Turning over to Linux...

[Kaymaster]

I'm sure you guys get these kind of questions from a lot of n00bs like myself...  

I have been a longtime Windows user. I hated 98 and ME with a vengeance. I now am running XP. At first, it looked real fancy schmancy and I was happy with it for the longest time. Then, all of a sudden, it wouldn't let me into Windows when all I did was simply change the desktop theme. I even tried to get into it via safe mode and it didn't work. I was forced to reformat. That really pissed me off...

Now, I'm looking to download a Linux alternative. I play games less and less nowadays, however, I still enjoy them from time to time. I also like instant messangers.

What brand of Linux do you guys reccomend for a n00b like myself? Thanks.  

[rtgwbmsr]

I would recommend Mandrake Linux. It's easy to install (they all are, really) and you don't have to go to a console to do most simple tasks, ex: changing the resolution.

As for playing games: WineX is availible at http://www.transgaming.com/ and allows you to play many games.

And instant messangers: You are going to have to ask someone else, but I know there are a lot of them for Linux.

Welcome to the dark side!

-Dustin

[voidmain]

Changing resolution in Linux is far easier than it is in Windows.  That is, if you set up X properly at installation.  You should configure X at install time for all of your favorite resolutions.  Then when Linux is up and running and you are logged in all you have to do is press <CTRL><ALT><KP+> or <CTRL><ALT><KP-> to cycle through each of your resolutions. <KP+> refers to the "+" on your number pad.

[Master of Reality]

your <ctrl>+<alt>+<keypad +/-> has never worked for me in kde on any of my linux distributions that i have tried.

[voidmain]

Then you do not have multiple resolutions configured.  When you installed RedHat did you select more than one resolution (and test all of them)?

By the way, this has been part of XFree since this first time I used it 10 years ago...

See the "KEYBOARD" section in "man XFree86". It will switch between all resolutions that you have defined in the "Screen" section of your XF86Config-4 file.  If you only have one resolution defined then it obviously can not switch to another mode.

More specifically, in my XF86Config-4 file I have my Screen section as so:

Code: [Select]

I have 5 different resolutions configured that I can switch between in both 24 and 16 bit color depth.  It defaults to the first one in the list (1280x1024).  Now you can not switch between 24 and 16 bit color depth by pressing a key combo though.

[ July 29, 2002: Message edited by: VoidMain ]

[Kat]

I would reccommend Mandrake.  It is pretty easy to use. As for instant messengers, i use Gaim.  I understand you can talk to everybody on it, but all of my buddies have AIM, so i haven't tried that. You can get Gaim on freshmeat.net. Licq is on the Mandrake CDs and i am sure you can find it on freshmeat as well.

[LorKorub]

I would recommend either SuSE, RedHat, or Mandrake to start out with. What you are looking for you can find on any distro out there. Your goal with Linux should be to not only get a superior operating system, but to find out how some of this stuff works and to learn exactly what you were missing out on when you got butt-reamed out of $300 for buying a piece of shit like XPiss. SuSE comes packed with the most apps (seven CDs in the Professional version...on sale at CompUSA for $70), but this can be a little overwhelming for someone starting out. Don't get me wrong, it is cool to get all of those packages, but it is a lot different than Win$hit.....they all don't install in the $tart Menu. Many are commandline driven, and you have to manually configure a lot of them, as well. But, when you are reading about some program that everyone is using (like on this site for example), chances are, you have it on your distro.  Installation on it is a piece of cake, too. Just boot the CD and read the instructions.

Mandrake is, at least from my experience (which isn't much compared to some people here) the most user-friendly.  A very easy install process, and very easy to maintain once you get it going. I haven't tried 8.2 yet, but I have used 8.0. Pretty simplistic, yet has everything you could possibly need to get started.

Red Hat is another very user-friendly distro.  If you are interested in getting into networking, then this is the ticket. The documentation it provides is stellar.

Anyone you choose will be about a hundred steps ahead of what you were using before.  Why not just try them all?  You can get them for free from www.linuxiso.org.  However, on your first shot, I would reccommend buying one just so you can get the documentation that comes with it. Plus, your money will be going to a good cause and not to line the pockets of a bunch of greedy, imperialistic, oligopolistic, anti-trust law violating, soon-to-be John Rigas's cellmates.

[choasforages]

i would also recomend going out and buying a thick $50 linux book, good chances that they will already have an install discs in the book. and youll have enough documentation to keep you going for a while

[lazygamer]

Hey do I have to get a book for a specific distro, or is there such a thing as general purpose books? What about books 3 or so years old. I do not want to pay $50, I would like $10 and second hand.  

Also, Mandrake sounds like really user friendly. But even for a Linux master, would they say that if offers alot of customizability and power to them?

[voidmain]

I would not recommend a distro-specific book. Something like "Linux Unleashed" should be good, but I saw the first release of it several years back. It was pretty good then, I imagine it should be just as good or better now.