Red Hat?

[Unforgiven1]

Would you recommend Redhat Linux for a noob to Linux? (but by no means a computer n00b) After being an MS customer since 1985, I've seen the light and decided to make the switch.  I attempted to install debian GNU/Linux last night..but something was wrong server side and it messed up..so now I'm looking at redhat.
but I don't even know if it's command line or GUI. (answer that if you would) I don't know if this is the right move.  I've been using XP since it came out, and despise it, but in so far I've been afraid to switch!  I was a shareholder in MS at one point, but recent events have made me look at the company in disgust.  I've sold my stock (for 1 helluva profit mind you) and deleted everything microsoft from my computer except the OS.  now I want to make the switch. Is redhat right for me? (I do a little C++ and COBOL programming, and alot of Javascripting)or should I look at something else...if something else, what?

[Meshuggener]

Yes, Red Hat would be fine for you.  You don't really have to dive into the command line stuff unless you want to - most of the time you won't need to.  Red Hat and a few other distros you might want to check out are Suse Linux and Mandrake Linux.  All three are good for Linux newbies because the installation process is a breeze and it sets up a lot of things for you.  Pretty much everything is GUI, so don't be nervous - you've got nothing to lose, so give it a shot.

[slvadcjelli42]

I've been using Redhat for a few weeks now, and I really like it so far, so I would personally recommend it... the only really troublesome problem I've had (and you should probably watch out for) is hardware compatibility. Redhat keeps a nice list, though, on their site ( http://hardware.redhat.com/hcl/ ). If you get a computer with Linux preinstalled, still don't assume that everything will be 100% compatible (I know it sounds silly, but I learned that the hard way    :rolleyes:   ) Generally if you have real hardware (i.e., not just a ton of "onboard" stuff) things work out ok. That's been my experience, at least. As for the general GUI, it can be VERY impressive, in my opinion (or it can look like crap, it's all in how you configure it       ) Oh, and from what I understand there are a TON of developer, programmer, internet, etc. tools for Linux, although I've barely begun to get into all that.

[ August 04, 2003: Message edited by: Dirk Gently ]

[3eyes]

RH is a great distro - for Pentiums. I installed it on my AMD Athlon and it seemed to go fine, but then I started getting a lot of "failure to load module" errors while using it.

Also. RH doesn't have mp3 support. If you want mp3s you will need to download and install xmms or similar software.

The good news is that RH is one of the best distros for Pentiums and it's very easy to install (if you can't install RH you can't install Windows either; actually it's much easier than Win98). And most of the software out there in rpm format - and there's a lot - works on RH.

Suse Linux is also pretty newbie-friendly and most rpms seem to work on it too. However, Mandrake is probably one of the most newbie-friendly distros out there that isn't a Windows-clone.

[slvadcjelli42]

I wouldn't sweat the mp3 thing... took me about 2 minutes to fix that once I realized what the problem was, and I was still a newbie then (heck, still am now    )

[Unforgiven1]

I'm the perpetual newbie     can't work on a computer for more than 10 minutes without learning a new way to break winsuck.   ...the ways are countless.  Thanks for the replies.  I'm having trouble getting the ISO's onto disk...any suggestions.
oh..I have a laptop too...can I put RH on that?

[mobrien_12]

quote:Originally posted by Unforgiven1:
I'm the perpetual newbie      can't work on a computer for more than 10 minutes without learning a new way to break winsuck.      ...the ways are countless.  Thanks for the replies.  I'm having trouble getting the ISO's onto disk...any suggestions.
oh..I have a laptop too...can I put RH on that?

If you have a burning program in windows like nero burning rom, you should be able to open the iso images in the burning program, either from within the program or by double clicking on them.

In Linux, you just point xcdroast to the iso image  

[3eyes]

Thank you, M. O'Brien. If you're not using Nero or if you have trouble with it, just post here and I )and others too) wil try to help.

Well, as to the laptop, just google the words Red Hat 9 (or whichever release you're using) and the brand name of the laptop. If it's a difficult or tricky model to install RH on, you're sure to find out how others installed it that way.

