Newbie with Linux...

codeman0013 · 03-05-2007, 05:54 PM

Hey guys I have heard so much good about linux i'm gonna take the plunge and get into it. Heres what i need to know. What is the best distro in your eyes? I have seen peopple that have like a cube like thing for a desktop and can move between them how do i get that? Wheres the best place to learn how to set it up? Can i set it up as a dual boot with my vista partition i already have on my 320gig sata drive?

tlarkin · 03-05-2007, 06:06 PM

The 3D cube desktop is an Open GL desktop manager called Beryl. It can run on pretty much any major distro, but be forewarned. It does not run out of the box in my experience, and will require some tweakage. Beryl does not run on my Suse 10.2 rig at the moment out of the box. Two services fail for some unknown reason, even after I followed the wiki instructions to the T...

That is the downside to linux, there are many compatibility problems among distros...so don't worry if you get frusturated it is only normal. I would suggest downloading Live CDs of these distros and try them out then choose one you like. You can make a partition with the Linux installer and do all that custom stuff during the install process and even set up dual boot.

Distros:

Open SuSe
Fedora Core
Debian
Ubuntu
Freespire

_simon_ · 03-05-2007, 06:10 PM

Ubuntu is probably the best place to start.
Very good package manager, good hardware detection, great community.
Ubuntu Site
Support Forums

Ubuntu, as with some other distro's offer a Live CD, or Desktop CD as it's now known. This allows you to try the OS before you install it. Ubuntu's Desktop CD is both a Live CD and Installer. Some other distros have separate CD / DVD's for Live and Install.

If you want Beryl out of the box then look at http://www.sabayonlinux.org

How difficult it is to get Beryl running depends on your hardware. If you have an Nvidia card then it's a piece of cake.

Dual booting is not an issue. The Installer should ask you whether you want to, however I recommend you read any and all documentation / read the support forums before you hit the install button.

codeman0013 · 03-05-2007, 06:33 PM

Thanks for the replys Simon what would you reccoment distro wise lke? Do you use opensuse i see? or would ubuntu be better?

_simon_ · 03-05-2007, 06:52 PM

I started out with Ubuntu in November 2005 and switched to openSUSE this year.

Personally I would definitely recommend Ubuntu as your first distro or even your only distro! I only swapped because I fancied a change

I've got a very useful link for you that I'll pm you with when I find it.

Nevakonaza · 03-05-2007, 07:51 PM

i think Kubuntu is realy good....Also Suse 10:2

tlarkin · 03-05-2007, 08:15 PM

yeah I am running an ATI card in my Linux box which could be the reason beryl is a bastard and won't run right

Simon have you installed it with an ATI card yet?

patrickv · 03-06-2007, 03:08 AM

Beryl is still in beta stages and testing phase,its far from perfect (and very buggy) and mainly not supporting all major graphics card, some will run some will not.

For people looking for a distro that ships default with xgl/compiz (3d cube) Try FEDORA core 6.

codeman0013 · 03-06-2007, 03:32 AM

ok i have it installed on my 2nd hdd but now windows wont show it so my computer wont boot into it how do i set it up where it asks me which one to go into?

_simon_ · 03-06-2007, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tlarkin

yeah I am running an ATI card in my Linux box which could be the reason beryl is a bastard and won't run right

Simon have you installed it with an ATI card yet?

Luckily I've always been an Nvidia fan!

03-05-2007, 05:54 PM	#1 (permalink)
codeman0013 Diamond Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Decatur Illinois Age: 23 Posts: 1,391	Newbie with Linux... Hey guys I have heard so much good about linux i'm gonna take the plunge and get into it. Heres what i need to know. What is the best distro in your eyes? I have seen peopple that have like a cube like thing for a desktop and can move between them how do i get that? Wheres the best place to learn how to set it up? Can i set it up as a dual boot with my vista partition i already have on my 320gig sata drive?

03-05-2007, 06:10 PM	#3 (permalink)
_simon_ Platinum Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Cannock, UK Age: 27 Posts: 945	Ubuntu is probably the best place to start. Very good package manager, good hardware detection, great community. Ubuntu Site Support Forums Ubuntu, as with some other distro's offer a Live CD, or Desktop CD as it's now known. This allows you to try the OS before you install it. Ubuntu's Desktop CD is both a Live CD and Installer. Some other distros have separate CD / DVD's for Live and Install. If you want Beryl out of the box then look at http://www.sabayonlinux.org How difficult it is to get Beryl running depends on your hardware. If you have an Nvidia card then it's a piece of cake. Dual booting is not an issue. The Installer should ask you whether you want to, however I recommend you read any and all documentation / read the support forums before you hit the install button. __________________ Athlon 64 X2 4600+ Dual Core + Arctic Cooling Freezer-64-LP 4GB (2x 2GB) OCZ PC2 6400 Dual CH Gold Edition XTC MSI K9AGM2-L mATX / eCute mATX Cube Case /Scythe Kama-Meter / Philips DVD RW Hitachi 160GB SATA II 8MB cache Palit 8800GT 512MB Realtek® ALC888 HD Audio + Altec Lansing VS4121 Belinea 22" Widescreen Vista Home Premium 64bit My creepy crawly collection Last edited by _simon_; 03-05-2007 at 06:20 PM.

