It seems that the answer to my question is:

Install Debian Etch (So the pen drives are mounted automatically)
Use gnome (Or Kde, not yet determined ;-), so that the hard drives look similar to Windows, meaning that I don't have to look in the mnt directory)
And Finally look into www.gnome-look.org (or www.kde-look.org) so Linux looks to its best, and she gets in love with it...

What do you think??

Thanks

Fabricio

Greetings from Costa Rica

I think KDE is more complete.

Sounds like a plan! Umm...wait. Actually, there's one question which we all forgot to ask. Do you have a fast internet connection? If so, then go to Debian's web site and download the Etch/testing net installer.

If not, then think about using a different Linux distribution. Debian is great if you've got a fast internet connection, but without a fast internet connection Debian comes on just too many discs. You can probably make do with just the first few discs, and using the internet repositories for the occasional package that's not on the first few...but it's not the happiest solution.

If you lack a fast internet connection, something like Kanotix or Mepis may be a better idea.

I'm in the University, so right now I have a fast Internet connection, so I can download as many disks as I need... But the computer in which i have intended to install Linux does not have a Internet connection, does this imply a problem??

No, there's no problem if the computer doesn't have an internet connection after the software is installed.

You should install using the net-installer while connected at the University, rather than downloading a bunch of CDs. The net-installer is a very small CD. It will set up Debian to download the rest of the packages as needed directly over the internet rather than off of CD.

When you get to the part where it asks what packages you want to install, make sure to select the "Desktop Workstation" suite and the "Base system" suite (currently, these are selected by default and they're the top and bottom options). This will install all of the basics as well as the GNOME desktop environment.

After the install finishes, you will want to install more. Log in and open an terminal window. Then type in the following commands:
Now, here's an annoying thing about Etch. By default I think it puts the CDs on the list of sources to get packages from. I have no idea why it does this even if you use the net-installer. You have to manually remove it from the list. Are you familiar with how to edit a text file with vi? If so, then do so and insert a "#" in front of the CD entry to comment it out. If not, then ask for more advice here about how exactly to do that.

Anyway, after the sources.list is appropriately changed, enter the following commands:
This updates apt-get's software cache, and then installs a bunch of new packages. These are:

kde - the KDE desktop environment (big!)
openoffice.org - Open Office
kaffeine - my favorite media player; a KDE application
gqview - my favorite image viewer; a Gtk application

Note that you can run KDE apps in GNOME, and you can run GNOME apps in KDE. I use KDE, but I also use a number of GNOME applications within it.

No problem.

Thanks to all, I'll start the substitution of Windows 98 in the afternoon, wish me luck...

Fabricio

fabricio ,

Linux is not windows and never will be, if you want to look at Hybrid Distros try the links Below:

AMIGO Linux
http://amigolinux.org/

DragonLinux
http://dragonlinux.sourceforge.net/

Klinux Linux
http://70.84.79.46/ar/announce-en.htm

monkey Linux
http://ftp.spsselib.hiedu.cz/pub/linux/monkey/

Phat Linux
http://phatlinux.com/

• Topologi Linux
http://topologi-linux.sourceforge.net/

ReactOS
http://www.reactos.org/xhtml/en/index.html

Lindspire
http://www.linspire.com/


Another 1 you might wanna try is PCLinuxOS, it is the easiesat Linux around with Functionality and it is easy, very Little configaration is needed, everything works right from the Box

PCLinuxOS
http://www.pclinuxos.com/page.php?6

hope this helps,

Jake

Thanks, I'll check it out...

Fabricio

Well, I am convinced , I'm going to install Debian Etch.. But not only in my friend's computer, but in my computer too (Which means I'll try to install XGL on my computer)....
But I have a question before I start the download of the cds, should I download the weekly-build or should I download other version??

Another thing, how many CDs should I download?

Thanks

Fabricio

Only download the very small net-installer CD. This is really small, somewhere between 100-200megs in size. It will install everything else by downloading/installing directly from the Internet.

(Obviously, you'll want to install all of the software while still connected to the Internet.)

Sorry, I forgot to tell you one thing, the computers in which I have intended to install Debian (Etch) do not have an Internet connection, so I need to download everything before the installation process, so what would you recommend me, weekly-builds? How Many CDs?

Thanks

Fabricio

So, you don't have the option to temporarily connect the computer to the Internet at your university? Hmm...well, if you don't mind downloading/creating a bunch of discs and then spending a lot of time swapping discs around, then you can download and install them.

However, it might be less trouble to install a Debian variant like Kanotix where you get most of the useful software on just one or two discs.

Well I prefer to try Debian Etch, I'm going to download the weekly-build I hope it is as much as stable as a non weekly-build...

Thanks

Fabricio

Just to warn you, if you end up changing your mind, don't go with K/Ubuntu. I have it installed on my comp, but I found it to be one of the worst distros I've ever used, with horrible hardware support (it couldn't even detect my CD burner.
For great hardware support, try PCLinuxOS (pclinuxos.com).
It's decently easy to use, and it is also a Live CD, so you can try it before you install it.

And of course, if your not pressed for time, I'd be honored if you tried my distro, Llama Linux. It's based off PCLinuxOS, but it is made for the beginning user, and the advanced user. (But you still can find it easy to use.
I'm about to release .001 in a few days (yes, it's very new) but it will allow you to (once you get familiar with Linux)use it's advanced features. It has everything you'll need to have a basic/advanced desktop, with the easiest usability you can get. I'm actually going to be making scripts (at the user's request) that will do pretty much anything you'd want.
I'm hoping to release it sometime this week on SourceForge. If you (or anyone) want's to try it, you can check it out at http://llamalinux.sf.net/ . I'm still waiting for a confirmation from SF so I should have downloads available on Friday. It currently only fits on a DVD, but we will soon be releasing a "Lite" version which will fit on a normal CD, and, unlike Debian, it fit's on one DVD. You will need a DVD drive, of course...