morpheus help please

[crustymc]

I was about to download morpheus from cnet when I noticed that one of the min requirements is windows media player. I am about to dump windows and get linux as soon as I get the courage. will morpheus still work when I do this?
Also, if I partition my hd, will I need to move my pics and mp3s over to the "linux side"? I think I am going to go w/ either mandrake or red hat.
I would be so grateful for some help. I really don't like microsoft, but it's hard to dump it when all my friends tell me I need to be a programmer just to run linux. I think I'm about as far from a programmer as is possible!

[creedon]

quote:Originally posted by crustymc:
I was about to download morpheus from cnet when I noticed that one of the min requirements is windows media player. I am about to dump windows and get linux as soon as I get the courage. will morpheus still work when I do this?
Also, if I partition my hd, will I need to move my pics and mp3s over to the "linux side"? I think I am going to go w/ either mandrake or red hat.
I would be so grateful for some help. I really don't like microsoft, but it's hard to dump it when all my friends tell me I need to be a programmer just to run linux. I think I'm about as far from a programmer as is possible!

Your friends are filling you with Microsoft F.U.D.  No, you do not have to be a programmer to use Linux.  You DO, however have to be willing to USE THE COMMAND LINE INTERFACE every once in a while.  The reason I capitalized COMMAND LINE is that most users of Microshaft products (in the last 10 years) don't ever use the command line (DOS) and it scares hell out of them.  It's nothing to be scared of, as a matter of fact, you use a lot less of your computer's resources in command line- you're not running a fancy desktop (you CAN run VERY facy desktops in Linux, but that's another story!)  By not running A GUI - Graphical User Interface, your computer can divert it's computing power into something more productive- like burning CD's, or downloading MP-3's.  "Oh", you say "I didn't know you could do those things at the command line".  Well you can't in any version of Windows, but you CAN in Linux.  You can do almost anything at the command line in Linux, and usually, it's easier and faster that way.  If I were you (and I WAS you about 2 years ago!), I'd set up a Dual-boot of WIN9x and your Linux distro-of-choice.  You won't understand Linux immediatly, so you can boot into Windows for a Microsoft fix, but that will be les and less frequent, and soon, you'll have the MS monkey off your back.

[crustymc]

thank you so much creedon!
I need reassurances right now. My plan is to spend the rest of this weekend backing up my files and looking for freeware partition software.
I wouldn't even bother w/ keeping windows except that dell tech support told me that installing linux would void my extended hardware warranty that I paid hard earned $ for. I am worried about the warranty thing but not enough to let it stop me.

[voidmain]

So if the mother board blows, how they going to tell you were running Linux on it?  If the hard drive goes, it's a differenent story but I never had a problem replacing parts from them where I used to work. Although they run you through the 6 mile long support checklist before they will switch anything out these days.  Of course at home I stay away from Dell for desktop hardware (laptops are pretty good though).  I find I can usually pay for the 3 year waranty by not paying for all the MS garbage and have better hardware since I pick exactly what I want.

[voidmain]

I thought a little more about what you said about Dell voiding the extended warranty if you remove M$.  I wonder what their reasoning is for this? It can't be technical and I am afraid I wouldn't be happy knowing what the "real" reason is.  I would be willing to bet it has something to do with MS pressure.

I tell you what I would have done if they had told me that.  I would have said "ok, then give me back the cash for the percentage of the 3 years I did not use, and then don't expect me to ever buy another machine from you". And if I was in a really bad mood I would have said "Ok, what address can I ship this machine back to for a refund?".  I think if you would have used one of these two answers they might have changed their mind and let you keep the extended warranty.

Dell is *heavily* in bed with Microsoft by the way.

[ February 16, 2002: Message edited by: VoidMain ]

[creedon]

quote:Originally posted by crustymc:
thank you so much creedon!
I need reassurances right now. My plan is to spend the rest of this weekend backing up my files and looking for freeware partition software.
I wouldn't even bother w/ keeping windows except that dell tech support told me that installing linux would void my extended hardware warranty that I paid hard earned $ for. I am worried about the warranty thing but not enough to let it stop me.

