[NTLUG:Discuss] Linux Dist.

Sat Aug 5 00:04:54 CDT 2000

On Fri, 4 Aug 2000 14:42:41 -0700 (PDT) Shel Johnson
<cachemonet at yahoo.com> writes:
> I'm VERY new to Linux.. I've fought my last battle with windoze!!.. 
> My
> question is:
> What is the easiest linux distribution for beginners??...
> 
> =====
> Shel
> cachemonet at yahoo.com

	<snip>

Shel --

Yes, you'll get a variety of opinions.  You'll find that Linux is
inexpensive enough (depending on where you get it, from -0- [download] to
$5 per CD [NTLUG meetings or other places] to $40 or so for a boxed set
at the stores) that you can buy many versions, over time, install a few,
and see which ones_you_like the best.

Presume you're wanting a GUI/ windoze-like graphical desktop, and that
you'll want to use it for desktop apps. -- word processing/ text editing;
webpage design/ websurfing; graphics; spreadsheets; etc.  That's my own
usage.  (Other folks may not use the graphical desktop so much; for
example, if they're running servers, they may just do everything on the
command line; typing all commands; no windoze-like appearance).

I like and am using Mandrake; the latest version, V. 7.1.  Myself, I'm
about a one and 1/2 year-old user of Linux.  I do think Mandrake is just
very attractive; I also think it's very user friendly for a
windoze-similar appearance, and for a newbie like me.  I've tried most of
the major ones except for Debian, I think.

You'll find that Linux desktops have been dividing, broadly speaking
although there are other desktop choices, on either the Gnome or the KDE
desktops.  Some distros have one and not the other.  

Mandrake gives you the option of using both, which I do (So does RedHat,
and SuSE, a German version, and others; of course, they_all_give you the
ability to use either/ both desktops, but I mean that it is a little bit
easier for a newbie, in my opinion, with Mdk, RedHat, SuSE, or maybe
others).  As you experiment, you may find some things you like better in
one desktop, and other stuff for the other one.  Some others, like Corel
and Caldera, when a newbie installs and has their default choices, only
install a single desktop system; a newbie might not easily realize that
there are other choices.

Plus, the latest version of Mandrake has some of the latest graphical
desktop stuff -- the new Version 4 of a basic X-windowing program (to
save space, won't go into the specifics here) and the new "Helix Gnome"
programs which are improvements/ changes to the Gnome desktop.  I am
running these and they are, in my opinion,
an_extremely_good-looking_desktop appearance.

Red Hat is an extremely popular, leading Linux distro.  Mandrake is based
on RHat, has added stuff to it to make it maybe more user friendly.  What
I'm trying to say here is that you still have, underneath it all, the
various programs/ features in a RedHat version, which you can tinker with
to make your own changes to the system.

That last bit -- the ability to tinker -- is a little bit harder for a
newbie on some other versions, I believe.  For example:  Caldera and
Corel are pretty user friendly, but some of the basic stuff might be a
little bit harder (at least for a newbie) to get to; that is, to "get
around" the Caldera or Corel graphical programs, and to try to do it a
different way.  

As you do this, you will help yourself, and you'll benefit, if you learn
as much as you can/ want to, about the underlying command line abilities
of Linux/ Unix.  (Similar to learning a little M$-DOS as you use
Windoze).  When you do this, you will increase your own ability to tinker
with files/ scripts, make changes directly on your own without having to
use a graphical program to make the changes; you'll just understand
better how the OS goes together, and works.  With this in mind, the
"brand" of distro would become more irrelevant.

One other idea;  since Red Hat is fairly major, you might just try it out
first, start learning, and then branch off into some of the other
distros.  And, by the way, at least one book to have handy will help you.
 I did it with a copy of "The no-BS Guide to RedHat Linux 6"; other folks
have used the "Linux for Dummies"; there is a series of great books by
the O'Reilly publishing company; and it seems like everyone has their own
particular favorite.   And, there is a ton of free stuff out on the Net. 
One resource is www.linuxnewbie.org  There are lots of others.

Linux:  not only is it free (as in speech; you can modify it); it's also
free (as in beer) or inexpensive, so you can get diff. versions,
experiment, learn, and, ultimately, make it your own, so to speak.  Enjoy
the ride!  (Fortunately, you have, in my opinion, one of the very best
Linux user groups on the face of the planet --  NTLUG -- here in North
Texas, in which you can get help/ support, make new friends, and learn!)
--
  Douglas D. Darnold	Principal/ Attorney
  LAW OFFICES OF DOUGLAS D. DARNOLD <greenglow484 at juno.com>
  P. O. Box 12461	Dallas  Texas 75225-0461	Voice: 214-368-0068
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