[opensuse] Absolute beginners trouble

Parshwa Murdia

20 Jan 2011 20 Jan '11

17:11

Hi, I am ***ABSOLUTELY NEW*** in the world of linux and IT. Someone told me to use Linux despite of Windows. I thought and yes it is more secured that is what I know. Now when I searched for free Linux, I got numerous OS, probably distros, what is called here. I am highly confused as to with what start with and know the basic things. As my job is different but today without computers nothing is there and the world is going to be digital, so I thought to take suggestions of the Linux users, experts and developers. Open SUSE name comes at the first page of google search, or probably at any other search engine. Now my requirement: Audio-video conversion, watching movies, listening music, taking prints, secured banks transactions, multimedia, image editing, CD/DVD burning, and of course net surfing and emailing. All this I could do in Windows GUI, but I felt some reason to switch to Linux. Now what I heard and got to know is that there are numerous OS in Linux itself. People say Fedora is highly highly secured and good, yes it could be but is having a very frequent update cycle and much more technical in nature. For Ubuntu (Long Term Support), I am quite confused. Cent OS is stable but is like Fedora itself, so is a little typical, what I guess. Scientific Linux might be good. But my request is to let me know if Open SUSE is okay for a novice, especially for the person who is not from softwares but want to use a linux distro. Secondly, I guess (but don't know) if it would easily fulfill my purposes without going into the core technical details. -- Regards, Parshwa Murdia -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

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Richard Creighton

20 Jan 20 Jan

23:07

On 2011-01-20 Parshwa offered the following:

...

Hi,

I am ***ABSOLUTELY NEW*** in the world of linux and IT. Someone told me to use Linux despite of Windows. I thought and yes it is more secured that is what I know. Now when I searched for free Linux, I got numerous OS, probably distros, what is called here. I am highly confused as to with what start with and know the basic things. As my job is different but today without computers nothing is there and the world is going to be digital, so I thought to take suggestions of the Linux users, experts and developers. Open SUSE name comes at the first page of google search, or probably at any other search engine.

First of all, welcome to the Linux world. The transition to Linux from 'Doze is an exiting and sometimes very confusing step and can be very frightening at times, but please be assured that no matter what 'flavor' of Linux you eventually choose, you are much better off in the long run in almost every way. Linux is based upon the work and efforts of thousands of unpaid enthusiasts that come from all walks of life, from virtually every country in the world and almost every profession. There are many talented professional and non professional programmers working on Linux and programs that run using the Linux operating system. That said, and given your stated level of experience, what I say next is not an indictment of any particular distribution, only my belief that the best current solution to your particular needs may be met by the recommendations I make to you.

...

Now my requirement: Audio-video conversion, watching movies, listening music, taking prints, secured banks transactions, multimedia, image editing, CD/DVD burning, and of course net surfing and emailing. All this I could do in Windows GUI, but I felt some reason to switch to Linux.

OpenSUSE is without a doubt, the overall best distribution currently available EXCEPT that for the novice, it takes way too much knowledge to make it work "just like Windows". I think you are looking for something else TO START, and once you get your feet wet, gain experience, you will probably migrate toward openSUSE simply because it is so complete, but it is not a good starting point.

...

Now what I heard and got to know is that there are numerous OS in Linux itself. People say Fedora is highly highly secured and good, yes it could be but is having a very frequent update cycle and much more technical in nature. For Ubuntu (Long Term Support), I am quite confused. Cent OS is stable but is like Fedora itself, so is a little typical, what I guess. Scientific Linux might be good.

As a former college teacher, I can comment on Fedora, RedHat and others with some degree of confidence. They are great programs and I recommend them highly, ... as teaching and learning and development tools and certainly for the experienced or professional user. They compete favorably with openSUSE in many ways but in my opinion, fail in the overall test of completeness or ease of use or maintainability, but are highly competent in virtually any area of comparison.

...

