friendly linux

[dannyboy]

curious john wrote:

I have updated to Mandrake8.2. Its a little slicker and gives option of a minimal install of something like 80MB although this is without a gui. Minimal install is probably not useful to average pc user. ...

Guess I assumed that since Mandrake was on 3 CD's, You had to install the whole thing to hard drive and it would be 2 gig or bigger. It sounds like I only have to put what I want on hard drive and 1 gig would be sufficient. Also sounds like you have tried several versions of linux & you recommend Mandrake. I might get the CDs and give it a try. I consider myself computer literate, but Phat, Winlinux, & Peanut make little sense to me at all. Closest experience I had was Phat. Got GUI up but could not connect to internet.
Also, thanks to everybody on the thread for sharing their experiences. Maybe Mandrake is the most friendly Linux.
Dan

[curious john]

Use a little care when setting up Mandrake and 1 gig could be enough. Just uncheck boxes like crazy so bunch default stuff doesnt get loaded. Also dont let it install both KDE and GNOME desktops, this wastes lot space but for some reason is the default. Maybe because some software is dependent on one or the other. If you want to minimize space used can forgo both and pick a much lighter desktop like Blackbox. If worst comes to worst, as long as you can get something installed you can always go back and add/delete things later. I messed around and found I could get a minimal gui desktop set up with around 300 to 400 mb. Remember like windows, you dont want to use your whole hardrive just for the operating system. Mandrake is easiest install in my opinion, but for people with limited space, I always recommend Mu Linux or Dragon Linux to play with. I should like Peanut, but I just dont. Had all kinds of hassles trying to install it. Maybe its improved by now, I dont know.

[dannyboy]

Ordered Mandrake 8.2 this morning from  www.edmunds-enterprises.com  for $7.47(including shipping). I hope Mandrake will work on a Windows ME computer. I may have shot myself in the foot. After going around in circles with "mini" linux's (Phat, WinLinux, Peanut) I decided to upgrade from 98 to ME. Well, now I realize that the "mini" linux DEPENDS on DOS being available. I tried to reinstall Phat and got message "DOS required".
I assume that Mandrake is a "native" system and could care less about DOS.

Dan
(wouldn't be the first time I shot myself in the foot )

[woofer]

No Mandrake does not care whether you have DOS installed. It does not use a dos formatted partion but rather a Linux type. The only possible "shooting in the foot" on this one is that Mandrake will soon be releasing a newer version, but for only $7.95 at least you are not out much.

I agree with a previous poster in being rather selective on what you install if disk space is at a premium. Mandrake has a tendency to install lots and lots of stuff if you let it.

Have fun with it.

[realgeorge]

I am thinking of trying Dragon Linux. I have never used anything but windows 95 & 98. I do a lot of work that requires java and wonder if linux handles java well. Also, is it possible to switch and us either system when one wants to? There is a lite and a full version. Which would be best?
_________________
If you confess with your mouth, "Jesus Is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead you will be saved. For, Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Rom 10

[woofer]

Dragon Linux is a distribution that will install to your windows partition. It will place an icon on your screen which should make it very easy to switch between the two. You will not need to reboot your computer to enter Dragon linux.

The lite version appears to have just console applications. The full version contains X plus various window managers. If you are more comfortable with a GUI environment, the full version may suite you better.

Dragon linux appears to be based upon Slackware - a linux distribution known to be somewhat unfriendly to new Linux users.

Hope this helps.

[realgeorge]

I`m not familar with any of the terms you are using. What is the GUI enviroment refering to, etc?
_________________
If you confess with your mouth, "Jesus Is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead you will be saved. For, Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Rom 10

[gui]

GUI is Graphical User Interface. Like windows GUI uses graphics & pictures. DOS was typed commands & parameters. There are severals brands of GUI that can be attached to Linux.

