For a newbie

cfukpixie · 08-14-2003, 04:42 AM

I am just about to discover Linux on my PC (I have winXp at the moment), and I was wondering which O/S to buy or download :

-RedHat
-Suse
-Mandrake
-Debian
-Knoppix

or other ?

Thanx

Trinity22 · 08-14-2003, 05:11 AM

JAMD Linux

I've used Red Hat 9 and Lycoris and Jamd wins. It's fast, on one cd and installs in 15 minutes. everything worked too. haven't even used my mandrake or college linux cd's since jamd worked out so well. very much loving it.

but its only a matter of minutes until someone suggests slackware or gentoo or even suse. those seem to be the most popular recs. jamd is a little underrated.

trinity

MasterC · 08-14-2003, 05:23 AM

Minutes? I'm surprised there weren't a good 3 or 4 posts within the same minute

My recommendation of choice this week is:
Xandros

Cool

cfukpixie · 08-14-2003, 05:50 AM

why Sandros is best ? It is just confusing ! Are the O/S free or is there something to pay ? What's the difference between the different O/S

MasterC · 08-14-2003, 05:55 AM

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...avorite+distro

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...avorite+distro

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...avorite+distro

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...avorite+distro

Those are just a few of the threads that might have the answers you are looking for

Xandros isn't necessarily best, I just decided to pick it as my suggestion of choice this week as it's definitely one of the better ones. It's Debian based = speed. it's linux = stable. It's got support = newbie friendly.
It does however cost, but is supposedly worth every penny.

Some distros are free, some are not. Some offer a free version, others offer it all for free.

www.distrowatch.com

Cool

trickykid · 08-14-2003, 08:05 AM

Moved: More suitable in the Distribution forum.

Skyline · 08-14-2003, 10:32 AM

You can check out all the major Linux distributions and more at Distrowatch - currently around 140 of them :

Click here to go to Distrowatch

If youve got a broadband modem you can always download many for free (a 56k would take ages) or you can buy Linux distributions extremely cheaply online - for example

www.yourlinux.com

Slack 9 - £2

Mandrake 9.1 - 3 cd set - £6

Red Hat 9 3 cd set - £6

etc

Personally I'd recommend Mandrake 9.1 - but try a few of them to see which one you like - you can always dual or multiboot them with each other or with XP - there's lots of options.