Thinking of using Linux

[Spops]

Hi Everyone,

Linux is an operating system that has always intrigued me. I have been using Firefox for a long time, and just recently started to use Gimp. So if these 2 programs are any indication of how awesome Linux is, I want to find out more

Does Linux suffer from a lot of compatibility issues with programs? Programs that I mostly use are Firefox, Itunes, AOL Instant Messanger, and just started to mess with Gimp and Inkscape.

I currently use Windows XP Pro on a laptop. I seem to have problems with the system locking up if I have a few things open. From what I have read about Linux is that users generally see better system results over windows.

Here are my system specs:

Dell Inspiron 6000

System:

Microsoft Windows XP Professional

Computer:

Intel(R) Pentium(R) M processor 1.60 GHz
1.60 GHz, 512 MB of RAM

Graphics:

ATI Mobility Radeon X300

I currently have a 60 GB HDD on this laptop. Of that 60 GB (Really 55 GB), I currently have 32 GB free.

If I do decide to install Linux, I do not want to get rid of XP so quick. Can I just make a partition on my HDD just for Linux? If so, how much space should I dedicate? Am I able to Dual Boot? I know vaguely how to do both, but would probably have to look it up.

I checked out the stickies on this forum and tried both of the test as to which distro. Both came back with Ubuntu, and one also came back with Fedora (only 2 I heard of out of all of them). Which would you suggest for someone who is brand new to linux? Which version of them would you suggest also? And which one would work best with my computer specs?

I tried the Live CD for Ubuntu 8.04.1 I could not do any of the extra graphics enhancements, kept getting an error message. Is that because I was in the Live CD mode, or because my system just could not handle it?

Sorry for all of the questions.

Thanks in advance for any help that you can provide me with

[arinlares]

Well, I ran the Ubuntu live CD, and it ran pretty good (no install yet, but soon). If by "Graphics Enhancements" you mean the desktop effects, I think it was the fact it was a Live CD (no hard-drive write, so it can't be stored). So far as how big a partition to make, it likely depends on what you intend to do with Linux. As a newbie myself, I think Ubuntu is really nice. There are parallels for a lot of Windows programs, though, which I'm sure other, more experienced members could tell you about.

[devils casper]

Hi and Welcome !

Ubuntu is a good choice. It supports most of the hardware out of box but you have to install ATI driver for Desktop Effects. Its very easy to install driver through Hardware Drivers in Menu.
10GB - 15GB is enough space for Ubuntu. I would suggest you to create three partitions.

1. NTFS, for data sharing between Windows and Ubuntu. Its easy to enable NTFS read/write access through ntfs-3g package.
2. ext3 for Ubuntu
3. SWAP, 512MB.

Create partitions through GParted Partition Manager before starting installation. GParted is available in Ubuntu's Menu. Select Manual partitioning in Partition section during installation and assign / mount point to ext3 partition. Installer will detect SWAP partition and WIndows OS itself. Installer will setup dual boot and you will have choice to boot either OS at startup.

Good Luck ! Do let us know how it goes.

[Spops]

Hi and Welcome !

Ubuntu is a good choice. It supports most of the hardware out of box but you have to install ATI driver for Desktop Effects. Its very easy to install driver through Hardware Drivers in Menu.
10GB - 15GB is enough space for Ubuntu. I would suggest you to create three partitions.

1. NTFS, for data sharing between Windows and Ubuntu. Its easy to enable NTFS read/write access through ntfs-3g package.
2. ext3 for Ubuntu
3. SWAP, 512MB.

Create partitions through GParted Partition Manager before starting installation. GParted is available in Ubuntu's Menu. Select Manual partitioning in Partition section during installation and assign / mount point to ext3 partition. Installer will detect SWAP partition and WIndows OS itself. Installer will setup dual boot and you will have choice to boot either OS at startup.

Good Luck ! Do let us know how it goes.

Thanks for the post

Which version of Ubuntu am I better off with? Like I said I currently have the Live CD of 8.04.1. Is Ubuntu Beryl something different?

