Too complicated for me to even set the question - help!

[Ethel]

How do I know which my laptop is:

So if you are running a 32-bit kernel on a 64-bit capable CPU you have to install the 32-bit version (x86/i386). On the other hand you must install the AMD64 version (this is the same as x86_64) if your host kernel is 64-bit!

If I'm looking at the right thing, I have an Intel 82852.

I need to know which version of Ubuntu to download. Many thanks

[Ethel]

:|

[ChuckFickens]

Hi Ethel

the kernel is the core part of linux and is part of the download, so if you download the 32 bit version it will install the 32bit kernel and the 64bit version will install the 64bit kernel.

the intel 82852 is the graphics chip, the information needed is the CPU type and version, if you post the model number of the laptop I'll have a look and see what version is correct for it.

[Ethel]

Ta Chuck

Tis an Acer Aspire 1680

[ChuckFickens]

it's a 32bit CPU in that one, so get the x86/i386 version. As it happens it's the same CPU as I have in my sony which I'm using now with ubuntu and it runs it very nicely.

make sure you get the latest version of ubuntu (8.04) as a few mirror sites still have 7 and then you'll just have another huge download as it updates itself to the latest version.

Good luck with linux, it's generally as easy to use as windows, just a little different which throws a lot of people.

[Ethel]

I plan running it in a virtual pc - so big gulps at the moment.

I'm doing it not only because I am interested in Linux, but I really fancy the little Asus laptop, which runs on Linux.

Thanks very much - installing now.

[ACtheTROLL]

ethel

virtual PC is excellent
just try to keep track of where you are ...
it's virtual ... but it's real ... or at least it seems like it is (except you do CTrl+Alt+Del from the menu!)

If you are downloading ubuntu as an iso (personally I'd try knoppix http://www.knoppix.org/ .... it comes with all the software loaded .. so you can start easy and get used to the software before you "go solo" with a real system setup).

Whichever way you decide to go ... VPC will mount an ISO image as if it were a real cd (and it will be much faster than a real cd).

ms keep changing the default settings ... so the boot from CD may or may nort work at first ...
create the machine then in the usual way access the bios (del) and set boot order in the usual way.

also remember to remember who is using what drive ... it's virtual ... but you need to capture drives, network adapters etc before they will work - and they won't work with the PC while they are captured.

finally ... you can test a bootable disc without loading an operating system ... just create a virtual machine ... and leave it at that.

the eee pc is absolutely brill ... it took three of them to get it back off me! ....
it works with linux ... but it's pretty seamless

[Ethel]

Thanks, Ac

I have my virtual pc set up.

Should I download Knoppix to dvd or cd?

[ACtheTROLL]

I'd start with the cd - it's compressed ... so the working image is 2Gb when running. So even then the range of software is bewildering to start with.

the DVD version (8Gb when running) is just too big to take it all in to start with ... save it for christmas
and if you like it ... it will install ... and even create a dual boot system without too much problem.

If you go ahead and actually burn to cd and then boot your (real) machine from that - it will run quite hapily on even quite an old klunker. And it's always useful as a windows recovery tool if you can't startup any other way - you can even run a USB drive and burn cd with it

I use this prog just for burning CD/DVDs
http://www.snapfiles.com/get/burncdcc.html
works nicely from any sort of storage so it's handy.

if you catch the bug ... then ubuntu is the grown up's version ... but you have to work at it - I keep having a go ... but unless you use it all the time ... it has too many corners. Esp when your day job is windows.

and to be honest ... the apps are very good ... for an amature - but, because of the type of people who write and use linux ... taking 20 mins to do a 5 second job is just part of the fun ....! (try the gimp and see what I mean!!!)

the eee on the other hand is a slick piece of kit ... you can tell the pros have had a hand in it ... it works just like a real computer (a sort of cuddly one with big eyes) it's a pleasure to use...

[Ethel]

Thanks Ac - I've been using Gimp for some years. I think I really need to get a life, as they say.

There is a huge problem with the Eee for me - I don't blerdy need it - it's just want, want, want!

If I were out and about a lot, I would HAVE to have it, but I'm not.

But maybe I still HAVE to have it - after all, a desktop and huge laptop is not enough for one person. Is it?

[fo3nix]

Ethel, as the above point out, you want 32-bit. Get this file:

http://releases.ubuntu.com/8.04/ubuntu-8.04-de sktop-i386.iso.torrent

It's a BitTorrent file, the best way to download it, and I assume you know what to do with these files.

So, you check the following: whether your CPU is 32-bit, and whether your CPU chipset is 64-bit (a lot of people overlook the second). For example, I have a Core 2 Duo laptop, which is a 64-bit CPU. But the chipset it uses is technically only 32-bit, so it's not truly 100% 64-bit capable. Regardless, it doesn't matter.

