I'm thinking of trying Linux... What should I expect? Using Lindows4.0
 

Since I'm on Dial-up it's the smallest...
And I don't want a Live Distro Cd

or would Mandrake 8.2 be better?

Would get a later version but I'm on dial-up.

Can I run it and Windows Xp?
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I would find a mirror site close to you and download while you are sleeping,fedora core 1 you only need the first 2 iso.s and grub works good,david

Hmm.... what to expect.

It depends on what you are look for. Honestly

If you are looking for a gaming system, perhaps you should look elsewhere (Although, there are many good games for linux. I'm addicted to airstrike right now myself)
If you are looking for a stable desktop, then you most likely will get what you want.

Before you install, be sure to have a blank, or fat32 partition ready to install linux to. Perhaps its changed, but MDK's installer didnt used to cut the disk for you. Lindows will be fairly simmilar to what you are used to, as it is the most "Win like linux".

Dont go for lindows if you are looking to learn alot about linux itself.

BTW, mail order CDs are cheap. Buy a few. Or get a friend with highspeed to DL. If you must DL on dial up, be sure to md5 them, as there may be errors.

I tryed Lindoze for a few weeks and hated it. It was a pain to install programs unless you paid for the click-n-run and the thing seemed to be full of crazy symlinks that just were not linux like.

Mandrake is ok, good for beggining.

"I'm thinking of trying Linux... What should I expect? Using Lindows4.0"

Lindows is designed to be as close to Windows in the way that it behaves as it is possible for Linux to be. As a result it is not very good software. The only advantage that Lindows has is that a Windows user does not have to put very much effort into learning Lindows.

Rather than downloading a distribution on a dial-up connection I suggest that you buy a distribution from a discount CD store. Here is where I buy mine:

http://www.linuxcd.org/

Type the name of the distribution into the search field.

"or would Mandrake 8.2 be better?"

I recommend that you learn Linux on either Mandrake or Fedora. Mandrake is probably the easiest distribution to install when you are first trying Linux. Fedora is one of Red Hat's brand names and you can get books on Red Hat at the public library.

"Can I run it and Windows Xp?"

Yes. You install both systems and dual boot. When you boot a menu appears asking which OS you want to boot into.

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Steve Stites

if your on dial up and trying to download an iso, more power to you. i'd suggest one of two things, order the cd's through the mail from several distros(which by comparison, is quite cheap), or find a pal or buddy, who has broadband. w/that said, the "which distro ? gets asked almost daily, and the real answer is try several, try them one after another until you find a good fit. there is a linux distro for every type of user, and every application. for the dual boot ?, a quicksearch of the forum will give you many success stories, and just as many nightmares. i have never had a problem, but, many folks have. so, decide for yourself. another reccommendation i'll make is a knoppix cd. i know you stated you don't want a live cd distro, but, it's a great way to see how your hardware will interact, as well as giving you a look at linux in general. hope i've left you w/more answers than ?'s.
good luck.

<edit>everybody here types faster than i do, killing me :D </edit>

Besides: A knoppix knx-hdinstall will install a fully functional debian unstable system.

Nah, I'm on springbreak and have nothing but time. That's why I wanted to do this now. I can download anyhting up to 1GB.
Thanks for all of the help.

so 8.2 would be good?

or is there a distro around that size fairly new??

so I could dual boot without partionmagic on a ntfs partioned system

Knoppix is 700Mb (+-50). A really well done live cd. Are you really new to linux, or do you have past experiance. If you are new, then knoppix is really your best bet. Or a debian Netinstall.... but that could take just as much time as a knoppix DL.

past experince with a SuSE live distro and Debian

so I only need disk 1 of Fedora Core 1? Yarrow?

is it as easy as mandrake?

I think you need disks on and two. Check this guide on installing the Fedora Core :<http://www.informit.com/articles/article.asp?p=169466>

thanks


So I'll go with Fedora in stead of Mandrake unless Mandrake is the same (Needs only 2 discs)

I have a 8GB HD will this affect anything?