Going Linux - Best way???

[Red_Zealot]

To start gnome, delete whatever stuff you may have in your $HOME/.xinitrc file and replace it with "gnome-session". Glad you're enjoying Linux. It takes a little tweaking, but you will soon be left with a system you are proud of. You may want to get the book "Running Linux", becuase it explains lots of things about Linux that are not evident. (ie...How to use a tarball). Best of Luck.

Anyway, on the debate between BSD and GPL, I think the most important part of open-source software is that it remains open. The BSD license allows for compaines (read: Microsoft) from taking code. If BSD was under GPL Microsoft would have a horrible TCP/IP stack implementation.

In terms of your system, I am typing this on an Apple PowerPC 7200/75, circa 1995. It runs Linux quite well w/ a 75MHz processor and 80MB RAM. A good samba server.

"If you teach a child to read, then he or her will be able to pass a literacy test" - George W.

 

[Guest]

Back on topic...

Currently I'm using a clocked K6-2 500 w/ 192MB (with Gnome + some KDE apps), and it's fine for most tasks, but more speed is always better if you want to do any dev work.

I've you can spare some $, get the faster chip, and save some compile time. Nobody ever regretted buying faster hardware.

 

[Red_Zealot]

In terms of browsers, try either Mozilla or Opera. I am currently using Mozilla for bug testing. (Haven't found one yet, and the browser is much better than Netscape). I think it is a real tribute to GNOME how fast this stuff runs on my wholly underpowered system.

"If you teach a child to read, then he or her will be able to pass a literacy test" - George W.

 

[Guest]

Re browsers: Galeon is real nice, too. Fast, and stable.

 

[CompSci]

WOW - new box, new install, and

SuSE Installed Flawlessly - and Fast(20 min)...

Bought a new case for spare parts, Asus P32V4x, PII400@533, 256M RAM(NewTread PC150 CAS2), ATI Pro Turbo, WD20G 7200 and Reaktek NIC. Box will actually run DOS stablely at 568(4@142FSB) but that's 42% over spec, backed off to 533 till totally checked out. Has a little hustle...

SuSE autodetected evertyhing! Super Smooth, CD boot install in less than 20 Minutes... Graphic, GUI and X11 config was all automatic! Jjust Installation Complete - Logon!

Plus, since this install totally autodected graphic subsystem(complete resulotion and refresh selections) the entire install and logon dialogs are different. Now I get shutdoun and desktion manager slection options - KDE is default, but dropdown options now give WindoWanager, Xterm and others...

Now that I got it right on an acceptable box I'm super happy I went with SuSE Linu... Even put the little green decal "Powered by -LINUX-" on the case and monitor.
Smooth, Stable, No Problems...

Now for some serious LINUX learin!

I'll probably come back on another post thread, but a couple of quick questions?
1. How do I get Linux to join the existing LAN and existing Win2k workgroups(peer-to-peer) on the LAN. The box's TCP/IP is configured OK, can Ping all other Win boxes by IP, and browse other web servers on the LAN, and get out the gateway... Is there there anything like "Network Places"/neighborhood or "Computers Near Me"? (Gotta be something better than commanld line FTP?)
2. StarOffices' OK but man it's got UGLY FONTS! What fonts does it use? Can it use Abobe Type 1? There So UGLY they gotta GO! ASAP!

Glad you mentioned WindowMaker, I like it - FAST!

 

[wapaaga]

for one thing downlaod form memory sures rather than the manufatory them self becuase that is lot of poepl. i download redhat 7.2 in about two hours for both cds. was averaging at 200 kbytes preseconds


<font color=red>Gasoline + Fire</font color=red><font color=green> Can be a lot of fun</font color=green>

 

[Guest]

Nice to hear it's goin' well.

Samba is what you need to do Windows networking. Samba client lets you see windows shares, and Samba server lets to do some sharing. I'm not familiar with how Suse is setup, but you can have a look under KDE->settings->network for 'windows shares'.

Which version of Star Office did you get? 5.x is ok, but 6 does a nice job of rendering so it might be easier to upgrade (and get rid of that nasty desktop/start menu thing!). Sorry, not too sure about 5.x's font set up.