But my request is to let me know if Open SUSE is okay for a novice, especially for the person who is not from softwares but want to use a linux distro. Secondly, I guess (but don't know) if it would easily fulfill my purposes without going into the core technical details. -- Regards, Parshwa Murdia

So, what *IS* the best? Ubuntu? or Kubuntu? No, certainly very popular, but in my opinion, and for reasons subject to much debate, way too commercial and subject to commercial manipulation of their code base should they choose to do so. Others that you mentioned like 'Cent'? Again, no, not because it is bad, but because it is not as well supported. No, the one I would recommend is PCLinusOS First, take a look at http://pclosmag.com/ This FREE magazine is very professional and goes back for YEARS and is available in both PDF and HTML format and with only a couple of brief breaks has been available for years, since about Sept 2006 in fact and back issues are freely available from http://pclosmag.com/index.php/downloads and contain articles of general and specific interest to you as a 'newbie' and to professionals and experienced Linux users regardless of which distribution they may normally use. If the openSUSE magazine were as good as this one is, it would be worth publishing and a money maker at many newsstands , IMO. (hint) Secondly, Follow the links to PCLinuxOS.com where they offer at *least* a half dozen *different* desktop choices in LIVE-CD formats (shoot...download them all and try them) but if you must try just one, do try the KDE Desktop, it "just works", and that is saying something when it comes to KDE, because as KDE goes, while it is one of the better desktop environments, it is also the most problematic because it is the most forward moving and fast moving and therefore, the one with the most likelihood of bugs reaching the end-user. The PCLinuxOS has fewer 'gotchas' in KDE in any I have found and it *is* maintained and updated so it doesn't go stale. However, Gnome, XCFE, LXFE and many others are well implemented and easy to use and well developed and one that I personally found 'enlightening', E17, was of particular interest and that's why I said download them all, you can use ALL of them in the LiveCD mode to experiment with and see which you like and like most distros, you can choose one, and add one or more of the others at any time later. So, again, my recommendation is PCLinuxOS for you as a Windows convert because it is well supported, "it just works", works out of the box, handles multimedia without all of the 'futtzing around' that some distros require to make things work due to legal requirements (not Linux requirements), is WELL supported, has been supported for YEARS, is diversely supported with many different desktop environments, and uses all of the major software that runs under the Linux OS. Before you ask, I use and advocate openSUSE, but I've been using Linux since Slackware was distributed on well over 50 floppy disks and required compiling your own copy almost every time you rebooted, through RedHat, Fedora and almost all others as they came along. Introduced and taught it in college as an alternative to Windows. I settled on openSUSE for myself and experienced friends, and PCLinuxOS for anyone that is a 'newbie' or is generally outside of range of normal help channels or just wants 'Windows' without the hassle and cost and insecurity or older machines, not well supported by some of the other modern distributions. I use it on my older machines too because it 'just works' and has a smaller footprint so it is great for a lot of my own uses as well <grin>. Richard -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Doug

21 Jan 21 Jan

00:06

On 01/20/2011 06:07 PM, Richard Creighton wrote:

...

/snip/ Please spell the following correctly: PCLinuxOS--notice the "x".

...

PCLinusOS

First, take a look at

http://pclosmag.com/

This FREE magazine is very professional and goes back for YEARS and is available in both PDF and HTML format and with only a couple of brief breaks has been available for years, since about Sept 2006 in fact and back issues are freely available from http://pclosmag.com/index.php/downloads and contain articles of general and specific interest to you as a 'newbie' and to professionals and experienced Linux users regardless of which distribution they may normally use. If the openSUSE magazine were as good as this one is, it would be worth publishing and a money maker at many newsstands , IMO. (hint)

/snip/

...

So, again, my recommendation is PCLinuxOS for you as a Windows convert because it is well supported, "it just works", works out of the box, handles multimedia without all of the 'futtzing around' that some distros require to make things work due to legal requirements (not Linux requirements), is WELL supported, has been supported for YEARS, is diversely supported with many different desktop environments, and uses all of the major software that runs under the Linux OS.

