Alrighty then...

I've scanned through this forum a bit, and I have an idea on what Linux is about and capable of. However, in many ways things are clear as mud, so I thought I'd post my specific requirements and main question.

Should I try out Linux?

My hardware:
Asus CUV4X
Matrox G400 video (single head, oem)
2 ATA 100 hard drives (IBM and Maxtor)
LG 8160B burner
network card
usb led mouse
Gina 20 audio card (don't think this will ever be supported)

I use my computer for:
d/l and u/l pics from my Canon digital camera (usb, Elph s110)
wordprocessing
Adobe Illustrator stuff
Adobe Photoshop stuff
web browsing
burning and copying audio and data cds
email
watching dvds

I guess i'd need a new soundcard for audio stuff. I'm not sure if my cdr is supported. I currently use and like StarOffice. I'm not sure if Gimp is a suitable substitute for the Adobe products (I don't do anything terribly fancy).

So what is everyone's opinion? Is it worth a shot? BTW, I've spent a lot of time lately configuring my win2000 system for optimized audio production (I'll keep the win2000 in a dual boot setup), and fixing a crashed hard drive: ie. I don't want to spend hours and hours just for the fun of checking out Linux. Having said that, I do like learning, and I'd like to keep away from M$.

thanks,
sluggo

Well, Adobe products sadly dont run on Linux. I am a gfx designer myself but i found GIMP to be a great replacement for photoshop! its free too.

Gimp is a very powerful tool, if you know how to use it. I do believe it could replace your adobe products if you learn to use it. Linux is capable of doing all the things you want to do, but you better plan on spending a little time learning how to achieve them all. You say you like to learn, so that shouldn't be a problem. I would like to know, however, how you have your win2k system "optimized" for audio production using the sound card you have. If you want to stay away from MS then Linux is your best bet. I'd say give it a try, if you don't like it or get frustrated to easily, well, I suppose you can continue to use win2k.

You said you were going to dual boot so give Linux a try anyway.
I use Linux Mandrake8.1 & win98 at home.
I work with windows NT/2000 machines in work & would choose Linux any day of the week.

You said you liked learning, so try Linux, it's much more secure & FUN.
Keep windows cos you will definitely have problems if you've no previos *nix experience.

Just install Linux on a couple of gig dualbooting with windows & use windows for the things that wont work on Linux ( unless you configure them to do so ) & you will find your self using Linux more & more.

amp2000

Thanks for replies.

@Risc91, my audio card is an Echo Gina20. This card is a higher end "professional" card. I believe they run about $800 cdn. Echo just released a new driver for win2k/xp (they've had a beta for a while now). win2k (or xp if you can get all of your hardware drivers) is becoming the preferred PC os for audio.

I actually know a little bit about Unix, as far as mounting drives, privilages, etc... That was a few years ago, when I was in charge of a couple of silicon graphics workstations. We'll see how this goes....

I was thinking of using Mandrake 8.1. Two last questions: is it likely that I'll be able to find good cd burning and backup software (with a easy-to-use interface), to go with my cdr? Are there problems getting new hardware to work, such as my cdr?

thanks

sluggo

there are lots of cd-burning programs, as far as a user is concerned, but they all genreally use the same program underneath. support is good generally, and madrake will configure your cdrwiter automatically.

The software for CDR-RW is not a problem at all, Mandy comes with xcdroast, gcombust and eroaster (these are frontends to cdrecord, mkisofs, etc), also if your drive is an ATAPI it has never been easier in linux to make it work as scsi through ide-scsi emmulation, the details can be found in linuxgazette