Debian 3.0

[Meshuggener]

Does anyone here have Debian 3.0?  I'm about to break away from Windows and I'm looking for something more challenging and fun.  I've heard it's a steep learning curve for newbies like me, but I can buy a book or something.  If anyone has Debian, can anyone tell me about it?  Is it good, or is there something better?  Thanks.

[pkd_lives]

Erm....The Debian Website

That would be your first port of call. Although you can go through any number of redistribution sites, many of which are listed at the site, who offer a mirror or you can buy the cd's for a few dollars, pounds, shekels, you're weight in bananas. Debian is meant to be pretty hardcore, never used it, although some people here do and speak wonderfully of it, once it's on that is. Good luck, and let us know how much your life has improved afterwards.

[Meshuggener]

Yes I have visited the site, and I've found a good place to purchase it.  I don't know, I guess I just want to hear how the Debian users like it.  And believe me, now that I've discovered Linux, I have to say the OS future seems much brighter.    

[jtpenrod]

quote: Does anyone here have Debian 3.0? I'm about to break away from Windows and I'm looking for something more challenging and fun. I've heard it's a steep learning curve for newbies like me, but I can buy a book or something.

Deb is certainly challenging, but it's not much fun for the Linux virgin. Deb, along with Slackware, are some of the geekiest distros. A better way to break into Linux would be Mandrake. The install is much easier, being a graphical utility, whereas Deb's installer is purely text. Not does Deb do as much automatic configuration. Once you get used to 'Drake, then you can take a crack at the geekier distros.

Go to Mandrake Linux and grab these manuals: Mandrake Linux: Installation and User Guide and Mandrake Linux: Reference Manual. There's lots of good information there that will help, and not just for 'Drake.

Another good site to keep in mind is: Linux Newbie. This one is good, newbie or veteran.

Go for it!    
______________________________________

Live Free or Die: Linux

There: now you'll never have to look at those dirty Windows anymore!
--Daffy Duck  

[eradicator]

libranet is a distro based on debian, but libranet is more user-friendly. the company might have a lame website, but the distro is very nice.

http://www.libranet.com/

[ August 15, 2002: Message edited by: eradicator ]

[creedon]

i agree, I'm using Debian 3.0, and I ve got Libranet 2.0 installed also.  Libranet effectivly IS Debian 3.0 "Woody".  It's an easy Linux install; that means it's NOT a series of mouse clicks like Windows- you actually have to provide some input about your machine i.e. monitor info, sound card info, video card info, etc, etc.  I have installed Libranet 2.0, including partitioning and setting up an internet connection, in less than an hour.  I'm also a long-time Debian user, so if your new to Linux, I would expec to double that time at least.  Libranet comes with a whole bunch of goodies, the best of which is "adminmenu".  This allows you to do administrative duties, as root, that would be time consuming in a very timely manner.  You csan re-compile the kernel, setup a CD-burner, or a printer all through adminmenu- it's a really nice little app.
As to installation, I'd do a minimal install, it's easy to add things afterward from adminmenu, and that way, you'll be up and running quickly.

[lazygamer]

Ok so the more hardc0re and geeky a disto is, the more raw power and stability available to a powerful power user, correct?

[creedon]

quote:Originally posted by lazygamer:
Ok so the more hardc0re and geeky a disto is, the more raw power and stability available to a powerful power user, correct?

Yeah, within reason.  Linux is inherently stable, because of it's structure.  There's nasty stuff out there that can cause problems, but on the whole, it's more stable than BRAND X.  Debian's stability comes from their commitment to quality; that commitment is why a lot of folks say it's behind the times as far as new apps are concerned, they WON'T release an app to "stable" if they get any bug reports at all.  That slows up the process of getting "cutting edge" software, but you end up wiyh a distro that's as stable as a rock; personally, I LIKE stability; I don't want to re-install because I installed a buggy application.

[choasforages]

yeah, i use debian on my lowend systems, and it runs fast on them. im going about getting a copy of slackware 8.1 for my new computer. i would recomend redhat 7.3 for new users. its easy enough to install, and fairly standerd. but any linux is better then windows. so if you like to learn FAST, give debian a shot, and also buy a few generic linux books and a few good unix ones too. adn read them. then go have phun