← Autodidact Archive · Original Dissent · JoseyWales
Thread ID: 19917 | Posts: 7 | Started: 2005-08-31
2005-08-31 22:52 | User Profile
Ive been using RedHat linux for several years now and lately Im running Fedora, the open source variety. Currently in version 4 (core 4), but im still running version 3. I tend to stay just one step behind the bleeding edge for sake of sanity and letting others get the quirks worked out.
Ive learned alot over the years, having mostly used winders of some flavor. Now that I no longer write software for a living, Im at my linux workstation most of the day. Im either trading stocks, writing in my online trading journal, writing minimal php code, messing with mysql, doing graphics with Gimp, watching dvd movies with xine, or using one a bazillion utilities for all kinds of stuff. My latest favorite app is a java utility called genealogyJ for organizing your family history data.
Oh ya, i can "grep" also :)
2005-09-01 00:18 | User Profile
Is there a cheap/free way to get the older version of RedHat linux ?
Is Gimp just for Linux OS ? :nerd:
Is there a good website that tells you how to install RedHat linux? :nerd:
2005-09-01 00:57 | User Profile
[QUOTE=albion]Is there a cheap/free way to get the older version of RedHat linux ?
Is Gimp just for Linux OS ? :nerd:
Is there a good website that tells you how to install RedHat linux? :nerd:[/QUOTE]
RedHat and more can be found here [url]http://www.linuxiso.org/[/url] However, if you prefer an even easier approach, you can go visit your local used bookstore. There should be a few books covering older versions of linux, including RedHat. There is usually CD's in the back of the book that has the OS on it.
There is a port of Gimp for windows too, although its not free any longer. If you can find an older version floating around, they were free at one time. Most distros of Linux come with it already.
For installation of RedHat: [url]http://www.redhat.com/download/howto_download.html[/url] and for any other distro of Linux, just do a google on "your-version-of-linux-here howto" and you should get plenty of results
2005-09-01 01:34 | User Profile
[QUOTE=JoseyWales]Ive been using RedHat linux for several years now and lately Im running Fedora, the open source variety. Currently in version 4 (core 4), but im still running version 3. I tend to stay just one step behind the bleeding edge for sake of sanity and letting others get the quirks worked out.
Ive learned alot over the years, having mostly used winders of some flavor. Now that I no longer write software for a living, Im at my linux workstation most of the day. Im either trading stocks, writing in my online trading journal, writing minimal php code, messing with mysql, doing graphics with Gimp, watching dvd movies with xine, or using one a bazillion utilities for all kinds of stuff. My latest favorite app is a java utility called genealogyJ for organizing your family history data.
Oh ya, i can "grep" also :)[/QUOTE] grep rocks :punk: There is also a wingrep out there that I use with "winders". The trial liscense does not expire, you just send in a donation when you feel like it [url="http://www.wingrep.com/download.html"]http://www.wingrep.com/download.html[/url] What kind of box do you run on? I found some sparc boxes on ebay for damn cheap and have kicked myself for not getting one.
2005-09-01 12:49 | User Profile
[QUOTE=albion]Is there a cheap/free way to get the older version of RedHat linux ?
Is Gimp just for Linux OS ? :nerd:
Is there a good website that tells you how to install RedHat linux? :nerd:[/QUOTE] Abion, If you just want to get a feel for Linux, you might want to try a LiveCD from either Knoppix or Ubuntu. Both boot a full Linux desktop right from a CD, without actually installing anything on your hard drive. That way, you can see if all of your hardware can be detected, how you like KDE or Gnome, etc. One caveat -- running the operating system from a CD is not as fast as running off the hard drive, so don't take the speed of these LiveCDs as accurate benchmarks for a fully installed Linux system.
2005-09-03 20:25 | User Profile
If you hurry, you might be able to grab a free copy of Linspire. Go to [url]www.linspire.com[/url] and go through the purchase process to buy Linspire 5-0 digital download. It's $50, but if you enter "freespire" as a coupon, it's free.
Linspire is probably the easiest of all Linux distros and a Windows user should feel comfortable with it.
Most Linux distros, such as Knoppix, are still aimed at tech people. They ask you configuration questions during install that no newbie should be asked, such as which version of the kernal do you want to install. And, once installed, file names and other things like drives have cryptic names. Linspire avoids cryptic names.
Linspire, not being normally free, has another advantage. There are things not included in free distros because of royalty issues. For example, once you load up Knoppix and get on the web, you'll notice that the letters are blocky. This is because Apple practically owns a patent on smooth fonts (Three patents, even. And, even though Apple's OS X is based on a free, open-source OS, Apple has been so stingy as to not even give back to the community so little as permission to have smooth fonts). Linspire has smooth fonts, like Windows and other features covered by royalties such as MPEG2 (DVD) playback.
You can also run Linspire from the CD, without installing it. Also, to help a smooth transition, you might transition now to programs that have Linux versions, such as Firefox and OpenOffice.
2005-09-04 02:04 | User Profile
I've tried several distros of Linux and the most user friendly for a newbie is Linux Mandrake, in my opinion. Linux has come a long way in the last few years in the goal of reducing the learning curve to utilize their operating system.