[Osiris]

Get To Know Linux: Installation

Unless you search it out, you’re not likely to come across a PC that comes with Linux pre-installed (exception being the wide-variety of netbooks being sold). Because of this if you want to use Linux you are probably going to have to install the operating system yourself. To hard-core geeks that is not only a non-issue it’s typically rainy-day fun. But for the vast majority of people (who are not of the geek persuasion) installing an operating system might as well be brain surgery.
Little do the unwashed masses know that installing Linux is actually a very simple process. In fact, installing Linux is far easier than installing any flavor of Windows. Let me walk you through the typical Linux installation from a LiveCD disk. There might be some minor variation on the order, depending upon which distribution you use.

NOTE: A LiveCD is a version of a Linux distribution that allows you to run the operating system from CD and RAM. No changes are made to your computer unless you start the installation process.

• <LI itxtvisited="1">Insert CD of Linux distribution <LI itxtvisited="1">Reboot Computer <LI itxtvisited="1">Let the LiveCD boot to the desktop <LI itxtvisited="1">Double click the Install icon <LI itxtvisited="1">Enter the basic information (location, time zone, keyboard layout, etc) <LI itxtvisited="1">Select how to appropriate space on disk (If you are not dual-booting you can select Use Entire Disk) <LI itxtvisited="1">Enter user information and password
• Read the installation summary and then, if all is correct, move on with the actual installation.

At this point the installation will be completely automatic. When the installation is complete you will want to reboot your computer (remember, you are running from the LiveCD still). When the reboot is finished you will be at the log in screen. Enter the username/password you supplied during install and your desktop will start up. Congratulations, you have successfully installed Linux!
But will all of my hardware work?
This is often one of the more often asked questions regarding Linux. Generally speaking, the answer is “yes”. There are, of course, some hardware that might have trouble. One area that can give you problems is your video card. Linux does a great job of detecting hardware, and most likely your video card will be detected. There are, unfortunately, cards that simply aren’t supported. For a good list of supported video cards take a look at this page for a fairly comprehensive listing. The next piece of hardware that can cause problems is wireless networking. I have found most modern distributions are outstanding at finding wireless cards. But just in case you need to know for sure, here is an extensive listing of how wireless cards fare with Linux support.
Most other hardware shouldn’t give you problems. But in case you have one particular piece that doesn’t work “out of the box” you can always try a different distribution. As far as I have discovered Ubuntu, PCLinuxOS, and Mandriva are the best as discovering and automatically configuring hardware.
Final Thoughts
Installing Linux is a piece of cake. Seriously. If youc an install a piece of software on a Windows machine, you can install Linux. It’s that easy.

[4537256]

Originally Posted by Osiris

Unless you search it out, you’re not likely to come across a PC that comes with Linux pre-installed

meh, oh well

[Saxon]

Osiris is our local news hound he keeps us upto date from various sources it is not often he posts things like this that is has wrote himself.

Oh Dell has a small line of desktops / laptops preloaded with linux and most of there servers have a linux option and a lot of smaller OEM's will provide you with a system built round Linux if you ask them to do so.

[4537256]

Osiris is our local news hound he keeps us upto date from various sources it is not often he posts things like this that is has wrote himself.

i see.

Oh Dell has a small line of desktops / laptops preloaded with linux and most of there servers have a linux option and a lot of smaller OEM's will provide you with a system built round Linux if you ask them to do so.

but like he said, you have to search them out. i think walmart had one of those linux Dell models. i hear they didnt sell all that great and only $50 cheaper than one with windows.
shame they dont try to market linux oem comps. much.

they need to make some commericals and let people know of Dell's linux computers. maybe by design it will always have a niche market. i'm gonna put Ubuntu on an old Sony Vaio, just not sure what i'll do with it then.
Linux is great for those mini laptops...been considering one.

[Saxon]

The problem is with linux is the prohibitive cost of marketing, most linux distros are not really made by large companies that can afford TV time, I for instance have my own linux support company but most fo my work is word of mouth started about a month back an it's ticking over prity nicely. But products like linux are hard to market as most larger companies here free software an thing it must be cheep an shoddy worthless and don't like to invest in it, that is one of the main reasons the term open source was developed.

[oldskool]

Originally Posted by 4537256

i hear they didnt sell all that great and only $50 cheaper than one with windows.

You have to figure, lots of people are not extremely familiar with PC's. The average user, just wants to upload pictures of the family or check e-mail. Linux not selling as well as Windows machines in Wal-Mart is understandable.

And then there are going to be people who won't buy a Linux machine because Linux doesn't support as many devices overall as Microsoft, though Linux is making huge leaps and bounds in supporting hardware. Many common devices are supported, but some people do realize that Microsoft has many more manufacturers' drivers preinstalled in their OSes, as compared to Linux.

Wait a few more Linux releases...that combined with the economy in it's current state, and I believe many more people will give Linux a chance.

[4537256]

Originally Posted by oldskool

Wait a few more Linux releases...that combined with the economy in it's current state, and I believe many more people will give Linux a chance.

not sure, Apple computers have been gaining market share at a very good pace despite its overpriced hardware.

frankly, without OEM support. i just dont see Linux ever increasing marketshare at any other speed than very slowly and gradually to a certain point then stop. just because of the fact that if its not preinstalled on an OEM, too many wont want to download and install as it will seem a little overwhelming to them.

there are payware Linux distro's like Xandros which did advertise 4.0 in pc game mags for a few months but stopped. those types is what i'm talkn about as far as marketing. Also OEM's who use Ubuntu does have profits from the hardware...so that income could be used in marketing. thats what i'm reffering to, not marketing from the freeware OS itself,cant market with no income.
but if Dell makes a Linux PC. their selling it to make some profit. i'm saying they need to advertise it more.

they could market it similarly the way Apple does against windows. tell people why its better or whatever. Dell/HP are huge and could market any computer they want regardless of OS used.

[oldskool]

I understand what you are saying. I myself am not saying Linux will gain marketshare, because it doesn't apply; there is no price tag. I just meant that more people will give Linux a try, nothing more nothing less.

The numbers of new Linux users has grown but just as you said, rather slowly. But still climbing. I am not talking about hardware selling Linux, or vice versa.

Instead I am talking about the fact that people like myself are curious about Linux in it's various distros and want to try it out. For me it was the sheer amount of malware, viruses, trojans, worms, bots, etc., roaming around the internet helped me to decide to jump over to Linux. Linux will "sell" itself to some. Not to the "masses". But to people looking for an alternative.

I applaud Dell, (and for that matter, ANY retailer or wholesaler) that inlcudes Linux as an alternative OS. To me that shows foresight - that you care enough about your customers to offer an alternative.

[mikesgroovin]

The light will come soon enough...

If certain Linux distributions marketed the way Microsoft did to the typical user watching Extreme Home Makeover, YEA, then people might start to realize that it can do most that Windows can ... even more. The typical gamer though, not no much.


For me though, I don't care. I love being able to load a box with a firewall, apache, and email host daemon and then leave it alone for weeks without touching it. Trying doing that with Server 03/08

[oldskool]

Mikesgroovin, funny thought I had earlier today was that I love the fact that I have only had two updates on the last 10 or so days that I have Ubuntu on board. Refreshing. No, it doesn't matter to me if Linux goes to the masses. I am content with Ubuntu so far. Probably will try other distros once I learn more about Linux through Ubuntu.