Discuss about the "starting off with Linux" sticky

md5 · Sep 6, 2005, 09:42 PM

Discuss about the "starting off with Linux" sticky over here. Any additions, corrections and comments are welcome, but please, keep in mind that this is intended as a starting guide for people who want to try Linux out, so it would be best to keep it as simple and informative as possible

brutusmaximus · Sep 6, 2005, 10:48 PM

that was a great read., im sure there are many like me who want to experiment with linux but dont know where to start. ill give a dual boot system a shot at the weekend.

Thanks !

No_Style · Sep 7, 2005, 12:34 AM

In my opinion (and the opinion of the school I attend), the best and most user friendly way to introduce someone to Linux and not scare them away would be slightly different from what you've listed.

1) LiveCD/DVD - Great way to get someone to play around with Linux in a "works out of the box" fashion. Very little configuration required, if any!

2) VMWare - Although, you said this was an ugly way to play with Linux, I beg to differ. Most distros (We used Red Hat 7.2 up til FC3) can run in a VMWare environment very well and most of the basic/advanced functions work well. Not only do you have an environment which you can install with static hardware, you can always bail out onto Windows to seek help without dual booting. (Like you said in your post

)

3) After playing around in VMWare, and you're confident with how Linux works in terms of hardware configuration goes, I would then recommend installing it upon a real machine.

A great read and I agree with most of it. I was a bit thrown off with how you view VMWare is all

md5 · Sep 7, 2005, 02:47 AM

Thanks for the comments

No, I love VMWare, in fact I use it all the time for testing out operating systems (testing out means "playing until I destroy everything" in this case

). E.g. I like trying out things or patches or how destructive some viruses can be.

VMWare IS much easier and friendly, however I just think it's an "ugly" way to work with a new OS, because you're not using the OS "normally", you just have it sitting there to play with. I mean, why would you listen to music from your Linux installation if you can just launch Winamp outside of VMWare? I think that VMWare is good for testing, but not for using and learning a new OS.

I will rewrite some of the things I said about the VMWare solution, although as I said I don't agree that people should try that first before actually installing the OS and working with it (instead of playing outside it)

No_Style · Sep 7, 2005, 03:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by md5

I will rewrite some of the things I said about the VMWare solution, although as I said I don't agree that people should try that first before actually installing the OS and working with it (instead of playing outside it)

I agree that nothing beats the real deal (especially in the speed department when you run Linux in VMWare), which is why I believe a Live CD/DVD solution would work best for absolute new comers to experience what Linux has to offer. Trying to install an actual distor can turn off the average user though. I mean, some onboard devices do not even work properly and that could tick people off. At least VMWare would portray a non-LiveCD/DVD Linux in a working form and showcase Linux in some form of glory.

I guess the best way to list these as methods and not in any ranking, because they all have their pros and cons.

md5 · Sep 7, 2005, 03:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by No_style

I guess the best way to list these as methods and not in any ranking, because they all have their pros and cons.

Indeed, that seems like the best way to write those. Thanks, I'll rewrite this part of the guide tomorrow when my brain will work. It's getting late and I'm sleepy at the moment. Again, thanks for the comments, I love constructive criticism

No_Style · Sep 7, 2005, 03:08 AM

Not a problem. I'm not the biggest Linux advocate, but I do believe it should be experienced by all and experienced in its working fashion.

md5 · Sep 7, 2005, 12:37 PM

Updated the VMWare section... hope it's better now

Matth · Sep 7, 2005, 04:47 PM

If you run a second PC as a Linux box, you can use it as a "server", and connect to it using X-Windows on your main PC
http://x.cygwin.com/

Just to be confusing, the display is usually called a server, and the applications running on the server are called clients - AARGH!

UberLord · Sep 7, 2005, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by "md5

I strongly believe that giving someone Gentoo or FreeBSD to start with is a VERY VERY BAD idea.

C'mon - it's better than giving someone Windows to start with

procupine14 · Apr 27, 2007, 12:44 PM

in response to your sticky there is a version of winamp for certain distros of linux btw
when i had an extra machine in my house it ran on SuSE 9 and i downloaded winamp linux from the website and vola i used it for a media palyer all the time
just thought id add that in
although the realease doesnt contain a whole lot of distros so not that useful

i mean i realize that this thread is a little old but hey just keeping it current incase people are reading it (me)

DarkFoss · Apr 28, 2007, 04:33 PM

Excellent writeup. I agree the best way is trying out live cd's or dvd's.
I made a comment in the live cd thread since the link in your writeup
to osnews showed MandrakeMove being recommended for testing Mandriva. Mandriva One cd's are a much better way to go. I'm not even sure that MandrakeMove has been updated in the last year and a half.

