[Lancaster] Re: Linux Operating System

[Ken Hough]

Mark,

Well done! A good introduction and review for newbies to Linux.

I would add only one point:

Whatever Linux distro that you choose, stick with it. The better known 
ones are all pretty good.

Although underneath, the various distros are essencially Linux, from the 
installation and management aspects they can be quite different. To swap 
between will only cause confusion.

I've used SuSE Linux since way back with version 5.2 and because I'm 
familiar with it, I am now very happy with version 10.1.

distrowatch.com reports Ubuntu as being currently the most popular 
distro with SuSE as second most popular.

Ken Hough
Kendal
CUMBRIA

Mark Williams wrote:

>Hi Phil,
>First, sorry for the delay. I've recently taken over from Martyn as the contact
>for Lancaster LUG.
>
>Linux is available as a variety of 'distributions'. Strictly speaking Linux is
>just the 'kernel' of the operating system, which is then combined with the
>commands and tools from the GNU project. Distributions add their choice of
>desktop/GUI (eg Gnome or KDE), customised as desired, plus their own installer,
>configuration and system management programs and a range of free software
>applications.
>
>A good approach to choosing a first distro to try is to use whichever is used by
>the person you will be turning to first for support. Personally I would
>recommend Ubuntu Linux (www.ubuntu.com) which has become very well respected,
>not to say popular, although you will always find people favouring other
>distributions. The current version is 6.06, codenamed Dapper Drake (or just
>Dapper), although the next version is due v.soon (but I'd stick to 6.06 for now.
>Incidently the next version will be 6.10 indicating 2006 October). Download from
>www.ubuntu.com/download. Ubuntu will also post CDs to people for free for those
>that don't have fast internet access - see http://shipit.ubuntu.com . Ubuntu
>uses the Gnome desktop by default, but there is also a sub-project called
>Kubuntu (www.kubuntu.org) that uses the KDE desktop which gives rather more
>integration. Another distribution I'd recommend is SuSE www.suse.com . Many
>distros also have 'Live CDs' which allow you to run Linux from the cd and so try
>the distro out without installing on your disk. Ubuntu and Suse offer this. But
>be aware this will be slow at start-up because CDs are slow compared to disks,
>and slow to run unless you've got lots of RAM 'cos it'll have to (re-)load from
>cd.
>
>Don't try Linux out on a PC with _too_ old a spec; in particular KDE and Gnome
>need a decent amount of RAM - 733MHz with 256MB is ok, 384MB better. (There are
>other distributions available with even lower hardware requirements, often using
>alternative desktops or 'window managers', and Linux can be run without a GUI on
>a very old PC - that can wait for now). The installation routines for mainstream
>distros allow Linux to be installed alongside an existing Windows installation
>in a dual boot set-up (of course, backing up all your data and configuration
>info to cd/dvd or another disk beforehand [and having windows (re-)installation
>cds] is only sensible,  just in case something during the Linux install, like a
>power failure, screws up your existing Windows installation. But, then we always
>keep up to date backups don't we ? Ahem). Installing on a spare PC is simpler
>and more care-free.
>
>Desktop Linux distros include a wide variety of application programs (cf Windows
>where MS Word, Office, etc are expensive extras). Ubuntu, like many other
>distros doesn't itself include various proprietary plug-ins, programs,
>formats/codecs or drivers, because of commercial licencing, legal or
>idealogical/practical (open source = good, proprietary = bad) reasons. Free
>software like this is however available, and there are a couple of easy ways to
>install them, along with other popular programs and tweaks, ie Automatix
>(www.getautomatix.com) and EasyUbuntu (http://easyubuntu.freecontrib.org/). See
>also www.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=177646 .
>
>A couple of other resources you might find useful are:- LDP, The Linux
>Documentation Project www.tldp.org/ and on-line courses (although I haven't
>checked them out) at www.linux.org/lessons/ .
>
>I will post your request message to our mailing list. You can view any responses
>via the public archive at http://mailman.lug.org.uk/pipermail/lancaster/ or you
>may wish to subscribe to the list); see
>http://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/lancaster/ . Btw there are also LUGs
>in Blackpool, Preston, Manchester/Salford and Liverpool - see www.lug.org.uk .
>
>Hth.
>
>--
>
>Mark Williams
>
>
>On Wed, 2006-10-04 at 16:28 +0100, Phil Critchley wrote:
>
>Hello Martin
>
>I am currently an undergraduate on an Information Systems course, at
>Edgehill University in Ormskirk, Lancashire.   I have come across the
>details of your Linux user group following web research.
>
>I have found there are a vast number of websites that contain
>information on Linux, but I am writing to you, to see if you can
>recommend any particular websites that would beneficial for me to visit.
>I am particularly interested in websites that would allow me to gain
>information on;
>
>* The history of Linux
>
>* Linux as an operating system
>
>* Comparisons between Linux and Windows
>
>* Features and functionality of Linux
>
>* Security of Linux
>
>Also, please could you either return me a copy of the Linux operating
>system ready for installation, or direct me to a website where I can
>download a copy from.
>
>Any help that you are able to give me would be greatly appreciated.
>
>Thank you
>
>Philip Critchley
>
>
>
>
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