/r/ Linux info

I'm looking at getting away from Microsoft OS's, and trying one of the open source OS's.

My question is, "Which one"? I've seen many versions on the shelves, but I don't know which is better for the first time user.
So instead of browsing the magic google, I decided to try here.

Imo I think mepis, But take a look at the mepis thread

Suse isn't bad at all. There's a give-us-your-money version that comes with extra proprietary stuff, or there's the free version which excludes anything that Novell aren't legally allowed to redistribute without a license - for example mp3 decoders. I'm using the free version and mp3 is trivial to get working. You just add the Packman repository and install libxine1.

Ubuntu was pretty sweet last time I used it, and there have been two releases since then so I can only assume it has improved.

I hear a lot about Mepis, but I haven't used it so I can't comment.

There are a number of "which Linux?" threads on /comp/, you might want to browse through them.

Gentoo, every Gentoo user is a happy Gentoo user!

http://www.gentoo.org/

Some trolls will come forward and post silly things about ricers, just ignore them. They are just pissed off because they were too stupid to install Gentoo. I mean, seriously, just follow the installation instructions and you cannot fail.

>>3
Agree on SuSE. On MP3: as much as I sympathize with the OGG Vorbis format and would be happy to never use MP3 files again, we're stuck with it, and not supporting it is gay. Maybe some script to fetch it and install it automagically would have helped.

>>4
CFLAGS just kicked in, yo! Yeah, just follow the installation instructions and compile the fuck out of everything, solving conflicts and shit you should be dealing with because it's not your fucking code, but d00d, you get it 1% faster, zOMG! (Nevermind you need to leave your fucking box working overnight to compile all that shiz.) Then be prepared to face installations: anything you want to try is anal because it needs to be compiled, lawl! VROOOM VROOOOM!

>>4 is trolling; gentoo is the 2nd to the last Linux a beginner wants to use, right behind Linux From Scratch.

Check out Ubuntu (n00b friendly without being stupid, good community) and Mepis (never tried, no opinion).

Ubuntu for sure, though it might be best to wait for 6.06 (scheduled for June 01) rather than messing with the current Drake builds (almost everyone runs into breakage) or setting yourself up for disappointment with 5.10's performance issues. MEPIS is still pretty nice if your machine is geared for i586 and you prefer KDE. There's also Puppy Linux and Beatrix, derivatives of Ubuntu, but their manner of doing things is different and most of the Ubuntu knowledge base won't apply.

gentoo is the 2nd to the last Linux a beginner wants to use
Gentoo was actually my first distro. If you're willing to put the effort in it's quite rewarding. I haven't used anything else for about 2 years, it's only this month I've started experimenting with other distros.

I'm >>3 btw.

flax ftw

Just started using Linux too, I'm using Ubuntu (intalled it last night).

It's easier than I imagined to ge up and running, although installing stuff appears to be a pain in the arse coming from windows. Why do I have to do all this crap in the console? Why can't I just double click the file I've just downloaded?

So that's probably my main problem with Linux at the moment, they'll hold your hand up a certain point, and then you're kinda of fucked.

Not that I don't mind getting round to learning how to use it properly, but I'd much rather not.

>>10
You don't install stuff in Linux by searching around on the internets, downloading something, double clicking it, running through a installation wizard and then rebooting.

In the case of Ubuntu you open Synaptic, find the program(s) you want, select them and they'll all be installed automatically.
see: http://www.psychocats.net/essays/winuxinstall.php for a comparison from a newbie's perspective.

>>10
In time you will learn to appreciate software delivery through APT as opposed to installers. Some of the more prominent features being: packages are given detailed descriptions and categorized, checksum verification, dependency resolution, automatic updating, and filtering of malicious software as almost all packages stored on repositories are compiled and reviewed by staff members of whichever distribution.

Now, if you feel disgruntled over having to open a terminal to install a package manually there is a dpkg front-end called gdebi that is available in the latest Dapper Drake release candidate. It treats DEB packages much as you would expect Windows to treat an installer yet maintains the advantages of APT that I mentioned above.

http://www.ubuntu.com/testing/flight5

>>12
Sweet, so I can download and install third party debs? Back when I tried out Hoary I spent hours figuring out how to set up a local repository just so I could do that.

>>12

What happens if the program you want is not there?  Don't tell me you have to compile the program yourself...

>>14
Do pay attention and read past the first paragraph.

>>15

Do pay attention yourself.  Read my first sentence.

>>16
If the program you want is not in the repositories, you can download the deb package from the project's website and gdebi will install it for you.

If the author only makes his work available as source code, then obviously you will have to compile it. You can't expect binaries to magically appear.

>>17
"You can't expect binaries to magically appear."

Uh, yeah they will.  Assuming that most new Linux users are coming from the Windows group, that's exactly what they'll expect.

>>18
Do you intend to actually use Linux, or are you happy throwing up imaginary barriers? If it's the latter, just go back to Windows now and save everyone a headache.

>>19
No, I intend to use OS X 'cause Linux is lame. lololololol

If developers bothered to finish their damn job and compiled their shit so I don't have to mess with it, then we'd have binaries. But binary distribution seems to be a religious taboo for Unix people. I know I'll get flamed for even suggesting it.

