[Gloucs] Another Linux newcomer

[Guy Edwards02]

Hi Steve,
 
Redhat stopped doing the desktop orientated distro for the public as it
was loosing them money compared to their server orientated distribution
(enterprise edition). Instead they provide some support to the Fedora
project which is basically the old Redhat desktop distro but developed
mainly by volunteers instead. In short, Fedora is Redhat for what you're
thinking of. Redhat 9 is just the version of redhat prior to it being
Fedora (Redhat fanatics shout if I'm wrong with anything above.)
 
[I don't know exactly what level you're at, so if this bit is below you
just ignore it] Remember that if you've been using windows since 3.1
then you've been using windows for 8 years or more. Linux is a different
OS, sounds obvious but just in case, try not to fall into the mindset of
expecting it to be exactly like Windows or a duplicate of XP. There will
be a learning curve. 
 
Remember that if you have the hard drive space you can dual boot,
although it's probably safer for experimentation to have two machines
like you intend. If you've got the spare machine, don't be afraid to
have ago at the install yourself, as the desktop orientated
distributions do try and make it as easy as possible, the last mandrake
install I did was easier than a Windows XP install. Also remember that
you can try out Knoppix or Mandrake Move which are CDROM based
distributions that will just boot from the CDROM without touching your
hard drive so that you can try out Linux temporarily. 
 
Hope it helps,
Guy
 

	-----Original Message-----
	From: Steve Greig [mailto:steve at stevespages.org.uk] 
	Sent: 10 February 2005 20:44
	To: gloucs at mailman.lug.org.uk
	Subject: [Gloucs] Another Linux newcomer
	
	
	Hi, I also have just joined your mailing list and was interested
by Toms email and Guy's reply. I want to migrate from Windows XP to
Linux and also, at my suggestion, my father is going to get a new
computer and use Linux (if it doesn't work out he can go buy XP).
	 
	I had chosen to go with Red Hat but only because that is the
only distribution for which I could find a big book on the subject (The
Red Hat Linux 9 Bible which I have just bought). Is there any particular
reason to think that Red Hat might not be a very good choice for a
beginner like myself? I notice it was not on Guy's list.
	 
	I have wanted to do this for a couple of years and my enthusiasm
was rekindled when I saw the shop in Cirencester (Computer Broker)
offering computers with Linux installed. We are prepared to pay for
someone to install it and also to configure it to work with the
broadband internet connection. Actually the shop has been a bit slow at
responding but they should do so at any moment.
	 
	I know most of you are probably very clued up in the computer
field but if you do have any thoughts on all this directed at a user
rather than developer I would be very grateful.
	 
	Best wishes from Steve Greig

	
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