Topic awaiting preservation: If I switch to Linux...

would getting drivers be a problem?

I played around a little bit with knoppix a while back, but I had to give it up when I couldn't set up the dialup connection. still have the disk laying around if anybody can help me with that.

I've never installed Linux, but if I make the jump I have access to a copy of ELX, would that be a good build to use, I know there are MANY but if memory serves ELX is completely free and comes with a decent list of apps.

I've been toying with the thought of getting away from M$ for quite some time now, and I'm just wondering what I'd be getting myself into.


...Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most (ozzy osbourne)

Well for some hardware drivers can be a problem but for most it ain't anymore. Finding an installing the drivers could be probematic for some devices however it's easier as never before.
Here is what you need to do in short:
1) make a list from all your hardware with as much specifications as you can find. Open your case and write down the numbers on the chips (type, serial, brand) read through the harware manuals
2)start a google search for them combined with the term linux an try to find a much info as you can.
3) get an offline copy off all the usefull info
4) search for drivers on google (and info about them)
5) burn everything CD-ROM(RW) and make this CD-ROM compliant to ISO 9660) see options for this in cd writer software.
6) Backup all your data

You now are are ready to make the switch.

If you are new to linux i suggest try for a week, i mean realy try i.t Put the knoppix CD in the machine an try to do everything you are used to do in this new environment. Each time you want to boot windows again make a note why and what funtionality you are missing in knoppix. Go search the internet and put the solution if there is any on your CD.
It comes all down to preparation.
See also Linux
and since knoppix is based on debian you might find help about the dialup here:
http://www.aboutdebian.com/modems.htm

good luck
------------------------------
Support Justice for Pat Richard

(Edited by Rinswind 2th on 11-30-2004 11:04)

Hmmm.....I don't think I have ever heard of ELX....doesn't mean anything though

Before you totaly wipe out Windows, I would do one of two things.

Either reformat your hard drive and partition it with a Windows Side and a Linux side. That's how mine is set up and it works pretty well.
Or, you can have two hard drives. One with Linux and one with Windows. That would be a good way to do it. Then you can just set up a script that asks which you want to boot to.

As far as using ELX, I would certainly look at using Slackware. It can be a little intemidating at first but it's not bad. Or, you can use Suse or Mandrake that have a more Windows like install. All Linux is free, and all that I have used come with just about every application you can think of!

One thing to consider, how old is your box? Mine is like a freakin dinasour and it runs linux just fine. There are some "tweaking" that you would probably have to do but hey....it Linux and that's part of the fun

Later,

C:\

http://www.elxlinux.com/

said to be "Everyone's Linux"


...Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most (ozzy osbourne)

"Iif I switch to Linux..." then your soul will be spared, come the end.


Justice 4 Pat Richard

well from looking at it, you can't even download it. I keep getting an "Under Construction" page....

Screenshots look like every other Linux distro.....I'd go with Mandrake or say Debian.

Later,

C:\

Might wanna give Ubuntu a try. I havn't tried it myself yet. Its based on debian so its solid like a rock and has a decent package management system (apt-get). It comes with a much simpler installer as well.

And yes I said decent package management. All other package management systems shall bow before Portage.

In terms of simplicity I always found RedHat (or I suppose it's Fedora now) to be a good bet.


Justice 4 Pat Richard

Suse is nice for linux newbies too.... very friendly. Yast is a simple interface to use for administation of a Suse box.

I'd have to say that, in my opinion, SuSE is the way to go if you don't know Linux. Red Hat has become too complicated of late. I've heard Ubuntu is a good newbie distro, but I have yet to try it myself (for some reason, the live CD crashes my computer, havn't taken the time to experiment why yet).

That said, if you're a Linux novice/expert and you want something nice, I'd highly recommend Arch Linux. It's an optimized, bare-bones Linux system that can do virtually whatever you want through it's (very good) package management utility, pacman. For example, if you want to upgrade your entire system, kernel and all, all you have to do is issue a pacman -Syu (sync, refresh, upgrade).

After trying SuSE, Slackware, FreeBSD, RedHat, and a couple of other, small distros, I had settled on Arch a while back, as it suits me best. Not for everyone, I bet. I still want to try NetBSD, but I'm waiting for their 2.0 release (any day now...)

"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." -- Arthur C. Clarke
"Any sufficiently arcane magic is indistinguishable from technology." -- P. David Lebling

Assuming you switch to a mainstream version of Linux drivers won't be a problem at all. Even if you're using some more obscure distro you should find obtaining drivers to be simple. Linux has come a long way in recent years.

I went with fedora Core 2, I tried SuSE but had trouble finding any good 3rd party documnentation and I had trouble getting genaric Linux help to apply do to all the custome script locations. What I realy like about Fedora Core 2, is that there are several good books that include the distrubution on DVD or CD for about $20-40 us.

J. Stuart J.

Can I run PhotoShop under Linux?
Photoshop under linux???? YESS
^^*Links to a thread on JavaScript Mugs*^^

I would have edited the FAQ to notify of this, but I do not yet feel worthy of doing so, and even then I wouldn't know where the right page was...

but I am certainly interested in checking it out if the thread is still around, maybe someone can try to fix it
[pouty-face][toddler-voice]pweeze[/toddler-voice][/pouty-face]
(sorry, my 3 year old nephew is really getting in my head these days )



Some people say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one (John Lennon)

----> Photoshop under linux???? YESS <----