I am a complete Newb to linux!!!

[kibrisli7]

Hi guys,
ive been using windows ever since i started with pcs.
Ive always wanted to know more about linux but i have no knowledge watso ever..
i was wondering if there is a website that tells all in dumbed down terms!!

i have seen mandrake and red hat SUSE but i dunno which to get.
are they all operating systems? are they complicated?

are they as user friendly as windows? so if i were to get one and install it would it be easy??

Also are tehy free and which ones are most compatible with windows programs etc

please help

[jman01pa]

This should get you started

http://www.newtolinux.org.uk/

http://www.tldp.org/

[kibrisli7]

thanks a lot..
is there one you would reccommend?

[DanGrease]

I would try out Mandrake or Redhat (also Fedora) if I were you. They are very newbie friendly, and I think they are the best distros to begin with if you want to learn and try out Linux.

www.linuxiso.org here you can get free copies of most Linux distros.

dan

[kibrisli7]

Thanks guys!

[MegalosSkylaki]

Errr..Uhh.one more thing. There is, I believe, a one-CD version of Mandrake that --like KNOPPIX--does NOT have to be installed on a HDD partition, bur runs itself off the CD-ROM.

This might be a good way of "tasting" the SW, before making a plunge.

Although, personally, I suspect that all of these CD-ROMrunning distros teach you only about themselves --not the complete install.

I came across the "Mandrake - _ - _ " in some Brit mag or such.

DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOG

[paul9]

mandrake move? i would go with the mandrake. redhat is very polished and pretty, but i couldn't get comfy with it. knoppix is a great "sampler" as megalos hinted.

[Redwolf]

SuSE is a great Linux too, but installation is a pain unless you want to pay for it.

For the free route, hard to beat Mandrake

[excuzzzeme]

I know nothing about Linnux and have been in the IT industry since 1974. This week I downloaded Mandrake. Knoppix, College Linux, Fedora, RH9.0, linspire, TurboLinux, Suse just to get a feel of them and to see what Linux is all about. I was once upon a time very good with DOS (CLI) so why not try something new? Learning the new vebage is my hardest part, but am picking it up quickly. So far am finding less redundancy than windows, and find it to be pretty much straight forward in that there is only one way to execute a particular command (not 50).
Also picked up a book called "General Linux I" to help me understand what Linux is all about.
Reminds me of when computers acually did something other than being a pretty machine with blinking lights and blooming idiots. Guess this sounds pretty cheezy coming from someone who's bookshelves are lined with eveything from DOS to Windows 1, to Server2003. and everything in between.
So I too, might be joining? the Penguin Evolution. Don't know of anyone in this area that uses Linux so am pretty much on my own to learn this.
Don't be afraid to try something different.........even after collecting a nice paycheck after 30yrs thanks to M$.

P.S. This being posted coutesy of RH9.0

[Redwolf]

Viva la revolution!

Welcome to Linux excuz and kibri!

Just remember, while Linux comes with no warranty or Technical Support, you can get support from many many websites on the Internet. Google, USENET, and online forums like this one are your friends while you are learning. Remember that no question is too stupid if you are having difficulty with it, and that the 'man' program is like the 'help' program of DOS. So something like:

man cp

Will tell you eactly what cp does.