Hi,

I stated earlier in the thread if anyone wants to test drive Slackware then use the Slackware Live Edition, look here; Slackware64_Live. You can see if the system recognizes your hardware and setup is proper. You have a choice of Desktop and you can always get to the command line at any time. Personally, I have used Slackware since PV released it back in 1993 and found it too be the best for a UNIX like distribution and many Distributions have forked off Slackware. Look at; Just like American arguments for Chevy vs Ford you are going to find people have preference over one than the other. They do not debate over the color but the characteristics of each model.

Personally, I like to have something that I can get my hands dirty and repairable without major diagnostic equipment but today's vehicles require that. Just like distributions, if you want to know something about it you will need to get into the intrinsic parts of that distribution. Sure semantics and syntax my cross over but still each will have unique parts that one must learn.

Students do not know a subject initially but are taught the needs to function within that field of study; If you really want to learn a particular distribution then you must learn or study documentation relevant to that distribution to allow you to experiment hands on. Some Gnu/Linux have very helpful documentation while others fall short of providing good reference material. Sure we have Linux - Distributions specific forums here at LQ but you still should do some work on your part. Not everyone wishes to spoon feed someone who shows no effort on their part.

I have been using systems since the late sixties and feel today it is easier to learn something via online documentation. Heck, you can find you tube videos to learn but I feel you will not learn much visually if you do not mirror the operations to see first hand the resultant. UNIX in my day required massive books for documentation and learning pathways to material which helped you to perform required duties. It is easy to break something but it takes efforts to make a error to go away. To give up gets you no where but to meet the challenge then it can be very satisfactory to gain the knowledge to correct any problems. Experiences are valuable when you present yourself to peers or employers.

As a mod here at LQ, I have read more post/threads requesting advice for certs. To go through a program to gain a cert will guarantee you to pass that cert but helps no one to truly achieve workable knowledge. If you can mentor with someone then to me that would be better than a cert. You can always contact a LUG(Linux User Group) with hopes of finding help with your particular Gnu/Linux. You still show effort on your part because the spoon rule is still frowned upon.LQ is a great resource that will help most solve problems via LQ Search engine. Post history may provide answers to a key request. Be aware that we frown upon necro threads being resurrected here a LQ. As Gnu/Linux has grown or matured then possible answers to your query may be produced but you should still use that information to hopefully expand so your answer can be achieved. I like to use DuckDuckGo for my searches over the internet. Google causes me to have to much garbage being sent back to me.

Hope this helps.
Have fun & enjoy!