Migrating to Linux

Dack

Another live distribution worth trying is apparently: http://kororaa.org/

This has some rather nice new graphics features thrown into it. (understatement)
Screen shots here http://news.softpedia.com/news/First-XGL-LiveCD-19371.shtml

Bit limited on the graphics card front at present but looks rather nice

amosworks

Astrumi (sp?) is also a live on CD that unmounts the CD after use so you can eject the disk (another thing Windows users will be confused about probably lol) - which can be handy if you boot it on a computer with just 1 CD drive and want to use it.

amosworks

Darksun wrote:

Anyone with experience of Windows knows that just day to day use can leave you wondering why the operating system won't boot

:rotfl:

Darksun wrote:

Well, maybe not, but a lot of users don't know what's going on with Windows either. I really don't think the learning curve for linux is that steep, there's plenty of support around and plenty of tutorials, etc.

Well it's getting there, but I wouldn't really recommend Linux as a first-time OS as of yet

Darksun wrote:

Plus, a lot of those things you mentioned are automatic (or at least guided) with many distros. Certainly, some distros leave you in open water so to speak (take Slackwear), but these arn't designed for beginner or even normal users, they're targetted towards power users and corporate environments who want total control over their systems.

That's true I suppose, I got Slack 10.1 on my "Designed for Windows" DELL laptop and it purrs like a kitty, I don't think I could have done that with a GUI installer. I suppose I'm biased about pretty installers, but still you've got to setup partitions and stuff for various things with various types and I don't know of any installer that does the thinking for the user. With Windows, at least you only need to get one partition somewhere for it to work. You need at least 3 for Linux, of specific sizes and types.

I think the installation process is the only good thing Windows has on Linux. Although I hate them, if someone could create a distro where it's almost identical (or even better ideally) that would be better, even though I'd avoid it like plague

I'm the same with packages too lol, I compile all my software by hand. I just find I'm more intimate with my system that way. I don't like being nannied :-\

wolfman

amosworks wrote:

I think the installation process is the only good thing Windows has on Linux. Although I hate them, if someone could create a distro where it's almost identical (or even better ideally) that would be better, even though I'd avoid it like plague

Have a look at Anaconda in Fedora Core. Brilliant GUI based installer, easily comparable with Windows.

The main thing I've found annoying about Linux is the lack of inbuilt wireles support. Installing it via Fedora and Ubuntu required me to use command line, which in todays world shouldn't be necessary. More admin GUI's would be good too. Command line is very powerful, but for the average desktop user it's less intuitive than a gui.

Ubuntu is very easy to use especially due to it's synaptic installer, and the number of easy step-by-step guides. The libraries are still very messy though. There's some sort of auto-intall script (and gui) for Ubuntu (can't remember what it's called) that'll setup all the core essentials (mp3 playback, video codecs, latest firefox, media players etc...) so you can do a basic installation and setup in around an hour.

electron_3

So we have live CDs Ive just tried Ubuntu and yes I quite like it but what I really want
to know is which one rates as the best OS and is free, dont want much do I. Lol

irnbru_2

electron wrote:

So we have live CDs Ive just tried Ubuntu and yes I quite like it but what I really want
to know is which one rates as the best OS and is free, dont want much do I. Lol

You're missing the point(s):

They're all using GNU/Linux kernel just packaged differently.
The majority are all free, at least the ones recommended here.
Choose either Ubuntu (for GNOME desktop) or Kubuntu (for KDE desktop) as pointed out earlier.
Find out how to upgrade (which package manager to use). Or just wait for the next realese.

Other than that, these distributions should come with almost everything a desktop Windows user would require.

The Live CDs are there for *you* to determine what's the best

electron_3

irnbru wrote:

Your missing the point(s)

Aaaah sorry I meant as in the ease of use GUI or layout for a XP user to get to know relatively painlessy and easily, I mean I dont mind lerning new tricks but I dont want to read a manual befor I do use a different OS.

P.S Has anyone got some direct links for free 100% genuine linux
as I have recently been looking and some sites look rather iffy to say the least.

:beer:

Darksun

wolfman wrote:

The main thing I've found annoying about Linux is the lack of inbuilt wireles support. Installing it via Fedora and Ubuntu required me to use command line, which in todays world shouldn't be necessary. More admin GUI's would be good too. Command line is very powerful, but for the average desktop user it's less intuitive than a gui.

It depends on the hardware. The main problem is hardware drivers are usually closed source, and many manufacturers are unwilling to expend the cost in creating decent Linux drivers (for what is admittedly a small return). My Wireless hardware (Intel IPW2200/Centrino) was detected in installation, I just had to enter the SSID and WEP key for my router and it connected just fine. Other hardware isn't nessecarily (for various legal and technological reasons) included in the default install disk, so it takes a bit of playing around with to work.

The thing is, there's a Catch-22. People arn't willing to use Linux till more Hardware and Software developers port their technology, and the developers arn't willing to port until enough people use Linux to make it worth their while.

wolfman

Darksun wrote:

It depends on the hardware. The main problem is hardware drivers are usually closed source, and many manufacturers are unwilling to expend the cost in creating decent Linux drivers (for what is admittedly a small return). My Wireless hardware (Intel IPW2200/Centrino) was detected in installation, I just had to enter the SSID and WEP key for my router and it connected just fine. Other hardware isn't nessecarily (for various legal and technological reasons) included in the default install disk, so it takes a bit of playing around with to work.

In some distro's wireless cards with the Atheros chipset, often aren't picked up by default. Actually having said that, Ubuntu did pick up my card, but setting it up was a nightmare. Especially as WPA (WEP is a bit dated a less secure) isn't inbuilt. Installing and testing WPA via command lines isn't exactly something the common user will find easy to do. It'd be nice if this sort of thing had a gui (I know there are packages out there) and was inbuilt, maybe something you could setup during installation. Wireless is very common these days and Linux best comes to life when it has an internet connection.

Manufacturers are starting to see the light though. It's still a long way off having the kind of hardware support that Windows does.

The only other thing that needs cleaning up (in Ubuntu by example) are the repositories. The endless lists of apps you can install is quite daunting, and most of them have rather strange names. This needs to be categorised more, something Fedora Core 5 fixed. I hope Ubuntu Dapper (due June) does the same as it is the most user friendly distro I've come across.

amosworks

electron wrote:

Aaaah sorry I meant as in the ease of use GUI or layout for a XP user to get to know relatively painlessy and easily, I mean I dont mind lerning new tricks but I dont want to read a manual befor I do use a different OS.

P.S Has anyone got some direct links for free 100% genuine linux
as I have recently been looking and some sites look rather iffy to say the least.
:beer:

Well if you want to get all the power available, you may not have any choice but to read about it. Even the simple side of Linux (the graphical user interface) is more complex - you have multiple virtual desktops, shaded windows, sticky windows, mouse gestures, window managers, theme managers and a myriad of other stuff - Windows doesn't really have anything like this. I'm sure you could use it straight away but you'll be missing out on a whole load of cool stuff that makes it easier to use your computer if you don't read the manual.