Dasy2k1 ... did you find the "command line" help you were after?
I gather from your earlier post and reference to going to uni that this will be in relation to doing things such as file creation/deletion/moving/copying, command line mathematics, system input/output, ssh remote host interaction, file and data manipulation, changing file modes, doing file tests, and doing scripting etc...

Ubuntu uses the Gnome desktop environment which as I have read sacrifices some functionality for simplicity. Kbuntu is another variant which uses KDE instead.

Then I would be correct in using a distro based on the Gnome environment first and then after getting comfortable, moving to a KDE? Again, as a *noob* I don't care so much 'what' as I do in just 'how'.

*Gawd I need broadband. Dial-up is killing me looking for info.* -lol

Chris how did it work out for you?

Ubuntu 5.10 wouldn't work on my newer box, but the live cd ran on one of the older boxes I have (go figure) Anyway, I was typing a reply to this post about an hour ago when the servers went down but I wanted to say that I'm like a kid the morning of X-mas with this distro!

I'll probably pick up a cheap HDD and load onto that before I commit it to any box. (got 3 just sitting around)

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I realized the dead-end roads I ended up taking weren't always my fault. Many thanks to all that have helped in this - and you know who you are.
TheBeatenPath

Dasy2k1 ... did you find the "command line" help you were after?
I gather from your earlier post and reference to going to uni that this will be in relation to doing things such as file creation/deletion/moving/copying, command line mathematics, system input/output, ssh remote host interaction, file and data manipulation, changing file modes, doing file tests, and doing scripting etc...

yeh im getting better at it all the time!

anyway with relation to windoew managers i am using KDE to wrote this with now as i coudlnt get on iwth gnome, kde is cool but uses a lot of RAM, (iu only have 128mb!!!)
]
hopefully i wiull get my new comp soon so i will be able to seti at blistering speeds! (i think an AMD X2 4200 will help a lot!")

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Dasy2k1 ... did you find the "command line" help you were after?
I gather from your earlier post and reference to going to uni that this will be in relation to doing things such as file creation/deletion/moving/copying, command line mathematics, system input/output, ssh remote host interaction, file and data manipulation, changing file modes, doing file tests, and doing scripting etc...

yeh im getting better at it all the time!

anyway with relation to windoew managers i am using KDE to wrote this with now as i coudlnt get on iwth gnome, kde is cool but uses a lot of RAM, (iu only have 128mb!!!)
]
hopefully i wiull get my new comp soon so i will be able to seti at blistering speeds! (i think an AMD X2 4200 will help a lot!")

I prefer command line...but's that just my own habit...

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I've heard a lot about linux and that it can often be much better than Windows for several reasons, none of which I know.....

If somebody doesn't mind, can they briefly explain why linux is better (and gaining popularity like crazy)? I really just use my computer for surfing, school, and games....Compatibilty (with the games) is one of my concerns. I really have no idea what Linux is like and who should use it. I'd appreciate any responses!

If all you use your machine for is surfing, school and games...stick with Windows.

I'd answer slightly differently:

If you're curious or just simply wish to get out of the rut of fighting perpetual MS-virus scares, then try one of the Linux "Live-CD" distros. Note these are very slow due to running from the CD, but they don't touch your HDD and so are a good 'safe' taster.

There's LOTs of games for Linux, but obviously not the latest MS-only games.

You're compatible with the rest of the Windows world for email, surfing and office documents. The only gotcha is to remember to save in a Windows-format file if transfering or sending back to the Windows world. A minor gotcha is that some of the more wierd Windows 'special features' are not supported, but then I've never had a problem with that.

No viruses.

On Linux, the Gnome desktop is "streamlined" to be easy to use and can be compared to the sort of thing you see on a Mac computer.

In contrast, the KDE desktop is even more feature rich than Windows. The defaults work fine, just don't get too bewildered in that there are menu options to change almost everything.

Both Gnome and KDE look good and can be made to look Very Good.

Have a play and have fun.

Ubuntu and Kubuntu are both a good start. Suse, FC4 and Mandriva are other well supported 'big' distros.

Enjoy,

Regards,
Martin

(I rarely visit the cafe so I'll leave others to comment further.)

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See new freedom: Mageia Linux
Take a look for yourself: Linux Format
The Future is what We all make IT (GPLv3)

No viruses.

