OT: Linux

Will · #1 July 23rd, 2004, 08:37 PM

You could also grab a Knoppix CD to test drive a Linux environment, so you get a better feel for it before diving right in.

Sheap · #2 July 23rd, 2004, 09:51 PM

Linux can't really write Version 5 NTFS partitions (as used by XP). And it can't handle XP's "dynamic disks" at all. But it can still read NTFS pretty well.

Since you have three partitions on your drive already, you might be well off just converting one of those partitions to Linux. Or, you can get a whole other hard drive to run Linux on. Or run it on another computer, if you've got space and an old computer lying around.

Cainehill · #3 July 23rd, 2004, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Will:
You could also grab a Knoppix CD to test drive a Linux environment, so you get a better feel for it before diving right in.

Except that Knoppix is likely to leave a real nasty impression of Linux, regardless of whether you're more a Windows or Unix person. I tried Knoppix and despised it, and I've been programming msdos/windows since about 84 and Unix since 90.

Knoppix : A bad desktop, a bad shell, and making even a fairly fast (Athlon 2600+ with 512 megs on an nForce2 mb) computer feel slow.

Ewww. The _only_ thing Knoppix does is let you avoid losing a partition (or entire drive, if things go bad) while installing a proper Linux.

SalsaDoom · #4 July 23rd, 2004, 10:42 PM

Slackware Linux 10.

Slackware is fast, stable and secure. Its got a great selection of apps on the cd, your choice of gnome or kde.. no linux distrobution is as fast or stable as Slackware. Gentoo's reckless use of optimizations and poorly tested ebuilds makes it unstable. Red's unsecure, bloated... SuSE is .. commerical, and the free Versions are incomplete. Debian is ugly, crufty and messy. I've been using linux since '94, and I learned on slackware and its the best thing, because Slackware doesn't hide the OS from the user with a bunch of (usually unstable) GUI tools. When you learn slackware you can say you've learned linux, with redhat or suse your just learning redhat or suse.

Course, all of the above is just my opinion

--SD

Arryn · #5 July 23rd, 2004, 11:19 PM

Before you go deleting partitions, I'd recommend buying Partition Magic (v8.0), which allows you to resize and/or create new partitions without the hassles of M$'s FDISK. OTOH, PM will cost you more than any of linux distros you'd be buying. But PM is, IMO, a useful investment for anyone who's a serious Windows (or dual-boot) computer user (otherwise known as 'geeks').

EDIT: guess that make me a geekette ...

[ July 23, 2004, 22:20: Message edited by: Arryn ]

Thilock_Dominus · #6 July 24th, 2004, 10:50 AM

Hi, thanks for all the inputs, suggestions and input. I really appriate that

.
I've choosen Mandrake 10.0 as a start and I'm at the moment downloading it and later burning it on CDs. Surely I'll try the other Versions of linux later but I think I should take one step at the time.
Here is my Idea to put up my harddisc with dual boot: C: WinXP Pro (20gb) D: Mandrake 10.0 Linux (30gb) E: Games/notes/stuff (30gb) maybe later another OS on the E: Drive like Linspire?

Isn't Slackware for the more advanced and pro linux user? I'm totally newbie when it comes to programming (execpt CMD64 basic language

)?

How does a linux partition works vs. NTFS?

best regards
Thilock

Esben Mose Hansen · #7 July 24th, 2004, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by SalsaDoom:

Course, all of the above is just my opinion

--SD

And untrue. E.g, Gentoo left at it's defaults is not optimized beyond the basics. (-O2 -march=..). Gentoo is stable as a rock, as long as you keep yourself to stable ebuilds. Please don't spread FUD about things of which you are obviously ignorant. Thanks.