...

Richard I agree with Richard completely. I use the KDE version myself. It is

/snip/ the _best implementation of KDE I've seen. Some of the others--including OpenSuse's and Kubuntu's--make me puke! And unlike some versions of Linux, the developers have _not_ gone out of their way to make it look like something other than Windows. The interfaces are pretty familiar. After all, these interfaces have been developed over a 30 year time period, from Xerox's original GUI. Some of the latest implementations--including, AFAIC, Win 7's-- don't work as well. Some are far worse (IMHO) than Win 7. PCLos is what they call a "rolling distribution" by which they mean you can keep it up to date just by using the upgrade path in the Synaptic package manager; it doesn't just suddenly change, like Ubuntu, for example. I take this to be a definite advantage. If I may make one comment: find out how to modify the sudo file to include yourself. PCLos would prefer that you don't, but I think they're absolutely wrong in this. One other comment: I wish they had a mailing list, but they don't--they say they do, but the last posts were over a year ago. They use a forum format instead. The answers on the forum are pretty quick, but to have to go there is a PITA. Welcome to the Linux world. --doug -- Blessed are the peacemakers...for they shall be shot at from both sides. --A. M. Greeley -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Richard Creighton

00:32

On 2011-01-20 Doug offered the following:

...

On 01/20/2011 06:07 PM, Richard Creighton wrote:

/snip/

Please spell the following correctly: PCLinuxOS--notice the "x".

...
PCLinusOS

Old keyboard, old operator, Parkinsons disease and you're right, I missed the X <frown> But I'm glad we agree, PCLinuXOS is a very good distro :)

...

/snip/

...
Richard

I agree with Richard completely. I use the KDE version myself. It is the _best implementation of KDE I've seen. Some of the others--including OpenSuse's and Kubuntu's--make me puke! And unlike some versions of Linux, the developers have _not_ gone out of their way to make it look like something other than Windows. The interfaces are pretty familiar. After all, these interfaces have been developed over a 30 year time period, from Xerox's original GUI. Some of the latest implementations--including, AFAIC, Win 7's-- don't work as well. Some are far worse (IMHO) than Win 7.

PCLos is what they call a "rolling distribution" by which they mean you can keep it up to date just by using the upgrade path in the Synaptic package manager; it doesn't just suddenly change, like Ubuntu, for example. I take this to be a definite advantage.

If I may make one comment: find out how to modify the sudo file to include yourself. PCLos would prefer that you don't, but I think they're absolutely wrong in this.

One other comment: I wish they had a mailing list, but they don't--they say they do, but the last posts were over a year ago. They use a forum format instead. The answers on the forum are pretty quick, but to have to go there is a PITA.

Welcome to the Linux world.

--doug

I have to agree with the comment you made regarding the forum vs mailing list so I will add that *this* mailing list is *still* very valuable, even to those using PCLinuxOS or other Distros because problems in those distros are *often* not unique to the distro, but are common being bugs or problems in the support programs like KDE, Gnome, OpenOffice or other programs that *run* under Linux which is common to almost all distros, being different mostly in only kernal version/switches/options, if anything at all. If PCLinuxOS had a true mailing list in addition to or instead of a forum format, it may well be perfect <grin> Richard -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Parshwa Murdia

08:46

On Fri, Jan 21, 2011 at 12:07 AM, Richard Creighton wrote:

...

OpenSUSE is without a doubt, the overall best distribution currently available EXCEPT that for the novice, it takes way too much knowledge to make it work "just like Windows". I think you are looking for something else TO START, and once you get your feet wet, gain experience, you will probably migrate toward openSUSE simply because it is so complete, but it is not a good starting point.

Oh I see.

...

