Linux Newb!

[gcliv]

Since all this junk about WinXP (read: bloatware) is going around, subscription fees etc, I've been feeling the linux call. I'm a total newb, so can someone tell me the best Linux flavor for ease of use? And what do I do to emulate Windows so I can run stuff like Office2k or UT? Or do I even need to do this? Like I said, total newb. Any advice appreciated, thanks.

 

[Radboy]

This is the best place for Linux newbies.

 

[JavaMomma]

Linux Mandrake is probably the easist Linux Distro for newbies.
It comes with so much software, i think the full install is like 2.6 Gigs or something (and you said Windows is bloated 🙂 ) Anyways for software..

you got for browswers
Netscape 4.7x
Mozilla
Netscape 6

LICQ (best ICQ clone in my opinion)
Xmms (" Winamp " &quot😉
StarOffice (free Office suit, not as good Office2000)
WordPerfect 2000 (never tried it)
UT (Took a very very very long time to get working runs very fast, but textures dont look as good as windows)

The biggest problem with Linux is support for hardware i think, Nvidia has the best video card drivers for sure (or so i have read from anandtech & toms linux video card comparisions)

Anyways hope this helps a bit...

Other Linux Distros to look at are
Redhat (used to use this distro, i dont like it all that much, its easy to install)
Slackware (hard to install, excellent once you get it working, not really recommended for newbies)
Corel (install crashed on me, i didnt really like the look of it anyways...but supposed to be very very user friendly (for linux))
Suse (dont know much about this distro...)

 

[nortexoid]

i'd have to say corel linux second edition (the latest) is the most user friendly...it supports most modern hardware right out of the box (kernel)...though u should check the list that is online...it's also freely downloadable, though u have to burn the image onto a cd to boot from it...

i used it before, it's decent...good for starting out, especially since it's free and the knowledge base is ok..which is also on their site...which is either www.linux.corel.com or www.corel.linux.com...

otherwise, i'd suggest redhat, whcih also supports a wide range of hardware, etc. and is thus easier to use in that sense...for UI friendliness, it probably depends on the GUI u're using - arguably none are more user friendly than the other...

i use staroffice for win9x/2k over office2k, and it's free...totally compatible w/ MS office as well, though i noticed a few glitches in converting staroffice format to MS word...no biggie..

anyway, i just read a linux magazine that goes through all the major distributions - covering stuff from ease of set-up to whatever else...sorry, forgot the magazine name (was at Chapters)...i suggest u check somethign similar out...