without updates, is a bit unstable, but as long as you get all the current updates, I find it has been running really smooth for me now. Like I said, I am not trying to promote one distro over another, just throught I would throw my 2 cents in. - Joey On 8/14/06, Jordan Peacock <hewhocutsdown at gmail.com> wrote: > My initiation into linux was a little rocky: dialup over in the Middle East, > and I decided to brave the waters and try to install it. The 600+MB .iso > files were a bit daunting over dialup, and so I opted for the smallest .iso: > Gentoo's stage1 cd. > > For the uninformed, this is a minimalist cd that drops you into a command > line and assumes that you can set up networking, etc from there. > > A few months after that I tried out Mandrake Linux, and the difference was > drastic; it was easier to setup than when I had installed Windows XP! > > Just a few months ago, my wife used my desktop (currently running Ubuntu > Linux), and decided to switch her laptop over. I personally would highly > recommend grabbing a Ubuntu CD and installing it for the beginner for 3 > reasons: > > 1) It works as a Live CD; you don't need to destroy everything on your hard > drive (at first). If you tell your computer to boot from the CD you > downloaded instead of the hard drive, it'll run Ubuntu without touching any > of your data on the hard drive. When you're done, simply shutdown, eject the > CD, and resume operations on (presumably) Windows XP or similar. This > applies to all Live CDs. > > 2) It's well thought out & easy to navigate: try out the live CD and just > move around a bit; check out home folders, applications, etc. Everything > from the menus to the application divisions is simple and intuitive. My > wife, with little/no Linux experience, jumped right in. This applies to all > distributions of Linux that utilize GNOME. > > For a similar ease but different style, some distributions use KDE (which is > what I started out with). Mandriva is a good quality distribution that uses > KDE by default. Or, Kubuntu is a KDE-default version of Ubuntu. > > 3) It's package-management system is second-to-none. This holds true for all > Debian-based distributions. The .deb is a standardized package format (you > will also see .rpm or .tar.gz being tossed about). .deb is wonderful in the > sense that if there are conflicts between programs, or dependencies, it will > sort it out, or at least tell you of the issue. .rpm does > this to some degree, > but personally I have had some negative experiences with > it. > Other people may tell you otherwise. It really, in the end, is up to you. > > 4) Community support. You'll notice that most of the above are available in > other versions of Linux. Red Hat also uses GNOME, Knoppix is a Live CD, > Debian uses .deb files, but despite the calibre of documentation and > community with some others, I have only seen Ubuntu tied with one other > distribution: Gentoo. I would recommend Gentoo once you've been around the > block a couple times, but it's definately a difficult pill to swallow > initially. > > Between forums, wikis, irc, mailing lists, etc, virtually every question I > have had or trouble spot I have hit has been dealt with, answered, or at > least guided me to the point where I can fix things myself. This is often > overlooked, but it is as valuable a part of the operating system as any > piece of software. > > Books are helpful, as are tutors, but as I'm finding right now (learning the > IBM AS/400 machines/OS atm) there is no comparison to hands-on learning. All > of us on the list are available for answering questions, and don't feel > pressured to take my advice (regarding Ubuntu) if another distribution has > triggered your curiosity. > > All the best, fellow wanderer > > -jordan > > > > > > On 8/14/06, Tipsy-in_Chicago Tipsy < tipsy_in_chicago at yahoo.com> wrote: > > > > Hello, > > I am an absolute newbie to the world of Linux. I am interested in developing > linux administrative skills. > > Is self learning the best route? If so, any books that will be helpful? > > I am also open to taking classes. > > Kindly, get back to me with the best approach. > > > Thanks > > KT > > > > > ________________________________ > Do you Yahoo!? > Get on board. You're invited to try the new Yahoo! Mail Beta. > > > _______________________________________________ > TCLUG Mailing List - Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota > tclug-list at mn-linux.org > http://mailman.mn-linux.org/mailman/listinfo/tclug-list > > > > > _______________________________________________ > TCLUG Mailing List - Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota > tclug-list at mn-linux.org > http://mailman.mn-linux.org/mailman/listinfo/tclug-list > > >