• Getting started with Linux
    27 replies, posted
Howdy. I will probably end up switching to Linux when Windows 8 comes out, but that's another discussion and I'm not quite sure about it yet. My question is, what do I do? I am pretty confused. I am hearing about all these different versions of Linux, Mint, Cinnamon, Ubuntu, Etc. Which is which and what do I start out with?
1. Clarification: Cinnamon is a desktop environment (basically determines what your desktop looks like, this one specifically comes with Mint if you so choose it) 2. [url=http://ubuntu.com/]Ubuntu[/url] and [url=http://www.linuxmint.com/]Linux Mint[/url] are good places to start. Their installations are relatively fast and almost completely automated. Linux Mint's download page has multiple desktop environments listed, I personally reccomend XFCE and MATE.
Thanks for the info. I will check out XFCE and MATE aswell.
my first venture into nix based OSes was FreeBSD when I was like 13 ( dad bought me it , came with a huge ass manual )
[QUOTE=Duskling;37115698]Howdy. I will probably end up switching to Linux when Windows 8 comes out, but that's another discussion and I'm not quite sure about it yet. My question is, what do I do? I am pretty confused. I am hearing about all these different versions of Linux, Mint, Cinnamon, Ubuntu, Etc. Which is which and what do I start out with?[/QUOTE] Why would you end up switching to Windows 8 when it gets released? Whats wrong with Win7, Vista or XP that you have to switch to Windows 8 as soon as its gets released? I love Win7 however im having an affair with [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arch_Linux"]Arch Linux[/URL]. [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinnamon_(user_interface)"]Cinnamon[/URL] is a desktop just like [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNOME"]GNOME[/URL] or [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xfce"]XFCE[/URL] and it was created by the mint team for [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux_Mint"]Linux Mint[/URL]. Linux Mint is derived from Ubuntu. I would suggest starting out with [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ubuntu_(operating_system)"]Ubuntu[/URL]. I would also suggest taking a read of my post that I wrote for another thread, you can find it [URL="http://www.facepunch.com/showthread.php?t=1160549&p=37108699&viewfull=1#post37108699"]here[/URL]. In it I talk a lot about Linux so im sure you will find it very useful.
[QUOTE=TheCreeper;37120447]Why would you end up switching to Windows 8 when it gets released? Whats wrong with Win7, Vista or XP that you have to switch to Windows 8 as soon as its gets released? I love Win7 however im having an affair with [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arch_Linux"]Arch Linux[/URL]. [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinnamon_(user_interface)"]Cinnamon[/URL] is a desktop just like [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNOME"]GNOME[/URL] or [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xfce"]XFCE[/URL] and it was created by the mint team for [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux_Mint"]Linux Mint[/URL]. Linux Mint is derived from Ubuntu. I would suggest starting out with [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ubuntu_(operating_system)"]Ubuntu[/URL]. I would also suggest taking a read of my post that I wrote for another thread, you can find it [URL="http://www.facepunch.com/showthread.php?t=1160549&p=37108699&viewfull=1#post37108699"]here[/URL]. In it I talk a lot about Linux so im sure you will find it very useful.[/QUOTE] Alright, cool. I love Windows 7 too, but if the rumors are true, and Windows 8 is going to make their OS more closed than ever, and game devs might not be able to supply games efficiently on the platform anymore, I would not mind switching over to Linux. Of course I could just stay with Windows 7, but I am actually looking forward to switching to Linux and getting a bit of a change for once ( As long as valve gets steam ported to Linux correctly and a decent amount of games support ). Thank you all for the assistance.
Windows 8 is more closed if you get it with one of those tablets, since they don't allow you to change the OS. However if you install Windows 8 on your current PC, you can still change OS freely. No matter how locked down it is, people will find ways round it, it's still being built off the same foundation which powers Windows 7. The marketplace may be a bit limited, but applications can still be installed normally from exe files or whatever
Whilst most people don't recommend it (because it costs). My first ever experience with a Linux based OS was a VPS I purchased. I'd heard all sorts of fun thing about them, and decided to purchase one with CentOS to see what all the fuss was about. It took me about a week to learn most of the basics, file/directory manipulation, repositories, installing packages. It can seem pretty tedious at first but after a few months of that I decided to install Ubuntu alongside my windows 7 install and I found it very easy to get used too. There was a few complications, such as realizing CentOS has a root/admin account and on Ubuntu, you don't. couple of minutes of google and I learned about "sudo". Of course if you really want to test out a bunch of different Linux distro's I'd recommend using a virtual machine.
The [url=http://www.facepunch.com/showthread.php?t=1160456]General Linux[/url] thread's also pretty helpful with questions. Don't worry if the current discussion goes right over your head at times, and despite what they say, don't bother with Arch (not yet at least), because it's not quite as "friendly" as Ubuntu or Mint are.
[QUOTE=lavacano;37174118]The [url=http://www.facepunch.com/showthread.php?t=1160456]General Linux[/url] thread's also pretty helpful with questions. Don't worry if the current discussion goes right over your head at times, and despite what they say, don't bother with Arch (not yet at least), because it's not quite as "friendly" as Ubuntu or Mint are.[/QUOTE] Seriously, join the thead, we could use some more regular posters :v: As for Arch, I agree, but I'm not sure "friendly" is exactly what you need. If you do go with Ubuntu, promise me you will give the command line a fighting chance. If you are willing to spend a bit more time and effort to get your ideal system, Arch can be very rewarding in this regard, and a lot of people in the general chat thread will be happy to help you with any problems. [editline]10th August 2012[/editline] also, lavacano, how and or why are you running IE under Linux?
