Who here is interested in some kind of "co-op" for learning Linux from noob's ++
 

I spent the last year dedicated to Linux and I took a lot of notes compiling my "Linux Opus", lol. It has a lot of good stuff to do when setting up a fresh install and modifying it to suit needs. I want to go through this again on a fresh system and really refine/expand/explain what I've written and add what I've learned.

I've done similar things in the past with groups and it really makes a huge difference if a bunch of people work together towards the same goal (even if just one or a few people are the "secretaries" / note takers). The others can report on what they learn and find and then it is documented.

I'm guessing one of the biggest issues would be finding what distro would be best, but I am open to doing this with a number of them, running them in VM's.

If you have any interest, I would really like to hear from you. Maybe you could give me a little bit of your background in computers (what OS's you've used, how long, what type of stuff you do with computers, what your goals are, etc)

As for me, I've been using linux since about 2006, but it was pretty rare for me until about 2011 where I decided on Debian based distro's (well and CentOS at times) and have tinkered since. I've been a MS technician since early Win 2000 days (even some NT4.0) but have been using PCs since DOS 3.2.

I want to create a social group on this site for anyone who wants to join this project so we can discuss everything in there. I alreay have about 80 pages of various commands with often used examples as well as whatever tricks I have picked up from the gracious members on this and other sites.

Ah, reminds me we had a Tricks and hints thread once...

I was just thinking of doing a series of blogs, in which I go through a reinstall and take notes to pass on... no where to the extent that you have though. I'd be interested in seeing how this goes.

Looking at the bar-graph gives me a sense of deja-vu....

Seriously though, I've used maybe 80 Percent of the Distros you've listed, and for the last 5 yrs settled on a self made hash of Lubuntu with a heaping of KDE added to get the functionality of some KDE things; Knemo-network-monitor and Krename to mention a couple.

For your Co-op blog.... The Moderators here could help with that...??
You might Start off with, " What do you want from your OS in functionality ?", or, " You want to try Linux, but you are hedging about it .... Why ?, What's making you procrastinate?". Seeing as you mention the MS-Tech thing, you could show/tell people how to set up a VM in windows 7, 8.x so that they can try Linux, and then see if they want to make a switch or dual-boot or ???.

When I install Linux on a PC, by itself, I do custom settings, For instance say my 500G hdd, primary partition is /boot at 1 gig, then / at 80 gig, [ that leaves loads of room for lots and lots of programs and updates without getting close to having issues with journaling or fragmentation issues]. and then swap [at the end of the drive], at 8 gigs, and then /home takes up the rest of the drive. This configuration leaves me with a /~ size of 394.6 Gigs. / and /~ are logical partitions.

My current system is a Tosh' C50-A 15.4" lappy with 12 GB Ram, 500 GB hdd, [ CPU specs are here; http://ark.intel.com/products/65700 ]
running a 23 inch wide screen, [ on my right side, in Xinerama mode via xrandr script at boot], with a lot of USB stuff connected to a 7-port powered USB hub.

HP 1020 laserjet printer via HPlip over USB.

Wireless Lan, [ WPA2 AES-PSK CCMP, the usual... ], I confirm this via 'sudo iwlist scan' in a terminal window.

My other portable is an Acer Aspire 1, not doing much except collecting dust for 2 months as I ponder putting CAE Linux on my old AMD-64 4600 + and taking the DT to work to use there as an Internet connected workstation for me and my cohorts to use. The AMD is dual screen as well, 2 x 17 inch monitors. That one uses a radion card, forget which model but it has VGA and DVI outputs on it. Only 4 GB Ram though , and 740 Gig's space on 3 hdd's via LVM. I'm procrastinating on this one as it has saved my bacon many a time :) , and I can hook my VCR up to it via RCA and S3 vid cables. Set it up that way to try and get all my VCR tapes on to CDrom. That project got put on hold about 3 yrs ago. I might just forgo using the 4600 and use my 3400 + instead. That way if my cohorts bugger it up physically, I won't care. Ha! But I will definitely need to try and bump up the ram on it, which means $$$$ as older Ram is usually scarce and pricey. Ohh well "c'est la vie", eh?

Enough blathering from me for now....

