Well im still going at it...

[TheGreatPoo]

OIY!  I bought Mandrake Linux about two days ago!  Should I regret it (shut up XP Luser)?  I though Linux was faster than windows.  I know that it's more reliable (that's what sold me) but can it be faster?  How can I optimize it to run on a six year old 180MHz Pentium Pro with 64MB of RAM?  Can I get it to run faster than Windows 98?  For a while I was running Windows 2000 Pro and it was slower than dog sh*t in the sun (not surprised)!  Should I get discouraged?  I hope not.

[lazygamer]

Who knows, maybe there is a huge difference between Win2000 and Mandrake on a slow system. Im quite spoiled on my 433, I tend to forget what windows was like on a 120.  

Don't worry poo, im just venting. Im not n00b enough to throw in the towel just because XP says I should. Chances are how fast your mandrake performs is DIRECTLY related to how much shit you know about unix.

I've learnt that Linux is a totally new experience. You go in imagining wind0ze like things to happen(Besides crashes etc.), and they don't.  

You bought Mandrake correct? Thus it should come with a book(possibly). So if it came with a book, then READ THAT BOOK!

My advice.

1)I noticed a huge difference between KDE and GNOME speedwise and ease of use wise. GNOME is neat, but there is NO ROOM for apples and oranges when one of them goes slow as shit. So use KDE.

2)Those services you have loading up, they likely have a major effect. HOWEVER, you must learn what ones you can disable without the GUI not loading. If only someone hear would answer my previous question.  

3)I've found that Mandrake is very stable. If something crashes, it don't feel like a windows crash. The crash feels much weaker. Your system won't shut down, you won't end up with wierd anamolies that can only be fixed with rebooting etc.

4)Wine is an example of how Linux is less user friendly. But for all I know, perhaps the Wine creator could be a dum dum, and some people make their installations more user friendly. In addition, it will probably seem friendly enough once you master Linux.

[lazygamer]

Here's what I've decided to do. For me, Linux is not easy. I at the thought of "installing a newer, less newbie-ish distro in two months". So im gonna get winXP as comfy as I can for gaming and my everyday needs, in addition, I'll pop on Wind0ze 98 for some oldsk00l compatibility for now.

I think the problem is, I've been trying to use Linux to replace wind0ze ASAP. That's fine and all, except it's very frustrating and angering when you try to wind0ze your way through it(like I do in wind0ze, no help files required, just freestyle your way through!), knowing only what you need to do basic everyday tasks(which I don't even know yet for Mandrake).

Im just gonna chill, and use Linux as a place of learning, not a place of doing. Step by step, function by function I'll go through that manual. But to all you non-converts out there, the only way your gonna see the beauty of Linux as the regulars see it is to master it. You'll only master it if your not angered by it. You'll only not be angered by it if you don't need to rely on it for everyday things.

[foobar]

But ... what do you mean with 'daily tasks' ? I mean, it couldn't be that hard to pop up a konqueror or kmail or a word processor ... ?
Or am i getting you wrong ?

[lazygamer]

Good question. Well my ADSL isn't working yet.
I did put a request in at MandrakeExpert though.

Ok daily tasks? Remember that Mandrake(without being given proper expert optimization) takes 110+ seconds to boot, XP take 35 seconds to boot. Linux also takes longer to shut down.

Well... I edit text(make l33t game design ideas etc.), want to try C++ programming(have DJGPP for wind0ze already, haven't used it much), surf the net, play computer games, talk to people on message boards(like this one), look up info on computer games, and play online computer games(half-life). Oh yes, I do e-mail and ICQ stuff too.

That's what I spend my time doing.  

No internet connection, no natural wind0ze/dos game compatibility, hard as hell tweaking and modifying of wind0ze emulator, games that still refuse to work on a wind0ze emulator, and a GUI and system that can't ever be really good until you rtfm and practice it.

So that's why one must take it slowly.

[lazygamer]

Ok goddamit I admit it, Im a gaming freak! I play games all the time! I play 0ldsk00l, newsk00l, too many games to finish at once etc(working on that). So much of what I do is gaming related.  

So that's my "daily tasks".

[Chooco]

this is in responce to the first post. i too run Mandrake and it's having quite a few problems for me such as taking like 10 seconds to load a program yet the CPU usage never goes above 1.5% for some reason....

my friend's computer runs RedHat 7.1 and it's just fantastic, i'm gonna use that distro next time