nice boot screen and the configuration console is second to none (look nicer than Knoppix, and just as good as in functionality). Konqueror is more refine in MandrakeMove & PCLinuxOS than Knoppix, but it have less bundle apps than PCLinuxOS pre 4 (MandrakeMove variant & is better) and both have less than Knoppix. One great thing about PCLinuxOS is that it include the ability to install onto hdd & have urmp as the equivalent to apt-get.

The auto detection isn't as good as Knoppix, because MandrakeMove/PCLOS didn't auto detech my scsi tape drive or auto config my 3c950 networkcard. Knoppix & all Knoppix ofsprings auto detech all my hardware on first try, but MandrakeMove/PCLOS only find & config my network card when I auto detect it in the configuration console.

Thanks for the synopsis. It sounds like Mandrake really came into the live cd outfit with a bang, but it's good to know that the bang wasn't that loud, because I've just burnt 3 Knoppix CDs. I think I'm going to start handing out Knoppix CDs to any tech savvy windows people that I know and it's good to know that knoppix is still pretty viable. I think I'm going to have to try out MandrakeMove in the near future (Xmas break = bliss ). It would be interesting if the concept of live cds eventually spread beyond being used to boot an OS. I know that there are already some live CDs for a few games but I wonder if there are any other really handy uses for them....