Ok, I'm new but not new to Linux

[terabyte1]

As a newbie here I've used Unix, Susie 6.3 as well as Susie 10.3, but currently prefer to use Ubuntu Linux and Kubuntu. I've used PCLinuxOS and Debian though the latter is a bit stuffy with its politics . There are quite a few I haven't tried like Slackware, Knoppix and Memphis! I Hope to meet some of you and strike up some friendships. Terabyte1

[geniuz]

Welcome to the forums, always good to have a spare experienced linux user around here

[Jonathan183]

Welcome to the forums terabyte1

Hope you enjoy your time here. I only started using SUSE at 8.1 ... I've dabbled with a few distros but have not seriously tried the three distros you listed (but I have Knoppix live CD). See you around

[terabyte1]

I've since tried knoppix on a live disk gratis from Linux Format (LXF) which I subscribe to - it seems a good system for older machines and on a newer system it seems to go into warp drive !

Since I have a few old drives besides the one I'm on (circa 5 years old), I may put Knoppix on one and Memphis on the other. Now, if I can get my son to switch to Ubuntu (its easy to use and more stable than his Vista) we could have a great time networking!

Terabyte1

[Manchunian]

Hi there terabyte1, nice to see you here!
I've been using Debian stable for over a year now, and although I agree to a point about the politics issue (renaming Firefox to Icedove is just ridiculous!) you should defintely give it a go once you've got the hang of Linux admin: it's faster than Ubuntu and generally more reliable. Having said that, I'm tinkering around with Archlinux at the moment and find its performance very impressive indeed. I'm thinking about giving Gentoo a try too, but we'll see if I can find the time for it!
Just one thing though: don't be tempted to actually try doing a hard disk Knoppix install. Although it is possible to do this, Knoppix is and always has been a live cd and is not meant to be actually installed on hard disk. To do so is to run the risk of problems after system updates.

[terabyte1]

Thanks for the advice on Knoppix, Manchrian - your warning is noted and I won't install to the hard disk!

I've tried Debian already - actually installed it to one of my other computers - the version I used was: Debian 4.0 Etch. It was damn good! So i've left it on that computer, so that I can go back to it when I want a change (I have a network system in my home). As you say it is very fast, I can understand why Ubuntu is built and based on Debian in the first place - it is so stable. I think when I've outgrown Ubuntu (if I ever will ), i'll go to Debian and work from there - all the commands are already familiar and the core files I use now on Ubuntu are also on Debian.

I'm using a Gnome Desktop as opposed to the KDE one - but that might change since I work with music (I love Xink and other European Punk Rock Bands), and like to look at the Stars and KDE has a lot of support for those. KDE is so much like Microsoft's system (as a cosmetic view), its only difference is that where Microsoft's 'new' Operating sytems are so full of holes when they get issued, Linux is not - which is why I prefer the stability of Linux to other systems - No hard feelings Bill - maybe you'd like to ditch your system and come over to ours ?


Manchurian, you seem to have a lot of knowledge too? I like to learn from people like you - it paces me and helps me move on in the Linux World

terabyte1 :guitar:

[Manchunian]

Debian is fast, but it isn't the fastest distro: that title probably goes to Yoper, with Arch and Gentoo coming in closely afterwards. If you want to speed up Debian, you can make it much faster by using Fluxbox: but most people would consider that overkill! (Fluxbox does involve a few sacrifices!)

[terabyte1]

I've heard of Fluxbox - it was mentioned on Linux Format...but yoper, I've not heard of at all (wonders will never cease )I've heard of Gentoo and Slashdot as well. I've done some work with mysql and php - mainly with Apache 22 in a Web-server environment, but not at home. My hours seem to be shrinking fast as I delve into more geeky stuff !

Terabyte1

[Manchunian]

Slashdot is a website - I guess you meant Slackware? Yes, you never stop learning stuff in Linux!

[hazel]

If you want to speed up Debian, you can make it much faster by using Fluxbox: but most people would consider that overkill! (Fluxbox does involve a few sacrifices!)

No sacrifice for me! I replaced gnome with fluxbox a couple of months ago and I've never looked back. It loads and runs fast and you don't have that windows-like feeling of running a system you don't understand.