Thread: Giving Linux a shot (Ubuntu I think.)

When it comes to desktop environments, even as an old DOS and Windows user, I found that I liked the Gnome environment better. Keep it default and if it becomes really unbearable, you can either retrofit or reinstall the OS with the KDE version.
For partitioning (if you want a dual boot) you should get Partition Magic. Worked just fine for me (even though I had to do some manual configuration of the boot config file in Linux to make it work).

Originally Posted by FiReSTaRT

Read through the documentation, but it's really very simple compared to the older Linux distros. Here are some notes from my limited experience:
1) I'd install Linux on a separate drive. This is not absolutely necessary as I've also run Windows and Linux from the same drive, but it makes your life easier the first time around.

Agreed, definitely easier just more expensive/requires some ability with a screwdriver.

3) Check for hardware compatibility.

Ubuntu's Live CD is good for this ... fully running environment to test out your hardware.

5) For security reasons, don't give your default account administrative privileges, like you do in Windows. For any administrative stuff like installing apps, you can either temporarily log in as root (make sure you change the root pass) or use the "sudo" (superuser do) command.

Again ubuntu is a good choice since it doesn't allow root logins you have to use sudo for all command line progs that require admin rights and gui progs will ask you to enter your admin password

Originally Posted by FiReSTaRT

When it comes to desktop environments, even as an old DOS and Windows user, I found that I liked the Gnome environment better. Keep it default and if it becomes really unbearable, you can either retrofit or reinstall the OS with the KDE version.

Me too. But a complete newbie needs to be aware of the choice and if you install kubuntu then KDE is the default install.

For partitioning (if you want a dual boot) you should get Partition Magic. Worked just fine for me (even though I had to do some manual configuration of the boot config file in Linux to make it work).

I use Acronis Partition Expert mostly since I have problems with the bloatware/spyware that Norton Produces.

Barney