ok , so i want to learn about linux and i'v used Macs all my life, so i went and found Debian (debian.org) and saw that u can download a small iso to burn and install a bare bones system then download desktop,games,ect. via aptitude.

so here's the problem i have linux installed. i just downloaded/installed the ade desktop but what now. i have linux for dummies and they talk about x11 should i get that

linux for dummies is just for x86 linux not ppc so that isn't of much use

i'm doing this on a the first imac (the colored ones)

i also have ubuntu coming in 4-6 weeks lol

x11 is the graphically server that, as far as I understand it, allows you to run windowed applications such as KDE. So, regardless of machine architecture you would need x11 installed.

apt-get install xserver-xorg x-window-system-core

so just type that in and all be on my way?

ok going to try that

ok i typed that in it said
E:could not open lock file /var/lib/dpkgl/lock - open ( 13 permission denied )
E: unable to lock the admin directory , are you root

i don't know how to become root manully but should i use aptitude to get it , it ask's me for the root pass before i download any thing


ok so i whent and type apt-get....it opened and i type xserver-xorg x-window-system-core
it said that it could not find the file or directory for xserver-xorg so Nathanael u think u spell it wrong??

ok i found out how to become root i did type in the stuff u said and it read the the packeges made dpendeciy tree and then said it didn't find xserver-xorg

i think i need to download this??
if i do could u tell me how

Post your /etc/apt/sources.list file. I suspect you're using Sarge (the current stable release) which uses xserver-xfree86 instead.

Oh, and you should always do apt-get update before installing anything. It will download the latest package list so that you'll only install the most up to date packages.

another hint... apt-cache pkgnames xserver will show you what is available

hey i don't like giving up on things at all but should i just download kubuntu and use that to get me started

u know once i become more linux savy

then i'll try debian

but relly thanks for ur help

If you do decide to go that way, check out the Unofficial Ubuntu Guide and Automatix.

Just remember that if you use Kubuntu, wherever they say sudo gedit to instead use sudo kate (I think that's KDE's gui text editor) or sudo nano,joe,pico,emacs,vi,whatevertexteditoryoulike.

Well, I burned the LiveCD of Ubuntu and got Linux working on my PowerBook. Very easy, and it was exciting :P

If you are new at Linux, and want to learn debian, I would recomend Ubuntu. That way you have an easy to move around desktop system right away but still have debian under the hood and it will make the conversion to linux/debian more painless.

I think you should try yellow dog linux, a linux distro developed specifically for use with a powerpc (which in turn means all of the old macs). I do not know of how well ubuntu and other os's support macs, but I would bet that a linux distro based from the ground up on the powerpc architecture might have zero problems with a mac. But I have never tried the distro, so you might want to talk to someone who has.

Ok so you want minimalistic CD with almost everything.
Here's your destination:
http://slax.linux-live.org/download.php

hi i have kbuntu installed it works grate love it

ya kate the text editor. i looked at automatrix it looks cool but i like adept. the Unofficial Ubuntu Guide is only for 5.0.4

but any ways i love it and i would recomend kubuntu to any one with a low end machine (eg. with macOSX u stop getting java updates after each major system update. u dont get java 1.5 if ur runing 10.2.

pluse i like the its gets a major ( or thats what i hread) updated every 6 months