Starting Out

[[PCE]Psycho]

Hi All,

I want to start playing around with linux so I've got a couple of questions.

First what would be a good version to start with?

And secondly what would be a good system to use. I want to build another Box to run it on as I don't want to dual boot any of my current boxes.

Can you help me?

Psycho

[cloasters]

Many people really like Mandrake for their first Linux installation. I like SuSE a lot, but it's simply a personal preference. Up to date Linux's install very easily. SuSE 8.0 was as easy as XP, or even easier.

You could get away with a K6-2 with 128 Mb Of RAM. However, modern Linux's are heavy on the GUI, and 256 or 512 Mb of RAM won't go to waste.

Currently, I have SuSE 8.0 Pro installed on a Duron 1300 machine running at stock.
The OS wouldn't mind a a faster machine, at all!
The present Linux box:
ECS K7S5A, Duron 1300, 512 Mb Crucial CL2 PC-133, GeForce 2 GTS-V, SB PCI-512, Intel 10/100 NIC and a Sparkle 350W PS.

I have 100 cfm going through the case and a Vantec 62450D HS, with a Delta Screamer.

You can get away wih slower hardware, but the GUI wants more.

[loop]

I used Mandrake 9 and was very happy. I ran it on a duron 1gig, 256meg ram, 30gig hdd, geforce 3 and it was fine.
My advice is any question or problem dont be afraid to hit google and every linux forum you can find. The support community with linux is great.

[[PCE]Psycho]

Hi,

Thanks for the feedback. I originaly wanted to start playing with linux 6months ago but made the mistake of not researching into it only to find that I couldn't get any versions to install on my all in one mobo.

I'm going to go with:
ECS K7S5A
Duron 1100

I think as the ECS is the cheapest non DDR mobo I can find at the moment and the Duron is the cheapest CPU. I'll probally use my 32MB TNT2 PCI card for graphics.

As for which version I'll have to deceided and then download (which will take ages on 56K)

Thanks guys

[loop]

I run a k7s5a, works fine with it. Even the onboard sound

[cloasters]

Somewhere on SuSE's German site I discovered that SuSE 7.3, or a version that's newer than 7.3--yet older than 8.0--is "officially approved" for the ECS K7S5A. I don't remember where I found it, sorry.
As the K7S5A is "officially approved" by AMD, is there a better choice?

[PCE]Psycho,
Why not have a look at www.cheapbytes.com ? They offer CD-ROMS of many Linux distro's, for dirt cheap. Mo' betta to spend ~$10 at Cheapbytes than dream of DLing 80 Mb ISO's on dial-up. Plus, you have the CD-ROM.

[Superman]

SuSE is indeed pretty nice looking. I really haven't taken much of a look at it's configuration stuff, but I liked the 8.1 KDE theme

Mandrake does a good job, also. I don't really like Red Hat much, but some people swear by it. I think they're becoming the Microsoft of the Linux world, personally

[[PCE]Psycho]

Originally posted by cloasters
[PCE]Psycho,
Why not have a look at www.cheapbytes.com ? They offer CD-ROMS of many Linux distro's, for dirt cheap. Mo' betta to spend ~$10 at Cheapbytes than dream of DLing 80 Mb ISO's on dial-up. Plus, you have the CD-ROM.

The problem with that is, is that I live in the UK. DO you know of any sites like that, that are UK based?

[Kaitain]

Cheeplinux seems to be the UK equivalent.

[cloasters]

Cheeplinux.com is very much like Cheapbytes. Looks a lot spiffier, though!