As a former college teacher, I can comment on Fedora, RedHat and others with some degree of confidence. They are great programs and I recommend them highly, ... as teaching and learning and development tools and certainly for the experienced or professional user. They compete favorably with openSUSE in many ways but in my opinion, fail in the overall test of completeness or ease of use or maintainability, but are highly competent in virtually any area of comparison.

Ok. Means in all aspects, for professionals and developers open SUSE is better.

...

So, what *IS* the best? Ubuntu? or Kubuntu? No, certainly very popular, but in my opinion, and for reasons subject to much debate, way too commercial and subject to commercial manipulation of their code base should they choose to do so. Others that you mentioned like 'Cent'? Again, no, not because it is bad, but because it is not as well supported. No, the one I would recommend is

...

PCLinusOS

...

First, take a look at

...

http://pclosmag.com/

I am first times heard about this OS, PCLinusOS. Ok, I would see that, but regarding it I have some doubts:- 1. For the persons of different jobs (like me), would it (PCLinusOS) be supported well? Means afters installation if problem comes, should I see the sites' help and there I would be supported. Today evening, my friend told me that he would be coming my home with the Fedora 10 book (he has bought but didn't use it, not a computer professional but a general store manager). 2. This book of F10 would help me in case if I am going with a simpler OS like PCLinusOS. As someone told kernels (must be part of OS) are same in majority of the Linux distros, I guess this book might help me in basics.

...

and PCLinuxOS for anyone that is a 'newbie' or is generally outside of range of normal help channels or just wants 'Windows' without the hassle and cost and insecurity or older machines, not well supported by some of the other modern distributions. I use it on my older machines too because it 'just works' and has a smaller footprint so it is great for a lot of my own uses as well <grin>.

So ultimately it could be a very good choice as an initiation in Linux. Frankly speaking, I get very less time in learning or at computers, but ***WHENEVER I GET*** I needed an OS (in Linux) which could be good to start, even if I sit sometimes at the box or other. For all this, as you say, this would be a good choice. On Fri, Jan 21, 2011 at 12:41 AM, David C. Rankin wrote:

...

You are in the right place. Linux will do all you want and much much more that you haven't even thought of yet.

Really nice to know that.

...

For a beginner, Linux has a learning curve just like everything else. Take a little time to learn, and you will be up and running in no time. After you have learned, give back to the community in the form of helping the next newcomer you come across.

Why not, sure.

...

As for which distro? All distros share a common kernel and core packages. The primary difference is how the different distros package Linux and the tools they provide to make things easier (or harder at times) on new users. OpenSuSE is a great place to start. I'm sure RedHad/Fedora, Ubuntu, Gentoo, Mandriva, etc.. all do a good job, but, notwithstanding a few speed bumps along the way, SuSE/OpenSuSE has been a user friendly solid choice as a Linux distribution for

<snip> Okay so over all open SUSE is good, but as Richard points, PCLOS, is the one for novices and then after having a very basic grip, I can switch to Open SUSE, wouldn't it be better than the case if I directly go with Open SUSE. (However for any distro it would take me a long time, as computers work not a regular work for me).

...

One other comment: I wish they had a mailing list, but they don't--they say they do, but the last posts were over a year ago. They use a forum format instead. The answers on the forum are pretty quick, but to have to go there is a PITA.

They don't have a mailing list support, but only the online tutorials? -- Regards, Parshwa Murdia Making the simple complicated is commonplace, making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's innovation.. -C Mingus -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Doug

09:55

...

On Fri, Jan 21, 2011 at 12:07 AM, Richard Creighton wrote:

...
OpenSUSE is without a doubt, the overall best distribution currently available EXCEPT that for the novice, it takes way too much knowledge to make it work "just like Windows". I think you are looking for something else TO START, and once you get your feet wet, gain experience, you will probably migrate toward openSUSE simply because it is so complete, but it is not a good starting point. /snip/ http://pclosmag.com/ I am first times heard about this OS, PCLinusOS. Ok, I would see that, It should read PCLinuxOs, with an x. (Richard made a typographical error, as we all do sometimes.) You may see the abbreviation PCLOS, also. but regarding it I have some doubts:-

1. For the persons of different jobs (like me), would it (PCLinusOS) be supported well? Means afters installation if problem comes, should I see the sites' help and there I would be supported.

