Are there any Linux users on these boards?

I dip in and out when I need it, it's not been installed on this PC yet (and I've had it 9 months) but my last install was Red Hat 7.3. I download all 3Gb or something of Fedora Linux but lost them to the hard drive fairy. If I'm working with PHP/MySQL in a serious way then it's great, but I don't use Linux otherwise.

I'm getting an oldish machine to start off with. I'm thinking of putting SUSE 9.1 Personal onto it. I'm not really sure which distro I should choose though. Any suggestions?

i use fedora core 2 on a machine at home and linux enterprise 3 on one of my servers

I'v been using linux for about a year now and I just recently put gentoo on it. For anybody who doesn't have linux you can get a free shell at metawire.org. I highly suggest getting linux thought because it is in every way better than winblows (hell any UNIX-like OS is better than winblows).

Thanks guys.

I've got my SuSE distro and now I'm just waiting for the machine to arrive (next couple of weeks as it's a hand me down ).

We'll see how it goes when it gets here.

I hope it isn't that slow a machine, some Linux distros (RedHat especially) are really slow on slower computers. My old 333Mhz, 128Mb RAM wouldn't even run RedHat in any useable way, you could boot into the Xwindows system but the computer was unable to do anything when it was in there.


Hmm, I don't like Windows but you can't say it's not better than Linux in some ways. For a start, Microsoft has the best (i.e. easiest and most intuitive) interface of any operating system. You can't really debate the fact that Windows is easier to use for day to day tasks. Windows' problems are a lack of stability and security, which are pretty big problems, but it can do some things right.

It's a shame Microsoft software isn't as good at their mice, and keyboards for that matter. Intelimouse Optical and a natural keyboard (assuming you touch type and take a week or so to get used to it) are two great pieces of kit, not too expensive either, unlike Windows.

Linux running blackbox/fluxbox is the most intuitive (you can customize it however you want, very versitile too), anyways macs GUI is more intuitive than windows. Linux is easy to use for everyday tasks because if you run gnome or kde you don't even have to touch the command line (although its a good idea to learn to use it). Also redhat is way too bloated to run on slow computers LFS (can run with something around 15 mbs install space) or bootstrapped Gentoo would run perfectly, even bootstrapped Ubuntu would work (just never use gnome or KDE on a slow machine, go for blackbox/fluxbox or IceWM)

Gnome isn't that easy to use, it's pretty good but still clunky, it reminds me of the old Risc operating system, I had a computer with that 10 years ago. You like the one button mouse thing on a Mac? It's like they came up with that as a gimmick to appear simple without thinking about how it could possibly make things easier.

Have used Mandrake for a few years, but not at the mo. Just waiting for a new hard drive (as mine is packed solid) and I am going to try SuSe out as a dual boot system (If I can work out how to do it).

Use Unix at work.

With mac just click and hold for the menu...

Pie: dual boot is easy, SuSe will set it up for you when you install.

I guess the mac thing is personal preference, but do you consider the Windows interface a bad one? Putting aside any other reasons you don't like it.

Well the fact that they ripped it directly from mac awhile ago (there was a lawsuit about it, m$ won because 'their buttons were 3d') and they have yet to improve on it, yes its pretty outdated and bad.

I thought that it was Xerox invented the GUI, and that apple picked up on it?

What's the best distro to use in peoples opinions?

I have only tried Mandrake and liked it. I still feel you have to be a bit of a techie though to get things working, though I believe this area is getting better (haven't used any of the newer versions for about a year).

Xerox invented the GUI, nevertheless the lawsuit story of Apple vs. M$ is true. :smokin: I'm a Mac user too: while I can use Windows, I prefer Apple's interface: it is smoother and easier. I find Win's UI quite stupid sometimes: from the taskbar to the many preference tabs. Plus if you like Linux, Mac OSX has Unix foundations. Xander, you gotta try Tiger...it rocks!

Oh, about the mouse: before, Apple mice had one button (click+control), now the Mighty Mouse has two. I'm using a Logitech mouse (yes, some PC hardware works fine on Macs!).

I use an apple ketboard on my PC. Looks alot better and has a smaller footprint. Works fine, just plug it in and go.

Getting back to Linux: what do you think about Lindows?

Lindows is an abonimation to the UNIX community, it would be like a human acting like a chaimpanzee and saying hes better.

Mac doesn't just have unix foundations the Darwin kernel is built off of the bsd kernel and it wins the UNIX best GUI just about every year.

Gentoo is the best distro because everyhting is compiled for your computer, but if you have the time and knowledge i would suggest going for an LFS setup.