[sheky]

I own a laptop that I use for class and a desktop I use for gaming and I was planning on reformatting my laptop to use Linux.

I've never used Linux before however I want to expand a little bit of my OS knowledge. So, the question I'm asking is what Linux OS do you all recommend? I was leaning more towards Debian but a few ppl i know are also recomending Fedora. (I hear Red Hat has aimed to work more like windows and I dont really want that so no red hat recommendations plz)

Thanks for your help.

[horndude]

not much of anything in linux is like windows, never was meant to be, there are some GUI's that are similar to windows for linux though, thats where the similarities end

http://www.slackware.com
http://www.tldp.org
http://www.lowfatlinux.com

if you dont already know alot about computers in general be prepared for a shock, linux assumes you have quite a bit of computer knowledge to begin with, many many folks find this out the hard way, get frustrated and give up

Tech-Forums.net does have a linux/unix forum !!!

[sheky]

horndude, I'm a computer science major and I've been using computers for the majority of my life so I know quite a bit about them, its just I dont know about the Linux OS (although I use a Unix email system so a lot of the commands are similiar). But I'm prepared to learn. I was just asking for recommendations. So please feel free to input what you like/dislike about the difference flavors of Linux.

[macdude425]

Let's get this out in the open right away:
RH/Fedora BAD!

They're bloated and just act kinda weird. horndude is gonna tell you Slackware, and I suggest it also. It's a very nice distro.

It will be frustrating, I will warn you.

[horndude]

Well, part of the problem is all the linux distro's use essentially the same software,and linux is nothing more than a toolchain combined with a kernel that adheres to unix standards.........ie POSIX compliant.

Now, what happens is many people get it in their heads that its like windows so by changing versions you will avoid problems or get what you want, that isnt the case at all, they all are the same underneath.

The differences:
RPM,portage,pkg,and deb-pkg--------these are different pre-compiled binaries that make it easy to install software, most linux distros use one of the above, these allow you to download ready to go binaries like windows uses for example and install them directly, they are nothing more than software install/uninstall scripts

OR with any linux distro that has a compiler installed(most should,many do) you can always compile from the source and install that way

The rest of the differences is how much software a distro has with it, how stable or how much testing has been done on the software before its release, and what versions they used.

Redhat which is now Fedora for desktops is a cutting edge experiment basically, it doesnt come with all that much, uses the RPM pkg management system

Slackware---one of the oldest and original distro's, comes with almost anything you could want, has the biggest user base, uses pkg tool software management without dependency checking

Debian--another one of the originals, many others are based on Debian, it has a big following as well, but development on it lately has become questionable, it may fork soon, it uses deb pkgs and not sure if it does dependency checking or not

Mandrake----similar to what Redhat started,they just took it further, some of it is now payware, lots and lots of automated configuration GUI's, similar to windows in that respect

Gentoo--basically a semi automated version of linux from scratch,uses the portage system for automated download and compilation of software

the rest are mostly clones or "one-offs"

I always recommend slackware, it just plain works and has the best most comprehensive user base and one guy has been in charge of it since the beginning.

[gaara]

Tech-Forums.net does have a linux/unix forum !!!

Yes it does, and that is where this is going

[jakec]

Slackware is alright, it's A little complicated... that's what I found

I always say the Same thing to anyone who is going to be learning linux Start with a nice Simple Distro First like Ubuntu and then move your way up to slackware.

Ubuntu is A nice Simple non cluttered distro with only the Basics great Accessability, to apps cause it's not clutterd and very easy to use.

It's great, I'll be switching back to ubuntu as soon as I can be bothered to reload it onto my New machine (had it on the Old PII 350)

Another peice of advice, read all you can about your chosen distro, learn about it dream about it live it, love it. Don't get discouraged and give up on Linux Like I did, prepare yourself first

Jake