Today evening, my friend told me that he would be coming my home with the Fedora 10 book (he has bought but didn't use it, not a computer professional but a general store manager).

2. This book of F10 would help me in case if I am going with a simpler OS like PCLinusOS. As someone told kernels (must be part of OS) are same in majority of the Linux distros, I guess this book might help me in basics.

...
and PCLinuxOS for anyone that is a 'newbie' or is generally outside of range of normal help channels or just wants 'Windows' without the hassle and cost and insecurity or older machines, not well supported by some of the other modern distributions. I use it on my older machines too because it 'just works' and has a smaller footprint so it is great for a lot of my own uses as well<grin>. I would like to emphasize "just works." --doug So ultimately it could be a very good choice as an initiation in Linux.

Frankly speaking, I get very less time in learning or at computers, but ***WHENEVER I GET*** I needed an OS (in Linux) which could be good to start, even if I sit sometimes at the box or other. For all this, as you say, this would be a good choice.

On Fri, Jan 21, 2011 at 12:41 AM, David C. Rankin wrote:

...
You are in the right place. Linux will do all you want and much much more that you haven't even thought of yet. Really nice to know that.

...
For a beginner, Linux has a learning curve just like everything else. Take a little time to learn, and you will be up and running in no time. After you have learned, give back to the community in the form of helping the next newcomer you come across. Why not, sure.

...
As for which distro? All distros share a common kernel and core packages. The primary difference is how the different distros package Linux and the tools they provide to make things easier (or harder at times) on new users. OpenSuSE is a great place to start. I'm sure RedHad/Fedora, Ubuntu, Gentoo, Mandriva, etc.. all do a good job, but, notwithstanding a few speed bumps along the way, SuSE/OpenSuSE has been a user friendly solid choice as a Linux distribution for <snip>

Okay so over all open SUSE is good, but as Richard points, PCLOS, is the one for novices and then after having a very basic grip, I can switch to Open SUSE, wouldn't it be better than the case if I directly go with Open SUSE. (However for any distro it would take me a long time, as computers work not a regular work for me).

...
One other comment: I wish they had a mailing list, but they don't--they say they do, but the last posts were over a year ago. They use a forum format instead. The answers on the forum are pretty quick, but to have to go there is a PITA. They don't have a mailing list support, but only the online tutorials? The line about not having a mailing list applies to PCLinuxOs. I'm not sure whether they have an on-line tutorial. Ubuntu has excellent on-line tutorials, but they're the only one I know of for sure that has. As mentioned in my original reply, I chose PCLinuxOs. (I ran RedHat and Suse versions in

On 01/21/2011 03:46 AM, Parshwa Murdia wrote: the past, and gave up Suse when none of the versions up to 10.3 would play sound for me.) If you are coming from Windows, I agree with Richard that PCLos is an easier transition. I believe that it will do everything that Opensuse will do, except for its display, and I think it does it more easily. You might also like to look at Zorin-os-4-core-32. It comes from Ubuntu, but has been reworked to have several selectable GUIs, one of which is designed to look and work very much like Windows XP. It also goes the forum route, unfortunately, but it's very new, and may change. For something as new as it is (altho it does come from Ubuntu) it is remarkably bug-free. I don't know if Richard mentioned it, but just about every modern version of Linux comes on a live/install disk, which means that you can run the basic operating system right off the CD without installing it at all, right on your Windows computer. Just set the BIOS to boot off a CD before the HD. For the price of half a dozen CD blanks, you can try 6 Linux distros, and get a good feeling for how you like each one. If you decide you do like one better than the rest, just put the CD back in, and run the install routine. (They will all allow you to keep your Windows in addition to Linux, as far as I know.) --doug -- Blessed are the peacemakers...for they shall be shot at from both sides. --A. M. Greeley -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

phanisvara das

10:07

On Fri, 21 Jan 2011 15:25:55 +0530, Doug wrote:

...