Had to edit that first bit ..... appears that I hit the percent sign eating black hole , then remembered and typed in 'percent'

I note that the Mageia distro is missing from your list, as are any of the window managers, such as Fluxbox, i3, and so on. (I normally use Fluxbox or Enlightenment, because they let me do what I want and don't get in my way. I find most desktop environments annoying--they keep ringing bells and blowing whistles in an unwelcome cacophony of distraction that eats up cycles while accomplishing not much of anything.)

As regards your contemplated project, I applaud it. No one favors attracting more users than I. But I can't even convert my brother, because he wants to play his ancient Star Wars game . . . .

There is quite a challenge, though. Consider that there are so many many online efforts to attract new users to Linux and help them feel comfortable using it; thought should be devoted to what would keep from being just another tree that withers in that forest.

Drop me a PM if you get this going. I'm a noob but I have time to sacrifice, and a lot to learn.

I've got the rudimentary basics of Kali, and Ubuntu .. Well as a GUI I don't have many problems except when you get into it with WINE and a lot of Windows apps, which is normal.

I'd like to make total conversion to Linux every day in a year. Although, I have to admit I am really pleased with Windows 10 surprisingly ... No complaints YET. Good combo of old vs new windows environments

None the less, I want to learn about multiple Linux distros ... As much as possible

well this might be my ticket to learn .
I to am from the dos days and was using IBM dos due to MSFT dirty deeds !!!
I like win 98 SE but do not know if newer systems will run it !
when my XP dies , i will not buy a WINDOWS !!!
I do like My Ubuntu Long term edition with unity ! 12.04.2LTS [updated 14.04 . ? LTS ]
actually it is not getting to the internet [FIREFOX] or playing DVD or CDs , they work with U B 12.04
BUT i need to learn a spread sheet and word processor ! My frequent migraines [since 1999 ] have left me with memory problems !

as the windows systems get infected here , it has been simple to Add a partition and add Ubuntu LTS to the systems here , now at three others , and only one win 8 system left still running here [ besides my XP [4] systems ,3 in storage ]

I'm game. Right now I'm using Mint 17.2, which is pretty cool. Much less flashy than Windows.

Been using Micro$ systems since DOS, but I think my family was a tad late at adopting windows. (Anyone know how to get Xargon volume two to run in Dosbox?) This year is pretty much my first foray into Linux, so much to learn I have.

So, I'm bored and going to reinstall Debian on my laptop, fix my partitioning, etc.

I have a Jessie live USB stick so that I can use Debian on PCs at work. So, I was considering masochism: installing Debian on my laptop using debootstrap, meaning everything's going to have to be done by hand. No hand holding from an installer.

Like I said, I'm bored.

Anyone interested? If so, I'll take my time, and do a write up. If not, I'm just going to do it.

What's Debian like?

Debian is a PITA if u want to run OpenCL, otherwise seems good

Glum a if you have had luck with OpenCL let me know, AMD obviously ...

I've tried several distros but always come back to Vector Linux as it is small and fairly simple especially compared to Slackware.
The OS is mine, based on an old version of IceWm and really modified. It is fast and no bugs.

Helping the newbies sounds great, I might even find something helpful, I would try to help when I can.

I have just passed the one year mark in Aug. I am still learning definition of terms , i think. I know the difference between desktop environment and distro, again, I think
I have tried only a few of the distros, and probably closely related from Ubuntu . I have settled on Mint for now after trying Fedora and Arch. both a bit over my head for now. I will continue to work with each though in my 2 'spare' linux machines i converted from windows(not even dual boot )
I work with Mint mate because it was easiest for me to make mistakes with out paying high penalties. I had bigger troubles with cinnamon for some reasons. Kubuntu,Lubuntu,were ok , but Mate offers plenty of built in , with GUI and the ability to remove and replace as i learn.
I have found lots of support and help through ubuntu and arch forums though. I have been reading plenty about debian, and just am not experienced enough to comprehend how one will benefit or parallel my current usages. I have watched some instructional presentations on youtube re debian, interested me , but , still learning terms , user space how it impacts me, or not.
i like linux because you can learn process and how things work or how to make things work differently-better?