New User Intrested by Linux

[Cupillac]

Hey there guys, I have spent several days reading about Linux and its features and functions and I am really interested in possibly moving to it!
I have always been a Windows user and just the idea of Linux sounds very appealing, as I'm sure it did to most of you.
So my questions are: Where do I start? and can I have Linux running off a USB Hardrive while my WINXP is still on my current hard drive?

I have been reading up alot on SuSE and just wondering if this is a good Distro to start out on? Do GNOME and other desktops programs have to be applied after to give Linux it's look?

Thanks for any info, it is greatly appreciated!

Cupillac

[techieMoe]

So my questions are: Where do I start?

I'd suggest this thread:

http://www.linuxforums.org/forum/lin...ead-first.html

and can I have Linux running off a USB Hardrive while my WINXP is still on my current hard drive?

I'm not sure about a USB harddrive (though in theory it should work just fine). If you're just looking to try out a distribution I'd recommend using a LiveCD, which boots from your CDROM drive and doesn't touch your XP harddrive at all.

I have been reading up alot on SuSE and just wondering if this is a good Distro to start out on?

See the "Which Distro?" thread in the link above. Any major distribution is good to start on, but we all have our favorites. Yours may be different than mine.

Do GNOME and other desktops programs have to be applied after to give Linux it's look?

Oh, definitely. There are themes, alternative window managers, and all sorts of eye-candy available from sites like these:

http://www.gnome-look.org
http://www.kde-look.org

[devils casper]

hi Cupillac !

Welcome to LinuxForums.

if your machine support booting up from USB harddisk then Installation is very easy. SuSe is one of the best distro. you can check here too.
SuSe has both Desktop Environments. KDE and GNOME. you dont have to apply or do anything. you will have GUI by default.

EDIT: ahaa ! techieMoe beats me again.



Casper

[Cupillac]

Thanks for all the info!
I'm sure I'll be reading alot more tonight!!

[Cupillac]

Hey I just tried out a Live CD of Berry Linux. I just wanted to get the feel of Linux. I enjoy the Live CD idea because I play quite abit of computer games on XP. Is there any other Distro's anyone would recommend that have a Live CD functionality?

[Thrillhouse]

There are many. Ubuntu is a popular one. SuSE will have Live DVD coming out soon. Fedora has one. Take a look here. Gentoo and Slackware, two more advanced Linux distributions, also have them.

[cheesecake42]

I use ubuntu and i've been pretty happy with it. I tend to be anti-suse because their company novell has been making deals with the devil lately.