A good linux distro for a newb?


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I'm want to try to dual boot my PC with a good, but easy to learn distro for a newb. Does anyone know of one? Also, I read somewhere that a winmodem dont like to run under linux? Can someone help me with this problem? Thanks.

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Almost any mainstream distro will be good. They will all peacefully co-exist with Windows.

You just need to make sure you have either

a) a partition to sacrifice to use for installing Linux

or

b) enough free, unallocated room on your drive for installing

If you don't you will have to make room yourself.

As for which distro, if you want to build the code from sources, Gentoo is a good bet.

If you want to build, but not do all the compiling work, Slack is great.

If you just want to install to play, Fedora, Mandrake, SUSE are all good.

As for win-modems. It is hit or miss. Get Linux up, and go to Linmodems.org to see how to determine the chipset in the modem (it is more important than brand or model). They also tell you how to make it work (if it is possible to do so).

Good Luck!

Mark

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I'm a Linux newb too. I installed SuSE Linux Professional 9.0 a couple weeks ago. It was almost too easy. The installer "shrunk" my Windows XP partition and set me up to dual boot. Recognized all my hardware: USB pen drive, flash memory card reader, external FireWire hard drive, both printers (one parallel, one USB), my old HP scanner that's connected to a SCSI card, my WebCam... and Lucent WinModem. Like I said, it was almost too easy - I don't feel like I'm learning much, but I would definitely recommend SuSE if you want a no pain Linux experience. The pro version comes with a double-side DVD and 5 CD's - you get lots of apps to play with! Costs around $65.

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My only experience is with the SUSE LiveCD (which I am using right now on my PC here at work - was running Win2k, but now BSOD won't let me boot up in safe mode or anything :()

I just LOVE the interface and the design work that went into this! It is an attractive distro, and I highly recommend using SUSE for a first-timer.

Just remember, that with most other distros, you download and burn the .iso image CDs. With SUSE, you burn your boot disk, and FTP download the rest of the OS (or you could pay for the boxed set which adds premium features that can not be given away because they are licensed technologies and programs).

Truly a well-done distro! :yes:

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Yes it is. :)

http://www.mandrakelinux.com/en/ftp.php3

If you go to mandrake.com, it sends you to the sales area at mandrakesoft.com.

mandrakelinux.com is still there supplying the free version.

You will want to use a mirror site.

Also, I might suggest http://www.linuxiso.org as a good, centralized location for downloads.

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