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-   -   i have linux... what now? (https://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/linux-newbie-8/i-have-linux-what-now-424792/)

D_O_Y_L_E 03-14-2006 01:40 PM

i have linux... what now?
 
i have successfuly insatlled mandrake linux after screwing my hard drive three times ;) haha
what can i do now with linux that makes it so well known and good? i mean its really interesting since it something new and so far all i have really learned to do is install some microsoft equilivant programs using commands... so whats my next step.. buy a book? start experimenting with things?
any suggestions?
thanks

zaphod_es 03-14-2006 01:53 PM

Well done and welcome to Linux.

You can do pretty well what you like in Linux. Do what you want to do, maybe make music, write programs, write books, design web pages, administer and protect your network, run your own web server ... this could be a long list. All the software you need is included with the Mandriva (if it really is Mandrake it is a little dated). Install what you need and learn how to use it.

It is different from Windows, the most difficult thing to do is to unlearn half of what you know, work out which half that is and how to learn the new half. Yes, buy a book, read Q&A on forums, read the help files and ask away on LinuxQuestions.

As a first step I would advise you to learn about users, groups, root and file permissions. Until you understand them you will find it quite difficult to do a lot of things in Linux.

ZB

dtcs 03-14-2006 02:37 PM

I would recommend checking out the games they may not be the best but most new comers always start with that. After loosing interest in that you have to find something else, try installing,configuring and decorating a new window managers KDE/GNOME arent the only ones. Next install drivers to support new hardware like your printer or web cam(if they arent already). In a nut shell try to make your system behave and look like the way you want to and soon you will find yourself hacking.

External Floppy 03-14-2006 03:25 PM

I'm new to Linux myself, got Linux Format OpenSuse 10 Special just after Xmas, and am having a ball. If tinkering with your system (as previously mentioned) isn't your thing (personally I think you can't beat a good tinker), then make sure you've done a full install and have a play with some/all of the software. My jaw hit the floor at the amount of stuff that's included (for 'free') with Linux, it'd cost £1000's in W*nd*ws!! Office, Graphics, Music, Developing, Web Design....all catered for!! If you don't want to fork out for a book try a magazine, Linux Format features several tutorials each month and is a wealth of information. I realised I've mentioned them twice but I promise I don't work for them! There is a plethora of other mags :)

As for books, I bought 'Suse Linux 10 for Dummies', admittedly it's aimed at total newbs (newbs to computing, never mind Linux :) )but then even Gordan Ramsay had to learn how to boil an egg!! :)

crAckZ 03-14-2006 07:44 PM

It will really depend on what you use your pc for. i use programming so i got qt, kbasic (<--no laughing), perl and soon python. plenty of stuff out there to play with. learn a programming language, make movies.
what makes linux so know is you can use it, configure it and make it your own. just have fun:D :study:

cs-cam 03-14-2006 08:23 PM

Head over to lynucs.org, pick something you like and try to copy it. Then when your friends are over you can make sure you computer is just casually on where they can see and they'll think it looks cool :p

pixellany 03-14-2006 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by D_O_Y_L_E
i have successfuly insatlled mandrake linux after screwing my hard drive three times ;) haha
what can i do now with linux that makes it so well known and good? i mean its really interesting since it something new and so far all i have really learned to do is install some microsoft equilivant programs using commands... so whats my next step.. buy a book? start experimenting with things?
any suggestions?
thanks

Glad to see you back.....
The first question is "what do you WANT to do?" My experience is that I always started with some app that is important to me--eg wordprocessor, photo editor, etc.

Pick something that interests you and work with it. When you get stuck, search Google, come here, buy a book. etc.

How do you use a computer? Games, Word processing, surfing??

D_O_Y_L_E 03-14-2006 09:15 PM

thanks a lot everyone. that is some good advice. i like to use my computer mostly for music and media, but i would like ot get into some programming, learn how to make those java applets you always see on the internet. i took c programming for engineers last semester but that was a joke and kind of boring really but maybe that was just because it was a course and it follows a curriculum. anwyays do you know of any tutorials or books or mags that can help with java programming/.?

crAckZ 03-14-2006 09:20 PM

http://www.javalinux.net/JavaLinux/

google ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ linux java programming.
also check out the programming threads at the bottom of the main forum

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...isplay.php?f=9


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