Best retail Linux package?

LzW-x · 11-05-2006, 11:12 PM

I'm planning to buy Linux, or prehaps BSD soon and I was wondering who sells the most complete boxed version?

I'm looking for one that has a complete set of CD's (or a DVD) and the following characteristics:

- Full manual
- Reference guide
- Quick start guide
- Complete package base (gaming/dev/workstation/server)
- Multimedia ready
- No silly stuff like online activation!

So rather then download the best distro there is, (I've downloaded sever good ones in the past) install it, but not even understand half of what it can do... I would like to start at the beginning! To quickly install and properly configure just any decent version (quick start guide incase there are problems) then open up the manual read about all of the stuff it does while doing it right there on the computer! Then the command reference to cover every thing else!

So I guess I'm saying I want good linux books... But not just any! I want ones that come with the exact version/distro of linux (or bsd) that they were published for!

So I'm looking for the best complete retail packaged version?

2damncommon · 11-05-2006, 11:23 PM

Something like these?

LzW-x · 11-05-2006, 11:37 PM

Exactly, but as printed books (not pdf files)

I looked into buying SuSe before (before they became a microsoft partner, not so sure now) But never could find what if any thing came with the purchase other then a plain old DVD which you can download any way!

btmiller · 11-06-2006, 02:04 AM

I once got a full box of SuSE 9.3 professional along with some machines (running SuSE) we got at work. It had a couple of thick manuals that were dead-tree versions of the online documentation. I've also had Red Hat and Mandrake (old -- version 7.2 back in 2001) retail packages. The documentation was decent, but nothing you couldn't find on the Web.

If I were you, I'd consider buying a book like the Linux Bible or something similar that comes with a CD with an up to date distro on it (shop around at Amazon a bit). I think that this would be better for a newbie than a boxed set with documentation.

IndyGunFreak · 11-06-2006, 07:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by btmiller

I once got a full box of SuSE 9.3 professional along with some machines (running SuSE) we got at work. It had a couple of thick manuals that were dead-tree versions of the online documentation. I've also had Red Hat and Mandrake (old -- version 7.2 back in 2001) retail packages. The documentation was decent, but nothing you couldn't find on the Web.

If I were you, I'd consider buying a book like the Linux Bible or something similar that comes with a CD with an up to date distro on it (shop around at Amazon a bit). I think that this would be better for a newbie than a boxed set with documentation.

I completely agree

IGF

LzW-x · 11-06-2006, 02:37 PM

OK, thanks for the feedback.

LzW-x · 11-06-2006, 11:37 PM

I found the Linux Bible on amazone but it did seem like what I really wanted... They also had suse complete with a picture of the box and a bunch of screenshot of the linux desktop! (no clue what's in the box)

Who cares what's in the box!!! I discovered there is a professional quality book about ubuntu!

http://www.phptr.com/bookstore/produ...132435942&rl=1

It costs about 30 dollars which is kind of high for a book but at least it comes with ubuntu so you don't have to download it! (and it is the current version they say on the ubuntu site!)

Maybe I'll buy this... I'm seriously considering it! There is a sample chapter that I wish I could see but not badly enough to install the stupid acrobat reader. (it is a pdf sample)

So thanks everyone, I think you put me on the right track! (screw the box, just get a good book and the distro it is written for)