Im pretty much fed up with windows (currently using ME) and want to wipe my comp and start over with linux. I dont have any experience, but i can usually figure things out as long as they arent extreamly complicated. The ideal os would be one that runs all the basics without all the extra crap thrown in. Does it sound like slackware would be my best option, if not then what would? Just thought id see what some more exerienced users thought, thanks.

read up about linux on the net to grasp the basics, then sure by all means try slackware the install is pretty easy if u can deal with text installers. And slack is very fast and very stable so you cant go wrong with good old slack.

Having used Slackware since ~1993, I can honestly say it's come a long way since then, but you may want to practice on a second machine/hd before you blow away MS.

The installation of 10.1 (for me) has been relatively painless, but you can still run into problems that will require looking up new information (sound drivers, for one).

BUT - as someone in an article I've read somewhere noted, people that learn Red Hat, SuSe, etc., pretty much just learn that distribution, but people that learn Slackware learn Unix.

If you can get past the initial learning curve for Slackware, I believe it's well worth the effort.

BTW - I use Dropline Gnome for my desktop, but Patrick has decided to drop Gnome support entirely from the "supported" Slackware distribution (see the changelog for some of his noted on this); so if you decide to use KDE, you can probably get help from the Slackware forums, but Gnome help will be a little harder to find.

- Ken
Slackin' since ~1993

Slackware is amazing for newbs.

Please read the book first !!!!!

I can't stress enough, please, please, please !!!!!

http://slackbook.org/

Please Read It, It's Your New Best Friend!

Slackware is the only one for me.

You'll soon see why we love linux so much.

I can't describe how much I love linux over windows.

I don't have the time

I would suggest you start with something like knoppix. It will be an easy installation with most stuff already configured.

Did you say Windows ME ?

Windows ME?

Wow, that has to be the very worst operating system ever created.

BSOD all night long my freind

I agree with Ken that if you are new to Linux you should not just through away your ME. Try duel booting at least. Also you can try out many LiveCD distros to see which best suits your needs.
http://www.frozentech.com/content/livecd.php

Slackware is a good choice to start as well. This is a tough issue but is really a matter of preference and you will get 10 diff answers from 10 diff people.

Also the person in the above article your refering is full of you know what. They are all Linux based systems, NOT UNIX. RH, SuSe, Slackware, are all good Distros to learn Linux... If you want to learn Unix get a BSD based distro.

Just a thought

KC

Here is my I would suggest setting up a dual boot configuration on your system, keeping Windows, along side Slack, it works for me....... However on the Windows side, do try to upgrade from ME , to at least win2kpro, if not XP. ME was more of a rushed version of windows until the release of XP, and so ME is not really complete, and has major problems

dual booting can be scary for a noob.

Live cd probably less intimidating.

In a few weeks he can format th HD an install slackware

Thanks for the help. Im downloading the Slax Live CD version right now to check it out, and my dad has offered me his old 98 machine to mess around with before i screw with mine which is probably a good idea. The book looks helpful, il be sure to check it out. Thanks again for the tips, hopefully ill be able to ditch windows completely soon, ME definatly is the worst os ever, i cant beleive ive put up with it for 3+ years.

They should force murderers to 5 years of using a windows ME box

That would break anyone

Dual booting is not really that scary, since I myself installed my first Slack distro, 7.0 alongside TWO flavours of windows, 98 and NT4 , and it was rather painless, of course I installed on the MBR, and that was before I know how to work with superblocks and having linux load from the NTLDR instead of from the MBR. The instructions on the Slackware site on how to dual boot from the superblock was very easy to follow and still works very well with the latest release. Take a chance, if you have everything backed up, you have nothing to lose if it fails, because even that is a learning experience, take it from me.

Note: Everyone starts off as a noob, nobody is automatically an expert, and I sure as hell don't claim myself as one, maybe an intermediate Slack user, MAYBE, but not even that yet, I have much more to learn, but I am enjoying myself every step of the way.

I agree it is very easy.

But I remember how scary it was coming from Windows ME myself. All that tech crap was overwheling. Now it's second nature. He'll get it.

Windows instills fear

Linux is Freedom !

I just recently started using Linux in general (i started with slackware) after coming from a complete M$ background. The one thing I would recommend would be to find someone to help you look at the packages and explain what everything does, and have someone help you pick out what you want to use if you are going to compile your own kernel.

Oh, and if you are going to dual-boot, just use partition magic to partition everything, it is incredibly easy to do.

As long as you're prepared to learn, and prepared to have some things not work right away out of the box, then yeah, Slack, and Linux in general, is good for newbies. The biggest thing is being prepared to learn a little and do some research.

Then again, sometimes you have to do that with Windows. If you really want something that doesn't require configuration, you need an iMac.