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Moving to Linux(c) Kiss the Blue Screen of Death Goodbye! Authors: Gagne M. Published year: 2005 Pages: 14-17/181 |
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It's My PhilosophyI have a philosophy. All right, I have many, and this is just one of them. Every once in a while, people tell me that desktop Linux is just crazy, that it is just too complicated for the majority of people . I don't know about you, but I am tired of being told that people can't learn to use something that is both good and powerful. With a certain amount of training and a little proper guidance, anyone who is familiar with a computer can learn to use Linux . That isn't to say that working with Linux is difficult (it is not), but as you go along, you will be learning new things. This book is meant for users at every level of experience. It is meant to be read for fun, as well as for reference. And because I'll ask you to try things throughout this book, it's a training guide, as well. I'm delighted and thrilled that you've decided to join me in Moving to Linux . It's time to kiss the Blue Screen of Death goodbye ! 
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ResourcesLinux Documentation Project
Linux.org List of LUGs
Linux User Groups Worldwide
Marcel (Writer and Free Thinker at Large) Gagn's Web site
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Chapter 2. Ready . . . Set . . . Linux!Ready for some serious fun? Your Linux adventure is about to begin. To really get going, though, you need to deal with two major things. First and foremost, you need to get a copy of Linux. You may have chosen to try things out using the bootable Knoppix CD, but at some point (perhaps even now), you may want to do a proper hard-disk install. The second thing we will need to take care of is important only if you have Windows on your system and there is data you need to preserve and migrate. Let's start with the first step. |
Getting LinuxThis one is actually the easy part. One way to get Linux is to buy a copy. Head down to your local computer software store and ask for your favorite distribution. Alternatively, visit your favorite vendor's Web site, whether it be Mandrake, SuSE, Red Hat, or any of the many different distributions listed on the DistroWatch (http://www.distrowatch.com) Web site and order one online. Incidentally, DistroWatch also lists the top 10 major distributions at any given time. Which distribution should you get? Well, every Linux vendor does things a little differently. If you think of this in terms of cars , it starts to make sense. Every single car out there is basically an engine on wheels with seats and some kind of steering mechanism so that drivers can get to where they want to go. What kind of car you buy depends on what else you expect from a car, whether that is comfort , style, the vendor's reputation, or any great number of other choices.
Recommendation
You might be asking the question, If I can get a free copy of Linux, why would I want to pay for one? As it turns out, there is more than one answer to that question. The first is that buying a boxed set usually gets you some amount of technical support from the vendor. If you are feeling nervous about your first Linux installation, this might be a good reason. Second, the boxed set usually contains some kind of manual or manuals specific to that version of Linux. That will inevitably lead to another question as to what makes this Linux different from that one. Finally, in purchasing a boxed set, you are supporting the company that put leather on the seats or tinted the windows . It's a way of saying, "Thanks for all the hard work." Because it is possible to get a free copy of Linux, you don't have to shell out the dollars if you don't want to. At most, you'll need a fast Internet connection, a CD burner , and some blank CDs—or a helpful friend who has these.
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Moving to Linux(c) Kiss the Blue Screen of Death Goodbye! Authors: Gagne M. Published year: 2005 Pages: 14-17/181 |
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