{tone:calm}
Sorry, but, while there are fewer viruses in Linux the idea that there are none is wrong and leads to sloppy security practices.

But it is almost impossible to have a crash so bad as to need to reboot the computer.

Have a nice day,

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David Stites
Pullman, WA USA

No viruses.

{tone:calm}
Sorry, but, while there are fewer viruses in Linux the idea that there are none is wrong and leads to sloppy security practices.

But it is almost impossible to have a crash so bad as to need to reboot the computer.

Have a nice day,

I'm glad you mentioned this. I was under the impression that viruses would not execute but remain dormant on your HDD. But they could be spread via e-mail client to windows boxes.

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I realized the dead-end roads I ended up taking weren't always my fault. Many thanks to all that have helped in this - and you know who you are.
TheBeatenPath

No viruses.

{tone:calm}
Sorry, but, while there are fewer viruses in Linux the idea that there are none is wrong and leads to sloppy security practices.

But it is almost impossible to have a crash so bad as to need to reboot the computer.

Have a nice day,

I'm glad you mentioned this. I was under the impression that viruses would not execute but remain dormant on your HDD. But they could be spread via e-mail client to windows boxes.

Yup, and it is for this very reason I still run anti virus software for the MTA.

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No viruses.

{tone:calm}
Sorry, but, while there are fewer viruses in Linux the idea that there are none is wrong and leads to sloppy security practices.

But it is almost impossible to have a crash so bad as to need to reboot the computer.

Have a nice day,

I'm glad you mentioned this. I was under the impression that viruses would not execute but remain dormant on your HDD. But they could be spread via e-mail client to windows boxes.

Yup, and it is for this very reason I still run anti virus software for the MTA.

KMail makes it easy to integrate virus scanners. I screen emails with Clam Antivirus and F-prot (KlamAV and QtF-prot front ends) It also integrates spam filters well too (I use SpamAssassin and bogo filter).

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Nothing travels faster than the speed of light with the possible exception of bad news, which obeys its own special laws.
Douglas Adams (1952 - 2001)

No viruses.

{tone:calm}
Sorry, but, while there are fewer viruses in Linux the idea that there are none is wrong and leads to sloppy security practices.

But it is almost impossible to have a crash so bad as to need to reboot the computer.

I'm glad you mentioned this. I was under the impression that viruses would not execute but remain dormant on your HDD. But they could be spread via e-mail client to windows boxes.

OK, to be pedantic:

1: "Viruses" for *nix systems, including Linux do indeed exist, and can be created;

2: There are no know viruses for *nix systems, including Linux, that are 'active' or 'in the wild'. Any new 'viruses' either cannot spread or they are stopped dead within hours of being let loose. None have hit 'big time' for a very long time now. (The viruses that do exist are either 'lab examples' to test or prove some point, or old stuff long since patched out of existance.);

3: There are a series of ongoing exploits in applications stuff, notably certain bb systems, but again any damage is limited to that application (and it is not 'viral');

4: MS-viruses cannot run on Linux. It might just be possible when run by Wine, but then that is only following Windows too well!

5: MS-viruses can harmlessly lay dead on any system to then do their damage if executed by a Windows system. The virus is just executable data after all;

6: For linux-only systems, no virus scanner is required. However, linux makes for a very good platform to do the 'dirty work' to clean up anything that is to be forwarded onto any Windows systems.


No system is impregnable. Its just that some systems can be very much more easily exploited than others. (Whether that might be by design, Marketing, ignorance, or victim of market share, I'll leave to another thread!)

Happy crunchin',
Martin

---

See new freedom: Mageia Linux
Take a look for yourself: Linux Format
The Future is what We all make IT (GPLv3)

But it is almost impossible to have a crash so bad as to need to reboot the computer.

Have a nice day,

I had no problem getting my linux box to lock up(*) when I messed with the graphics drivers :o)


Regards Hans

(*) Locked up the hard way, when only the power switch works.

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I had no problem getting my linux box to lock up(*) when I messed with the graphics drivers :o)


Regards Hans

(*) Locked up the hard way, when only the power switch works.

key words are "almost impossible"...I've locked mine up for the very same reason...something was up with the graphics...

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But it is almost impossible to have a crash so bad as to need to reboot the computer.