[realgeorge]

I would like to try a lite version for beginners similar to dragon linux that is user friendly. what would you recommend?
_________________
If you confess with your mouth, "Jesus Is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead you will be saved. For, Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Rom 10

[curious john]

The only distribution I can think of that would be even easier than ones I already suggested is "DemoLinux". This *** runs with cd in your cd player and refers back to it so makes your cd player churn quite a bit. Need a fast cd player. Mine is 50x and Demo runs ok but slower than a distribution that is installed to hardrive. Also it didnt have drivers for my video and sound card, just uses a generalized driver. Still cant get any easier since you just pop it in your cd player. There is an option to "anchor" it to your hardrive to save files and software. It wont install itself to your hardrive, just data and maybe software files if you choose this option. I didnt really mess that much with it. Mainly intended for people to experience Linux without installing or uninstalling anything. Also people who want to use Linux on somebody elses computer without changing anything on that computer. Exactly as it is named, it is a demonstration version of Linux. If you have a hardware modem (no winmodems need apply), you can even surf the web with Demo although I remember it being kind of slow. Think I gave $2 or $3 for my copy. Guess some computer mags sent Demo cds out free. Play with Demo, then install Mu, Dragon, or Mandrake. Heck just get a used 2 or 3 gig hardrive, install as second hardrive and install Mandrake. It will make inexperienced newbie happier than any other distribution I think.

[curious john]

My memory was fuzzy on Demo, so I "installed" it (Demo 2.0)and am using it now. It really isnt too bad to surf with(not nearly as slow as I remembered) although took me a while to get KDE dialer to function. The auto DNS didnt work (works on Mandrake) so had to give it a DNS number. The Gnome dialer wouldnt work at all or actually it would although connection would immediately close. Demo will give you a taste of what Linux is like but you will probably get tired of it after a while. Definitely easy to get going with no changes to your hardrive. Didnt like my other computer which only has a cd burner. Wouldnt recognize it as a cd player although it will function as cdplayer with only a generic driver.

[curious john]

I didnt notice cd player churning I remembered. Apparently it installs to a ram disk. Fast cd player only needed to boot up in reasonable time since ram disk has to be re-established every time you boot up. Goodly bit of memory helps. Maybe thats why its working better. I increased my ram significantly since trying this before.

Also little search shows Demo3.0 is available. I only have Demo2.0 version.

[curious john]

sorry, link is:  www.demolinux.org 

[woofer]

There is another version of linux along the lines on Demo Linux called Knoppix. It too runs off a CD. I have seen quite a few posts about it lately. I have not used it myself but it may also be something for you to consider. Its web site is  www.knoppix.org. 

As the previous poster suggested, getting a spare hard drive and devoting it to linux might just be the ticket. Mandrake is a decent choice for new users. There are quite a number of choices for distributions. That's the good thing about Linux. Choice.

[nice gui]

This Linux GUI looks like Windows XP.

 http://www.lycoris.com/products/desktoplx/desktop/ 

[woofer]

Lycoris is the distribution that if memory serves started out named redmond linux. That should tell ya something......

[EasyriderFL]

I coulda sworn that they bought Corel Linux... I remember hearin' the name before somewhere... Whoops!!! No, that was Xandros...




_________________
Will work for beer!!!

[Steve-o]

You know,

I started playing with Xandros last week, and much to my shagrin found it easy to use and that crossover application gives me some much needed extras I couldn't find otherwise.

For me, I spend a ton of money in software for macromedia, ms office, and I also use an rdc connection on Windows. Xandros was able to take all of the software I had, put it into the crossover app for use on its linux platform and I can use the rdc without a problem.

I am recommending this to all my friends who need an easy transition from windows to linux. For any program windows can do better, linux can take its functionality and apply it to its OS.

[R Vijay]

Steve-o wrote:

You know, I started playing with Xandros last week, and much to my shagrin found it easy to use and that crossover application gives me some much needed extras I couldn't find otherwise. For me, I spend a ton of money in software for macromedia, ms office, and I also use an rdc connection on Windows. Xandros was able to take all of the software I had, put it into the crossover app for use on its linux platform and I can use the rdc without a problem. I am recommending this to all my friends who need an easy transition from windows to linux. For any program windows can do better, linux can take its functionality and apply it to its OS.

What is rdc ? What is the crossover application in Xandros called ?

Thanks.

Vijay
_________________