[Justin]

I have wanted to try linux for ages, but I never got around to it. What is the point of Linux, and where is the best place to start if I was interesting in installing a Linux OS on my PC?

Which should I install?

Thanks for answering this newbs questions!

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What is the point of Linux, and where is the best place to start if I was interesting in installing a Linux OS on my PC?

Linux has the same point as Windows, It keeps the expensive hardware you have from being a door stop. Linux is an Operating System for getting work done with digital data. The point of Linux is the point of free software, "freedom for you to make it what you want it to be." If you want you can download and modify,change and/or add to the source code to meet your needs, wants or desires. Linux will do most everything Windows will and in most cases more.

Where to start is with Live CD's, no installation required. Boot from CD and take it for a test drive.

Knoppix
Ubuntu
Kubuntu
Xubuntu
SimplyMepis
OpenSuse 10
Slax 5.1x
DSL

Many more to choose from at Distrowatch.com

[silverbeard]

What is the point of Linux, and where is the best place to start if I was interesting in installing a Linux OS on my PC?

Linux has the same point as Windows, It keeps the expensive hardware you have from being a door stop. Linux is an Operating System for getting work done with digital data. The point of Linux is the point of free software, "freedom for you to make it what you want it to be." If you want you can download and modify,change and/or add to the source code to meet your needs, wants or desires. Linux will do most everything Windows will and in most cases more.

Where to start is with Live CD's, no installation required. Boot from CD and take it for a test drive.

Knoppix
Ubuntu
Kubuntu
Xubuntu
SimplyMepis
OpenSuse 10
Slax 5.1x
DSL

Many more to choose from at Distrowatch.com

[Justin]

Thanks, Ill look into some of those =)

[deathninja]

For what it's worth if you are coming from Windows, you may prefer the KDE interface. It has a similar look and may seem less "foreign".

Kubuntu is a great example, allthough most distros will do KDE, some even let you choose your interface during install.

The two major advantages to Linux are Security and its Free!!!

[Kemasa]

Linux is a port of Unix to the PC platform, basically by rewriting it by Linus T. It is a real operating system and well designed. In addition to it being more secure and free, it is also far more stable. It is easier to save the user's data and to protect the system against the user since normal use can be done with a non-root account.

You will need to learn different things, but you won't have as much to worry about with respect to viruses, spyware and the like.

[SpaceCowboy706]

If your going to try one out for the first time.... don't make the mistake i did and go with Mandrake... I was able to get it up and running fine from the live cd... and then able to install it from the live cd to a second drive...and easily get it to dual boot with windows (little help from G2G on that)

but.....

when i went to locate some of the FREE Software everyone raves about i entered the realm of NIGHTMARES on how to install it. It was very buggy (as someone here at G2G told me ) One piece of software required another pice just to startup, then another piece to display, and another piece for the gui... and so on...

It was never ending and it was to be figured out using the Evil black box and a whole slew of commands that I had never heard of

I finally got sick of it, uninstalled it and found the one im using right now... THIS ONE I WOULD RECCOMEND TO ALL NEW LINUX USERS WHO ARE USED TO WINDOWS... here is why:


If you want to avoid the evil black box this one has a user interface similar to XP (not really though either)

If you want thousands upon thousand of different free software that is installed with the click of a button

If you want all your software dependency problems solved for you (again avoiding the evil black box)

If you want the versatility to do dang near anything as far as modifying how your desktop, panels, themes, icons, cursors, look and react (again all for free - no stardock fees)

If you want to be able to do anything you want with the software (no worries about illegal hacking, keygens, cracks, or any of that garbage). <-- pretty much true for all versions i think... im going on my 4th day with it now.

I would reccomend............................. Ubuntu ........................ I love it and I will never return to windows, except to play my PC games. PS..... It's also rated Number 1 right now by Distrowatch

The most uptodate distro (and the one i used) can be found below, along with instruction on how to burn an ISO and then a link to thier forums for help.

http://www.ubuntu.com/download

[Josiah]

I was in the same boat as you a couple of months ago and i found ubuntu to be the answer for me but Suse and fedora are good too... they are free try them all.

[Justin]

I got ubuntu...and I like it, but I didnt have the time to get used to it, so im sticking with windows until summer break. Very nie write up though, thanks =)