I want to start learning how to use Linux Opp System. Went to a few websites and to my surprise, I found out that there are 'many' different types of Linux opp system. Or maybe I'm wrong and these Linux(s) are all the same and the only different is its skins.
I'm totally new to this Linux thing but I am sure that it will be the most powerful and most used commonly used system in the world.
Anyways, are there more than one version of Linux? If there is, which do you thinks it the best or at least have the least bugs that a common non-programmer will encounter?
If you can, please provide a link.
This website shows a list of "different" Linux Opp System. Are these opp systems or are they just skins? Don't laugh for such a dumb question, I am totally new to the Linux thing.
Please help.
Are these Diff Opp System or just skins:
http://shots.osdir.com/
2007-02-04 04:02:17 · 5 answers · asked by Inquisit 2 in Computers & Internet ➔ Programming & Design
Yes you can switch to Linux and be Happy. I got my neighbors, not technical people at all, to use Ubuntu Linux. After a couple months, I asked if they wanted to switch back to Windows, and they said no way. I think though Windows power users would have the hardest time switching thought because they have a applications they couldn't part with. They are great native apps that will do the same things as their Windows counterparts. Unfortunately there not replacements for everything, there just more apps for Windows. Wine will run a lot of Windows programs though it won't run everything. It is making great strides to run more and more applications though it's a moving target to support Windows APIs. Crossover and Cedega are two commercial products that are based on Wine. Crossover has great general application support. Cedega, has great Windows game support, though it's not 100% If any of these program won't run your favorite Windows Program, you can run a real copy of Windows in a virtual machine. My favorite is VMware. Vmware Server is completely free, it's the same as Vmware Workstation, though more features and is slightly harder to use. VMware worksation is $250, makes sense huh? Linux is mostly the same across distros, though there is enough differences to make software work on the distro is was made for, or a very similer distro. Most Linux distro's have their own software database that you can download from. I would stay with the most popular distros because they have a wide selection of software that can be easily downloaded. There are two main types of Linux, based on were they came from and there package manager. There are RPM Distro's Historically based on Red Hat: Red Hat, Fedora, Suse, and Mandriva. Then there are DEB Distro's based on Debian: Debian, Ubuntu, Mepis, Xandros, Linspire, Freespire. Linux is free unless you want to call or email a company if you have a problem, then it cost money. Xandros and Linspire are examples of versions with support. I would personally recommend Ubuntu, though lots of people swear by Fedora. I just swear at it. There are many guides to install it, I have written one on Yahoo Answers. There a install that runs from Windows that makes it real easy for beginners to install it. Otherwise look at traditional install guide.
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/install.exe/Prototype
Disclaimer: I haven't used it, so I don't know if it is stable enough yet to work well.
2007-02-05 16:53:05 · answer #1 · answered by bakegoodz 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I would suggest you starting with a Live CD and not installing it right away. Most low end home PC systems are not made with Linux in mind and in all likelihood you will find that some of your hardware does not work with Linux and if you have already installed it you will be frustrated. Make a list of each piece of hardware on your computer and write it down. Then go to the distribution that you choose to use -- for a newbie I suggest Ubuntu as far and away the easiest for a beginner. There are actually hundreds of version, but most are based on three basic systems -- Slackware, Redhat, or Debian (Ubuntu is Debain based). if your hardware works with Linux, and you like using the Live CD you can try an install, and make sure you have some people you can go to while you learn Linux (http://www.linuxquestions.org/). Linux basics aren't hard, but it will probably be about four months to a year before you feel able to be as productive as you are on Windows.
2007-02-05 15:24:37 · answer #2 · answered by Runa 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I may yet disagree with biggestperlner; Linux is not a crappy OS, but it's quite difficult to master in a short span of time. One good thing about Linux is that, once you've mastered it, you can replicate anything windows or mac os has came up.
As for your woes, there are indeed lots of version of Linux, as it is developed by many individuals and organisations, however, as it is based by unix, most of its core commands are the same. The differences however, lie in its software package management. Like for example when you're installing a program in a Debian-Based linux, you'd have to do this command manually:
root$ dpkg programname.deb while in redhat, the command would be: root$ rpm programname.rpm, and so on, so forth.
If you want to learn about linux without having to delete windows for the moment, all you have to do is use a LiveCD of your Distro choice. Just pop it in your cd-drive and reboot your system.
The LiveCD will let you experience using Linux on your system without installing the os, and removing windows.
I suggest that you use ubuntu, as it's very easy to learn, and you can get a free cd shipped to you.
2007-02-04 12:38:02 · answer #3 · answered by KenMikaze 3 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Linux is free and open source, meaning anyone whith good skills in programming can build it's own linux distribution. This is why there are so many "flavours" out there... Last time distrowatch counted them, they were around 400...
If you want to learn Linux the best distribution to start with is one of these:
Ubuntu http://www.ubuntu.com/ , openSuse http://en.opensuse.org/Welcome_to_openSUSE.org , Fedora http://fedora.redhat.com/ , Mandriva or Mepis.
I would recommend Ubuntu though, or in case you don't have a performant PC either Xubuntu or Mepis.
You can also take this short quiz and see what suits you.
http://www.zegeniestudios.net/ldc/
2007-02-04 12:12:14 · answer #4 · answered by agent-X 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋
It's OS for Operating System.
And don't go with anything Unix-flavored, save yourself a little dignity and go with a real operating system (say Windows or OSX).
Linux and the unix varieties are for users who wish to "rebel" society by using a crappier operating system. Something makes them feel more superior by using an operating system that less than 1% of the world's population uses. They're nuts and it's not worth it.
2007-02-04 12:08:01 · answer #5 · answered by biggestperlnerd 3 · 1⤊ 5⤋