[Lincs] Re: Lincs Digest, Vol 51, Issue 1

[Alistair Crust]

On Tue, 2006-05-23 at 12:41 +0100, Ed wrote:
> Why not download a couple of live CDs or get them on magazine cover
> disks.

I would recommend that also.

> There are several things to bear in mind:
> 
> Graphical interface: Main ones are Gnome (simple and Mac-like) and KDE
> (More fully featured but steeper learning curve).
 I agree with that. although there are others like iceWm (simple win 95
look), enlightenment (very eye candy, but memory hungry)

> If you want to have all the packages individually compiled for your
> system then Gentoo has merits.  

As a beginner I hated going too fast too soon. Something like above
would just freak me out! Your right it would provide a few merits..
namely being tailored for your hardware and running quicker than
"normal" linux's. but not necessary for a "Beginner", not yet anyway
he'll find his own path there in the end... I did! just because of sheer
curiosity not because some one told me to get in at the deep end!

> If you're after a gnome interface then Gentoo seems to be the most
> popular at the moment.

Not according to distrowatch.com take a look for yourself. Ubuntu
(surprisingly what I use for Skegness Grammer School) the kids find it
easy to use and straint forward.. it also gets the curiosity going on
what happening behind the scenes... which is just were you want to start
with linux (you more likely to stick with it). If you go to the
compiling a toolset, then going through several stages of emerging
packages before you can actually use the thing, route, they to end up
scaring people off. Linux isn't scary... so why make it seem like it is?

> 
> If you prefer KDE then I'd go for OpenSuSe which is quite polished.

read bloated...

> 
> What I would do is either be prepared to reinstall a few until you
> find one that suits the way you work and supports your hardware
> easily. Alternatively just go for the live CD approach and try before
> you "buy"
> 

Very good idea openSuse has a live cd, as does ubuntu.. in fact ubuntu
has two main ones, one for gnome, one for kde (Kubuntu). not sure about
fedora core but they I think core 5 came on the last edition of linux
format magazine (WHSmiths often have it).

------
>         hey there,
>         Ive been dabbling with the idea of converting to linux but i
>         dont really
>         know much about it. i was wondering if you knowledgable people
>         could
>         recommend which OS to start with and how i should go about it.
>         any 
>         advice would be greatfully appreciated.
>         Cheers
>         Coops
>         
>         Mr. Andy Cooper
>         
>         Little London
>         PE11 2UB Spalding
>         Tel.
>         Fax
>         andy_cooper187 at hotmail.co.uk 
------


Kind regards
Alistair Crust
Systems Administrator 
Skegness Grammar School 
Vernon Road 
Skegness 
PE25 2QS 
TEL: 01754 610000 (ext'852)
FAX: 01754 896875