I really don't get it. I'm used to work with Slackware, Debian and already did some Mandrake and a few other distros in old times, including RedHat in its younger days. 2 weeks ago someone at work asked me to get some stuff done in a RedHat box. The only thought I could keep in mind was: "Is this really a linux system???" I didn't really know how to move around. Everything is so different. Default tools replaced by their own without a warning. I really thought about getting some reading done about RedHat. They claim to be a very easy distribution but I don't really think like that. KDE menus are too strange. No default tools. Couldn't even change boot stuff 'cause I couldn't find the tool that exists within Control Center in KDE (and as I didn't know a bit about GRUB I was in the dark). Their struggle to make RedHat easy just makes it too complicated when you're used to simple console tools.

What about vector linux? I read it is easy and suited for old machines. I did a test install, but it gave an error. It failed to format the ext3 partition.
I'm trying to replace win98se on a pentium 166MHz/49MB ram and 5 GB hdd.

Hey Bruno buys, give a try to the Slackware Live CD! It's great! Network, sound and video easily recognized and well suited for old and new machines! www.slackware-live.org
Its software package is really good too for a basic configuration! fluxbox, kde, koffice, editor, kopete, some audio tools, internet stuff... pretty good.

<< What about vector linux? I read it is easy and suited for old machines. I did a test install, but it gave an error. >>

Thanx for the tip. I will come into a 486DX2 w/64MB fpm ram in the next couple of weeks. I'll give it a go.

Hi ricdave,
Kinda disappointed with vector, to be honest. Tried to install on two different machines, and both failed.
I couldn't be able to partition the hd, with the builtin tools. Tried with partition magic 8. Vector sees the ext3 partition already ready for use, but for some reason, aborts installation. But it can be just my incompetence.
Anyway, the iso download is ~240 MB, only. It's worth trying. Not the tuff 3GB of suse 8.2, crazy world...

For the kids I am just looking for KDE, Open Office, mtools, internet, irc, etc. If not included on the distro, I can download. Give Libranet and Alt a try. Alt is wierd, Mandrake and Debian and Red Hat based, I think. Libranet is Debian based, and can easily convert to a full fledged Debian distro.

I am now trying to use the nonjournalized EXT2 partition for compatibility reasons (IE: TOMSRTBT doesn't support EXT3 right now.). Try using EXT2 instead.

wow, 22 pages of posts? this is really a hot topic, my oppinion is basically the same, linux can be easy or hard depending on how it's configured, but you have to keep in mind that you sacrifice function for ease of use at some point, and the hard part is identifying that line

I totally agree with you. Even though I am a newbie myself, I actually find myself using my brain while on the computer. I never realized how much M$ is taking away your control and your power. Using Mandrake 9.1 as a first time Linux user, I found it intimidating, yet, empowering. There are a few times when I went back to :satan: but I couldn't handle all the crashing, and the unnecessary chains. Eh, Win is too easy. We; as humans; need a challenge, and this one is a great first step! Breaking away from the mainstream, and becoming unique...

Yes, we're all unique.

<< Yes, we're all unique. >>

That may well be, but for Linux to really take off it has to become mainstream, at least mainstream enough for developers to port apps to Linux. Few hardware vendors are writing drivers for Linux. It is a lot better than it was 5 years ago, but it has a really long way to go. Printer support is really thin, USB is problematic at best and firewire support still needs to be implemented. And how about wireless support? As good as it is and as fast as I have seen it develop in the last 5 years and as much as I value it Linux still falls short in to many areas. I am taking nothing away from the slack, gentoo, or debian users. They have been instrumental in pushing Linux to where it is now. But now it is time to take the next step and bring it to the ordinary home user. You know, the people with money to spend who are a little tired of MS and want a usable(for them)replacement.

i've got nothing against windows, it can continue to exist on ~90% of the PCs. it was made for everyone who doesn't want to think - for computer newbies...one shouldn't go to linux searching point&click stuff - that's easier on win...for the developers it's more important to fix all the KDE bugs (it's no.1 on this...) and develop new software (linuxshop, dreamlinux or whatever) than make it "easier" to use...
linux IS easier to use, but only once you LEARN it...
so, to all the linux newbies out there (me too, more or less ) - install linux on dual boot, get some book about it (or go online - http://www.icon.co.za/~psheer/book/index.html.gz is great site), if you have ANY problems, post them on linuxquestions.org(someone will help you), and be patient - you'll get to see all the advantages of linux over windows...

Who think Linux is just a big scatter of distributions completely appart from the other are just making a big mess with Windows. Linux is the kernel. The operational center of the system. All linux distributions have a kernel which is a standard. Distributions can provide you different ways of installing stuff but you can always get the source and do a ./configure ; make && make install. Providing drivers do not really depend on the distribution in itself. Depends more on the kernel. So, talking about mainstreaming linux, the real essential part of it is already standard. You can have a Slackware 3.6 and use the lastest software on the market , but you'll never be able to get Adobe PhotoShop 7.0 VisualStudio .NET under Windows 3.11. And more, I think the great number of linux distribution as being great 'cause in this way you're able to search for the one that better fits you. What so ever if everybody uses RedHat or Mandrake, Debian or Slackware (or even Gentoo)? I want to use my "Chinese-distribution-Made-In-Nepal"!!! And I like to have the chance of doing so!

Personnaly, I am as much against the monopoly of Microsoft and all the stunts I catch them trying (IE: transmitting data I don't want them to, spamming, all the security holes, the Piladium chip with Intel (that could put Linux in danger of being extinct by forcing you to run Windows and nothing else )), as well as the "if it's broke, fix it" and "it belongs to you, do whatever the f*#$ you want with it" standards of Linux. ...not only that, but Linux "works" way better than Windows. For one, it has multiple desktops at your disposal, as well as several konsoles rtg. It has practically no security holes compared to Windows since it was originally designed for use on an ultra-mega super IBM True Blue mainframe that many of today's gamers would drool over. The only truly bad thing is that it is a little dificult to configure (and that will come later for me, though it's plenty useable right out of the box, and in a business environment, you'd have a few minions who will know how to work the Linux core) I guess there is really nothing really holding Linux back except for people's resistance to change. ...even still, 90% of all anyone needs is usually in a Mandrake box anyway, as well as maybe a RedHat box, or a SuSE box. Imagine how much more work we'd all get done if we all used Linux for our work? ...especially with a better way to organize our work, keep out crackers, and not have to do it ten times to finally get it done.

i think i am a pro at windows, im taking a MSCE class 70-210, just so i have something to show for my knowledge.

anywya, i think windows and linux have the same technical difficulties. With my experiece, windows causes much more heartache than linux has because you feel like a dumbass fixing it because everything is supposed to be simple since its point and click. linux on the otherhand gives problems equal to windows but more basic and annoyances (like using the Terminal to install things unlike windows double click system, sometimes you miss a letter, confuse a command ,missing a lib, etc).

the only difference between the pain of windows and linux is that windows is all pretty GUI and Linux makes you think, most people obviously dont like thinking the only thing that took me so long to take the leap to linux was the lack of games but now with the game forum i now know there are alot more than i thought, so many games