Ubuntu and SimplyMEPIS

[filmore crashcart]

I am a complete noob to Linux.... I did intstall SuSE Red Hat years ago on a dual boot in an earlier system but was not ready to go completely Linux at that point. Lately, I've become more interested in open-source OS as an alternative to MS.

I tried to run demo disks from the two above distros and could get neither to run on my system. They will run on my one year old Acer laptop but not on my desktop. I'm assuming it's because I have an Ati 1900xt on the desktop - at least that's why my screen goes black with Ubuntu, with SimplyMEPIS, it won't load the OS because of something it can't find, which it repeats in ad infintum on the desktop. Neither will recognize the wireless on my laptop, so neither will connect on the Internet.

I assume these problems can be fixed, so my question is, do I have to install either distro before I can correct the problem? I wanted to hold off doing that until I can be sure that I'm not going to have real problems with my hardware. I've read a bunch of stuff on problems with the 1900xt and ways to fix it, but is there a problem with recognizing wireless hardware also? I was thinking about switching my Acer to Linux but I need to have access to the Internet with it.

 

[nweaver]

what wireless do you have? I'll take a stab in the dark and say "Broadcom".

 

[n0cmonkey]

Wireless is iffy. Linux has some pretty poor out of the box support for it. If anyone knows of a distribution with good support (either out of the box or through the package management, PM me).

What is Mepis complaining about?

 

[filmore crashcart]

I'll take a stab in the dark and say "Broadcom

Not having the laptop in front of me now, I'd say your correct, as I remember. I think I read somewhere that wireless has poor support in Linux. Too bad, as I'd like to switch my laptop to Linux before the desktop so I can get the hang of it.

What is Mepis complaining about?

Again, not having the desktop in front of me now, it was loading system files when all of a sudden it would state that it couldn't find some file with the number 5 in it, and then it would keep running the message scrolling down the screen. I tried loading the option for Intel 965 chipsets with Jmicron, and the other options other than Nvidia, but it was still the same story. It didn't like something on my system.

This was the RC1 of SimplyMepis but I don't know if I would have better luck with the earlier version. I did like what Mepis had to offer over Ubuntu though.....

 

[Nothinman]

I think I read somewhere that wireless has poor support in Linux.

Some wifi has poor support in Linux and all of the responsibilty for that is on the heads of the manufacturers with Broadcom being the absolute worst.

 

[filmore crashcart]

Well, I'm going to figure out what the problem is with my desktop and it's refusal to play with Linux. I'm kind of stuck on the notion of not dealing with Microsoft anymore. For some reason, I would rather feel like I own my computer and not renting it from some overbearing landlord. I don't know what to do about the laptop exceot keep xp on it until I can't.

 

[Shamrock]

SimplyMEPIS just went RC2, and it says it has compatability with Broadcom Wifi

Morgantown, WV, Mar 14, 2007 -- SimplyMEPIS 6.5 RC2 is available for downloading and testing. This release improves hard disk reformatting and Broadcom wireless support.