Need advice on getting started with linux

So id like to make the switch, take the leap...

where should i get started? im in the market for a new notebook. i could go with a name brand pre loaded with SUSE like lenovo or dell. or i could shell out big bucks and let a company like emperorlinux do the work for me.

really, id like to try and set the whole system up myself. I am leaning towards starting with Ubuntu (tho my research work uses redhat...compatibility issues?)

my fear is that I will pick the wrong hardware and end up breaking things. I have a propensity to f**k s**t up on accident.

sooo...if I was going to go with a base system and do the set up myself, any advice on what platform to use? also, should I shell out for vista or xp as well to get the drivers for the hardware?

again, i am mostly asking questions out of my ass (i.e. grasping in the dark), as I really dont have much linux experience. Thats why im hoping all you badasses can point me in the right direction.

Cheers

T

 

I heard ThinkPad's and Dell's were nice with Linux, and i do recommend you go with Ubuntu. What you'll want to be doing most of the time is looking up info on this and that, Google will answer any questions you have, or you can ask in Ubuntu forums or here. You don't need Vista/XP foe drivers, just get good hardware. Also, even though you seem sure to switch to Linux i'd like you to read Linux is NOT Windows.

 

Go to Ubuntuforums.org for some good info. You can do what you want very inexpensively, because Linux runs very well on older hardware. $200 will build a nice machine. The biggest problem is lack of drivers. If you have hardware in mind, list it on one of the Linux forums or search Google to find out if its compatible. Mostly likely it is, but lack of drivers is by far the most aggravating part of running Linux.

For a laptop look for Intel parts, especially video and wireless. Avoid ATI video and Broadcom or Atheros wifi. They can be made to work but not without a lot of tinkering.

Greg.

 

I'd just buy whatever you want and dual boot ubuntu until you get the hang of it. With the limited options available, it doesn't make any sense to me to buy a laptop with linux pre-installed. I ended up ordering a barebones/whitebook from powernotebooks and then installed Ubuntu.

 

I agree with the above, but for one point: buy what you like, but try the various Linux distros you think you'd like. v1k1ng and Calvin's suggestions of Ubuntu are excellent (Calvin, not Mint?? LOL), as it, Suse, and many others can be used as Live CD's before installing. If you don't like a particular distro, just try another. Most of the people here are distro hoppers. Wait 'til Zoid responds!

 

No, I'm a distro hopper.
Me is here.
Zoid, I need the distro hopping avatar

 

Yeah, i dropped off the mint train after it started bothering me. I also took another look at Ubuntu and it looked a lot more appealing this time around. Maybe i'll be ready for Arch soon enough.

 

Thanks for the help guys.

I'm pretty set on making the switch. I will be doing atmospheric modeling in grad school and all the work is done on linux. I also am hoping the whole experience of getting linux to run will be a learning one.

However, im not looking to go cheap. I will be running some pretty large computations, so I want nice hardwear.

Im aiming for intel t9300 w/ 4gb ram, and a fast harddrive

Not sure if I should get discrete graphics or not. As of right now im not much of a gamer, but I could use the extra processing power if I ever end up doing evolutionary modeling (i dont see this happening). Mostly I just want to feel like a badass. Perhaps the tradeoff in power and heat aint worth it.

Whitebook=?

Fo Sheezee
T

 

Compatible hardware:

source: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=258187&page=2

 

I knew my thread would come in handy.

 

Grab your ankles, and jump in head first....it's the only to learn it

 

Here ya go, Master Thomas, complete with his bag of distro CD's lol :

 

On a serious note....check out hardware compatibility lists first, then give Ubuntu a try IMO. If you're going to dual boot, put Windows on FIRST, it's easier that way. But you don't have to.

 

That image creeps me out big time...

 

I hope that pic is from a movie set or something, I'd hate to think he really exists....LOL

 

In a world like this...you never know...O_O