The Gparted Partition Manager is that on the Live CD? If so how do I get to it? How much space for each one of those partitions should I use (minus the last). And would you be able to give me some more detail on how to do that exactly, or point me in the right direction as to where I can find the info. Like I said, I am very new to this so I am learning as I go

Thanks in advance

[devils casper]

Which version of Ubuntu am I better off with? Like I said I currently have the Live CD of 8.04.1. Is Ubuntu Beryl something different?

8.04 is latest and stable version. Go for it only. AFAIK, compiz is much better that beryl and its pre-installed but you have to install Graphics Driver first.

The Gparted Partition Manager is that on the Live CD? If so how do I get to it?

Boot up from Ubuntu CD and look for GParted in its menu.

How much space for each one of those partitions should I use (minus the last).

10 GB for Ubuntu and rest of space for NTFS partition.

And would you be able to give me some more detail on how to do that exactly, or point me in the right direction as to where I can find the info. Like I said, I am very new to this so I am learning as I go

You dont have to do anything specail for installation. Just create new partitions and install Ubuntu.
In case you have any confusion regarding partitioning, boot up from Ubuntu CD, open Terminal ( Its in Menu ) and execute this

sudo fdisk -l

Post output here.
* Its small L in fdisk -l.

[Spops]

Hi and Welcome !

Ubuntu is a good choice. It supports most of the hardware out of box but you have to install ATI driver for Desktop Effects. Its very easy to install driver through Hardware .

Ok, I decided to Install Ubuntu through windows to mess around with it before I decided to make a Hard Drive partition.

How do I install a driver for my ATI? When I go under Hardware Drivers it says:

Drvice driver

ATI Fire GL

Enabled: Checked

Status: Not in use

How do I fix that? I am guessing that because it says not in use, that is the reason why I can not change any of the Visual Effects.

[Geeth]

If you checked it and it downloaded the driver, then you should just need to reboot.

Did it download a driver for you?

[devils casper]

Rebooting LiveCD will wash away all downloaded packages and configuration. Try pressing Alt+Ctrl+Backsapce. It will restart X Server. I would suggest you to install Ubuntu first and install driver after that only.

[Spops]

Rebooting LiveCD will wash away all downloaded packages and configuration. Try pressing Alt+Ctrl+Backsapce. It will restart X Server. I would suggest you to install Ubuntu first and install driver after that only.

I installed Ubuntu through windows (Wubi). I really wanted to test it out through there before I ended up making a partition. I was able to figure out my problem with the graphics card. I just needed to update Ubuntu. Once I did that I was able to enable a new driver.

So far everything seems to be functioning ok. All I have really been messing with so far is Gimp, and Firefox. Speaking of Firefox, I was trying to change my desktop background and was having trouble with it. I right clicked on the image and hit set as desktop background. than I got the next dialog box that asked me if I wanted to tile, stretch, or center the image. But when I hit Ok, nothing would happen. I tried it a few times and still nothing. I ended up having to save the image to the desktop, and add it under appearance > background. But now I have a thumbnail of the image sitting on my desktop. I tried to delete it, but than my background goes away Any idea on how to fix that?

Also is there a version of Itunes available for Linux? I looked on there site, but it only shows for Mac or PC. Also, is there a nicer GI version of AOL instant messanger for Linux? the only one I see on AOL's website looks to be really poor.

And last question for now What version of Linux uses the Penguin as its mascot?

[i92guboj]

Also is there a version of Itunes available for Linux?

No. But I know that it (the windows version) runs to a certain degree at least using wine. Wine should be available via your package manager, so install it, and try to use it to run itunes after that.

You can try to look at the wine app db, maybe there's something useful about itunes there:

Wine AppDB - Search results

I would also look into native solutions, like amarok for example.

I looked on there site, but it only shows for Mac or PC. Also, is there a nicer GI version of AOL instant messanger for Linux? the only one I see on AOL's website looks to be really poor.

There are lots of good native IM programs. I have never used AOL IM so I can't compare, but you can try pidgin or kopete, to name a couple of them.

And last question for now What version of Linux uses the Penguin as its mascot?

The penguin is the mascot for linux in general. Besides that, each distro has a proper trade mark and logo.