Getting started with Linux

[Strangest Tribe]

Since Windows seems to have gotten hosed on my laptop and I'll have to do some repairs, I thought it might be a good time to install Linux AND Windows.

Anyone have any tips on how to get started? Where to pick up a cheap copy? Things to look out for? Anyone done this recently?

Like most people, I've used Windows almost exclusively and don't have a clue about Linux. I just want to install it and use it for fun.

 

[Mal]

The three big "user-friendly" distrubutions of Linux are Mandrake, Red Hat's Fedora and Suse. I'm not sure where you can find Suse for free exactly, but you can get ISO images of both Mandrake and Fedora from their respective websites.

I haven't used Suse, but I have used a few versions of Mandrake and Red Hat/Fedora. Although I do favor Red Hat/Fedora, I would suggest Mandrake because it's more user-friendly.

While setting up your laptop, I recommend installing Windows first and leave at least about 5 GB of unpartitioned space for Linux. The Linux install, on most distros, should detect your Windows install add a boot option to its bootloader.

A good source of information is Linux Questions.

 

[Strangest Tribe]

Exactly the kind of info I was looking for!

Thanks a ton!

 

[superwick]

Mandrake is the most user friendly and best for total linux newbies. That being said its not as versatile as Fedora or Gentoo.

 

[TexasOwnzYou]

mandrake didnt like my usb mouse

 

[Bob Wills]

Strangest Tribe, what are the apps you can't live without when running Windows?