[NCLUG] Help requested in learning Linux

[mbutcher]

I usually recommend Linux newcomers start with Mandrake Linux 
(http://www.linux-mandrake.com). The install is easy and it is aimed more 
towards desktop user. Last time I installed it, the default installation 
required 1.3 Gig. I've done custom installs in 500 or 600M, including Gnome 
and X and all of the applications I use on a regular basis. That particular 
install was on a Pentium 120 (pre-MMX) with 48M of RAM. Performance was okay 
(browsing, email, terminals), but it was certainly no speed demon.

If you managed to come accross a decent sized hard drive, you could certainly 
configure your Pentium system to dual boot, and you wouldn't have to worry 
about messing around with the Windows installation on the current hard drive. 
You'd be able to run a window manager and X and all of that....

If you were content with just the command line, you should be able to make the 
486 systems work.

Matt

On Tuesday 14 May 2002 09:13 am, Ken Haile wrote:
> Greetings -
>
> I would greatly appreciate some kind persons help in getting me started
> learning Linux.  I noted that you won't be having and "InstallFest" for a
> while.
>
> Me: I am comfortable with Dos and Windows.  In the distant past I repaired
> ISA type computers.  I'm a bit rusty with the latest technology - but I
> can work through the concepts of IRQ, DMA, Master and Slave IDE.  Now I
> work more with Applications software support - not so much with operating
> systems and hardware configuration.
>
> Goals: My first goal is to install Linux from scratch and understand what
> I am doing. My first attempts to install Redhat Linux version 6.0 did not
> work. I suspect that it is because the 4X CD Drive on the EISA 486 was not
> recognized.
>
> Resources: I have 3 computers: 1) EISA 486/33 with 16 meg of Ram and a 210
> meg hard drive, 2) ISA 486/50 with 16 meg of Ram and an approximate 500
> meg hard drive and a 270 meg Syquest drive, and 3) Pentium 366 mHz with a
> 3.2 gig hard drive already half occupied with Windows programs (which I
> also use for my school assignments and so am reluctant to offer it as a
> sacrifice to my learning curves with Linux.)
>
> Cheapskate: I'm open to purchasing more capable hardware if what I have
> doesn't really offer the type of power needed to run Linux.  One of the
> many pages I've read on Linux states that I need at least 500 megabytes of
> hard disk for a "standard" install.  I can deal with that, but I thought
> that Linux was more efficient and stable than MS Windows and would give me
> the equivalent performance on a computer with a earlier hardware.  Perhaps
> I am wrong.
>
> Questions: 1.  Does any of my available hardware represent a reasonable
> configuration to learn Linux.  I'm okay with command line for a while but
> eventually would like to run a Graphical interface (X Windows.)
>
> 2.  There is Debian, Red Hat, Caldera, Turbo Linux, etc.  Which version
> would you recommend?
>
> Thanks in advance for the help!
>
> Ken Haile
> Greeley, Colorado
>
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