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Switching to linux.

X

x__dark

n00b
Joined
Feb 4, 2005
Messages
33
I've decided to become a Linux user, but what's a good Free version to get? I would also like to know if programs such as Adobe Photoshop are supported on linux.
 
I would give Gentoo linux a shot. www.gentoo.org Just make sure you follow the online install documents and handbook. As far as photoshop like software, the Gimp is your best bet. Once you get Gentoo up and running su root and 'emerg gimp'
 
i think that we have a winner! lol What kind of interface am i looking at just after installation and is it hard to customize?
 
This topic needs to be a sticky...This question is asked daily. Gentoo is the last distro you want to start using if you're new to Linux. I have been using Linux for almost one year and still have yet to even install Gentoo. It is a way too complex version of Linux to start with. I would look at Fedora or Ubuntu for Linux as they are very easy and fun to show you what Linux is all about. Then after you're bored, try Gentoo and feel like a man should... :p
 
It all depends on how determined you are, and your background in computer skills. If you can follow the directions, 90% of the time you'll get a good install. Then emerge kde firefox gimp and you'd be set for a while.

The first distro I used was RedHat, the Fedora cores are supposed to be decent. Slackware is great if you want to learn alot about config files real quick. I would stick to one with a good package management tool (Gentoo, Debain, etc).
 
Strongly disagree with recommendation of gentoo, most likely a new user would be overwhelmed and give up all together. Personally, I'd recommend, Mandrake, Red Hat, or even Knoppix so that you could see what you're getting yourself into prior to making any changes to your HD :p
 
Well, I've been a little overwealmed by the many different versions of linux to choose from. . . I've been looking at Mandrake, Fedora, Suse, and Gentoo the most. One of the biggest questions that I had is will I still be able to use programs like msn messenger and photoshop with any current version of linux that there is?

As for my "user level" I would say that I have more knowledge than the average user, by far, and when it comes to following directions. . . I can follow them 99.99% of the time so. .
 
So you want to be able to use your chat programs? There's a program called Gaim that will handle your situation well. This program can handle AIM, MSN, YIM, and a bunch of other ones too.

For Photoshop needs, you want this program called the Gimp.

This reminds me: If you're still using windows, you can download windows 'ported' versions of Gaim and Gimp. "Ported" meaning there's a special version that can be run on a different platform, ie) Windows. This way, you can see if you'll like the way Gaim / Gimp will run before you actually plunge into Linux.

Linkage:

Gaim Windows Port
http://prdownloads.sourceforge.net/gaim/gaim-1.1.2.exe

Gimp
http://gimp-win.sourceforge.net/stable.html

^ You will need the GTK library and the actual Gimp program files from that link above. I think you got to install GTK first, then Gimp.

On the topic of Distributions:
Gentoo should probably be the last distribution you try. As much as I love Gentoo, it's hard to expect someone new to linux to be able to prep their system, compile the kernel, etc etc. However, once you DO get up and running, typing 'emerge packagename' is sooo easy :D

I think you will want to stick with something friendlier for now, like Mandrake or SuSE or even Fedora. Spend some time with those distributions, then when you feel you need more control, move on up to Slackware. When you've "graduated", the final step is Gentoo or Debian.

I mean no offense by suggesting that you won't be able to install Gentoo right away, but it will certainly be more of a challenge than Mdk, SuSe, etc.
 
Thanks for the advice! I was reading something that says that there's a way to emulate windows so that I can run Photoshop and other windows programs that I will need. .

I think i'm going to try out Suse or Mandrake.

How hard is it to get rid of Linux? I'm planning on actually putting linux on my new computer that I have yet to finish building, but I want to check out Suse and Mandrake on my old on. . .

Any tips on how I would go about doing this without deleting my family's beloved winodws os?
 
Use a "Live CD". Mandrake has one, as well as Knoppix and there are probably others that I'm not aware of. A Live CD will allow you to run a functional Linux distribution off of a bootable CD-ROM that doesn't even touch your hard drive, so you can use it without the possibility of messing up your Windows install. Whenever I need to do something in Linux, I just run Knoppix or the Mandrake Live CD.

