Re: [BLUG] New OS

Hi,
Got at least three machines not on the router. A newer Dell an old Dell 8100
and an old Compaq. My guess is you have to be more concerned about hardware
than in Windows. I have heard rumors about things like monitor fires. Is
this true?? I live in Ellettsville so download speed with Comcast is OK.
Burning ISO's are not a problem either. What about processor speed and
memory mimium requirements? Is an AMD processor OK? What about HD
preperation? Can I start with a FAT32 partition or NTFS? How about no
partition at all?
Thanks for the links I will get Ubuntu ISO ASAP, check my homeowners
insurance and load it on one soon. Any preference of my available machines?
Thanx,
Paul

----- Original Message -----
From: "Simón Ruiz" <simon.a.ruiz@gmail.com>
To: "Bloomington LINUX Users Group" <blug@cs.indiana.edu>
Sent: Sunday, September 21, 2008 1:55 PM
Subject: Re: [BLUG] New OS

> Paul,
>
> Well, so an install would be your first step.
>
> If your hobby is PC building I'm guessing that, like me, you've got
> more than one computer laying around, huh? Pick one to play with and
> install some flavor of Linux on it.
>
> Now, I'm a little biased since I'm pretty active in Ubuntu's Indiana
> Local Community (LoCo), but I think Ubuntu is a great starting place.
>
> Are you comfortable downloading and burning CD-ROM .iso images? If so,
> head on over to <http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/download>. If you're
> in Bloomington, you'll most likely get the fastest possible download
> from the "ftp.ussg.iu.edu" option.
>
> I think, like me, that you'll find that installing Ubuntu is a LOT
> easier and faster than installing XP. Not to mention, it comes
> pre-loaded with a lot of the software you'd end up having to install
> yourself after a Windows install.
>
> Plus, you don't need to worry about setting up virus scanners, malware
> removers, or a firewall except in special circumstances (e.g., we have
> a virus checker running on our file server and mail server at work not
> so the servers are protected from virii, but so our users running
> Windows are).
>
> A note on hardware, especially since you build your own:
> Unfortunately, most hardware manufacturers only worry about making
> sure their hardware runs on Windows and the open source community is
> left to their own devices as far as getting it to run on any other OS.
>
> This means that some of the latest hardware may take a bit of extra
> work to get running, or is functionally limited, under Linux. So most
> of us who build systems with the intent of installing Linux on them
> need to do the research to know what is and isn't supported yet.
> (Nothing is more irritating that buying a piece of hardware, plugging
> it in, and finding out that you aren't getting full functionality out
> of it right now.)
>
> On the other hand, for 95% of the hardware out there you won't need to
> go find drivers for it, since it'll be supported right out of the box.
> On Ubuntu, there's a "restricted drivers manager" (under System ->
> Administration -> Hardware Drivers) that will go out and automatically
> download and set up the extra drivers that are unable to be included
> automatically due to intellectual property concerns, covering another
> 4% of the possibilities.
>
> It's in that 1% of cases (or more, if you like buying on the cutting
> edge) that this can be a real pain.
>
> (NOTE, the percentages here are vague, biased, hand-wavy estimates
> based on personal experience, not real statistics.)
>
> So jump in the pool, swim around a bit, and when in doubt, ask questions.
>
> Take care!
>
> Simón
>
> On Sun, Sep 21, 2008 at 1:16 PM, Paul Proctor <proctor710@comcast.net>
> wrote:
>> Hi Simon,
>> I am comfortable with Windows but a good bit of my income and my hobby is
>> from building PC's. I would like to use an OS that is more open.
>> I understand something new would be a chalange, no problem. I just need
>> some
>> material to experiment with.
>> Thanks,
>> Paul
>
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> BLUG@linuxfan.com
> http://mailman.cs.indiana.edu/mailman/listinfo/blug

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