However, lack of binaries are hurting more than helping; they only make Gentoo ricers happy. Imagine there's a piece of software I want to try. (I try at least 7 packages a week for various reasons.) Under Windows, I take 2 minutes to install and uninstall plus testing time. Under Linux, if I don't have binaries because zOMG DISTRIBUTE SAUCE CODE LOL GEE PEE ELLLLLL, I take 5-60 minutes to resolve insane library dependency bullshit, then when I got all the shit to compile, I take 5-20 minutes to compile the crap after reading about configure switches, compiling, and installing, then 1 minute to uninstall all the shit, and that's assuming nothing majorly anal happens, only small things.

Windows hacking is thus faster. (I know I'll get lynched for this. I can already hear Lunix fanboys whining.)

>>11

I'm >>10,

Yeah I was just checking that out this morning, very handy. Have to say that the repositories ubuntu gives you are pretty good, any other good ones adding in?

I'll also give that gdebi thing a go later tonight.

If you are used to windows, you are better off sticking to windows. Linux is overrated.

>>23
Useless comment.

>>23

I will have to agree with you.  Ubuntu is more the exception rather than the rule.  >>19 is an example of the average Linux hospitality.  I bet if you asked why your hardware doesn't work, he'll expect you to write your own drivers.

>>19 is an example of the average Linux hospitality when confronted with an obvious troll.

Fixed.

NO U!@1

>>26

That's a trollish remark?  I guess Linux fanboys are gay afterall.

>>10
Installing stuff is actually a lot nicer compared to how it's done in Windows, I find. Under Windows, I have to go find an installer for the program I want, download it (often going through fairly stupid download systems on websites in the process), run the installer, click next a few times, and repeat the process whenever a piece of software I use gets updated. This gets very tedious, particularly when setting up a fresh install.

Whereas with Debian-based Linux distros, I open my favourite package manager (I use aptitude, others prefer graphical ones like synaptic), select the piece of software I want installed, tell it to install and the package manager does everything else. And to upgrade? Update the package list (another single command or click), select the update all option, and go. If there's a new version of anything I have installed, the new version gets installed. The entire operating system can be upgraded in this manner, too.

This is a completely different approach to installing software than what Windows has, but this does not necessarily mean it's more difficult than the Windows way. It's just initially unfamiliar. I'm of the opinion that once you're familiar with it, it's a much better system. Of course, there are those who for whatever reason are of the opinion that the Windows way is on the whole easier. Well, that's up to them. Not my computer, not my problem.

>>17
Additionally, third-party apt repositories can be found for most popular things that aren't included in Debian/Ubuntu.

May be way the hell off here.
But I just bought a new system tool thats suppose to have all the best of (MS Outlook, Skype, Real Player, GoDaddy, Salesforce.com, Google, MySpace, Timeslips, Plaxo, ICQ, AOL, AIM, MS Project, LinkedIn, Netscape)

http://www.kanosis.com

The Main tool is COIL, still runs off of windows, but is suppose to be much more efficient.  It's only a Beta at the moment.  I'm still messing around with it, but if it helps, let me know.

Again, sorry if I'm way off topic.

>>30
Die spammer.

>>29
I agree! To everything you said.

>>1
If you're a REAL newb, then you shoulb start with SuSE or (K)Ubuntu. They're pretty easy to install and very user-friendly.

I would NOT recommend using Debian or Gentoo since you need to know how Linux basically works. If you can't get the graphical interface running, then you'll probably be fucked :)
Learn how Linux works with one (or both) of the mentioned Systems and try the othery later!

Oh, and learn how to use the console. Many things work much faster with it, and not because you would have to wait until the window loaded or there are no good programs  ;)

Console = scripteable = don't do things more than twice and have your computer work for you (this is what it's intended for)

Console = streamable = use the tools you already have to extend everything's power

This comes from a Win32 console user. Get yourself a shitload of utilities and start hacking.

You might consider PCBSD. It's goal is to be "easy to use and install", and it's able to run most of the same programs that Linux is able to, all that's missing is the GNU/Kool-aid loonix fanboi factor.

http://www.pcbsd.org

>>34

That looks sweet.  If only there were more developers.  At least these guys try to make it simple for the average desktop user.

from this thread and things i have i have read elsewhere, it sounds like ubuntu is the one for me.  that, and ubuntu-tan is HAWT
/junglefever

There's an Ubuntu-tan? Why was I not informed?
*googles*
Hah, and there's wallpapers of her. Sweet. Guess what my wallpaper is going to be when I get Ubuntu.

http://images.google.com/images?q=ubuntu-tan

I don't know if I'd go so far as to say "jungle fever"; but you be the judge.

>>36
>>37

"RTFM!" will be the standard response to any problem you might have.  Are you sure you really want to go down this path?

>>39
You're thinking of Debian. The Ubuntu community is actually very helpful to noobs. Largely because it consists almost entirely of noobs itself. The more likely response will be "oh well try clicking on the thing with the stupid name" or "open a term and type some random crap that I don't understand but someone else told me to type when I had a problem that bore a superficial resemblance to yours."