Help a Lunix noob choose a distro

[Cadaver]

OK, I'm sure this has been covered before, but I wanted to get up-to-date info.

I've got a spare computer and I'd like to install Linux on it for fun, and I'm not quite sure where to begin.

Hardware wise, it's an AthlonXP 2000+, Gigabyte/Via KT-333 motherboard (GA-7VRXP), 512MB RAM, ATI Radeon 7500 video card, 20GB HD, Philips 8x CDRW drive (?model #).

Now, I'm not sure what distro, nor what version, to use. I plan on installing StarOffice or OpenOffice, Mozilla &/or Firebird, GIMP, some email app and misc other apps (audio/mp3, video, etc). I do not intend to run a file server or a web server on it. Just basic desktop/office/home stuff. I've done the Mac thing and the WinXP thing... now I want to try the Linux-on-the-desktop thing. Oh, btw, I wont be needing any kind of dual-boot ability. This machine will be a Linux-only box.

I'd like something with a decent GUI - I'm not planning on spending much time in the CLI at all. I'm leaning towards Red Hat 9, since it seems to have gotten nice reviews for a nice bluecurve GUI and nice anti-aliased fonts.

Anyone have some advice for a Lunix n00b?

 

[asb002]

For Linux newbies, I really reccommend the RedHat versions. They are easy to learn, with nearly everything GUIzed, yet not too confining so you can become more of a Linux power user as you learn more. I used to use RedHats 6.1-7.3.

 

[SpeedFreak03]

Im a linux n00b, and i have tried both redhat and mandrake. IMO, mandrake was easier to set up and get running good. But, I do think that RedHat is overall a better OS, but for now im sticking with mandrake until i learn more. Just my $0.02.

-Josh

 

[Spyro]

Yup, either red hat or mandrake should be just fine. Whichever one that you use is a matter of personal preference. (Although red hat is argueably prettier.)

 

[AnonymouseUser]

Another vote for Mandrake.

 

[elbirth]

I'm a linux newbie myself, and I've tried both Mandrake and RedHat. I first tried RedHat 6.2 back in the day and couldn't get it installed right... it was too complicated for my Windows-corrupted mind. I tried Mandrake 8.1 and got it installed and messed around some, but never got far because I couldn't easily figure out how to install .tz files, etc... Anyway, I'm now back into trying to learn Linux, and I would really like to fully convert over... however, I use Photoshop a TON and need to use it for work, so I'll probably always have a Windows box.

Anyway, enough rambling.... right now I've got RedHat 9 installed on an old Dell computer I've got... Pentium4 1.7ghz, 1gb ram, geforce4 ti4600, old Maxtor 27.2gb harddrive. I have a 60gig drive in there with WinXP installed, so I'll swap the IDE cable to dual boot rather than risking screwing things up. I found RH9 extremely easy to setup and configure so far, and I'm actally posting this message on my Linux box now. I've got some e-books and I plan to finally learn this OS and stop being Microsoft-dependent.

 

[Cadaver]

Thanks for the advice.

If I go for RedHat 9, should I just download the disk image(s) from the RedHat site, or do you think I'd be better off buying the boxed version (with a manual)?

 

[elbirth]

I downloaded the images from a mirror ftp on redhat's site.... just took a few hours on m cable connection (I started them and went to bed, when I got up in the morning all 3 were done).

You can go to the Linux Documentation Project (www.tldp.org) and get a ton of info... I found the doc files on the FTP I got it from to be helpful in installing it... all I used it for, though, was to make the boot disk, as I had never doen that before. The install itself is very straight forward.

 

[sciencewhiz]

You only get a tiny installation manual with Redhat boxed sets. You can get more manuals online. If the only reason that you want to buy a boxed set is for the manual, then don't. But, if you want installation support, or to support RedHat financially, then you should buy the boxed set.

 

[gwlam12]

which one is the easiest to get php working with?

