Linux...Mmm

Well, seeing as I can't get rid of it right now, I've decided to take on another endeavour with my AVERATEC 3270...wipe Windows and install Linux. But finding a version of Linux hasn't been easy. :decision:

Yes, I'll admit I have little experience outside of Windows and DOS. The last time I used a Mac was at the local library in about 1997, and we got a Windows 95 computer in late 1996 (replacing our old DOS/GEM-based machine, which was basically primitive Windows).

I have a few criteria:

1. FREE (or very close to it). Seems silly to pay money for an open-source OS. and money is something I'm a little short on these days. Besides, this isn't like I'm setting up servers here, it's jsut for personal use.

2. Downloadable. I was planning on doing this this weekend, so waiting for CDs would be inconveniencing.

3. Fast. Something with less bloat than Windows. I don't care about frilly, "user-friendly" crap like XP, although I'd like it to not be a bewildering DOS-like text parser.

4. 32-bit. Because the Mobile Sempron 2800+ is a 32-bit processor.

5. Laptop support (especially as relating to battery life/power throttling). Battery life needs to be able to maintain at least 2.5 hours under medium stress, with occasional standby. (I get ~3.5 now, using Windows+SpeedSwitch+CrystalCPUID.)

6. Availablity of drivers. I believe RALINK's wireless drivers are available for Linux, as should be the touchpad, ethernet, etc., so this isn't a major concern. The S3G Unichrome Pro drivers are my main concern; not sure if they're available in a Linux version.

7. Ability to run day-to-day apps. Firefox, Thunderbird, OpenOffice, and Adobe Reader all MUST run. It'd be really great if UT (the original one) could be made to run somehow, as well as maybe some other simple games.

I've been leaning toward Debian, but it jsut seems so...huge. 14 CDs! I'm fairly certain I don't have that many non-coaster CD-Rs. So, I submit to your reccomendations. Thanks!

 

I always hear that Mandrake is good for beginners and this sort of thing. Also, they have a LiveCD version that you can try out before you actually install the real thing if you want.

I was pretty happy with Fedora. It's pretty robust. I'd like to point out that I've never gotten my wireless drivers to work with any of the distros :-/

 

did u check fedora or ubuntu??...ubuntu fits on 1 CD-R...and i think fedora is 3 cds..not too sure though

 

for beginners I would recommend Fedora Core 4. To me, it is between linux and windows, so you can learn commands but you aren't hit with everything at once. I used for about 3 months, them moved up to different systems.

Debian is good, another possiblity is Gentoo (stage 3) which is what i'm getting now. You can just get the live cd, and stage 3 will do most of the work for ya.

 

Yep, listen to SouthernGirl.

 

I think another easy distro to use is UBUNTU. They sent me a ton of pressed CDs which i ordered for free. I would start with Live distros to get the feeling of what linux is and how to use it. For all kinds of information on Linux Distros go to www.distrowatch.com . You can check out all sorts of live linux distros as well as regular distros. Includes and archive of pretty much every distro ever made.