To add to the confusion, people talk of Linux as two things. As an operating system (like Windows), and as a kernel itself. It's actually just a kernel (the central program of an OS, responsible for networking, and all the other low-level operations to do with the CPU handling and memory management etc.). The operating system is better called GNU/Linux (since it was, historically, the GNU system as a free imitation based on Unix, but it had no kernel). Then along came Linus Torvalds, who wrote Linux kernel, and it was put together with the GNU system. GNU system can actually run other kernels too (one such in development is Hurd, making it GNU/Hurd).

[fo3nix]

So, which version?

Even if you do have a fully 64-bit system, you can still run 32-bit programs (the chipsets are designed for this). And there is a definite advantage to doing this. Some things you may want to install on your system may only run properly as 32-bit files, and may not like a 64-bit compiled Linux kernel all that much. One such example used to be Flash, a fairly important part of the web (given YouTube, etc.), though this has changed slightly in recent months.

Regardless, 64-bit computing isn't all it's cracked up to be. You will see some speed improvements if you have a fully 64-bit system, and a fully 64-bit OS. But really, the only big advantage to it is to be able to use more than 4GB RAM (the 32-bit address limit). So if you're doing some scientific computing or are wanting to store a database for Amazon.com or something in RAM, then being able to use 32GB of the stuff is definitely an advantage! For the average home user though, it's more of a marketing ploy now than anything really useful.

Ubuntu or Knoppix?

Stick with Ubuntu. Firstly, this is one of the most popular distros about right now, meaning that you'll get lots of support. It also is far more polished than Knoppix for this very reason, and uses the GNOME windowing system instead of KDE which Knoppix uses. Some prefer differnt ones, but for someone starting out with GNU/Linux, GNOME is unquestionably simpler.

The argument for using Knoppix is that it's a live CD, meaning that you can test it out and run it from the CD itself, without having to install anything on your hard drive. But as of the last few releases, Ubuntu can do this too.

[fo3nix]

Regarding installing it in a virtual machine: it'll work, but you won't get the most out of it, and your experience of it will be confused more (I think). It may well stop your wifi card or other peripherals on your system from working properly in Ubuntu, which is obviously not the best thing. My advice would be to get an external drive and install it on a partition on that, or just partition your internal drive (the external option is obviously safer). And make sure you have a decent backup of your current system before attempting any of this!

Good luck :)

[ACtheTROLL]

phew

I just fiddle with linux - fo is the oracle here.

as for the eee

eee by gum ... I'm in the same position ... it's even worse now that the bigger better version is out.

but part of me is saying that the whole point is that it's ikkle - the more like a laptop the more reason just to get a laptop.... I had a psion ... (which I found again the other day - sob!)

I got one of the broadband anywhere handsets last week ... and it's good ... but it's an e-mail machine - you'd need a microscope to surf.

this looks quite nifty also - http://www.elonexone.co.uk/

I think you should treat yourself ... it makes me feel less of a victim ;-)

[Ethel]

Thanks Nix and Ac.

I must be a masochist.

Ac - I have seen that Elonex and the Eee in the flesh. Elonex is flimsy in comparison, I feel, and has a 'toy' quality about it.

Stop trying to tempt me! I'm looking at ways of importing the Sony Reader at the moment.

[fo3nix]

Worth some note, perhaps, is the new eee box PC they've come out with.

You can get a GNU/Linux distro specially set up as a media box called MythTV. The eee box isn't powerful enough to do full 1080p HDTV, but certainly for SDTV and perhaps even 720i/p. It's really small, small enough to nicely fit under your TV.

Potentially, add some tuner cards via USB to it, and you have a TV recording system, that could also play films back that you've ripped to its hard drive.

Finally, if you just want to play about and learn more about Ubuntu and similar systems, then perhaps think about buying a cheap PC on ebay or similar. Try not to go for less than 512MB, and a processor from the past few years. But other than that, for playing and learning, you can't go far wrong. There seem to be a fair few right now that are in the �40 range, with postage and everything. (Assuming you have a monitor and keyboard you could use, or pick up just as cheaply.)

Because there's no major support for new graphics cards and the like on GNU/Linux as there is for Windows, often you'll find that bleeding-edge computers don't play as well. There are websites made to review which hardware works best on GNU/Linux (can't think of their names though now!!). It's also a good reason why getting some older hardware is a good idea -- tha vast majority of hardware sold with Pentium 4 processors is now well-understood, and still performs very well.

[Ethel]

Yes, my desktop is XP but probably 6 years old - I intend keeping it for 'playing' with when I come to replace it.

Stop making me spend money!