Old Greebo (imported) wrote: Tue Feb 09, 2010 4:35 pm I thought Linux was a free-to-all platform, but recently I acquired a laptop that had sort of gone to sleep on Windows XP and I decided I'd look for a Linux alternative and get the computer up and running again.

But every seemingly-worthwhile Linux website was asking me for money.

OK I'm not a total skinflint.

I don't want to download a total crap Linux for free. But on the other hand I don't want to pay over the odds for a bells-and-whistles commercially-presented version of Linux.

In fact I'd rather have a decent free version at first, so that I can work out what it will do for me, what it won't do, what its limitations are vis-a-vis Windows. And (of course) what advantages it might have over Windows.

Advice, anyone?

Many thanks!

For a laptop I would try the Free 2010 Mandriva Linux distribution it was the only distribution which worked on a Toshiba Satellite Laptop and used the full LCD screen

Free is good, first link does have links to the Distribution home pages for downloads,

Link: http://distrowatch.com/

This page is a Bit Torrent download only:

Link: http://linuxtracker.org/

This link is to Live CD/DVD images, that is bootable most with installers:

Link: http://www.livecdlist.com/

Good Luck

_g

PS you can PM me if you have questions

Sigh!

Thanks for posting your messages about Linux, replying to mine.

I clicked on the Debian link (my preferred option). But it was utterly, totally baffling. Everything seemed to be saying yes, you're a computer geek and you know about bit torrents and hdml things and stuff, so we won't explain it here. Sorry, but I just pressed the backup button to come back to your message.

The Ubuntu link was a shade more friendly, except that it said I couldn't just load it onto a CD and expect it to run. I'd have to write the CD as an ISO disk or something. But what's ISO? And how do I do it? Do I have to download something else that knows about ISO before I can create my Linux startup disk?

OpenSuze looked even more friendly at first. But it offered me the option of downloading an .ISO file that would write to a 4.7-gig dvd, without saying if my stripped-down laptop would boot from it and load it automatically.

What's an ISO file?

At this point, I have to admit that Mister Bloody Bill and his Windows Seven does score over Linux, in that I can simply get a W7 disk by handing over a few quid in my local supermarket and it'll work when I insert it in the appropriate slot of my laptop.

I do resent paying Bill his 'few quid'.

But I resent even more the (perceived) Linux attitude of "You have to be a really committed computer geek to want to download our stuff, so sod off unless you understand what we're saying and we WON'T explain!"

Such a shame. It would be so good to bring Bill down.

I still want to try Linux. But how can I?

(I have to admit, _g, that I haven't at this point explored the options you gave in your message. But the mention of bit-torrent downloads frightened me!)

Seems Windows 7 is making people more happy than any earlier version did right after roll-out. I just wouldn't trust Microsoft even if were Maxihard.

- NN

"ISO file" is an image of a CD or DVD's data in one neat file.

You download it.

You copy that file.

You launch your burner program.

In the "add files" window, you PASTE.

Burn.

Done.

You now have a disc of the ISO file ready to use.

Me, I went to XP Pro for 1 night.

Done with it. Of course, with 4 hard drive partitions, I could TRY 7 anytime.

Congratulations on the new computer, Kristoff

Sigh!

Old Greebo (imported) wrote: Wed Feb 10, 2010 4:36 pm At this point, I have to admit that Mister Bloody Bill and his Windows Seven does score over Linux, in that I can simply get a W7 disk by handing over a few quid in my local supermarket and it'll work when I insert it in the appropriate slot of my laptop.

I do resent paying Bill his 'few quid'.

If you really want to stick with Linux and not pay MS here are some things to consider trying:

-- The "paid" versions of Linux you mentioned would probably be similar to Win7 in that you could just pay a bit of cash and get a ready-to-run CD (which you can just put in the slot and go just like Windows 7).

-- Ubuntu will mail you a free CD (although from what I've read, it may take a few weeks).

-- At Distrowatch you can buy ready-to-run CDs for pretty cheap, typically around $5 (and probably a little more for shipping). Look on the far left side of the website, under "Linux Media".

However, even with all of that being said, I would probably still suggest Windows 7 for you. Or (even though it seriously pains me to say it) maybe a Mac. Because even as good as Linux has become recently, I still don't think it is quite ready for the average non-geek person to use yet. It is getting really close to that point -- But still not quite there... There are still occasionally times when you will have to "geek out" in order to get something to work.

(such as Video Drivers... Yes, good ol' AptGet, Portage, YASU, etc... Anyone who even remotely thinks these type of tools would be something a techo-novice could EVER successfully use, is blazingly out of thier Vulcan mind!!!!!!).

Riverwind (imported) wrote: Tue Feb 09, 2010 6:55 am I understand some of your flustration I not only went to Windows7 but the 64 bit OS. It all started when I got a new flat screen monitor, it worked fine but then I wanted to have the best graphics I could playing wow, but the memory would not support it, so I jumped it to 8 gig but in the process needed to upgrade the win7 to 64bit. Now it works great. There is older software that did not work which I have not addressed as yet because I am still using the Beta of win7. As for word processing I downloaded Open Office which is free,it has everything and is MS compatible. I am down to one game that needs to be fixed and the final win7 will fix that so they say. There is a bit of a learning curve but all in all I have been very happy with it, I did not like XP at all, and never used vista, I find win7 to be more like a 2000 upgrade.

River

Mmm to be fair if it was better graphics for WoW you were after, a new GBU would probably be a better place to spend money on. 4GB RAM is more than enough for WoW methinks.

Thanks Paolo.

With your help and that of Free Download Manager I think I might be getting somewhere now!

And thank you Prudence for your comments.

I don't know what I did or didn't did, but I have cast a blue tinge on everything. My monitor shows a blue cast to everything, and it irks the crap out of me. Nothing I've checked will undo it. Anyone have any ideas?

Loose cable or color temp button.