[Unforgiven1]

laptop is generic...so that wont help (I had it built custom by a computer shop)

I have a program called undisker I used to open the ISO files.  then I sent them to recordnow MAX for burning...and there was an error everytime.  I installed several other burners, and none of them would work.  But do I actually need to open the ISO files?  I got debian installed already just burning the ISO files onto disk ( I don't know why redhat won't do the same) but it didn't work after I installed it.

[3eyes]

In that case, you'll need to know what brand your hardware is; motherboard (Pentium, most likely), video card, sound card, etc. Then you can search with each one. If you're not sure and the maker can't tell you, you can get a repair tech to open the case and find out.

[Unforgiven1]

I know what brand everything is...and trust me, I'm more than competent at opening a case and finding out.

but I hate linux already!  I got everything good to go, and the installer started...and then it loads vmlinuz and freezes.  The other disk, loads to a blue screen with some directions on the bottom and freezes.  I think I'm going to stop trying to be cheap here and just run out and buy red hat 9 and one of those nice how to books.   (I saw the disks come with the books...very nice)

[Faust]

Yeah Red Hat is pretty good.  I would recomend either Red Hat or Mandrake.  Maybe Red Hat because they have money...     I am not a big Red Hat fan btw, but I'm sure everyone else here can give you a hand.

 

quote:
I've seen the light and decided to make the switch. I attempted to install debian GNU/Linux last night..but something was wrong server side and it messed up..

Debian is a **** of a distro for a newbie.  I use it now and love it but I wouldn't have been able to install it at all if it weren't for my experience in Mandrake.

 

quote:
but I don't even know if it's command line or GUI.

The command line will be necessary for any "low down" admin that you cant do from Webmin etcetera, but Red Hat is fully graphical - most Linux distros are, but you started with Debian which doesnt exactly bring in graphics "early" in the install process.  How do you think we watch our movies?

 

quote:
(I do a little C++ and COBOL programming, and alot of Javascripting)

He.  Yeah Linux has more than enough development tools.  At the moment I'm playing with Haskell, Eiffel and C++, not to mention that if you want to see how an OS is programmed you can download the full GNU/Linux source.  Not as much RAD tools/IDE's as Windows, but we do have KDevelop and Kylix (and a few others.)  Also, COBOL???  You work in COBOL???  Everyone else says it cant be done....

 

quote:
10 minutes without learning a new way to break winsuck

Everyone has that problem, it's prob not your fault.

Re:burning ISO's, it can be hard to get them working from a Windows burner.  Linuxiso.com has a few guides, basically you need to find a way to burn it bootable and readable.  Having a single "name.iso" file on the disk is *not* the same as burning off the iso - basically an iso just describes how to burn the disk.  You could always try grabbing a copy for cheap off a nearby online store - I got Debian for $25, (I could have gone with the burned not pressed copies for a lot less) and that was 7 cds.

[Faust]

quote:
and then it loads vmlinuz and freezes.

Anyone know what the problem could be here?  My guess is the CD's are fucked or you may need to play with the BIOS or your hardware may be unsorported...  Still sounds a bit scary...

[Unforgiven1]

now that's an informative post    

I'm a student at Kettering.  and no...COBOL can't be done...but for some reason the professors all think it can be *spares long personal rant*

I found redhat for $30 and a big ass thick book today at barnes and noble.  perhaps I'll go pick it up.  Seems like slapping a disk in the ROM drive is alot easier than this.

(edit)
I think the disk is fucked up.  I checked all the hardware, and it's all supported.  except maybe my mouse...I'll switch and see if that helps. If not...I'll try mandrake next.  and if that fails too..then I don't know.

[ August 05, 2003: Message edited by: Unforgiven1 ]

[Faust]

Eh, I dont think a faulty mouse should be hanging a computer...  Somehow...  

Proffessors who teach COBOL.  Gotta love obsessives and their pet languages.

[rant]
Totally off topic, man I love American bookstores like Barnes and Noble...  Not that good for "alt" books but still beats the hell outta Dymocks.  They give you actual chairs to sit and read in!  And they're so big!  So many books.....
[/rant]