Linux for Beginners

[A Former User]

A Former User last edited by

Individuals requiring more detailed advice ... should consult specialist advice from an individual or organisations that specialise in Linux ...

Well, I WILL :yes:

Let me dedicate this thread for consulting well learned people about getting a Linux user
And organise this thread as the following:
first we're gonna consult our "specialists";) about WHAT SHOULD A REGULAR GUY KNOW BEFORE s/he's even about to get Linux, what he/she shall consider utmost necessary doing while preparing, downloading, tralala and whatever steps needed to actually get a Linux OS from the scratch - so that you DO NOT FORGET ANYTHING that is crucial to successfully acquire the thing and BECOME a Linux user;
second, we'll discuss HOW TO CHOOSE A VERSION (type/sort/distro - whatever).

BEFORE all that above is consulted on and discussed, we ain't gonna proceed any further (like customising-using-blahblahblah) - however we're supposed to touch various aspects of 'tuning' and, sure, configuring the thing (like we'd better do certain things immediately upon installing, right?).

[A Former User]

A Former User last edited by

So, the first question: what a Linuxless guy or girl shall ABSOLUTELY NECESSARILY know BEFORE even thinking about getting a Linux?
What will it change in his/her computer life and what shall he/she never forget about?

[sgunhouse]

sgunhouse Moderator Volunteer last edited by

Honestly, Linux itself is not that hard. Linux with Windows requires you take some steps to protect Windows.

As far as Linux itself ... Linux doesn't get as much vendor support, hardware drivers can be a little slow in coming. So if you were to get the latest and greatest new whatever - just released last week - it might not work as expected. If your hardware is all parts that have been available for a year or so then it should be fine. Now 10 year old equipment may be a different story ... older equipment is slower and has less RAM and so on, and many of the big name distros simply stop including drivers for "obsolete" hardware. Not that it is hard to find Linux versions designed for older equipment, but you will actually have to look for it.

[A Former User]

A Former User last edited by

Linux with Windows...

What does that mean? (Like about dual booting?)

[sgunhouse]

sgunhouse Moderator Volunteer last edited by

Exactly. Installing something when there is nothing there already (or you don't mind throwing whatever is there away) is easy. But if you already have Windows and want to keep it, you have to be more careful.

[A Former User]

A Former User last edited by

What should I prepare FOR Linux?
Like obligatorily?

[A Former User]

A Former User last edited by

What should I prepare FOR Linux?
Like obligatorily?

This is a nicer way of asking so I think I can organize my ideas and answer the topic too.

Before and while you consider the points below you must analyze and research:

• Are you curious and interested in software that may provide you a better experience after you have set it up, and do you have some free time?
• The reasons to switch to Linux.
• What desktop environment suits you better. The differences in using the computer compared to the other system you're used to exist but they're not necessarily good or bad, it's a matter of personal preference.
• What distribution is more in line with your ideals, wishes and needs. For this the development and release models and in which desktop environment(s) they specialize is also important.
• It may not be easy to evaluate all of that but happily you can try a LiveUSB/DVD/CD.

What you should know:

• Understand partitions.
• Learn what a bootloader does at least to the point where you can configure GRUB to remove the usual XX seconds delay when starting the system.
• For dual-boot. Windows won't want to read the Linux file system. Linux will read NTFS but only if Windows has been shutdown properly before you try to access it (ok with Win8.0, with Win8.1 I had to disable hibernation completely). More GRUB...
• Drivers. Everything should work out of the box but pray for your graphics card support.
• Lack of common media file formats support due to patents, etc.
• Software availability: what exists and what's in the official and unofficial repositories + packages downloaded from the web for your distro (e.g. RPM, DEB, other). Lack of proprietary software you're used to, so you'll deal with alternative software and sometimes they're not as feature-complete. And when one closed-source version of that software or an alternative exists (even if freeware) for Linux the majority of distributions will "boycott" it.
• Issues? Sometimes you can ask in a forum or create a bug report, but prepare yourself to learn the name of some components and what they do and receive instructions on how to edit some lines in a file in an obscure location (after some terminal-fu of course).