Reviews, News, and How To!
Linux Newbies
Information
Want to learn about linux? Heres the place to do it!
Members: 52
Latest Activity: Mar 19
Want to Learn Linux?
What is this big rave about Linux? The desktop environments can't look better than Mac can they? Windows is more stable isn't it? The answer to these questions will be answered in the following discussion.
Linux is kernel that controls the hardware in your computer system, it allocates resources to programs that run on top of it. It makes your cd tray open and close it makes the pixels display on your screen, it picks up your printer or makes your hard drive spin. On top of Linux you have a bunch of software and a distribution in the most simplified terms is a bunch of these software packages and a way to manage them. They come in all shapes and sizes but fundamentally they all run on top of Linux.
This distributions or distros as they are called come in a range of different flavors from open source only, to a mixture of both. Many of the well known systems such as Ubuntu, Debian of Fedora only ship with free and open source packages.
But why are there so many different distros? Well first and foremost it gives you a choice. I would start with something like Ubuntu and then experiment around with Fedora and other distros. Look at what they offer and shop around as one may tailor suit better than another. In the end you can just install the packages from the other systems as Linux is Linux is Linux and they all run from a common group of GUI's.
The three major GUIS are Gnome, KDE and XFCE. Gnome is the most common desktop GUI or environment and is the default for more linux distributions. KDE is another environment that may be a good choice for people coming over from windows, however I personally found gnome easier. Finally XFCE is a lightweight environment that I use that is designed for low end machines. However I think it packs quite a punch.
Anyway basically Linux is highly modifiable, I suggest just grab a distro and dive in. Its easy to install I would back up your data in case its your first time partitioning. Another good idea would be to install a program called WUBI which allows you to install Ubuntu as if it were a program on your windows machine, no partitioning and can be uninstalled from the control panel. Anyway good luck I will see you on the other side.
Linux is kernel that controls the hardware in your computer system, it allocates resources to programs that run on top of it. It makes your cd tray open and close it makes the pixels display on your screen, it picks up your printer or makes your hard drive spin. On top of Linux you have a bunch of software and a distribution in the most simplified terms is a bunch of these software packages and a way to manage them. They come in all shapes and sizes but fundamentally they all run on top of Linux.
This distributions or distros as they are called come in a range of different flavors from open source only, to a mixture of both. Many of the well known systems such as Ubuntu, Debian of Fedora only ship with free and open source packages.
But why are there so many different distros? Well first and foremost it gives you a choice. I would start with something like Ubuntu and then experiment around with Fedora and other distros. Look at what they offer and shop around as one may tailor suit better than another. In the end you can just install the packages from the other systems as Linux is Linux is Linux and they all run from a common group of GUI's.
The three major GUIS are Gnome, KDE and XFCE. Gnome is the most common desktop GUI or environment and is the default for more linux distributions. KDE is another environment that may be a good choice for people coming over from windows, however I personally found gnome easier. Finally XFCE is a lightweight environment that I use that is designed for low end machines. However I think it packs quite a punch.
Anyway basically Linux is highly modifiable, I suggest just grab a distro and dive in. Its easy to install I would back up your data in case its your first time partitioning. Another good idea would be to install a program called WUBI which allows you to install Ubuntu as if it were a program on your windows machine, no partitioning and can be uninstalled from the control panel. Anyway good luck I will see you on the other side.
Discussion Forum
Best Distribution for learning Linux 1 Reply
Started by Jael Smith. Last reply by CleoTek Mar 19.
Want to learn about Linux? 3 Replies
Started by Dejai. Last reply by Lee (Robzilla) Naramore Jun 5, 2011.
Comment Wall
Comment
-
Comment by Lee (Robzilla) Naramore on June 3, 2011 at 8:39pm -
I'm currently on an Antique Compaq with an Intel Pentium 3 CPU that clocks in at an amzingly slow 866mhz. I has 512 mb of SD ram and a 40 GB hard disk.It is so old that it cannot/ willnot boot from a USB device. Please tell me I can install a distro of Linux from the USB drive. I currently an booting a live distro of Linux Mint 10 on my DVD-Ropm drive. The DVD disk has a small scratch that keeps me from installing onto the 40 GBhard disk
-
Comment by Evan Gibbs on March 29, 2010 at 11:28pm -
having problems watching videos on firefox. currently using Ubuntu 9.10. half the time when i pause a video, it won't let me continue when i want to keep watching, or won't let me pause in the first place. also having problems adjusting the volume in the program (main vol. works fine) any advice would be greatly appreciated
-
Comment by Paul on February 7, 2010 at 2:18pm -
Yes, your earlier post did say that, but I hadn't noticed that post when I posted my reply. My bad. I do encounter tons of people who have no Unix or BSD experience, but have played with Ubuntu or Fedora Linux and later get a Mac and see the similarities and assume that Mac copied linux. Anyway, thanks for pointing me to your earlier post and correcting me.
-
Comment by Garrett W. on February 7, 2010 at 2:12pm -
Actually, if you'll re-read my earlier comment, I did say that OS X is based on Unix.
-
Comment by Paul on February 7, 2010 at 10:33am
-
A quick reply to Garrett W.
Garrett, you posted that OS X was based on Linux, which is similar to Unix, but different. OS X is based on Unix, not linux. In fact, OS X is a Unix based operating system with a Unix/BSD Kernel. Linux and Unix do have a common heritage and because of that, Linux users will find similarities between OS X and Linux, but it has more in common with Unix once you get under the hood. However, Apple has modified the BSD Kernel that they use and have written their own OS around the kernel so there are a ton of changes and modifications that keeps OS X unique in so many ways. In the beginning I was unsure that these changes were improvements, but now that I've adapted and been using a Mac for some time as a power user and developer, I feel that they took a great platform and built a incredibly stable system that is incredibly powerful.
In my current job I have to be a skilled advanced user of Linux, Windows (XP & 7), OS X (10.4.x - 10.6.x) BSD/Unix (FreeBSD & PCBSD). The more i learn about BSD, the more I learn about Mac.
-
Comment by CleoTek on February 2, 2010 at 1:54pm -
Oh additional info: the distro for Puppy was the Puppy Small from puppylinux.com
-
Comment by CleoTek on February 2, 2010 at 1:52pm
-
Hey all! I'm looking to put Linux on an old Windows ME laptop to make it a little more usable and not a dust collector. I was hoping for some suggestions for a distro that would work with the specs, which aren't pretty, LOL!
Processor - Intel Celeron Processor (700Mhz)
System Mem - 64 MB (4 dedicated to the Graphics Card but user-configurable to 2, 4, or 8)
Hard Drive - 12 GB
FSB - 66 Mhz
Cache - 128 MB L2
I tried to run Puppy live from the burned ISO which seemed to start off through the set-up process ok but when I get to the graphics/video driver selection piece the monitor goes dark.
Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated!
-
Comment by Patrik Drevestedt on September 22, 2009 at 12:41am -
The problem with mounting and dismounting harddrives is solved.
-
Comment by Patrik Drevestedt on September 20, 2009 at 3:26pm
-
Having a problem with mounting and dismounting internal hardrives on Linux Mint 7 Gnome. Please PM me if you want to disscus this further.
-
Comment by Kushaba Akami on August 12, 2009 at 11:16am -
Man i will just say linux is not manga studio or tablet friendly. is there anyway i can get this to run without the headace?
© 2013 Created by Chris Pirillo.
You need to be a member of Linux Newbies to add comments!