 

[CompSci]

Got StarOffice 5.2... It works OK, just Ugly! Especially on a existing word docs. Will check out Star6...

I really like WindowMmaker! Am Just gettin used it. Left click on desktop for Application Menu. And I just found out that if ya drag the Menu off the bottom of the screen, leaving the menu title bar visible, it'll pop the menu up when ya move the mouse into it! It's a nice clean, quick look feel... I like it best so far.

By that "Nasty desktop/startup thing" ya mean the .xinintr script? For sure, Suse's definitely scripted together. Actually, I'd call it rather "Sophisticated" and definitely "Professional". It's gonna take a while(and a good book) to figure it all out! It's just all too smooth and integrated very nicely to mess up yet! Definitely "Good" stuff I got here!

Samba's next! Am trying to find it now...
Later...

*** Linux makes sex so good even the neighbors have a cigarette! ****

 

[HolyGrenade]

I often find the howto docs more useful than books. The books tend to show things in a long winded way and then miss the actual point...

Staroffice six is supposed to be better as in it desn't try to act as a desktop manager on its own. I'm sure it has plenty more improvements. I think its in beta stage though.

Makes you think, do you really need windows for everyday use? (except games and some hardware and stuff).

<font color=red><i>Poor is the pupil, who does not surpass his mentor</i> - Leonardo daVinci</font color=red>

 

[CompSci]

Gotta say, my Linux is a successs...SuSE's definitely a great start!

Found the Samba stuff, now gotta make it work... Will start another thread for it...

And Star Office IS Beta. ain't goin there yet(per stability) Everything's going good,bata's are out for a while...

And, "Do ya really need Windows?' Well, who knows. All I know is I LITERALLY CAN"T AFFORD IT! Four boxes(now 5) in the house...Goin XP, Office XP - $300 per XP, $500+ Office XP = $800 per box * 4 = $3200 -> Yea Shure, GO Wizz up a Rope!

Yea, I could spend my time scoungin up cracks, and stealin corp versions from my employer, but I got better productive things to do with my time...

Perhaps MSDN Subscriptions still give ya the the Corp versions Don't know, mine ran out. Perhaps, maybe, if MSDN stuff doesn't require activation I might go it...but I'll wait until I talk to suscrubers... It ain't just WPA, its planned obsolence of nomore activation, required updates and the path to subbscription software, and M$ Pay to BOOT!!! Plus bitten the very grass root hands that got em started! PUttin the bite on the Home users and supporting deveopers and givin the Corp version(no WPA) to Corporations is just Bass Ackwards... From now on I'M GETTIN PAID TO WORK ON WINDOWS...

But this ain't a M$ bitch session - its a LINUX success story. I think I got a good start with SuSE and I think it;s gonna be my personal platform of choice from now on.. .

I'l bet the SuSE Personal version for $39, complete with StarOffice and selected bset Linux Apps is all most would ever need!

LINUX, I a Beliver!!!

 

[CompSci]

RE ALL...
Much thankx to all for helpin get Linux up???
It definitely ain't bad...
Actually quite good!

 

[Guest]

sorry for the confusion... the "nasty desktop/startup thing" i was referring to was the one integrated into star office.

 

[kindlr]

Good to hear it, have fun. Maybe I'll give Suse a run through one of these days when I get bored having a ton of empty HD space.

Me "I bought a TNT2 M64, the BIOS says its a Vanta"
IOMagic "Theyre the same card"
Me "Um, no"

 

[digikid]

i don't really see what the problem with the choice of distribution is: if it works, it's fine, no? it's all linux, anyways?? i run mandrake at home (easy) and debian at work (easy to upgrade and maintain). download mandrake, i'd say.
as for development: there's lots of tools for this, at least as far as C/Fortran is concerned. don't know what you need. then there's Intel's "icc" and "ifc", optimized, free compilers for linux. they claim that they get a 40% speed increase over g77/gcc. not bad.

 

[ppnl]

CompSci

Am also starting out learning Linux. I have RedHat and Mandrake. Mandrake is really easy to install and looks really good. Some parts of RedHat is confuseing me a little but only because I'm trying to triple boot it with two windows installs on a two drive system with partition commander. A simple default install is faster and simpler than a windows install.

Got Suse 8.0 on pre-order.