I know Unix. Many of them. In depth. Linux in particular.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

Those "stereotypical Linux geek with no life and a chip on his shoulder" who always says RTFM of "the source is available"? It is either

(a) a fiction not unlike the "limousine welfare queen", or
(b) some idiot who actually DOESN'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT THE SUBJECT.

End of rant.

[cheezus]

1. I'm also guessing that you're older than 16

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

4. Way so. (nt)

[Guy_Montag]

2. So can you recommend a good version of Linux

I have an old version of Red Hat, but I use Mac OSX (based on BSD) too.

What do you recommend?

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

3. For noobs: Knoppix

You don't even have to install the damn thing -- it runs from the CD, and you can postpone any HD-altering jump until when you feel confident:

Homepage here: http://www.knopper.net/knoppix/index-en.html
Download ISOs here: http://linuxiso.org/distro.php?distro=44

If you don't feel confident burning ISOs into CD-Rs, PM me.

[Deja Q]

15. SuSE LInux 9.1 Pro

AWESOME Linux variant AND it's supported by IBM and Novell.

Forget Red Hat, they're old school.

[Nomad559]

5. : )

[cprise]

6. RedHat "rules"

But Debian works!

Just remember that.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

7. Nothing against Debian

Just again it being recommended for people new to Linux. That's suicide, pure and simple. For that, I recommend Knoppix.

[cprise]

11. Although Knoppix IS a Debian distro

... I was really surprised how easy it is to install an actual Debian system these days. It's easier than RedHat's installer in some respects.

Also, RedHat is notorious for constantly breaking software with each new release. Debian systems have consistently run my commecial software like Rational Rose and VMware 3.2 through the upgrades; I wait a little longer with Debian to get the new features, but I get them in such a way that compatability isn't repeatedly broken.

I've had this positive experience with all the Debians I've used: Knoppix, Corel/Xandros, and Debian itself. So I'd agree with your instincts to point newbies towards Knoppix (Xandros, Libranet and Linspire are also good Debian-based distros).

Debian: Fastest Growing Distro On Net
http://news.netcraft.com/archives/2004/01/28/debian_fastest_growing_linux_distribution.html

Another article:
http://news.netcraft.com/archives/2003/08/16/debian_linux_distribution_10_years_old_today.html

[tjwash]

8. Solaris

nt

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

9. Hmmm, can get it free as in beer

Gotta check this: http://wwws.sun.com/software/solaris/binaries/index.html

[LoneStarLiberal]

10. I'll Second the Knoppix Recommendation

I'd second the Knoppix recommendation. We have a version specific for our office we've built for our users and I use it to teach LaTeX classes on our predominantly (and thus unfriendly to LaTeX) Windows environment.

In addition to my Windows problem child, I've got a Debian workstation and three different servers that all run on Gentoo plus a transparent firewalling box running on Gentoo.

As you can tell, I really like Gentoo, but don't think about it if you are new to linux; think really hard about it if you are comfortable with linux.

I'd rank my suggestions for those new to linux as:

1) Knoppix on CD (you can install it to a hard disc if you choose);
2) Red Hat Fedora;
3) Mandrake;
4) Debian.

[hunter]

12. BSD was released in 1977

That was so sweet. I spent endless hours in various University of California computer labs.

[cprise]

13. And while we're on the subject of Distros, this will floor you

dyne:bolic ... a free multimedia studio in a GNU/Linux Live CD

You don't need to install anything, you don't even need an harddisk to run a whole free software operating system running out of the box on your PC! Download the ISO-image, burn your own CD, reboot your machine and you'll get back true love ;^)

dyne:bolic is shaped on the needs of media activists, artists and creatives, being a practical tool for multimedia production: you can manipulate and broadcast both sound and video with tools to record, edit, encode and stream, all using only free software!

dyne:bolic is a GNU/Linux distribution simply running from a CD, without the need to install anything, able to recognize most of your devices and periferals: sound, video, TV, network cards, firewire, usb devices and more.
It is optimized to run on slower computers, turning it into a full media station: the minimum you need is a pentium1 or k5 PC 64Mb RAM and IDE CD-ROM, or a modded XBOX game console - and if you have more than one, you can easily do clusters.

dyne:bolic is RASTA software released free under the GNU General Public License.
Share this software for the good of yourself and your people, respect others and let them express, be free and seek Peace. But remember there is no Peace without Justice.
This software is about Resistance ina babylon world which tries to control more and more the way we communicate and we share informations and knowledge. The roots of Rasta culture can be found in Resistance to slavery: this software is one more step in the struggle for Redemption and Freedom.
Much blessings in Jah luv to all those who still resist. Selah.

http://www.dynebolic.org/


Whoa! :D

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

14. OK, consider me floored.

I wonder how I would look with dreadlocks? Naaaaah. :silly:

[hunter]

16. kick

from me, although Lord John Whorfin has said, "May I pass along my congratulations for your great interdimensional breakthrough. I am sure, in the miserable annals of the Earth, you will be duly enshrined."