The perfect operating system....

zzz2496 · 21 Apr 2010

MadMaxData said:

zzz2496 said:

No, I don't sell Linux for living... But I do get money from setting up servers running Linux... And for now, Linux made my whole computing experience a whole lot better (in server world). That's it :)

zzz2496

You know, I've been intrigued with that OS for quite some time now, but have yet to give it a go. I guess there's just too much work for me personally with Windows, to start to venture into unchartered waters with Linux. I'm thinking it would be like starting all over again with a different OS. It took me FOREVER to get a firm grasp on Windows [which pales in comparrison to some IT pros]. So it's the thought of even more endless work that has kept me from checking it out. You know what I mean?

Yeah, I know :) My days with Linux changed my "view" of computing world. Add few days with an IBM P Series server to it, the "view" got even broader. Back in the day when VMware only has VMware workstation, I saw IBM PowerVM, a true hypervisor with almost limitless management capabilities, and it already can Live Migrate Guest OSes to another PowerVM hosts, FREAKING AWESOME !!!

All you need is to keep a VERY OPEN MIND when you face Linux. It's not Windows, it will never be like Windows, so you need to learn Linux's way - I suggest you start with the console mode Linux, DO NOT TOUCH Linux's GUI just yet, it keeps you from comparing it directly to Windows from get go. Until you understand the "Linux way", don't touch GUI yet. Once you do, hack away :)

zzz2496

MadMaxData · 21 Apr 2010

zzz2496 said:

I suggest you start with the console mode Linux...

Do you have a link to that? I have a 20Gig HDD that's not currently in use. Is that big enough to install the OS, and check it out? It will be installed on an old socket-A board, with 1Gig of RAM. Does that meet the requirements? What the hell, I'll give it a shot, if you can provide a link to a free trial version.

zzz2496 · 21 Apr 2010

There's no "link to free trial", every Linux is free - unless you need a professional support to back you up. Try OpenSuSE 11.2 then, it's a good distro to start with. It's a full "Linux", the installer has the capability to install Text mode and GUI installations. So... Install the text mode to learn your ways in Linux...

zzz2496

P.s: you can add the GUI later on... The beauty of LINUX !!!!

MadMaxData · 21 Apr 2010

So that's a link to the console mode you were talking about? If not, shouldn't I start out with the regular Linux OS?

smarteyeball · 21 Apr 2010

I wish to revise my statement RE the perfect OS:

The perfect OS would be so perfect that nobody could bitch about anything to do with an OS

zzz2496 said:

, DO NOT TOUCH Linux's GUI just yet, it keeps you from comparing it directly to Windows from get go.

Sage advice.

Not to mention that distro dependant, a lot of the the times - out of the box the GUI has a nasty habit of either:

A: Breaking something which requires a trip to the CLI anyway
or
B: It just doesn't work like it's supposed to. (I'm looking more at you KDE 4.x

)

(although I do like my GUI - It's the Windows in me

)

And yep - approaching Linux with a Windows mindset is a recipe for frustration and failure

MadMaxData · 21 Apr 2010

So which version of Linux do you think I should start out with Smartey? Got a link?

zzz2496 · 21 Apr 2010

I'm still proposing OpenSuSE 11.2... In the installation process, you can select a "Server installation (text mode)" instead of KDE/GNOME

zzz2496

MadMaxData · 21 Apr 2010

zzz2496 said:

I'm still proposing OpenSuSE 11.2... In the installation process, you can select a "Server installation (text mode)" instead of KDE/GNOME

zzz2496

Okie dokie, I'm gonna' go download it now. Thanks for the suggestion. I'll let you know what I think in a few days or so.

zzz2496 · 21 Apr 2010

smarteyeball said:

I wish to revise my statement RE the perfect OS:

The perfect OS would be so perfect that nobody could bitch about anything to do with an OS

zzz2496 said:

, DO NOT TOUCH Linux's GUI just yet, it keeps you from comparing it directly to Windows from get go.

In my view, everybody in here's "perfect OS" is Windows without Windows deficiencies, it's hard for any of us real computer users that use computers as computers (not computer users as a Windows users) to say that there are other OSes that is better than Windows that comes with a catch - It's not Windows, thus it's not a better OS...

Sage advice.

Not to mention that distro dependant, a lot of the the times - out of the box the GUI has a nasty habit of either:

A: Breaking something which requires a trip to the CLI anyway
or
B: It just doesn't work like it's supposed to. (I'm looking more at you KDE 4.x

)

(although I do like my GUI - It's the Windows in me

)

And yep - approaching Linux with a Windows mindset is a recipe for frustration and failure

Unless you know how Linux work, you don't need to use CLI to destroy the system. Heck, you can access the /bin, /sbin or whatever through a super-user mode file manager (that is Explorer run with Administrator rights in Windows lingo), and be done with it... GUI is just another shell started by X server... nothing more...

zzz2496

jimbo45 · 21 Apr 2010

MadMaxData said:

So that's a link to the console mode you were talking about? If not, shouldn't I start out with the regular Linux OS?

A Regular Linux

Now that's almost a contradiction in terms.

Linux comes in an almost infinite variety of "Distros" which at the same time is both its STRENGTH and WEAKNESS.

Strength because it's infinitely customisable and can be made to look and run (with effort of course) in anyway you choose, and weakness because there will never be a "Bog Standard" Linux - which makes it highly unsuitable for large scale desktop deployments.

For Servers it's hugely robust and if you want to mess around at home with server software this is a cheap and great introduction. Most Linux distros are totally free and there is a HUGE amount of open source software. If stuff doesn't work there are loads of decent forums -- I like this one LinuxQuestions.org

Windows works "Straight out of the box" and is easy(ish) to deploy and mainatin on workplace desktops - and if stuff doesn't work eventually MS will sort out mostr problems.

Linux is more of a "DIY" approach but the rewards are great when you get a highly customised system working just the way YOU want it to.

Open SUSE 11.2 is a good choice to start -- the main GUI is either KDE ("Windows Like") or GNOME -- but you can install BOTH.

The FEDORA project (used to be the NON commercial part of RED HAT -- also a much used distribution) is also worth a look at and some people swear by UBUNTU.

The good thing is you can try ALL of them at NO COST other than your time. They will all usually run on quite modest hardware - and you could even consider running them as Virtual Machines.

Cheers
jimbo