Linux?

I personally like slackware and debian. I want to start playing with gentoo as i hear good things about it, but haven't yet found time for it. A good beginning distro might be red hat or mandrake, but some persons say just if you really want to learn linux's inner-workings then use slackware or debian.

Yes navigator runs on linux, but also opera, mozilla, and another pretty nice file/web browser: Konqueror.

Linux, server-wise imho has replaced windows as the preferable OS choice, but it quite hasn't become fully desktop user friendly just yet.

 

Azadre, if you're installing Linux, you may as well start your next thread titled :

"I destroyed everything on my computer, help me"

 

The first question is, why do you want to use Linux? Linux is very powerful, but it can also be frustrating if you're new to it. It's popular with computer scientists, but also in the science community.

To answer some of your questions, yes Linux can replace Windows. There are plenty of web browsers to choose from. Mozilla, or Konqueror work well. To multi-boot, you'll probably use GRUB or LILO. Just pick a distribution (search for Lycoris, Red Hat, Debian, SUSE, Mandrake, Slackware, Gentoo, etc), go to their web page, and read, read, read. Every one of these should have detailed installation guides, and there are many places to ask for help. I've heard Lycoris is very similar to Windows in look and feel. That's probably a good place to start.

There are many Linux "equivalents" to popular Windows programs. Some are even available for Windows, for free.

Internet Explorer ~ Mozilla
Microsoft Office ~ Open Office
Adobe Photoshop ~ GIMP

There. That should get you started.

 

Mack offers good advise. here are some links to get you started:

http://www.linuxquestions.org/

http://www.google.com/linux

http://www.tldp.org/

http://www.linuxjunior.org/

good luck and all the best.

 

System Commander or Partition Magic (which includes Boot Magic) will work.

If you are running NT4, W2K, and/or XP and are a brave soul, you can futz around with the NT booter.

Anybody who says that Linux is not ready for home desktop is in a bit of denial. There is a bit of special knowledge you need to know about the care and feeding of a Linux system, but it is in the same ballpark as Windows. Seeing that you have reformated your drive 15 times, you are probably well aware of Windows short comings.

The biggest plus for Linux is that the spawns of Satan, Outlook and Outlook Express, do not run on it In general, viruses on Linux systems are only a fraction of the concern viz-a-viz Windows.

 

We'll welcome you back to the Darkside Azadre... Microsoft is your friend.

 

Linux is awesome. If you are interested in it, I HIGHLY recommend giving it a shot. It will be difficult at first, but when you start to use the wealth of applications (free) and get into the Linux community, you'll really enjoy it. Here in Houston, I believe there is a Linux User Group. Look them up on the web. I'm still a member of SATLUG (San Antonio Linux User Group), so I don't know about the HLUG or HALUG or whatever it is . . .

I'd give Mandrake a whirl. It's pretty easy to set up and use. Unfortunately I'm stuck on Windows right now, as there are no drivers for the radeon 9700 on Linux

I'm gonna give the VESA drivers a whirl at some point though . . .

 

I use Linux all the time on campus, and I keep toying with the idea of switching over my home computer. Worse case scenario, you could always just run a Windows emulator.

 

That is a possibility

Seriously, as long as you setup seperate partitiions for it..you can screw up the installation all you want to, and your Winblows install will still be there. Why so close-minded DoD? Have you actually tried it? I'm assuming that you have and have had a bad experience.
Just because it is your first time to install doesn't necessarily mean you will mess something up. I did my first install with RH5 and while it took some time to get everything right...I never fried my Windows installation...It all depends on how prepared you are for the install..

Azadre, sounds like you got a corrupted disc...ask the guy you got it from if he has actually completed an install with it...Did you set a partition aside for it before you attempted the install?

Linux is fun to use, dont let the Gates-zombies scare you away