Need to keep interest in linux
 

Hi, im a total linux n00b, and ive been through many distro's but ive got a habit of finding them boring after about 20mins. its because i need some software to keep my interest alight. What kind of stuff do you use for entertainment in linux??? i love linux but i need some entertainment software!

Install it. Use it.

Linux is just an OS. A tool to make the computer run. I simply use it as my main desktop and the 'entertainment' value comes from other sources like the net or games or whatever...

Get an nvidia card and install doom3 and ut2004 maybe...

As for the 20minutes bit... It takes me a couple of days jus to get the theme the way I like it???

hmm, i rekon when i get to learn the command line ill probably think different, ive always been the kind of person who likes to 'get down and dirty' in the OS lol thanks

fedora core 2,3 or Knoppix
 

Fedora Core 2 or 3 would be better. Installing xine libraries would also benefit you. Fedora comes with real good stuff and you can check out real player (the best of all ) also from www.real.com and follow appropriate links to download the player.
Mandrake is also an intersting option, though it is more or less like Redhat.
Plugins are being currently developed for XMMS (Winamp for Linux)

Secondly, You can also check LIVECD Knoppix 3.7 which comes with 2.6 kernel (I dont know the complete kernel version) that can be downloaded from www.knoppix.org (just check the english version page and click on Download below the text)


And let me tell you, you wont be bored with knoppix. It has a plethora of packages u can work with or entertain yourself with.

Give me your feedback on anyone you select !

im not really a mandrake fan, i dont mind fedora, but my main problem is being unable to install sucessfully lol what distro is easiest for installing programs?

the distro ive enjoyed the most that ive installed is slack 9.1

In the end you just have to install a distro and stick with it a while. They are really all much the same. You just need to make the decision to use it a while - ie do all your browsing and mail with it. If you don't actually use the OS for something it's easy to 'get bored'... It's just an OS...

seriously? i can understand the actual installation being interesting as it's a bit more...um.. taxing than installing fedora or mdk, but when it comes to installing
apps, it's a bit of a pain. i wouldn't normally suggest this, but y don't u try gentoo? it's *supposedly* difficult to to install, but if you do a stage3(u'll understand if u try it) and follow the instructions step by step, there is absolutely nooooooooo way on gods(or allah, buddha or khali's) earth, that u can go wrong.
The best part about it, is portage! gentoo's package system. you WON'T find an easier way to install software and provided the portage tree is up to date, you'll get the absolute latest and greatest version of whatever you install.

give it a go! just make sure u download BOTH cd's.

Yeah lmao imagine the dillemma if you downloaded only one cd :p
Ive heard gentoo's portage is great, ill have to give gentoo a go soon, but my little bro has a connection through my pc using ICS, so until i get a router i have limited linux time :( god damn windows-populated world!

Arrived at slackware over a year ago and I doubt I'll leave. I like the whole BSD style init scripts. Slackware is just cleaner than the others.

I love slackware so far, even though im not skilled enough to install a program yet or even change window managers from gnome to kde :( by the way how do you do that? ive got kde installed (i did it in setup) but ive got gnome activated and i cant change back! lol. !!!n00b on slackware!!! warning to all!!! Even worse ive got a burning desire to install gentoo...!

Amen to that. I don't pick an OS for entertainment. I pick an OS to run the programs that will entertain me, e.g., xine, firefox, etc.

I could see picking an OS to install for educational purposes, but entertainment? How can a glorified file loader provide entertainment? "Gee, I have a command prompt. Look at the cursor carat blink!" or "Wow, look at this mouse pointer. I think I'll stare at it for a few hours."

Another entertaining thing is to post smartass replies to topics such as this. Don't take it personally, I'm just having a little fun! ;)

I say your on the right track, try every linux distribution you can get your hands on! :) Then go back and re-install them 4-5 times and you should have a good idea of what you want to use ;)

I like Slackware because as a lot of people say its ´clean´ basically easier to trouble shoot if you have problems because of its un cluttered layout.

I think debian and apt-get are wicked if you have broadband and don´t want to muck around with installing things. You just apt-get and name of the program :D

You must remember that any linux dist can be configured to be like any other one... its just how much work it is for you to get it that way. So you want to choose the dist you most like and then chop and change until you have it how you like it. Or do linux from scratch I guess.

I guess as they say its about choice and I know that tooooo much choice can make things hard too!

Oh yeah and I have to agree with amosf

if you want an alternative OS, try Mac OS X!

you get all the stability and secureness of Linux wrapped around a gorgeous GUI which is amazing. besides... its UNIX ;if you miss getting 'down and dirty' with the OS or you can completely ignore the terminal, completely up to you. best part is that apps on the mac are great. you get office, a great suite of lifestyle apps (iphoto, itunes blah blah blah) that in IMO linux just can't match...

Yeah mac is my favourite platform, i just dont have the money and it wouldnt be practical for me to switch to mac because id have to have 2 computers because i need windows for gaming myself as all the new games come out on it :(