Hi guys, got a few questions. I have no idea whatsoever about Linux, Ubuntu etc (I'm a PC user), but I want to give it a shot on my laptop. I was wondering if anyone could help me:
- if a software has a Linux installer then it should be fine on Ubuntu (PC/OS) right ?
- is PC/OS a proper operating system (rather than some massive applciation or something) ?
- is it a decent alternative to Vista ?
- how much programming do I need to know to work on it efficiently ?


I'm really eager to give it a try, so any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

- if a software has a Linux installer then it should be fine on Ubuntu (PC/OS) right ?

Yes it will install just fine.

- is PC/OS a proper operating system (rather than some massive applciation or something) ?

PC/OS is a complete operating system. PC/OS is not just an application.

- is it a decent alternative to Vista ?

I dont use Vista at all. PC/OS is installed on all my machines even my MacBook.

- how much programming do I need to know to work on it efficiently ?

You dont need to know any programming at all. PC/OS is designed with the novice and newbie in mind and even includes applications others dont in order to be as user friendly as possible.

PC/OS has become my main Linux distribution and my favorite of all time. If you are an expert PC/OS works well, if you are a newbie PC/OS works well. Other distributions that target just the novice are rather crippled. PC/OS exceeds this by including something for everyone.

great!

thanks a lot

The above is not entirely true, of course.

Linux is different, and different things are new and take time to learn. It will take time to find out where things are, and this can be quite frustrating at first.

This distribution is based on Xubuntu which is a version of Ubuntu, and this is called a Debian based system. The Linux files that you can install are generally having the suffix .deb. There are other distributions that are based on Red Hat and they use a different type of installation system where the files have the suffix .rpm (Red Hat Package Management). Another type of distribution uses source code in the form of text files that have to be compiled using the right sort of program to make a binary package. Mostly the software that you would tend to install comes from a big list called a repository. This is accessed in our case using a program called Synaptic Package Manager, and in this case you find what you want and click the box to select it. Later you click the Apply button and the software is installed. (Although quite often this turns out to be command line software without a GUI, and at other times the program downloaded and installed can just vanish without a trace - for which we have the Application Finder program.)

This type of distribution although Debian based is still able to compile source code into binary packages but this requires a complex comand line approach. Each distribution is slightly different and the programs need to be fine tuned by the developers to make sure that they will work okay.

It is a proper Operating System and it can do many things that Vista can't like burning ISO files for example.

Some understanding of the command line language called BASH is required. In a terminal you would type 'ls' that's LS in lower case, instead of dir in msdos. It stands for List and it lists the directory. cd changes the folder that you are in. You could then go md5 <filename> (without the arrows) and the command line would work out the md5 checksum of the file name that you entered (so you could compare it with one given in a text file that comes with the downloaded file). You need to find that file first using ls and cd to navigate to it's location. To do this on Vista you would have to find a program like PeaZip to run the checksum for you. So if you learnt 10 commands that would be enough. Open a terminal and type 'man help' and you should get a list of commands.

You also need to learn to adjust configuration files from time to time. nano -w to get a text editor.

This would be considered skilled use I guess.

Howdy all. I don't mean to step on anyones' toes, but I'd like to offer this in case another Newby would like more information.

You can try out Linux without installing anything. You get (download-then-burn or just buy) what is called a LIVE CD. You put it into your computer and restart the machine. It is slower than a real install, but you can try it without harming anything on your current setup. (To be completely honest, you could do some real harm, but probably won't if you play within the rules and mind any (!) Warning boxes.)

Many distibutions have Live CDs to try. I have settled on PC/OS for this machine (browser plugins work, wireless works, Xfce is good for older hardware like this, etc.), but there are many others you can try in addition. Knoppix, the King of Live Distros, also Debian based. Debian GNU-Linux itself has a couple Live CDs to try out. SUSE, Ubuntu and Mandriva (I think) also have Live CDs. Another favorite of mine: Puppy Linux, from Australia, fast on older machines. E-live and Dream Linux also have nice Live CDs. There are more...

Some are more of a Vista - like OS than others. Most have "start" menus with so many things in there that you'll spend days trying them out. Applications, games, utilities, settings etc. Depends on your distro, but most distros let you add new apps after you REALLY, ACTUALLY install them on your hard drive. Many will let you boot into Windows or Linux, whichever you want that day. (This is called dual-booting and this machine has Windows XP on it, just in case I want it.

-Hope this helps,
-RedBeard