[QUOTE=Rayjingstorm;37175786]also, lavacano, how and or why are you running IE under Linux?[/QUOTE] I'm the project lead for Internet Explorer for Linux. I'm actually proud to say it works better than the Windows counterpart.
[QUOTE=lavacano;37185397]I'm the project lead for Internet Explorer for Linux. I'm actually proud to say it works better than the Windows counterpart.[/QUOTE] You're actually doing quite a service to people who are bound to utilities which depend upon IE (thanks microsoft). I was just a bit confused :v: [editline]11th August 2012[/editline] actually, do you have any really legacy stuff? like IE5 or 6? I could use a copy to interface with an ancient NAS...
No, because nobody felt like patching up all six trillion security holes and standards violations in those two versions. also unsupported by upstream because newer versions are out and whatnot
[QUOTE=lavacano;37190216]No, because nobody felt like patching up all six trillion security holes and standards violations in those two versions. also unsupported by upstream because newer versions are out and whatnot[/QUOTE] I understand; it's seemingly impossible to get either installed or working, and the only computer we have with IE5 on it has an outdated network card as well.
[QUOTE=Amiga OS;37196510]You kinda have a point here. But how will you gain an understanding of what each bit of Linux does, and how it all works together without starting from scratch and installing it all yourself? I'd never suggest doing this on your main machine, but perhaps a VM.[/QUOTE] You don't need an understanding of how all the components of an OS work to use that OS. I don't know or care exactly how, say, DirextX functions in Windows 7, but it works, and it does its job fine. You just don't need to know that kind of shit if you are just using the OS. If you were perhaps trying to modify the kernel, or included packages of a distro, maybe. But if you are just using a distro as a alternative OS, and won't be developing too low level, you have no need for that knowledge outside of curiosity. Plus, Arch is shit for beginners. Start with something that can hold your hand through it all, but use things like Terminal as much as you can to learn it if you want to.
Why are some people acting like Windows 7 will just shut off when 8 is out?
Arch is fine full time... as one IRC user put it: 1. You can call yourself a hipster 2. Everything will break every other week 3. The devs are idiots What more could you POSSIBLY ask for in a distro?
[QUOTE=Amiga OS;37199389]NSFW : [url]http://puu.sh/R0pI[/url][/QUOTE] if you can't laugh at yourself :v:
Arch is good, and I never really had problems, that were caused by arch, or any package. 100% of the time, its me fucking shit up.
Every time I try to install Arch, it kernel panics on boot. And I was following the install guide to the letter.
[QUOTE=Tudd;37197148]Why are some people acting like Windows 7 will just shut off when 8 is out?[/QUOTE] It won't shut off, heck people are still using XP
I personally love debian, as it goes back a long time and is pretty much supported by everything. I'm not sure which is more popular, but if it isn't Debian it is Ubuntu. That said, go with [URL="http://crunchbanglinux.org/"]Crunchbang[/URL] for ease of use. Once you install it, it gives you a choice to install other goodies like libreoffice (Open-source equivalent of Microsoft Office), java, printer support, and all the stuff you would likely need to get a functional 2012 desktop/laptop experience. Also, the window manager (openbox) runs fast and isn't bloated like the latest Ubuntu versions have been with Unity. Also, it looks [URL="http://56.imagebam.com/download/UUdhzGfFfmkEyAabF1iP5w/20402/204016114/2012-07-31--1343774498_1024x600_scrot.png"]pretty[/URL] [URL="http://ompldr.org/vZjM1NA"]damn[/URL] [URL="http://filesmelt.com/dl/2012-08-14--1344963328_1280x800_scrot.png"]good[/URL] both [URL="http://crunchbanglinux.org/wiki/_media/screenshots/statler-terminator-terminal.png?cache=&w=900&h=562"]out of the box[/URL] and [URL="http://paste.xinu.at/F19gt/"]when customized a little.[/URL] (I think that's arch linux, but you can do the same thing with debian/crunchbang. Just look up "dwm" or "awesome") It's very easy to customize (the .config or .rc files are accessible right from the menu) if you would want to, especially with the use of a guide. As a first time linux user, I would suggust not installing Arch. It gets a bit complicated, even with a guide, and I would recommend getting used to Linux first. Besides, it prides itself in do-it-yourself minimalism, which as a casual desktop user, you wouldn't really need. If you really wanted it, just use [URL="http://archbang.org/"]ArchBang[/URL]. It's an easy-to-install and use version of Arch with all the stuff you would want to use already in it.
If you're a beginner, you can go with Ubuntu. It's one of the most popular ones so if you have problems, it'll be easy to get help. Then again, even I was a beginner and I started with Arch. It depends on what kind of person you are. If you're lazy to read, get something simple. As for a desktop environment/window manager, look around and see which you like. That's the beauty of Linux!
if you like the matrix you could try gentoo? [editline]16th August 2012[/editline] horrible scrolling text joke
[QUOTE=Tudd;37197148]Why are some people acting like Windows 7 will just shut off when 8 is out?[/QUOTE] Because they want to be on the bleeding edge and old stuff to them is shit and doesn't exist. [QUOTE=djjkxbox360;37203709]It won't shut off, heck people are still using XP[/QUOTE] Windows 98SE is still a good OS if you apply some patches available over at [url]www.msfn.org[/url]. It vastly extends what you can do with Windows 98SE, like run Windows NT applications (firefox, etc.)
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