Sounds good.  I'm wondering how your partitions are set up now.  If you have more than one partition under Win, you really don't have to do anymore partitioning, as far as DOS goes.  All Linux distros come with partitioning functions.  They will allow you to partition and format Linux type partitions (ext2, ext3, swap).  I'm going to suggest a distro that will most likely get me flamed, but I have a good reason, which I'll explain.  I would suggest you install CorelLinux 1.2.  That's gonna get me some flak from other people on this forum.  I'll explain;  CorelLinux is NOT a big favorite among Linux users- most say it's too much like Windows, it's not secure enough, and it's no longer supported.  Well, strictly speaking, they're right- BUT, it's easy to install- you do everything at a GUI, it IS like Windows, so you're not immediately lost, and it will automatically set up LILO to allow you to dual-boot.  Dual-booting means you will be able to start either Windows or Linux when the computer boots up.  I think CorelLinux is the best LEARNING distro around- everything else is too different from Windows, and it's intimidating to a new user.  After saying all that nice stuff about Corel, now I'm gonna say this.  AS SOON AS YOU'RE COMFORTABLE WITH COREL, DITCH IT AND GET A REAL DISTRO!!!!!  Was that clear?  Once you're familiar with the basics, and you've made your mistakes (yes, you will make mistakes), get a distro that's more of a "pure" Linux- there's TONS out there, and then you'll discover why Linux is so great!

 

[crustymc]

Thanks again creedon. Your logic works for me regarding corel. As for support, I'm sure there are faqs etc. out there somewhere. And the only partitioning that has happened to my hd is whatever windows has done. Yep, I have no idea!  
I called dell again today to ask again about the warranty. After punching in my express service code 3 different times and holding for 30 minutes I was disconnected. Technical difficulties or the poor tech support guys took a much deserved smoke break. I'll try again tomorrow.

[crustymc]

Sorry, I sounded like an ignorant ass in my last post. It's just that I used my last 2 free electives to take pc classes where i was told that I was taking good care of my system and there no solution to my problems but to reload and reformat. One final consisted of sending an email to the prof. w/ an email attachment and hyperlink. I wanted to learn Photoshop, but now I have no room left in my schedule as those 2 classes were prerequsites. Can't afford Photoshop so I have become quite pissy about learning anything windows. I just feel like my learning curve is being determined by the depths of my wallet, and so I'm sulking. Guess if I'm going to keep windows at all I'd better change my attitude. Yuck.  

[voidmain]

Hmmm, Raleigh North Carolina.... Isn't that Red Hat country?  I can garantee you this.  If you learn Linux you will be farther ahead about knowing how computers work than 99% of any Microsoft Certified so called System Engineers.  And it won't cost you one red cent.  How 'bout them apples (tm)?

[creedon]

quote:Originally posted by VoidMain:
Hmmm, Raleigh North Carolina.... Isn't that Red Hat country?  I can garantee you this.  If you learn Linux you will be farther ahead about knowing how computers work than 99% of any Microsoft Certified so called System Engineers.  And it won't cost you one red cent.  How 'bout them apples (tm)?

Damn straight, VoidMain.  Linux isn't for pussies- you have to think.  The sysadmin where I work is typical.  I've GIVEN him 5 different Linux distros, and he STILL can't get one installed- what an asshole!!

[Deftones]

a command line interface looks a lot nicer when you know all the commands.

[jtpenrod]

quote: I'm going to suggest a distro that will most likely get me flamed, but I have a good reason, which I'll explain. I would suggest you install CorelLinux 1.2. That's gonna get me some flak from other people on this forum.

Not necessarily. I do believe that Corel also has one of the best disk partitioning tools. There are lots of Linux people out there who use it for that reason alone: make the partitions, then delete Corel and replace with the distro of choice.

Not a bad idea at all.  

[crustymc]

quote:Originally posted by VoidMain:
Hmmm, Raleigh North Carolina.... Isn't that Red Hat country?  I can garantee you this.  If you learn Linux you will be farther ahead about knowing how computers work than 99% of any Microsoft Certified so called System Engineers.  And it won't cost you one red cent.  How 'bout them apples (tm)?

Yeah, they just moved about 2 minutes from my apartment. Makes me feel kinda tingly! Guess I'm more easily excited than most girls...