Linux What is this Linux thing?

I didn't realise how many branches of Debian there were. "Copying" is the best form of Flattery I guess

 

Nobody said it was easy But I've read through your links, and it seems that Mepis started with great expectations, but failed to live up with them. Am I correct about this?

Let me steal that one from you (well, I'll mirror it from kde-files.org)

 

I still quite like Mepis but am starting to lean towards Ubuntu (haven't tried it yet)(or one of the spin-offs) since Mepis is moving away from what made it popular in the first place (probably for legal reasons - now that it's bigger it's hard to bundle that "non-free" content without drawing the wrong kind of attention)(see last paragraph in first link below). From what I've read Mepis popularized the "install from live-CD" just as Knoppix brought in the "live-CD" before them. It's still a good distro but I'm not sure where it's going now. They have 3 more disks with extra content so I'll have to check that out. From what I've read they also left the DCC Alliance to use Ubuntu as a base (but Ubuntu uses Debian so...?). Still, Mepis has great hardware detection and a great (& easy to use) installer.

I think it would be a good thing for Linux they can come up with some sort of bigger standard for Linux. (& oddly enough the founder of Debian agrees )

Anyway, time for another fun link: Linux Distribution Chooser

 

Glider, I hope you don't mind me adding another fun link (PM me if I'm messing up the intent of your thread - I'm actually quite a Linux noob) I've been off looking @ distros again (still like Mepis though, I just installed it on a new machine with zero hassles, Windows needed a driver disk for the extra IDE controller, Mepis just saw it & will install to or from it with no intervention from me (other Linux distros might too but I know this one works)).

Anyway, here's the link: Linux is NOT Windows (thought provoking read for those not yet into Linux ). The site (http://linux.oneandoneis2.org) also has other interesting articles on Linux.

 

You are not at all messing with the intent of this thread... It's here to show people what Linux is about and what Linux can do for you. That article shows that, but I can't exactly put it in a place at the moment.

 

Updated Linux timeline (should really be called a family tree) can be found on this page (Look for download link)

 

knowing nothing about linux, i bet the error in the screencap of Wine is the 157MHz CPU. is that for real? i've never heard of such an off number like that.

i also just wanted to subscribe to this thread, i want to try out ubuntu on my xp3200+ 64-bit rig soon, and want to keep updated

 

Oh yeah, I forgot, I update the package list a bit, added ClarkConnect and Torrentflux (on request by Who_me_33), and Azureus on my own

And I'm_Not_A_Monster, that's a glitch I get now and then in my conky, because of crappy written ACPI tables on laptops

 

Gentoo now offers an Ubuntu-isk graphical install, it boots to gnome and has a gui wizard, internet access, and all that fun stuff. it's still in "testing" however it worked fine for me.

i'd probably give the Gui version of Gentoo a 9/10 instead of 10/10 maybe as low as 8.. Though it makes for one heck of a rescue cd.
it's only x86 ATM though amd64 and PPC is coming soon

 

Do you still have to compile your kernel yourself (of choose genkernel)?

 

The installer recommends using genkernel so you'll have a bootable system then it says use that system to make your own kernal.. it doesn't help with the 2nd part though

 

Glider, please add eBox into section 3.2.

I'm using this atm on my home server and it's very good and completely free

 

I added it to the 3.3 section, specialised distro's, because that's what it is...

More suggestions are allways welcome... I'll add them in when I have the time. At the moment, pre exams, it may take a bit longer, but eventually I'll add them in.

 

Quick question, whats better for a first time user like me? uBuntu or Kubuntu?

Also awesome work on this thread, very easy read and everything was nicely setout for the Linux novice like myself.

 

Both are 2 flavors of the same. Both work exactly the same... So there is no better one for first time users.

The only difference is the windows manager, Ubuntu = Gnome / Kubuntu = KDE (for completeness, Xubuntu = XFCE). While I personally don't use any of those window managers (I'm a Fluxbox user, small & powerfull), the limited experience I have with Gnome and KDE, I allways found KDE to be more "Windows Like" then Gnome, altough the difference is very slim. What I suggest, install them both, and see what fits you best.

 

In my short personal experience with Fedora/Knoppix I have used KDE, Gnome, and Fluxbox and would have to say I like Gnome the most, but KDE is a close second, by having the two toolbars I can have a lot more customizability and I like that so Gnome so far wins, but KDE has one toolbar and seems to be just like Windows as Glider said and would be nice to try first, then maybe Gnome (not that it's very different other than two toolbars) and then Fluxbox if you'd like to take that route.. I myself don't understand how to make all the nice features and don't get how to make the 'slit' work.. so that'd not be a good first environment...

 

I don't like the Ubuntu default interface (Thats because I'm a programmer and like to terminal), mainly because in Fedora I can right click on a folder location and goto "Launch Terminal here"

I'm currently about to reinstall Fedora on my laptop (but need to try and repair the USB first, sister broke it :S) and I think I'm going to go for Blackbox style as thats what I have on my PC.

Anyone got any comments?

 

DougEdey,

I never really used Blackbox, but I've heard it is similar to Flux, which I use day in day out (customisable, themes, functions,...) and I must say, Flux is everything I search for... Small, powerfull, sober... And, easy to configure...

 

There's a drunk one available?

I may need to get you on MSN/IRC/Pidgeon to help me sort some stuff out over the weekend and if I break anything, the internet can sometimes just confooze me...

 

It wouldn't happen to be the Internet Explorer window thats opened, im new to the linux world and will be installing ubuntu once postage resumes, stupid holiday bs, and have found this guide quite useful chears