New to Linux

[badger7579]

I'm new to Linux and want to get a broad understanding of the product and download a desktop version to experiment with

There seems to be multile versions out there. Can anyone recommend a version to start with just to get the basics?

[TheBigD]

Knoppix will run from the CD. Good for a temporary environment to start to get to grips with the OS. Ubuntu or Cent-OS would be my choices for a permanent environment.

[badger7579]

Cheers I'll download and play

[Ardesco]

I would suggest something Debian based so that you can use apt-get. much easier than dicking about with RPM's

[lilelvis2000]

April's Linux Format has the Debian Lenny on its DVD and May's Linux Magazine has Knoppix 6.1 DVD. Both are live DVDs. I admit forking out £6+ for a DVD is a lot!

I use Ubuntu personally..though Mint is gaining favour - Mint is based on Ubuntu.

[darmstadt]

I've nearly always used SuSE or OpenSuSE with KDE as the desktop although I have occasionally used other distributions such as RedHat with Gnome. My laptop is now running Debian 5.0 (lenny) with KDE and apart from a couple of problems with drivers for an external UMTS card I like it a lot. Just in case I require Windows I do have a seperate hard drive but I also run a couple of virtual machines with WinXP and Win2K.

[FarmerPalmer]

The best book I found was Linux Administration A Beginners Guide by Shah Soyinka. The title may sound more system admin but actually it gives a good overall of the system.

I have used Knoppix, Ubuntu and Suse. Knoppix is a good CD booting system to start you off. Laterly I personally prefer Suse.

[Churchill]

April's Linux Format has the Debian Lenny on its DVD and May's Linux Magazine has Knoppix 6.1 DVD. Both are live DVDs. I admit forking out £6+ for a DVD is a lot!

I use Ubuntu personally..though Mint is gaining favour - Mint is based on Ubuntu.

WHS!

[jkoder]

April's Linux Format has the Debian Lenny on its DVD and May's Linux Magazine has Knoppix 6.1 DVD. Both are live DVDs. I admit forking out £6+ for a DVD is a lot!

I use Ubuntu personally..though Mint is gaining favour - Mint is based on Ubuntu.

I'm using Mint 6 and it worked out of the box for me, even found my graphics drivers and ask me if I wanted to install them. I am having trouble though, I have to restart Nautilus almost daily (no desktop items show up) and Skype wont work properly (20 seconds delay during calls) and the problem seems to be pulse audio which happens to be the only audio type I have available for my hardware.

I'm gonna switch back to Fedora when I get time. The great thing about Fedora for developers is during the install you can choose all kinds of different apps to install. It's great if you are a developer.

[DimPrawn]

I'm using Mint 6 and it worked out of the box for me, even found my graphics drivers and ask me if I wanted to install them. I am having trouble though, I have to restart Nautilus almost daily (no desktop items show up) and Skype wont work properly (20 seconds delay during calls) and the problem seems to be pulse audio which happens to be the only audio type I have available for my hardware.

I'm gonna switch back to Fedora when I get time. The great thing about Fedora for developers is during the install you can choose all kinds of different apps to install. It's great if you are a developer.

Linux. Only free if your time is worthless.