Good MS alternative?

[Novaz04]

I've got a Mac, and I think I might pick up a cheap PC to play around with. Linux is too hard. Not good at Command line stuff, even though you might just use the Desktop most of the time. I want a free, GUI OS that's stable, free and easy to use.

[ September 16, 2004: Message edited by: Novaz04 ]

[xyle_one]

Uh... Use linux. Seriousely. Don't be so scared of the command line. If something comes up and you have to use it, more than likely you can just copy paste the required command into the terminal. Go and download fedora core 2, burn the isos to disc, and pop the install disc #1 into your pc. The install instructions are easy enough, and if you have questions, ask here, or any linux forum you go to. If you have questions about burning ISOs from you mac, no worries, it is easy too. Again, just ask.

Fedora has been the friendliest linux distro for people who just want to use Linux. I have had great sucess with all of redhats offerings.

Linux is not hard. Its just different from what you are used to. Coming from a windows background, I was frustrated with it, and osx to be honest. I kept expecting it to behave like windows.

[Novaz04]

Ok, ill give it a shot, thanks  

I'm sure i'll find some old crappy PC on the clean up or something.

[xyle_one]

Good luck, and keep us updated on your progress  

[Novaz04]

I've had a look at the system requirements, I don't think any old junk PC could run in graphical mode. I mean I don't think i'll find a P 11 with 192 megs of ram, and with a decent sized HDD (normal user install 2. something gig's!)

Still intrested, but do you know a free Linux distro with a more humble requirement?

Thnks  

[xyle_one]

I ran redhat v9 on a p2 450 with 128 mb ram. You should be fine.

If, however, you want something that will run better, you are going to have to know alot more about linux.

[Novaz04]

OK  

I just say that because i'll probably pick something to the tune to: Pentium 1 166, 32 meg, 1 or 2 gig HDD. I might consiter running it on my P4 laptop, but I would want to dual boot, and I don't want to clog it up with another OS.

[xyle_one]

heh. dual boot. It would be fun. well. to me it would be fun  

Just make sure your laptop is compatible!!

[Aloone_Jonez]

quote:Originally posted by xyle_one:
I ran redhat v9 on a p2 450 with 128 mb ram. You should be fine.

If, however, you want something that will run better, you are going to have to know alot more about linux.

128MB might not be enough for Fedora Core 2. Redhat 9 is bloatware it ran slower than Windows XP on my 256MB box.

 

quote:
Memory Requirements

This section lists the memory required to install Fedora Core 2.

    *  Minimum for text-mode: 64MB

    *  Minimum for graphical: 192MB

    *  Recommended for graphical: 256MB

http://fedora.redhat.com/docs/release-notes/

You could try xandos, I have never used it but I know people who do and it's faster than Redhat 9, they recomend a P2 450MHz 128MB machine.
http://www.xandros.com/products/home/desktopstd/dsk_std_systemreq.html

If you want a realy fast and compact distro use the slackware based Vector Linux, ok its easier than slackware but a bit harder than Redhat 9, but it will run on a GUI on a crappy old p166 with just 32MB of ram! http://www.vectorlinux.com/mod.php?mod=userpage&menu=10&page_id=14

[Novaz04]

I'm going to get a crappy P 1, 32 meg for play around (well, something around that would be free), and I think Vector Linux will work well, but I think Fedora would be hell. Vector might be too hard for a Lniux n00b, but I think Fedora might be suitable, but the requiements are in the way. Does anyone know a FREE, easy to use, OS? Must be a GUI, and not too power hungry.

[Aloone_Jonez]

Try damn small Linux (on my to do list), here's a story of how someone managed to run a GUI on a shitty 486 with a mere 16MB of RAM, it's easy to use too. Like Knopix it will boot from a CD, but it's a lot smaller, just a tiny 50MB download. Install this  on your shitty old p166 32MB box and it should fly!
http://www.damnsmalllinux.org/486.html

[ September 20, 2004: Message edited by: Aloone ]

[WMD]

Since this is in the Not Quite Mainstream forum...

BeOS!!

 

[insomnia]

quote:Originally posted by Novaz04:
I've had a look at the system requirements, I don't think any old junk PC could run in graphical mode. I mean I don't think i'll find a P 11 with 192 megs of ram, and with a decent sized HDD (normal user install 2. something gig's!)

Still intrested, but do you know a free Linux distro with a more humble requirement?

Thnks      

You only need an i486 and 8MB ram for DeLi Linux:

http://delilinux.berlios.de/

Setting it up is a little harder:
http://delilinux.berlios.de/DeliInstall.txt

[ September 20, 2004: Message edited by: insomnia ]

[Laukev7]

quote:Originally posted by WMD:
Since this is in the Not Quite Mainstream forum...

BeOS!!

     

Seconded. BeOS is stable and has an easy to use interface, similar to the Mac OS. Plus, it's free of charge.

For your specifications, it would be the best and easiest choice with a simple GUI.

[ September 20, 2004: Message edited by: Laukev7 / BOB ]

[Novaz04]

I think I might try BeOS
Thnks


Link Please?

[ October 01, 2004: Message edited by: Novaz04 ]