linux? free!

[forcer]

i am right in believing linux is free yeah?

so will u be able to download it off the net? where cna i get it from?

 

[Glaanieboy]

Most distributions, yes.

www.linuxiso.org

 

[NetRyder]

Thread Moved: Applications --> Operating Systems>Linux

 

[SPeedY_B]

It is free. But it's not as amazing as some people make out. I've used it, and like it, however it's by no means a Windows replacement.

 

[Aussie983]

linux would be amazing if it could change program and driver installation and abstract the user from the kernel

 

[pSxMoD]

I agree that most distributions of Linux are by no means a replacement for Windows on a desktop computer. I use Linux a lot, but mainly for my server. I also have Red Hat running on one of my other computers that I often use. Unless you are very experienced with Linux, it will be hard to get used to the change from Windows to Linux. Other than that, it is a great operating system.

 

[vern]

It is free. But it's not as amazing as some people make out. I've used it, and like it, however it's by no means a Windows replacement.

All relative to what you want it to do. If you want Linux to use the latest greatest hardware to run all your games, then no it isn't a Windows replacement. That is the sole reason I still use a Windows desktop. I also experiment with Debian Sid a lot, and for many things, it is very very usable. Aside from the proprietary technology that requires Windows, Linux does everything Windows does. If I wasn't so used to my Windows apps and if I didn't play games so much, Linux would certainly become a replacement.

 

[forcer]

what would you say is the best 2 download, its actually for education purposes i dont intend to replace windows

 

[SPeedY_B]

if you want the easy start, try mandrake or readhat/fedora.

 

[vern]

what would you say is the best 2 download, its actually for education purposes i dont intend to replace windows

Personally, Slackware ... a lot of Linux gurus will swear their life on the command line and it's worth getting used to. Most GUI based apps in Linux are usually just front-ends for their command line counter-parts anyway.

Another distro I would suggest for educational purposes is Debian, merely because it's being used as the base for many Linux distributions out there. Apt-get for Debian is very powerful ... if not complicated. I did a net-install of Debian, and getting it to work properly was an experience.

 

[NetRyder]

Personally, Slackware ... a lot of Linux gurus will swear their life on the command line and it's worth getting used to. Most GUI based apps in Linux are usually just front-ends for their command line counter-parts anyway.

Another distro I would suggest for educational purposes is Debian, merely because it's being used as the base for many Linux distributions out there. Apt-get for Debian is very powerful ... if not complicated. I did a net-install of Debian, and getting it to work properly was an experience.

Great advise
Manual/file-based configuration is the way to go. It's so much easier to troubleshoot a problem when you know what you've done earlier, rather than staring blankly at a "wizard" window that doesn't always do what it should.

Besides, since this is for "educational purposes", there's no better way to get started than diving right into a distro that forces you to learn.

 

[j79zlr]

It is free. But it's not as amazing as some people make out. I've used it, and like it, however it's by no means a Windows replacement.

I felt this way a long time, but seriously, now, I can't seem to find a reason to be booted to windows, except to update my antivirus

 

[NerdUprising]

Great advise
Manual/file-based configuration is the way to go. It's so much easier to troubleshoot a problem when you know what you've done earlier, rather than staring blankly at a "wizard" window that doesn't always do what it should.

Besides, since this is for "educational purposes", there's no better way to get started than diving right into a distro that forces you to learn.

Thank you for the advice right there (and everyone else of course)... I'm swimming around (from the very bottom) looking at distros, got a blank puter that I would very much like to learn linux basics on, and eventually run a dedicated counter-strike or basic webserver with it

looking into slackware right now... but wasn't sure if I should bother with GUI based versions or not, so that was the kick in the butt I needed

/edit - and thanks to j79zlr... nice tutorials, should prove to be very useful