i am new to linux. i have recent pentium 4. I use OFFICE more. Which freeware?
 

Hi
I am new to linux and new to posting question.
I wish to know which linux freeware is appropriate for the freshers. I work more with OFFICE, word, powerpoint, frontpage.

I would require 'picture viewer' and photoshop.
Can I have video/audio/music playing using the linux operating system?

Word, powerpoint and picture (image) viewer and editor are urgently required features.

Is there any software that can work without my downloading on to the PC so that I can learn the features of linux?

Where do I get this freeware? Which freeware is appropriate?

Cheers.
drashok

Many questions......
You can most easily try Linux using what is called a "live CD". Many distro's websites have them, but the REALLY easy way to get one is bundled with a Linux mag like Linux Format.

Open Soure alternatives are available for most of the things on your list---eg:
OpenOffice.org for MS Office
Gimp for Photoshop

Some of this will be on a live CD---I suggest you simply start there and then come back with more questions.

Thanks pixellany.
I appreciate your prompt reply.
I am set out to look for "live CD".
drashok

Pixellany is right in saying that try out a live CD.
Probably best live CD for any newbie is : PCLinuxOS , which contains almost all utilities that a newbie/end-user will require.
Download a copy from:
http://www.pclinuxos.com/

nitinatindore, thanks for telling me where to look for live CD.
I shall go to the site and do the needful.
love and regards
drashok

Dear Pixellany,
I didn't knew that live CD is the same as 'pclinuxos'.
I am downloading it.

Dear nitinatindore,
Thanks

I am downloading PCLinusxOS.
there was a choice.
This is the one one picked up- "nvidia 7676.iso"

I am looking forward to knocking out windows XP.
Let me have the feel of this live cd and get used to its functions.

drashok

Hi
pixellany

nitinatindore

I wish I had something like 'getright' to speed up the download.
Which accelerator should I use?

drashok

You shouldn't use any acceleration program.

PCLinuxOS is an example of a distribution and you can get live CDs for several other distributions.

The easiest way to try linux is with a live cd. If you have a slow dial up like I do then it will be easier to get one through the snail mail instead of downloading. I suggest trying Cheep linux.com. The Knopix version is particularly good and will only cost you a few dollars. It has almost everything you could possibly want to try and runs off the cd and does not put anything onto your hard drive.

You might want to try Damn Small Linux. It can also be run liveCD but is only a 50MB download

Or go to your local magazine store and see if they have a linux magazine with a linux live CD in it. There's lots of different live CDs...

...also, just so you know, most distros are free, and any software published under the GNU Open Source Liscense is technically "freeware". Although, from what I hae found , they tend to be more complete than standard "freeware".

Also, If you have a friend who has high-speed interent, you might want to download it at that friend's house, or you could find a magazine at a local book-store.

if you have absolutley no way of getting it let me know. i will pay the postage and ship it. no cost to you at all if you live in the U.S.A. if not i wont be able to ship outside continental US

Ubuntu also will ship free cd's to anywhere in the world, if you are outside the us for free. But, it tends to take awhile for the cd's to get to you.

But, Crackz, people like you are one of the many reasons I love the Linux community, always willing to give!

You can always get help here. You can also get help from the company that makes the distro. The thing about company based support is that it usually costs money to get a service package after the initial install period.

This is the best place to come for help that I've found so far for your general questions. With my Gentoo install I try the Gentoo Forums alot because Gentoo has alot of Gentoo Only problems. I almost always get answers for my questions within 24 hrs here, and I almost always get my problems solved. Considering we're not being charged to use this site, you can get any better than that, even if you payed. If you need it now and downloading takes to long you can get free CDs from Linux magizines are your local book store as mentioned earlier. You can also pay for them from many retailers. They're usually really cheap too, a few dollars for the CDs and a few more for shipping. I'd recomend Ubuntu, Fedora, or SUSE for newbies. Older hardware would probably do better with DamnSmall or Arch though. OpenOffice.org is excellent alternitive to Word, Powerpoint, etc. The GIMP is the better picture editor in my opinion. Of course it will let you view them too. GAIM allows you to get all your IM needs under control. But there are many alternitives, even for the ones I mentioned.

Hope all of that helps alittle. Good luck!