Also LinuxQuestions.org is an excellent source for help as well, very active forums for many distro's.

Sep 6, 2005, 09:42 PM	#1
md5 DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Inside DriverHeaven Posts: 856 Rep Power: 0	Discuss about the "starting off with Linux" sticky Discuss about the "starting off with Linux" sticky over here. Any additions, corrections and comments are welcome, but please, keep in mind that this is intended as a starting guide for people who want to try Linux out, so it would be best to keep it as simple and informative as possible __________________

Sep 7, 2005, 12:34 AM	#3
No_Style Styleless Wonder Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Ottawa, Ontario Posts: 6,034 Rep Power: 0	In my opinion (and the opinion of the school I attend), the best and most user friendly way to introduce someone to Linux and not scare them away would be slightly different from what you've listed. 1) LiveCD/DVD - Great way to get someone to play around with Linux in a "works out of the box" fashion. Very little configuration required, if any! 2) VMWare - Although, you said this was an ugly way to play with Linux, I beg to differ. Most distros (We used Red Hat 7.2 up til FC3) can run in a VMWare environment very well and most of the basic/advanced functions work well. Not only do you have an environment which you can install with static hardware, you can always bail out onto Windows to seek help without dual booting. (Like you said in your post ) 3) After playing around in VMWare, and you're confident with how Linux works in terms of hardware configuration goes, I would then recommend installing it upon a real machine. A great read and I agree with most of it. I was a bit thrown off with how you view VMWare is all __________________ "The Best Style Is No Style" Specifications Here

Sep 7, 2005, 02:47 AM	Thread Starter #4
md5 DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Inside DriverHeaven Posts: 856 Rep Power: 0	Thanks for the comments No, I love VMWare, in fact I use it all the time for testing out operating systems (testing out means "playing until I destroy everything" in this case ). E.g. I like trying out things or patches or how destructive some viruses can be. VMWare IS much easier and friendly, however I just think it's an "ugly" way to work with a new OS, because you're not using the OS "normally", you just have it sitting there to play with. I mean, why would you listen to music from your Linux installation if you can just launch Winamp outside of VMWare? I think that VMWare is good for testing, but not for using and learning a new OS. I will rewrite some of the things I said about the VMWare solution, although as I said I don't agree that people should try that first before actually installing the OS and working with it (instead of playing outside it) __________________

Sep 7, 2005, 03:08 AM	#7
No_Style Styleless Wonder Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Ottawa, Ontario Posts: 6,034 Rep Power: 0	Not a problem. I'm not the biggest Linux advocate, but I do believe it should be experienced by all and experienced in its working fashion. __________________ "The Best Style Is No Style" Specifications Here

Sep 7, 2005, 12:37 PM	Thread Starter #8
md5 DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Inside DriverHeaven Posts: 856 Rep Power: 0	Updated the VMWare section... hope it's better now __________________

Sep 6, 2005, 10:48 PM	#2
brutusmaximus DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 520 Rep Power: 76	that was a great read., im sure there are many like me who want to experiment with linux but dont know where to start. ill give a dual boot system a shot at the weekend. Thanks !

Sep 7, 2005, 04:47 PM	#9
Matth Flash Banner Hater Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: UK Posts: 3,426 Rep Power: 93 System Specs	If you run a second PC as a Linux box, you can use it as a "server", and connect to it using X-Windows on your main PC http://x.cygwin.com/ Just to be confusing, the display is usually called a server, and the applications running on the server are called clients - AARGH!

Apr 27, 2007, 12:44 PM	#11
procupine14 Why is it Beeping!?!?! Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: USA, Missouri Posts: 1,400 Rep Power: 58 System Specs	in response to your sticky there is a version of winamp for certain distros of linux btw when i had an extra machine in my house it ran on SuSE 9 and i downloaded winamp linux from the website and vola i used it for a media palyer all the time just thought id add that in although the realease doesnt contain a whole lot of distros so not that useful i mean i realize that this thread is a little old but hey just keeping it current incase people are reading it (me)

Apr 28, 2007, 04:33 PM	#12
DarkFoss HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Downers Grove IL Posts: 688 Rep Power: 0	Excellent writeup. I agree the best way is trying out live cd's or dvd's. I made a comment in the live cd thread since the link in your writeup to osnews showed MandrakeMove being recommended for testing Mandriva. Mandriva One cd's are a much better way to go. I'm not even sure that MandrakeMove has been updated in the last year and a half. Also LinuxQuestions.org is an excellent source for help as well, very active forums for many distro's. __________________ Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety,deserve neither Liberty nor Safety. Ben Franklin, 1755