03-05-2007, 06:52 PM	#5 (permalink)
_simon_ Platinum Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Cannock, UK Age: 27 Posts: 945	I started out with Ubuntu in November 2005 and switched to openSUSE this year. Personally I would definitely recommend Ubuntu as your first distro or even your only distro! I only swapped because I fancied a change I've got a very useful link for you that I'll pm you with when I find it. __________________ Athlon 64 X2 4600+ Dual Core + Arctic Cooling Freezer-64-LP 4GB (2x 2GB) OCZ PC2 6400 Dual CH Gold Edition XTC MSI K9AGM2-L mATX / eCute mATX Cube Case /Scythe Kama-Meter / Philips DVD RW Hitachi 160GB SATA II 8MB cache Palit 8800GT 512MB Realtek® ALC888 HD Audio + Altec Lansing VS4121 Belinea 22" Widescreen Vista Home Premium 64bit My creepy crawly collection

03-05-2007, 07:51 PM	#6 (permalink)
Nevakonaza Diamond Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: C:/Windows Age: 19 Posts: 6,851	i think Kubuntu is realy good....Also Suse 10:2 __________________ Core 2 Duo E6300 OC'd @ 2.7Ghz AC Freezer 7 Pro MSI P35 Neo Combo(45nm ready) 3Gb GeIL DDR2 @ 772 Mhz (Dual channel) Asus Extreme 8800GT G92 512Mb with Glaciator cooler WD Caviar 400Gb Sata II Gigabyte GZ-X1 Black case Lite-On 48X DVD writer Dual layer. Windows Vista Ultimate x64 And soon MacOS 10.5.1 Leopard

03-05-2007, 08:15 PM	#7 (permalink)
tlarkin VIP Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 5,179	yeah I am running an ATI card in my Linux box which could be the reason beryl is a bastard and won't run right Simon have you installed it with an ATI card yet? Last edited by tlarkin; 03-05-2007 at 08:33 PM.

03-05-2007, 06:06 PM	#2 (permalink)
tlarkin VIP Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 5,179	The 3D cube desktop is an Open GL desktop manager called Beryl. It can run on pretty much any major distro, but be forewarned. It does not run out of the box in my experience, and will require some tweakage. Beryl does not run on my Suse 10.2 rig at the moment out of the box. Two services fail for some unknown reason, even after I followed the wiki instructions to the T... That is the downside to linux, there are many compatibility problems among distros...so don't worry if you get frusturated it is only normal. I would suggest downloading Live CDs of these distros and try them out then choose one you like. You can make a partition with the Linux installer and do all that custom stuff during the install process and even set up dual boot. Distros: Open SuSe Fedora Core Debian Ubuntu Freespire

03-05-2007, 06:33 PM	#4 (permalink)
codeman0013 Diamond Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Decatur Illinois Age: 23 Posts: 1,391	Thanks for the replys Simon what would you reccoment distro wise lke? Do you use opensuse i see? or would ubuntu be better?

03-06-2007, 03:08 AM	#8 (permalink)
patrickv Diamond Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Soul Chamber Posts: 4,983	Beryl is still in beta stages and testing phase,its far from perfect (and very buggy) and mainly not supporting all major graphics card, some will run some will not. For people looking for a distro that ships default with xgl/compiz (3d cube) Try FEDORA core 6. __________________ Laptop: Thinkpad X60: Core2Duo T7200 @ 2Ghz,1GB DDR2,110GB SATA -winXP ProSP2 Work Desktop: Core Duo E2180 @ 2Ghz,1GB DDR2,240GB HD - XP PRO SP2 Home: Core Duo E2180 2Ghz,1.5GB DDR2,Nvidia GForce 6200TB,320 GB (2x160GB) -Vista Business All I want is, less to do, more time to do it, and higher pay for NOT getting it done.

03-06-2007, 03:32 AM	#9 (permalink)
codeman0013 Diamond Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Decatur Illinois Age: 23 Posts: 1,391	ok i have it installed on my 2nd hdd but now windows wont show it so my computer wont boot into it how do i set it up where it asks me which one to go into?

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Which linux	Arm_Pit3	Operating Systems	13	01-20-2008 01:50 PM
Complete newbie wanting to get into Linux	Phumfeinz	Operating Systems	2	04-17-2006 01:41 AM
Linux Program	BrandonL	Operating Systems	4	11-15-2005 02:01 AM
Linux for the newbie	gibb89	Operating Systems	4	05-04-2005 02:44 AM
os ???	bloospoon	Operating Systems	8	07-22-2004 09:55 PM