 

[Fuzznuts]

so I'll swap the IDE cable to dual boot rather than risking screwing things up

Why not have them on the one cable and then change the boot order it the bios rather than keep tugging cables out. just choose ide1 or ide2 as first boot in the bios. just an idea to save your harddrives

 

[cleverhandle]

Or take 15 minutes to learn how disk partitions and booting work. It's really not that complicated, and then you don't have to rely on voodoo passed around in forums. Last I checked, the Red Hat install manual (available online) had a pretty good intro.

 

[NuclearFusi0n]

Gentoo if you are smart.

 

[Spyro]

Originally posted by: NuclearFusi0n
Gentoo if you are smart.

Pffft. In that case, Slackware if you're smarter

I'd like something with a decent GUI - I'm not planning on spending much time in the CLI at all. I'm leaning towards Red Hat 9, since it seems to have gotten nice reviews for a nice bluecurve GUI and nice anti-aliased fonts.

 

[CTho9305]

Originally posted by: NuclearFusi0n
Gentoo if you are smart.

Gentoo if you want to spend 12 hours compiling every application you download, and end up with the same (or almost the same) binary you would have been provided in a regular distro because you con't really know how to do any configuration that would make a non-negligible performance difference, and you just "emerge foo", accepting all the defaults.

Gentoo if you are a wannabe l33t hax0r.

Slackware or LinuxFromScratch if you are a l33t hax0r.

 

[NuclearFusi0n]

Originally posted by: CTho9305

Originally posted by: NuclearFusi0n
Gentoo if you are smart.

Gentoo if you want to spend 12 hours compiling every application you download, and end up with the same (or almost the same) binary you would have been provided in a regular distro because you con't really know how to do any configuration that would make a non-negligible performance difference, and you just "emerge foo", accepting all the defaults.

Gentoo if you are a wannabe l33t hax0r.

Slackware or LinuxFromScratch if you are a l33t hax0r.

Revised: Gentoo if you have a blazing fast computer, don't have a problem with leaving your computer on a night or two for the initial setup, and don't mind spending about 5 minutes to download, compile, and install most small applications.

 

[Bleep]

Red Hat and Debian are both very good. The only problem with RH is the RPM installs, sometimes they go haywire and fubar the install.
You can get Linux for Dummies and a 2 disk install for $20.00 and the book is darn good for starters.

Bleep

 

[Schadenfroh]

Originally posted by: AnonymouseUser
Another vote for Mandrake.

 

[pitupepito2000]

redhat or mandrake are the best linux distros for a newbie

 

[Spyro]

Originally posted by: pitupepito2000
redhat or mandrake are the best linux distros for a newbie

You should download and try them both, and then pick which one you like

 

[elbirth]

Originally posted by: Spyro

Originally posted by: pitupepito2000
redhat or mandrake are the best linux distros for a newbie

You should download and try them both, and then pick which one you like

This is definitely the best option in almost every situation like this... the only downside to this is the download times, harddrive space taken up while downloading them, and time taken to install each distro and trying it out for a little bit...

 

[elbirth]

Originally posted by: Fuzznuts

so I'll swap the IDE cable to dual boot rather than risking screwing things up

Why not have them on the one cable and then change the boot order it the bios rather than keep tugging cables out. just choose ide1 or ide2 as first boot in the bios. just an idea to save your harddrives

Hmm, ya know I hadn't thought about that... I'll have to check around in that Dell BIOS and see if it allows that, I'm sure it should... thanks for the tip

 

[Cadaver]

A friend of mine who has some experience with Linux has suggested Mandrake, but he echos your comments that either RedHat or Mandrake would be good for a Linux-noob like me.
CD1 of 3 (Mandrake) is downloading now... I'll let you know how it goes once installed and running

 

[Cadaver]

Well, Mandrake is installed and functioning. Using the KDE 3.1 desktop as of now.
So far, seems like it'll be usable, but I've got to learn how to install applications however. I downloaded the latest version of Mozilla but I'll have to study the install instructions.
Next task will be OpenOffice or StarOffice (I can get StarOffice for free, as an academic user, so I may go for that).

Thanks for everyone's advice. Looks like I may be calling on you l337 linux users in the future!