Another Newbie Needs Help ... Plz
 

Greetings to all in Linuxland,

I am another newbie who is wanting to change from Win XP to Linux cos I'm fed up with all microsofts spying, before switching I've a couple of questions I'd really appreciate some help with. Currently I have a home network with a PII-350 on Win XP and a P200 using Win 98SE on a cross over cable. I want to change the PII-350 to Linux but I'm not sure what I need to replace my existing set up.

I'm using Incredimail for e-mails
Easy CD Creator 5 for burning MP3 and .Wav music CD's
Expressit for making cd covers
Nortons for Firewall & Antivirus
MS Office 2000 for letters/spreadsheets etc
Win MX for file sharing
Instant Messanger

I think I'm right in saying Linux could network with the P200 to share a dial-up modem and Star Office can do all Office 2000 does.

So the advice I'd appreciate is which Distribution would best match my needs and what other software would I need to replace all the above.

Many thanks in advance to all who may help

:confused:

A real easy package one like Mandrake or maybe RedHat.

Is Incredimail an app or just a web-based mail account?
K3b would probably be the reccommended cd burning app in linux, but as with all things there are many good alternatives.
Linux has a built in firewall, Netfilter, using IPTables or IPChains. There's also many good front ends to enable easy point and click configuring until you want to learn the commands to add rules.
Star or Open office match Microsoft Office.
MSN IM clones include KMess, AMSN, and others, but then there's the multi-protocol messengers like Gaim.

Re: Another Newbie Needs Help ... Plz
 

Welcome!

Hope these answer your questions:
1) Mozilla / Evolution / PINE
2) xcdroast
3) Any graphics app should do - Gimp will give great results
4) iptables (comes built in with most distros - ipchains if not)
5) OpenOffice (everything but databases - use mysql for that)
6) Don't know about WinMX - try Gift (samba will work like windows shares)
7) Gaim

Yes you could share a connection - either box could be the gateway. However if you use linux you can install squid and get caching abilities too.

Also - RedHat 9 for the disto.

Best advice is to give Linux a try and see what you think.
If you realize that it is a completely different operating system than Windows and that some things are done differently you will be starting ahead.
It is best to assume it will take a while to "get up to speed" and "feel comfortable". Running both for a while is a good choice.
You may decide that you prefer Linux after all, or you may find that it does not fill your needs. Either way - Good Luck.

1. I prefer the command line 'mkisofs' and 'cdrecord'.
2. For creating, the Gimp is great. The old Star Office 5.2 had Avery templates. I have not checked the latest Star Office/Open Office.
3. Anti-virus generally not needed except to check files that may be used on a Windows PC. Firewall is part of the Linux kernel. There are many easy interface programs that allow you to set it the way you want.
4. TNTC. Depends on what exactly you are needing. Open Office/Star Office, KOffice, Abiword, MS Office VIA Crossover Office....
5. I am a file sharing dummy, I know there is stuff...
6. Quite a few choices, I like Everybuddy (does MS, AOL, Yahoo...)

I would recommend a current box set (has printed docs) of any of the major distros, Suse, Mandrake, Red Hat... You can also go the free download, or cheap CD route. Not always as full featured and no printed docs, otherwise just as good.

for you File Sharing question I think LimeWire is the best that I have found. For your other questions they have been answered quite will in the preivous posts.