I don't know if Richard mentioned it, but just about every modern version of Linux comes on a live/install disk, which means that you can run the basic operating system right off the CD without installing it at all, right on your Windows computer. Just set the BIOS to boot off a CD before the HD. For the price of half a dozen CD blanks, you can try 6 Linux distros, and get a good feeling for how you like each one. If you decide you do like one better than the rest, just put the CD back in, and run the install routine.

i very much agree with the suggestion to use live-CDs to try if your computer setup works well with a particular distribution or not. there are a few quirks that cause trouble for users with a particular hardware configuration on some particular linux distribution, but not on others. if you should run into one of these, you might have a hard time getting everything working. trying out a live CD before installation will show you if the main things like display & sound, work on your machine. once you've established that your system works, i would strongly suggest going with openSUSE. i've tried different distros like fedora, ubuntu, but always came back to openSUSE in the end. it's more versatile, i.e., you can install applications for different uses from the repositories without having to compile everything yourself, and once you understand how online repositories, install and update mechanisms work, it's easy and intuitive to deal with it. perhaps PC-[whatever] is easier for the very first steps; i don't know, never tried it. but i'm convinced it won't offer you as many choices later on, and re-learning how the basic operations that are needed to keep you system up-to-date and secure are performed is an additional hassle i wouldn't recommend. another big point for openSUSE are these mailing lists and forums, where you can get expert help on pretty much any topic you can imagine. i haven't seen any other linux forum or mailing list that's as supportive and knowledgeable as this community. that's a very big plus, specially for a beginner. -- phani. -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Anton Aylward

13:31

Can I short-circuit a lot of this.... Question: How DUMB are you? Question: How steep a learning curve curve can you take? Question: How easily discouraged are you? Question: How committed to learning Linux are you? As others have said, the core (kernel and utilities) of the various distributions of Linux are all the same. The "value added" is where they differ; installation (which, lets face it, you don't do as often as you do things like read mail ....); installation and maintenance. The read difference between any of the *IX family, be it Linux, AIX, Solaris or even some of the dead and gone like XENIX and SCO UNIX on the one hand and Windows on the other is sometimes summarized like this. The UNIX family is based upon a few basic patterns and concepts that are applied over in different forms. In this its like the underlying concepts of chemistry (e.g.valency) or the genetic code. Don't be confused by the variations. Windows is very much "sui generis". Very often each new release requires learning over a new set management tools or interfaces. Knowing how one part works says little about how other parts work. This probably emerged form the software development styles. Microsoft had independent teams working on different parts. The original people behind UNIX were one small and very cooperative team who then set the principles that others followed. Now we can argue the details on all of the above, but in this context those "broad brush" generalizations are close enough. The point is that the spread between the distributions of Linux are not going to faze anyone with a little experience, and not going to stop people who know any version of Linux, AIX, HP/UX, Solaris .... from moving to another platform. I often get calls from friends and old colleagues with problems and they don't even bother telling what platform they are on. For 98% of the issues (access control, basic applications and administration) it doesn't matter. So wat do I recommend? I hate to sound like some New Age freak but I would recommend takeing a look at the #1 in Dr Phil's "Life Strategies" : <quote> Life Law #1: You either get it or you don't. Strategy: Become one of those who gets it. It's easy to tell these people apart. Those who "get it" understand how things work and have a strategy to create the results they want. Those who don't are stumbling along looking puzzled, and can be found complaining that they never seem to get a break. You must do what it takes to accumulate enough knowledge to "get it." You need to operate with the information and skills that are necessary to win. Be prepared, tune in, find out how the game is played and play by the rules. </quote> The other rules aint to bad either :-) What i'm saying here is this Stop trying to over optimise. Get one package and install it. It doesn't matter which. Either you have the commitment and patience to learn it or you don't. That's all there is to it. I recall at a presentation at a trade show I sat next to a guy who turned out to be a real estate agent but was learning Linux. He had an Asus netbook and a pile of USB sticks with different distributions on them and was trying them out to find which he felt comfortable with. Hmm. I just scrolled down Dr Phil's page http://www.drphil.com/articles/article/44 and I realise some of those other "life laws" make sense here. Life Law #2: You create your own experience. Life Law #3: People do what works. Life Law #5: Life rewards action. Make careful decisions and then pull the trigger. Learn that the world couldn't care less about thoughts without actions. My advice to you: Stop writing here. Stop trying to decide which distribution. Pick one. Use it. Give yourself a time frame and decision matrix. Make notes and go back over them as you learn. Maybe you will get published if you write an article "Choosing a Linux Distribution: Advise for People Migrating from Windows". But _ _ ____ ___ _ | |_ _ ___| |_ | _ \ ___ |_ _| |_ _ | | | | / __| __| | | | |/ _ \ | || __| | |_| | |_| \__ \ |_ | |_| | (_) | | || |_ \___/ \__,_|___/\__| |____/ \___/ |___|\__| Life Law #2: You create your own experience. -- Every great advance in natural knowledge has involved the absolute rejection of authority. Thomas H. Huxley -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

