Yes, I'm an absolute newbie! (less than a month using Linux)
But I'm a believer!
I've been using Windows since DX66 PCs were on the market. I thought Windows was pretty cool for a long time. Then I started using windows more, and I started learning more about PCs. Windows 98 came out and I used that, and I got more interested in computers. Sometime, somehow I noticed that my computer crashed often. I learned to accept it, and I thought it didn't matter because all I had to do was reset my system. But it does matter! And I realized that it's not me, and it's not the computer itself, it's the damn OS that sucks! I've even used Windows ME (then realized I could get a command line) and NO! I haven't bothered using XP, I worked next to a guy with XP on his box. He's moved away, but XP still complains about a cd-burner driver that we removed 8 months ago!
"Do you want to send a report to Microsoft?"
No! I want a better OS!
So, actually I've had Mandrake and Redhat ISOs for a long time, and to be honest I had trouble getting the install to boot.
But guess what!!! I found SuSe 7.3 at a used book store, with manuals for $15.00 and this was the best deal ever!
This is the easiest install I could ever ask for!
Everything was detected, and the GUI is just damn beautiful!
I use FDISK all the time, and partition hard drives, blah, blah, blah. The SuSe install is much easier! I even offers default suggestions so you don't have to sweat the partitions.
I swear, 15-20 minutes tops to install the whole thing with Star Office.
And I'm talking about a Dual Boot! Yes, for those of you (and my wife) who need a safety blanket, this is it!
My GeForce2 Ti card works!
My SoundBlaster card works!
My Lite-On 24x burner works!
My Pioner 116 Dvd player works!
My Atapi Zip 100 works!
My USB ports work!
My Hp 5L laser printer works! Yay!
And as for software:
I have the choice of browsing with konquer, Netscape, etc. But I chose Mozilla, Sweet!
(But the point is, I have a choice!)
CD-Roast does all I need to burn CDs.
Xine plays DVDs, but I prefer Ogle.
And there is Star Office instead of MS Office.
And Kmail instead of Outlook, There is just too much to list really!
Don't forget Alsa player for MP3s!!!
Did you know that Linux can still read the files in your Windows partition? That's where my MP3 files are when I play them using Linux.
Did you know you can do almost everything without the command line?
SuSe 7.3 will extract .tar files just like winzip does in windows. RPMs are handled just as easily when you click on them in your file manager.
I do like the fact that I can use the command line whenever I want to.
I am also impressed by how little space is occupied by the install. Windows is choking on it's 10gig partition, and I only have the equivalent software installed.
I am not ignorant about Windows, I have used it for a long time. I have built several PCs, 4 at the company I work at. Getting a printer to work continuously is a chore! One person has spent days running around fixing the damage caused by viruses received in Outlook, and we're running Norton Antivirus! I've had BSOD twice in a row when I tried to open a document in Office 2000. On the 3rd boot, windows was still unstable, and finally on the 4th boot, the problem had cleared.
I'm not going to try to convert any MS faithful, or Mac Addicts, but for those of you who are thinking about linux, and need guidance, try it! It wont hurt! and it really is as good as people say it is!
For a newbie, try SuSe first, then move on to Slackware, or Debian, whatever, but please do yourself a favor and open up a world of possibilities.
Don't buy the FUD! and do believe the hype!
