Please Help: Need Linux Advice and Hardware List to go with it

[Citadel535]

Hey everyone,

I am looking to get some experience in Unix and thought the best place to start would be with Linux since it is widely available. I am pretty technical when it comes to computers (I do it for a living I better be) but I have no experience in Unix and want a version of Unix that offers me a full featured user interface (like GNOME) and to be able to do basic computer tasks with it(internet, word processing). Most importantly is the inclusion of Unix similiar operation. I would also like to be able to dual boot it with NT4 or 2k if possible. I was looking into SuSE Linux and Red Hat. Please help me out since I have never seen Linux nor ran it but want to become a LinuxGuru.

This is the hardware in my machine:
AMD Athlon 1200MHz
128MB PC133 RAM
ASUS A7V133
3dfx Voodoo3 (Soon to be replaced by a 3D Prophet 4500)
Creative SoundBlaster Live!
Intel Pro/100S+ NIC Card
Mitsumi Generic Floppy Drive
Iomega ZIP100 Internal IDE
Samsung SC-148C CD-ROM
IBM Standard P/S2 Keyboard
Microsoft Intellimouse Explorer
Sony CPD-220VS Monitor (17" Trinitron)

 

[Citadel535]

Anybody use Linux here??? I searched and couldn't find a similiar post... Please help me out.

 

[nofuse]

If this is your first Linux experience there are two ways to approach your problem. Some people say that your first Linux distribution should be one that makes you learn every thing about your new OS. These people would suggest either Slackware 8 or the latest Debian.
Other people will say that you should go an easier route and enjoy your install almost immediately instead of slaving away in an unfamiliar environment. These people would say that you should go with an easier to learn distribution such as Mandrake 8 or SuSE 7.2.
Personally, I would have to suggest that you go with Mandrake. If you have a good deal of Windows experience then Mandrake will be your quickest route to success. After you have mastered (or at least become comfortable with) Mandrake then move on to one of the better distros like Slackware or Debian.
There is a big debate in the Linux community on how new people should learn Linux. There is also a corresponding camp withing the Linux community who look down on anything easy without regard to how well it works. Don't get mired down in all the geeky chest thumping. Get Mandrake or SuSE, get it installed, and get your learn on.
As for your hardware configuration, I see no problems as long as you are running the latest possible distro. These latest versions of Linux will suppport all your stuff out of the box. (Note that I am saying latest. It is quite possible that your motherboard will need the ATA100 support in the 2.4 kernel)
Your first Linux install is a big step. Good luck and remember that there are people online willing to help as long as you ask clear, concise questions in the proper forums.

 

[nofuse]

If this is your first Linux experience there are two ways to approach your problem. Some people say that your first Linux distribution should be one that makes you learn every thing about your new OS. These people would suggest either Slackware 8 or the latest Debian.
Other people will say that you should go an easier route and enjoy your install almost immediately instead of slaving away in an unfamiliar environment. These people would say that you should go with an easier to learn distribution such as Mandrake 8 or SuSE 7.2.
Personally, I would have to suggest that you go with Mandrake. If you have a good deal of Windows experience then Mandrake will be your quickest route to success. After you have mastered (or at least become comfortable with) Mandrake then move on to one of the better distros like Slackware or Debian.
There is a big debate in the Linux community on how new people should learn Linux. There is also a corresponding camp withing the Linux community who look down on anything easy without regard to how well it works. Don't get mired down in all the geeky chest thumping. Get Mandrake or SuSE, get it installed, and get your learn on.
As for your hardware configuration, I see no problems as long as you are running the latest possible distro. These latest versions of Linux will suppport all your stuff out of the box. (Note that I am saying latest. It is quite possible that your motherboard will need the ATA100 support in the 2.4 kernel)
Your first Linux install is a big step. Good luck and remember that there are people online willing to help as long as you ask clear, concise questions in the proper forums.