Aha, but once you learn how to do it properly, this procedure only takes 20 seconds under Linux. As I've said before, the Windows way is painful once you become used to the proper way of doing things.

If I could just get linux(whatever distro),the nvidia driver, figure out how to get my sound working, and beryl working correctly, all at once, I'd be happy and content to slowly learn linux. But I can't even seem to do that. I'm installing Ubuntu using Wubi (http://wubi-installer.org/). I had to uninstall it because something went wrong when I installed beryl. I'm starting from scratch, now I know how to install the nvidia driver. Time to figure out how to get the sound working as well as beryl. (and make it keep my screen res settings...last time when id restart itd go back to 640x480)

I would try Ubuntu or PCLinuxOS, the newest version of beryl is called compiz-fusion

Windows like is probably any major point and click distro with KDE.

I have merged this with the megathread.

You know, if you install Ubuntu or openSuse, they will pop up a window and suggest to install the nvidia driver automatically. That would take three seconds as opposed to three hours. And Ubuntu 7.10 comes with Compiz enabled by default.

Hi, thanks for the reply (some time back). My problem is what to type in the terminal. am I supposed to just type "cfdisk", or anything at the front like run cfdisk or something? Hope you can help me because I'll most probably be using DSL or Puppy Linux.

type cfdisk /dev/hda1(replace with actual device)

yep, its working now. thanks a lot!

i would just like to ask, what distro would be good for me if i wanted to learn linux.. like really down to the basics, and the ability to use a simple (but functional gui) whenever i want. i've decided that maybe i would like to try out a bit of linux using the command line to do things.

i thought slackware and debian might be good choices, but are there any others? and also, i would just like to ask, what were the certain pros and cons between slackware and debian. [for one, i know debian has many more packages than what slackware has.]

I would just try Slackware and Debian and see which one you like

If you're looking for learning generic linux, I don't think you can get any more pure than Slackware (which is exactly why it has such a strong community of supporters). Slackware was a lot easier to get up and running than I anticipated, but it did tend to make you work for everything you got.

I found Debian less frustrating because there are so many crutches available to you if you want a break from the command line (cheat). Just tap into their repositories, and, voila GUI! You can run the same programs on Slackware, but many of the packages are kept in community archives, or had to be compiled. Finally, because Ubuntu, Mepis, Mint, and a million other distros all borrowed from Debian, you can sometimes use those forums, when the Debian crowd is too technical or has lost their patience.

Really, though, you can't go wrong with either.

If you want to look elsewhere, I'd discourage Gentoo. The long compile times means a small mistake can take an hour (or more) to fix. Since you'll be screwing up a lot, it's best to steer clear, That's a shame, because otherwise Gentoo is a great learning distro with great documentation, good community support, and lots of customization options.

Arch linux is another option, though it's a much smaller distribution than the others mentioned. It's bleeding-edge focused, configured by text files, and the repositories are community-driven. The forums aren't as noob friendly as, say Mepis', but I found the people there to be really great if you showed a sincere desire to learn the nuts and bolts of linux (as opposed to just demanding someone write a GUI for what you wanted to do).

Finally (???), there's also Linux From Scratch, but I always assumed that was more of a learning tool at the expense of usability out of the box -- though many people can, and do use their LFS system on a daily basis.

lol i would fully agree with the cheating part for debain because i noticed they had a lot of packages that i could easily get using apt-get.

I thought LFS was tough. better to stick to a running linux distro before i move on to something like LFS if i do have the time to indulge. kinda hard since my work hours just got increased XP

anyway, does anyone know anything about ultima linux and how it is like? is it anywhere comparable to the other distros? (i'd like to hear about its drawbacks other than its lesser community support compared to ubuntu..)

I think you are right on with your comments. If the goal is to learn, then cannot go wrong with either Debian or Slackware. Neither are beyond anyone who is willing to invest some time and effort to learn.

For those who want to actually try and use the systems to see what they are like and then learn as they go, that's where many of the derived distributions come in handy. The MEPIS distributions are ideal for coming up with a really useful desktop system to actually use, even before you truly understand what it is doing. The Ubuntu varieties are more examples of getting software in place before you really understand how they work. For those who want to go that route, it may be better to get on line, try stuff out for a while, then attempt to understand what it does.

The Arch Linux, Linux From Scratch (LFS), Gentoo Linux, and other efforts that are similar in character, are really good for digging in when you are ready to get your hands dirty and build what you want, based on what you understand. They are great for that. As you note, the disadvantage to these systems is that there is significant investment to be made in order to achieve a satisfactory result. The benefit is that you get precisely what you put into each of them.

For me, I understand how software works and at least at a general level how to put the components together. I find comparatively little payback in flexibility and performance, at least for me, in using source based distributions like LPS, Saybayan or Gentoo Linux. I find a good Debian system sufficiently well optimzed for my needs - and if it ever isn't, the Debian systems ALWAYS have deb-src that I can take and compile or recompile to my heart's content. I have done it a few times just to see how much efficiency can be gained, and I can tell you, any gains are modest. Unless learning is the objective, Slackware and Debian are quite reasonably optimized, stable, and effective as either desktop or server systems.

Over the past few days I have installed XBUNTU, Mint, Ubuntu and PC Linux. I have also tried to install gebuntu without any success causing the screen to go fuzzy much like the symptomps of a faulty graphic card.

I started with ubuntu expecting it to have everthing I need package wise. I just wanted to see how slow it will run on my Pentium III box.

I then installed the Xbuntu to check the difference and was surprised to see not a hell of a lot of difference. But then I did't do to much more than starting and closing firefox.

I wonder if you could provide further advise. As mentioned earlier I am not too impressed with desktop aesthetics of xbununtu or ubuntu. After having installed and run both I don't see the performance difference between Xbuntu and ubuntu. At the moment the windows 2000 I have on my laptop beats all of them for speed on a similar P III laptop.

This was when I tried gebunutu seeing the reviews regarding easthetics and performance. As mentione it screwed with my graphics and for a while I thought this was going to be permenant damage.

Then I installed PC Linux MiniMe. I found this distro bar far the most easthetically pleasing and cleverly laid out. It's just too bad this distro is not as well supported as the ubuntu family.

I am wondering if I could tweak xbuntu to customize and make it as pleasing as PC Linux.

I am using an old Dell Inspiron Pentium III 800 MHz with 512 mb ram, 120 gig hard drive. Soon I will add 128 mb pci graphics.

Would you say I should stay with xbuntu learn enough for further experimentation on unsupported but better laid distros.?

If anyone knows of any comprehensive online courses based on PC Linux, I would grateful.


I really appreciate your suggestions.

The only difference between Ubuntu, Xubuntu and Kubuntu is the Desktop Environment. Everything else is the same. You can even have all three desktops on the one installation and switch between them.

At the end of the day, Linux is Linux is Linux. Once you've spent a couple of months with one distro, you'll know how to use most of them, because they're all made from the same ingredients. The biggest differences are in the packaging tools. Most of the other differences are cosmetic.