Linux users here?

[damunzy]

from the website: http://www.cygwin.com/
Cygwin is a Linux-like environment for Windows. It consists of two parts:
A DLL (cygwin1.dll) which acts as a Linux emulation layer providing substantial Linux API functionality.
A collection of tools, which provide Linux look and feel.


Sorryt about the large pic size...it seems they use HTML resizing as it is not this large on their site.

Removed IMG because it messed up site formatting.

 

[Achinz]

I remember the Windows-Linux mix in this simplified way:

To run some Linux programs under Windows, use Cygwin

To run some Windows programs under Linux, try WINE. For Windows games, try WINEX (which is not free - requires a subscription for access).

 

[HAND]

I have never used Linux before. I have Red Hat 9 on my HD but i've yet to put it on CD and install it. I might be putting it off!

 

[Goonie]

What program would you guys suggest for someone who wants to try out Linux, but does not want to compile and spend lots of time configuring things. A link and a description would be nice.

 

[Sirp]

Knoppix: http://www.knoppix.net/ a distribution on GNU/Linux which comes on a single CD, and doesn't require installation to the hard drive.

You're in Windows - put CD in, reboot, you're in GNU/Linux. Take out CD, reboot, you're back in Windows.

-Sirp.

 

[bladester]

Im curious how knoppix handles mounting of partitions? Does it have it's own special read-only file system on the cd?

Another thing, is it a full linux distribution or just a sample cd that gives the user the flavour of linux. If all the distributions had a similar thing it would make choosing a distribution easier as one could sample them all on cd and then decide which one to install.

I chose red hat 9 simply because on a dial up internet connection it is impossible to download 3 ISO images and redhat was the cheapest one that I could find retail. However, I am considering either upgrading or adding a new partition for a test run of gentoo seeing as many of you seem to like it. But that will have to wait until I get ADSL.

 

[Sirp]

Knoppix has its own read-only file system on the CD. It can also mount and read/write Windows filesystems, and store files on it if you want to save things with Knoppix.

Whether or not Knoppix is a 'full GNU/Linux distribution' depends on your definition of 'full'. Is RedHat a 'full GNU/Linux distribution'? After all, the full Debian distribution has around ten times more packages than Red Hat.

Knoppix is a cut down version of Debian, to fit on one CD - Debian requires about ten CDs and Knoppix just one. However Debian has many many applications that you likely don't need, especially for a desktop machine. Knoppix is specially geared to have applications you are likely to want on a desktop.

-Sirp.

 

[Padma]

Originally posted by Goonie
What program would you guys suggest for someone who wants to try out Linux, but does not want to compile and spend lots of time configuring things. A link and a description would be nice.

Not to knock Knoppix, but the long-standing "Newbie distro" of Linux has been Mandrake.
You can download the free version here, or you can buy one of their extended versions online or in many stores. The standard installation uses 3 CDs, although you*can* get by with just one (misses a lot of useful packages/tools, however).

Installation is as easy as Windows - stick the CD in the drive, boot from it, and away you go! Unless you are running "bleeding edge" hardware, it should recognize and configure everything you've got. (There are always a few exceptions, of course. Like my old scanner - no Linux drivers were available for it. But then, there were no Win2K drivers either, so I went and bought a new one. )

 

[bladester]

Originally posted by Sirp
Knoppix has its own read-only file system on the CD. It can also mount and read/write Windows filesystems, and store files on it if you want to save things with Knoppix.

Whether or not Knoppix is a 'full GNU/Linux distribution' depends on your definition of 'full'. Is RedHat a 'full GNU/Linux distribution'? After all, the full Debian distribution has around ten times more packages than Red Hat.

Knoppix is a cut down version of Debian, to fit on one CD - Debian requires about ten CDs and Knoppix just one. However Debian has many many applications that you likely don't need, especially for a desktop machine. Knoppix is specially geared to have applications you are likely to want on a desktop.

-Sirp.

What I meant by 'full' was that it allows for complete customisability by the user. It seems Knoppix is more of a demo type distribution.

I also assume Debian doesn't require all 10cds. That would be crazy to require upwards of 15gb just for installation.

About mandrake, try to avoid 9.2 if you have an LG (?) cdrom as I have heard it completely destroys it, atleast until they release a fix.

 

[GrandAdmiral]

1. Gentoo (dual boot w/windows xp pro)
2. Custom P4 2.4Ghz, 512MB, 80Gig hd, 128mb Radeon 9200
3. no way
4. no not a chance. never. Linux has its uses, a replacement for windows is not one of them.

 

[Padma]

Originally posted by bladester
About mandrake, try to avoid 9.2 if you have an LG (?) cdrom as I have heard it completely destroys it, atleast until they release a fix.

True. They are working hard on solving this. Of course, the *free* version of 9.2 is not released to the public, yet, only to paid members of the Mandrake Club.

 

[Sodapop]

AFAIK it's only a firmware issue, and the firmware can be reinstalled, so the drive is not actually destroyed. Those LG drives don't respect ATAPI specs, hence why they break.

And as for debian, I've never installed it, but again AFAIK you can do it through a network install, so you just boot off a cd, install a minimal environment, then apt-get whatever program you want. But warning, debian is not for newbies.

RedHat (or now Fedora) is a not so bad choice to begin with, but mandrake definitely offers more config tools, so it might be a better choice.

 

[Achinz]

Originally posted by bladester

Another thing, is it a full linux distribution or just a sample cd that gives the user the flavour of linux. If all the distributions had a similar thing it would make choosing a distribution easier as one could sample them all on cd and then decide which one to install.

It is full in the sense that you can run suites like OpenOffice.org and even connect to the Internet. As mentioned in a post above you can also save your data and configuration preferences in a Windows (FAT) partition. It certainly is a great hands-on way to assess a new OS without doing an actual installation. On the other hand, for a fully installed distro, I would endorse the majority opinion so far for Mandrake (I'm still using 9.1 but it serves my needs well). My first dual-booting install was a breeze!

I chose red hat 9 simply because on a dial up internet connection it is impossible to download 3 ISO images and redhat was the cheapest one that I could find retail. However, I am considering either upgrading or adding a new partition for a test run of gentoo seeing as many of you seem to like it. But that will have to wait until I get ADSL.

If there is a LUG (Linux Users Group) in your locality, join it. I got my 3 Mandrake 9.1 CDs for the cost of 3 blank CDs from the helpful members. The mailing lists and regular meetings are also a boon to the newbie.

 

[damunzy]

Not to knock Mandrake but I feel that Red Hat's latest distro is easier and faster to install and is now the top one of my list for a "newbie".

I am currently loading gentoo and about ready to pull my hair out. I have been through most of the reloading process 3 times over a 4 day period. It has taught me a lot about loading up Linux and how some things work but boy it can be a pain in the butt! I was doing a Stage 1 load....I think I am just going to try a stage 3 load and save myself a headache...either that or I will pay the $15 to buy it from gentoo already optimized for my platform!

 

[GenghisK]

I just heard that Release 9.2 Mandrake could cause hardware failure to LG branded cd drives. It's not a joke, it could totally make those drives unusable..It has been confirmed but Mandrake is working to solve it...

 

[Sodapop]

It's a LG-drive problem. They are not ATAPI compliant, so that's not only mandrake that is going to break. Suse 9 also break them from what I've read, and probably others. It all depends on either the kernel, or the supermount module they use to make the drive unmountable easily. And again, I'm pretty sure I've also read it was a firmware problem, and nothing was actually really damaged in the drive.