I wanna try Debian and there are alot of cd's and 2 dvd's. But i am too lazy to get all the cd's/dvd's and I dont have the fastest connection either so iam wondering what cd's i need to install the basic Gnome desktop with some tools for browsing and stuff. The rest ill get though apt. I only need an English system.

Just the first full CD will get you gnome and a collection of apps. be sure to select "Desktop" and "Standard" when it asks you what type of system you want.

If you have broadband I'd opt for the net install iso; the net install iso is small about 150 MB. That's what I use to install Debian. I then pull down what I want using aptitude.

thanks for the quick reply

Doing a netinstall is sometimes less total data downloaded over all than if you downloaded the first CD .iso


As an example

CD1 = 650 MB
Updates after install = 50 MB
Total Data Downloaded = 700 MB


Netinstall.iso = 150 MB
Data downloaded during netinstall 400 MB
Total Data downloaded = 550 MB

Those numbers are just representations of what MIGHT occur during an install.. the CD1.iso is obviously a fixed size. the netinstall is going to vary by package selection. additional packages not included on CD1 will be additional data downloaded.

The best explanation available.