I had no problem getting my linux box to lock up(*) when I messed with the graphics drivers :o)


Regards Hans

(*) Locked up the hard way, when only the power switch works.

Ooooooo... I've also done that by misconfiguring the graphics drivers... Sure enough even the keyboard had 'died'.

I just ssh'd in from another machine and restarted the X-windows. Voila, the screen blanked out, X restarted and reset the graphics, and the display and keyboard immediately came back to life. Uptime survived for many a day further!

All good fun,

Happy crunchin',
Martin

[edit] A 'hard lock up' once that did cause a freeze up (kernel panic) was when an ide HDD died and errored out both channels on that ide controller... Quite a confusing mess to sort out on trying to reboot :-( [/edit]

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See new freedom: Mageia Linux
Take a look for yourself: Linux Format
The Future is what We all make IT (GPLv3)

3: There are a series of ongoing exploits in applications stuff, notably certain bb systems, but again any damage is limited to that application (and it is not 'viral');
Happy crunchin',
Martin

{tone: calm}
A while back I read an interesting story by a man who had his Linux box turned into a spam relay by an exploit in php. I don't know if that is a *virus* in the technical sense but it sure is something to guard against. Just because you are using Linux doesn't mean you can get sloppy.

Keep crunching,

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David Stites
Pullman, WA USA

This is all great information to know. Thanks to all who have posted here.
There seems to be a recurring theme with graphics driver malfunction, especially with ATI branded X*** cards as I have found out.

I'm still in the stage where I'm gathering info on Linux, but will be moving on to actual testing on a box shortly. All potential "bugs" aside, I'm really looking forward to this!

Again, thanks all.

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I realized the dead-end roads I ended up taking weren't always my fault. Many thanks to all that have helped in this - and you know who you are.
TheBeatenPath

... Just because you are using Linux doesn't mean you can get sloppy.

Very true.

One of the strengths in Linux is that most defaults offer reasonable security right from first being installed. Even with this, the systems are still easily usable rather than being overly restrictive.

As noted, no system is 'impregnable'. If you really do want hard security then there is SELinux, but then even I'll admit that that setup is so restrictive that you have to work hard at it to be able to do anything at all!

For contrast, here's a fun article on the Microsoft Vista attempts at improved security.

The beauty of Linux is that there is already over 40 years of *nix security built in and for a very user-friendly system. Users are also gently reminded of good security practice that also helps for good security in general.

Happy computing,
Martin

---

See new freedom: Mageia Linux
Take a look for yourself: Linux Format
The Future is what We all make IT (GPLv3)

This is all great information to know. Thanks to all who have posted here.
There seems to be a recurring theme with graphics driver malfunction, especially with ATI branded X*** cards as I have found out.

I'm still in the stage where I'm gathering info on Linux, but will be moving on to actual testing on a box shortly. All potential "bugs" aside, I'm really looking forward to this!

Again, thanks all.

one great thing with linux is that you can allways go to
www.linuxquestions.org to get help! ( i am around a bit there too with the same UN)

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one great thing with linux is that you can allways go to
www.linuxquestions.org to get help! ( i am around a bit there too with the same UN)

Thanks for the tip. I've been scouring the Ubuntu forums like a madman just to look at as many issues as possible before taking the final leap.

I've bookmarked that site and started poking around. Good stuff there!

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I realized the dead-end roads I ended up taking weren't always my fault. Many thanks to all that have helped in this - and you know who you are.
TheBeatenPath

Thanks for the tip. I've been scouring the Ubuntu forums like a madman just to look at as many issues as possible before taking the final leap.

I've bookmarked that site and started poking around. Good stuff there!

By the way, my buddy is The Linux Documentation Project

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3: There are a series of ongoing exploits in applications stuff, notably certain bb systems, but again any damage is limited to that application (and it is not 'viral');
Happy crunchin',
Martin

{tone: calm}
A while back I read an interesting story by a man who had his Linux box turned into a spam relay by an exploit in php. I don't know if that is a *virus* in the technical sense but it sure is something to guard against. Just because you are using Linux doesn't mean you can get sloppy.

Keep crunching,

Actually, those are derived from a combination of poor directory/file permissions set by the admins and also poor php....a couple of good ones off the top of my head are Coppermine and also phpBB2

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