Linux
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- r_gaberz
Ok so I am going to try out Linux.
Is there any major difference between the different releases?
Novell Desktop looks sexy
http://www.novell.com/products/d…Any reason why I should not get it?
- olive0
Red Hat is good as well
- NegativeSpace0
I am not good with linux by any means but I have used Mandrake and Redhat. I can honestly say I hated mandrake and had trouble getting everything working where as RedHat seemed so much easier. So I would also recommend that.
- warheros20
i would also recommend redhat. very simple and easy to use.
- olive0
If you're not technically up to scratch, take the one with the best support service.
- skelly0
I had RedHat a while ago... no problems with it.
- sparker0
red hat fedora is a good start for newbies.
but, since you're just wanting to try it out i would suggest either damn small linux, which runs directly in windows. or a live cd distro like knoppix or ubuntu.
these distro's run directly from the cd. it doesn't affect your windows installation, nor do you have to re-partition your harddrive and install something.
installing linux can be one of the more difficult parts for new users.
now, if you want my opinion on which distro is best, i would have to say gentoo. gentoo is a source based release, the likes of debian. you install software by compiling. a package manager makes life easier for you buy compiling both the software and the dependencies for you.
you set configuration variables on your system to optimize software for your specific hardware.
but, this is more for intermediate to advanced users...or someone who really wants to learn how to use linux. inside and out.
feel free to give me a yell if you need help...
- scarabin0
apart from the fact that it's free (all software is free to me), why would a person use linux when they can opt for a more user-friendly os with more programs?
- unfittoprint0
Install Debian or Fedora [red Hat community version of Linux].
A KDE desktop is a good choice for a good looking interface.
welcome.
- sparker0
scarabin, firstly linux isn't any less user friendly than windows or osx.
but, as for reasons...choice, stability, security, cost, power.
and, to this day, the only program i can't find a comparable app for is flash.
office, graphics/publishing, web, email, etc...
my question is why pay $300 for an operating system that a) is easily exploited by viri and spyware, b) lacks proper security features, c) requires expensive additional software to do anything (office for another $400+) d) doesn't give you a choice to optimize your system for your hardware or usage, e) doesn't care about you, as a user.
the list goes on and on. in the end, after giving up windows i've never looked back.
so far, i can't see a reason TO use it.
- randoman0
What is your use for running Linux?
Web server/applications?
Desktop?I would suggest againt using Linux as a desktop... somply not enough support form sw vendors. XP or OSX are much better.
As a file/webserver Linux is better than most, especially windows. Less security issues, more stable, and will run longer without clogging up and rebooting.
If your looking for an easy to set up and maintain LAMP server, Debian Sarge is the best for both beginners and more experienced. Like someone mentioned, it has a compile feature called "apt-get" which makes installing and configuring software very easy.
Gentoo is also supposed to be a great Linux. Recently there has been less intrest in Redhat and Fedora Core, and if you decide to go with Fedora Core, choose version 2 rather than 3 which has some problems.
Another idea is to install Linux via CoLinux. This allows you to run a full, real Linux installation alongside Windows or OSX (not dualboot, Linux will actually run as a service with its own CPU and memory space. It acts and works like any other Linux installation). This is good for web developers who need to use XP or OSX tools (like photoshop, flash, etc) and also need a Linux environment (PHP, MySQL, PERL, Apache, CGI, imagemagik, etc).
If you develope for Linux web server this is a great way to go. Colinux with Debian alongside XP or OSX is a good combination.
- randoman0
sparker I agree somewhat, Linux is very useable and solid... but software support is lacking. Most designers can't do with out Adobe or Macoromedia suite.
I hear arguments from Linux users that Gimp is a rival to Photoshop but it's not.
Like I said, best of both worlds can be had with Colinux and XP/OSX. Or as a stand alone webserver/fileserver, Linux is superior to MS and APPLE.
- sparker0
scarabin, the idea behind linux, and all open-source, isn't free as in beer, it is free as in speech. not all linux software is free. nor does it have to be.
it is about choice. choice of users to have a better system.
and, despite the lack of education on the part of most users...all someone has to do is pick up a newspaper or magazine now-a-days to see people realize that foss and linux are a better solution. the rate of linux adoption in government, business and personal usage is growing very fast.
although, to the minor chagrin of some old geeks like me.
- scarabin0
so all you guys are saying is that it's cheaper (i already said besides the pricetag) and that it's better than windows. (well no shit)
i can see the use for a server, but why not just get a mac?
- sparker0
randoman, although this is a design related forum...i have to disgree with your statement about desktop linux.
keep in mind that design is a niche market. i agree that nothing rivals flash or even illustrator in the linux world, yet. but many businesses, even magazine publishers have used linux instead of osx or windows...and quite successfully i might add.
- sparker0
that's not at all what i said. in the end, cost is the least part of linux, unix and open-source.
- scarabin0
well you mentioned money twice to me in your reply
- sparker0
along with a laundry list of reasons why to use linux.
let's list them again....stability, security, choice, power...
and, as for the lack of software myth, there thousands and thousands of software packages for linux...go look at the debian or gentoo package list sometime.
part of choice, is the ability to find and modify the software you use to better suit your needs.
can't do that on windows. not easily. certainly not with ms software packages.
osx. well, that's different...it's unix.
- scarabin0
ah, i see
- randoman0
I disagree with the software selection for Linux...
I also don't see how a publisher could get by on Linux alone? (what are they using in quarks/indesign place?
I run Debian and know of all the packages that are available. I've even gone so far as to try and get by in a strickly Linux setup (from a designers standpoint). Gimp imo is not adequate... if it was around in '95 I might see using it... other than that, I dont see any applications for serious designers. At this time I dont feel a designer could make a living using Linux as an exclusive OS. In addition the lack of Flash is equally crippling (and 3D softwares to compete with Maya, SI, 3ds, etc.). Audio apps as well, Linux is just in a different league as far as software in concerned.
Price for a desktop OS should not be a factor... it's the software available for it because without that, nothing else matters much.
As a server, cost does become a huge factor... it's being fee CAN save you several thousands of dollars in licensing fees, upgrades, etc. Not to mention the fact that it is leaps and bounds more secure, solid and stable than Win/OSX (In an interview Steve Woz claimed that he was still envious of Linux being more stable than even Apples offering.).
For a programmer o developer, I would saw Linux desktop is superior. Plus the fact that so many devices are running embedded linux, from what I understand it's a great environment to develop in.
And no (good) games either.
- unfittoprint0
ie: an architect can already work in a linux-only environment. CAD/3D solutions that are more than enought for our daily needs.
&
we don't use linux because we 'like free stuff'.
open source is not [just] a question of reliability. is a question of principle.
if that's not the way you see things, you shouldn't move to linux.