Which is right for me

wowfood · 05-13-2007, 01:54 PM

Hi, i'm pretty new to the whole linux scene. so i wanted to ask these following questions.

1: right now i have a linux server. However because i know NOTHING of linux, i'm having a friend pretty much run it for me. Right now i'm not using it for much but i intend to in the future.

2: As stated i'm a complete n00b with linux. I just want to try it pretty much, but there's no point me trying it when i have no idea what i should be trying.

3: In a few months i'm gong to uni to do computer games programming and design. dunno if this'll help choose a linux distribution for me, but its something worth mentioning atleast

4: current specs

AMD 4000+ processor
2x MSI 7900gto in Si
2x 1gb DDR Corsair RAM
700w OCZ gamer power supply
Creative X-fi Gamer sound card
Asus A8n something SLI- Delux mobo.
windows XP - pro

if you want to know anything else about current setup just ask.

And basically my question is this.

Based on my above info, i'm trying to find a linux to try. I'd like to be able to dual boot just because i'd probably find the transition to linux hard at first. seeing as i've used windows all my life.

My main reason for wanting to use linux is just to dip my finger in the pie so to speak. The course i'm doing at UNI covers open GL programming as well as other stuff. C++ C# Java and i think some .net.

A friend of mine recommended Gentoo. But thats the only linux OS he's ever used, so i'd rather get a broader opinion. So any suggestions? or more questions to help make a suggestion?

~~PureEvilDan~~ · 05-13-2007, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wowfood

A friend of mine recommended Gentoo. But thats the only linux OS he's ever used, so i'd rather get a broader opinion. So any suggestions? or more questions to help make a suggestion?

I'm going to recommended Gentoo as well. Purely on its a system you build your self in a manner of speaking.

You could try:
Ubunutu, Mint Linux, PCOS linux (Sorry Kyle I can't totally remember the name). They all run via LiveCD, but have a very little user interaction.

Edit: X-Fi is not supported by any linux distribution until Creative release drivers :(

**Joefireline** · 05-13-2007, 02:21 PM

PCLinuxOS (BTW Dan, it is PCLinuxOS

) is extremely easy to use, and Fedora Core 6 isn't too bad ethier.

~~PureEvilDan~~ · 05-13-2007, 02:26 PM

Wasn't far wrong, and thank you :)

**Kalim** · 05-13-2007, 02:52 PM

Hi wowfood

To a beginner I would suggest Ubuntu (or its variants like kubuntu), Gentoo, Slackware or Fedora Core for sure. I found them all simple and fairly intuitive once you follow a guide and see a few screenshots. Mandriva and PCLinuxOS were also OK but are not my preference over Gentoo and Ubuntu.

~~PureEvilDan~~ · 05-14-2007, 03:13 AM

If you do choose to install Gentoo, don't do it via the installer on the LiveCD its a new(ish) feature, and you would get more from it, by installing it via command line & the handbook.

If you need help at any time, you can of course post to here, and I'll be more than happy to help you.

05-13-2007, 01:54 PM	#1 (permalink)
wowfood Registered User Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 71 OS: WinXP home	Which is right for me Hi, i'm pretty new to the whole linux scene. so i wanted to ask these following questions. 1: right now i have a linux server. However because i know NOTHING of linux, i'm having a friend pretty much run it for me. Right now i'm not using it for much but i intend to in the future. 2: As stated i'm a complete n00b with linux. I just want to try it pretty much, but there's no point me trying it when i have no idea what i should be trying. 3: In a few months i'm gong to uni to do computer games programming and design. dunno if this'll help choose a linux distribution for me, but its something worth mentioning atleast 4: current specs AMD 4000+ processor 2x MSI 7900gto in Si 2x 1gb DDR Corsair RAM 700w OCZ gamer power supply Creative X-fi Gamer sound card Asus A8n something SLI- Delux mobo. windows XP - pro if you want to know anything else about current setup just ask. And basically my question is this. Based on my above info, i'm trying to find a linux to try. I'd like to be able to dual boot just because i'd probably find the transition to linux hard at first. seeing as i've used windows all my life. My main reason for wanting to use linux is just to dip my finger in the pie so to speak. The course i'm doing at UNI covers open GL programming as well as other stuff. C++ C# Java and i think some .net. A friend of mine recommended Gentoo. But thats the only linux OS he's ever used, so i'd rather get a broader opinion. So any suggestions? or more questions to help make a suggestion?

05-13-2007, 02:21 PM	#3 (permalink)
Joefireline Enthusiastic TSFer~Joseph Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Portishead (Bristol) England Posts: 5,319 OS: Windows 7 64bit(Desktop) / XP Home SP2(laptop) My System	Re: Which is right for me PCLinuxOS (BTW Dan, it is PCLinuxOS ) is extremely easy to use, and Fedora Core 6 isn't too bad ethier.

05-13-2007, 02:26 PM	#4 (permalink)
~~PureEvilDan~~ Register user Join Date: May 2005 Location: England Posts: 229 OS: Gentoo AMD XP 2400+ 1GB Ram / WinXp Intel 805D 2GB Ram My System	Re: Which is right for me Wasn't far wrong, and thank you :)

05-13-2007, 02:52 PM	#5 (permalink)
Kalim Roaming To Help Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 5,642 OS: Many	Re: Which is right for me Hi wowfood To a beginner I would suggest Ubuntu (or its variants like kubuntu), Gentoo, Slackware or Fedora Core for sure. I found them all simple and fairly intuitive once you follow a guide and see a few screenshots. Mandriva and PCLinuxOS were also OK but are not my preference over Gentoo and Ubuntu.

05-14-2007, 03:13 AM	#6 (permalink)
~~PureEvilDan~~ Register user Join Date: May 2005 Location: England Posts: 229 OS: Gentoo AMD XP 2400+ 1GB Ram / WinXp Intel 805D 2GB Ram My System	Re: Which is right for me If you do choose to install Gentoo, don't do it via the installer on the LiveCD its a new(ish) feature, and you would get more from it, by installing it via command line & the handbook. If you need help at any time, you can of course post to here, and I'll be more than happy to help you.