David C. Rankin

20 Jan 20 Jan

23:41

On 01/20/2011 11:11 AM, Parshwa Murdia wrote:

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But my request is to let me know if Open SUSE is okay for a novice, especially for the person who is not from softwares but want to use a linux distro. Secondly, I guess (but don't know) if it would easily fulfill my purposes without going into the core technical details. -- Regards, Parshwa Murdia

Parshwa, You are in the right place. Linux will do all you want and much much more that you haven't even thought of yet. For a beginner, Linux has a learning curve just like everything else. Take a little time to learn, and you will be up and running in no time. After you have learned, give back to the community in the form of helping the next newcomer you come across. As for which distro? All distros share a common kernel and core packages. The primary difference is how the different distros package Linux and the tools they provide to make things easier (or harder at times) on new users. OpenSuSE is a great place to start. I'm sure RedHad/Fedora, Ubuntu, Gentoo, Mandriva, etc.. all do a good job, but, notwithstanding a few speed bumps along the way, SuSE/OpenSuSE has been a user friendly solid choice as a Linux distribution for new and old users alike. The installer 'yast' for helping you get things up and running are on-par or better than anything else you will find out there. The wiki, while frustrating to navigate at times, will get you through most issues (google will also help). But above all, what separates OpenSuSE from the rest, and in my opinion makes it the best choice for new users, is this mailing list you posted to. You will have to look hard to find another list that is as open to user questions or as full of knowledgeable people willing to help than you will find here. Any of the major distros will let you do what you want to do, try them all. But I'd be willing to wager that after you try a few, you will end up right back here. So save yourself some time and just get started. If I were you, I'd go to: http://download.opensuse.org/distribution/11.3/iso/ grab the net install iso [openSUSE-11.3-NET-i586.iso (or x86_64)] burn it to a cd and boot it, follow the prompts, and your good to go. There are plenty of opensuse install howtos and videos out there. If you get stuck, post back here. You can also download the LiveCD iso that you simply boot OpenSuSE from. IIRC you also have the option of doing the install from the LiveCD. (Somebody else chime in here -- I've never done it...) If you are setting up a dual-boot box (win & linux), I've always had better luck installing windows first then linux. Good luck! -- David C. Rankin, J.D.,P.E. Rankin Law Firm, PLLC 510 Ochiltree Street Nacogdoches, Texas 75961 Telephone: (936) 715-9333 Facsimile: (936) 715-9339 www.rankinlawfirm.com -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

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Anton Aylward
David C. Rankin
Doug
Parshwa Murdia
phanisvara das
Richard Creighton