does anyone on here use a linux operating system, ?

[logic]

If so, are they easy to install, and which one would you reccomend, as i tried over a year ago, i bought a c/d called open SUSE Linux 10.2, all i could do was open a load of files that meant nothing to me, but ihave ben told they have vastly improved and can now be installed as a complete operating system.
i am looking at two on E/bay right now,
Linux xP O/S (ebay no:) 290230307420,
kubuntu 8.04, (ebay no: )12060011061,
any info would be greatly appreciated, as i'm really thick,
cheers, pete.

[ChuckFickens]

Firstly don't waste your money on ebay, linux can be downloaded for free and burnt to a CD.

There are lots of different dristros of linux, and each one has it's fans for different reasons. I personally use simply mepis

http://www.mepis.org/

But I would also have no hesitation in recommending ubuntu

http://www.ubuntu.com/

They are both live cd's, this means that you can boot your computer from the cd into the linux operating system without it making any changes to your system so you can try them before installing.

The installation is really easy, often easier than windows on a standard PC as I have found both the above distros have better hardware support "out the box" than windows

Good luck

[logic]

Thanks a lot chuck,
i will investigate your suggestions,
Cheers,
pete.

[figure]

Don't buy the software, you can download it for free or request a free copy of it on a CD. I got my free CD withing a week.

I installed it and it worked fine for me. I don't know much about it because I'm still learning. http://www.ubuntu.com/

[logic]

thank you figure,
Hey this is more popular than i thought, two replies in half an hour,
And here i thought i was being a bit of a pioneer,


JUST a thouhgt, has either of you got rid of windows completely since using this system, ?

[ChuckFickens]

no not entirely, I have windows on my laptop and linux on my desktop. there are still some things that can be a bit tricky to get running smoothly in linux, for example one of my web cams just will not work under linux and the other one works but is much lower quality then when it's used in windows.

for general day to day use linux is as easy to use than windows, both the distros mentioned install open office, firefox, thunderbird email and a range of other applications for most normal use. they also both come with decent package management which is how you add and remove software on linux.

[figure]

Hey Logic - I use both Windows and Linux on the same Laptop.

[gungho]

If you are not sure, try installing a Virtual Computer on your Windows computer (http://www.innotek.de) and installing Linux on that. Then everything is simply another folder which opens within Windows and changes nothing on your machine and is easy and safe to install/uninstall. Also, in this way, you can try different distros to see if you have any preference. I use Ubuntu which I'm happy with and which works for me. I do not even find this method to be slow, whereas a Live CD was. Also, your internet connection through Windows still works and as mentioned by others, downloads of distros and virtual computer can cost nothing, if you have a reasonable download limit.

[fo3nix]

As the above say, go for Ubuntu.

Just to note: Linux is not an operating system. Linux is a kernel.

The fundamental program that your operating system runs is called the kernel. It does the memory control, talking to peripherals, printers, your CPU, networking, stuff like that.

Linux is the kernel that was chosen, ~14 years ago, to run as the basis in the GNU system. As such, it's better to say GNU/Linux (since Linux could be replaced with something else like Hurd, but now for many reasons Linux is far, far more popular than any other kernel for the GNU system).

However, just remember the differences. Often you'll see on forums talk of Linux. Generally it's meant GNU/Linux, the actual operating system. But occasionally it'll mean the kernel itself (see kernel.org). Usually the context is very clear.

[logic]

this is getting fascinating, i have taken the advice from all of you good people and the progress meter is showing 6% of ubuntu downloaded, that is in approx 40 minutes,

[figure]

Thanks for the Linux explanation, Fo3nix!
And thanks for that too ChuckF and Gungho.

[Mac70]

Just to add, Ive tried out a number of distros and always revert to Kubuntu, (Ubuntu but with the better KDE Desktop)