Lyquist
 
I'm actually downloading the SuSE Live CD right now. It's going to take a while, but I guess it will give me a good view of what I'm going to be using eh?
 
Lyquist said:
Use a "Live CD". Mandrake has one, as well as Knoppix and there are probably others that I'm not aware of. A Live CD will allow you to run a functional Linux distribution off of a bootable CD-ROM that doesn't even touch your hard drive, so you can use it without the possibility of messing up your Windows install. Whenever I need to do something in Linux, I just run Knoppix or the Mandrake Live CD.

Lyquist
Click to expand...

So there would be no risk doing this with my work machine? Nothing to be the least concerned about?
 
nothing to be concerned about whatsoever. It runs off the CD, and if it mounts the hard disk at all, I think mounts it read-only by default, and certainly the distro itself wouldn't even *try* to write anything there. It can't possibly hurt anything.
 
He's correct, I'm running the SuSE Linux Live CD right now and it's pretty damn cool! This is the version I think that I'll stick with. . . Hopefully it doesn't give me too much trouble installing it though.

Oh, what's the difference between the 64-bit version and the 32-bit? I'm getting an AMD64 2800+ and I was wondering if it's required/better to use the 64-bit version or not?
 
I think the so called "easy" or "beginner" Linux distributions are actually more complex than FreeBSD.

They remind me of the old Rube Goldberg "Professor Butts" cartoons.
 
except the computer administrators will probably be extremely pissed off.

AdamW said:
nothing to be concerned about whatsoever. It runs off the CD, and if it mounts the hard disk at all, I think mounts it read-only by default, and certainly the distro itself wouldn't even *try* to write anything there. It can't possibly hurt anything.
Click to expand...
 
I'm running SuSE 9.2 myself right now, and it's doing pretty well.

x__dark said:
He's correct, I'm running the SuSE Linux Live CD right now and it's pretty damn cool! This is the version I think that I'll stick with. . . Hopefully it doesn't give me too much trouble installing it though.

Oh, what's the difference between the 64-bit version and the 32-bit? I'm getting an AMD64 2800+ and I was wondering if it's required/better to use the 64-bit version or not?
Click to expand...
 
I prefer debian - but i dont run any Xserver system - just the ol console since its mainly a server. No bloat here.
 
Suse 9.2 seems to be the one most IT guys trying to get into Linux like me are drawn to. Just seems overall to be the easiest to pickup, I don't know. I can read directions just fine, but I still have trouble comparing everybodys notes, file versions, etc., and most seem to assume you know more then you do. Its not just about reading directions in my opinion, it really just takes time. :(
 
I got a little confused when I first asked this question and started to look around. Everyone seems to love a version/build of linux so much. lol. I found that SuSE 9.2 was the easiest to get ahold of and after running the Live CD, It has caught my eye completely. :)
 
I don't think anyone answered your question about 32 vs 64-bit.

If you are going to be running an Athlon 64 chip, definitely go for the 64-bit version of the kernel.

It is completely written to take advantage of 64-bit archetectures.
 
I picked up the 9.2 pro version in the store. I was far too lazy to download and install everything. Thinking about going for my CLP exam next week...
 
Well, If you have a broadband connection (cable, dsl, adsl, etc.) then it's no problem with the 65mb boot ISO. The only thing that gets me is that it has to download the rest of the installation files from the website that you got the boot.iso file from, but I guess it's a simple price to pay for a good free OS.
 
im gonna say, go with XANDROS linux.

It nicely configured from a single cd, and it has a nice gui (i know i know) for first timers that does apt-get's for you and will install the packages as well.

has crossover office in it, as well as open office...you can rpm your server needs, apt-get them or choose apache and ftp servers right off of the install.

it has full read/write to ntfs...at least thats what my friends have said, have not tested it personally.

ive been using it for about 2-3 days now and i really like it, stuff ive used before and still reccommend, fedora, rhl9, freebsd, suse 9.x, knoppix, mepis.
 
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