Beginner Linux Tips
Recently the subject of beginners and Linux has come up here on TNL and I agreed to post a few thoughts on things people new to Linux may want to consider before striking out to find a distribution and installing it. Don't run away. This won't be full of techie jargon. First, I'm not a techie and second there is no need for the jargon.
1. Read, read, read and study what's available out there before choosing a distribution to install. Unlike Windows there is more than one choice. A good place to start is distrowatch, a sort of "news of what's new in Linux" site. You'll find a paragraph of discussion of many older releases as well as new ones.
2. Unlike Windows, which is completely dominated by MS, there are many, many versions of Linux written by many, many people and groups. You'll want to know what you are getting because many of them are special purpose offerings. If you install a special purpose Linux you will be disappointed if the purpose isn't yours. Read the home page.
3. Linux has a learning curve. Know that going in. Don't expect everything to be like Windows because Linux isn't Windows. That's why you want to try it, right?
4. Distrowatch, various Linux sites and Linux forums are all "must reads". (Most distributions have their own forums.) Browse around. Don't expect to understand it all from the get-go because you won't. That's OK. Keep reading. Register on the forums so you can ask questions. Most of the forum participants are more than willing to help---but don't be surprised if you get responses from egotistical asses eager to show how superior they are to a "newbie". Consider the source and let it flow off you. Others will help. But before you ask read a lot. Use the forum search function. You won't be the Lone Ranger and it's likely that your question has been answered.
5. Don't even start with Linux if you aren't willing to learn.
6. Use a live CD and try that shiny new Linux before you install it. What's a live CD? It's a complete operating system on a CD disk that runs directly from the CD and doesn't alter your machine at all. You don't like it? Take the disk out, throw it away and try another. You're a newcomer and with Linux you're the boss. Don't install a Linux you haven't tried. If you like what you try on live CD it can usually be installed directly from the live CD. Here's some suggestions: MEPIS, Ubuntu, Kubuntu, PCLinuxOS. Links are at the bottomof this article.
7. Use "final" distributions, stay away from release candidates. They are likely to be full of bugs, especially in early versions.
8. Choose a Linux that has a GUI installation. Much easier and you'll have all your hair (however much that may be) when you are done. Most have GUI installation now so that won't be hard to find.
9. Choose a distribution that will do the partitioning of your hard disk for you. There are a couple of partitioners that are routinely included in the installation package---Qtparted and Gparted. Gparted is easier but neither is a beginner's tool, in my opinion, so just let the installer do it for you. Linux doesn't run in Windows partitions and must have it's own brand of partitions. Don't fret over it. The installer will take care of it. There is a simple workaround for partitioning if you have found a distribution that you must have that doesn't partition automatically. First intall one that does, then install the one you want over the top of it. I like to use MEPIS to partition. It does a great job automatically. The laptop I'm writing this on was partitioned by installing MEPIS and then PCLinuxOS .92, which doesn't partition automatically, was installed on top of it.
10. Most versions of Linux include a suitcase full of programs that are installed right along with the operating system (no, AOL isn't one of them) but this isn't universally true. Ubuntu is an example of one that doesn't include many programs. The philosophy is to let you choose your own programs and install them after the operating system is up and running. This is great if you aren't a newcomer but not so hot if you are. There is an assortment of what might be called core programs for getting on line, office work and a few games included so you aren't left entirely on your own. Know before going in where you stand on this. My suggestion is to choose a distribution that installs a lot of programs. You can always get rid of them later.
11. The Synaptic package manager is your friend. Use it to install and uninstall programs. There are other package managers. (Programs are often called packages in Linux.) For instance Kubuntu, which is Ubuntu with a KDE face, uses a package manager called Adept. It works well and is pretty intuitive.
12. Did he say "KDE"? Yes. There are two main desktops currently used in Linux---Gnome and KDE. Which is best? Neither. It's a matter of personal preference although there is an ongoing fight between the two factions. Ubuntu uses Gnome by default. There are several other desktops you can try after you know a little about Linux (one popular one is Xfce4) but for now stay away from them. My suggestion to you would be to try KDE first if this is your first move away from Windows. You'll notice the differences from Windows but they won't be so extreme as to make you feel uncomfortable.
13. Back to distrowatch for a bit. You should check the distrowatch site regularly. Read the paragraph or so about the distributions. Even if you don't want to use them you can learn a lot by just reading. And see that column over on the far right of the page with the list of distributions and the number of hits? A higher number doesn't mean "better" but it does show you where the interest of the Linux community lies. You can feel confident about the ones toward the top of the list.
14. Install Linux on a desktop machine first. Linux installs and runs on almost any desktop now. There are still issues with Linux on laptops but they are rapidly being solved. The main one, to my way of thinking, is the wifi problem. If your laptop uses a Broadcom chipset in its' wifi, and most laptops do, you will have to use ndiswrapper to insert a Windows driver into the Linux kernel to fool the kernel into thinking it is a Linux driver. As a newcomer you don't want to even think about doing that. There used to be audio and video issues, especially on laptops, but I haven't run into those in a year or so now.
15. Be sure you are getting the right kind of distribution. The i386 distributions will run on most machines EXCEPT 64 bit machines. i686 distributions are also available but try the i386 ones first. There are 64 bit distributions out there but I have yet to find one that plays nice with my AMD64 sixty-four bit machine, including the ones that supposedly are written for 64 bit machines. Don't sweat this too much though because almost all are written for 32 bit machines. You'd have to hunt to find a 64 bit distribution.
16. Okay. So you're installed and ready to go. Poke around and explore. Try stuff. "But what if I break it?" Unless you have a ton of stuff on there that is irreplaceable (and you shoudn't have yet) it is no biggy. Just reinstall and go try to break it again. That's how you learn. Most distributions install in 25 or 30 minutes so you haven't even lost a lot of time.
17. So what distribution do I suggest for newcomers? Mepis. It partitions and installs smoothly and almost always works the first time. There is a great group on the forum that will really help you, not judge and hassle you.
18. So how do you get a Linux distribution? You download it (free almost always), burn an iso image on a cd and run it. The downloads are big, 650 MB or so. If you have a slower connection do your download at night. Let the machine do the waiting while you sleep.
One final thought about Linux. Have fun with it. Don't be intimidated. Enjoy your new freedom.
Comments and questions are welcome.
..................
Some Useful Links:
Linux tutorials
Distrowatch, includes download links
MEPIS
Ubuntu
Kubuntu
PCLinuxOS
tuxmachines
1. Read, read, read and study what's available out there before choosing a distribution to install. Unlike Windows there is more than one choice. A good place to start is distrowatch, a sort of "news of what's new in Linux" site. You'll find a paragraph of discussion of many older releases as well as new ones.
2. Unlike Windows, which is completely dominated by MS, there are many, many versions of Linux written by many, many people and groups. You'll want to know what you are getting because many of them are special purpose offerings. If you install a special purpose Linux you will be disappointed if the purpose isn't yours. Read the home page.
3. Linux has a learning curve. Know that going in. Don't expect everything to be like Windows because Linux isn't Windows. That's why you want to try it, right?
4. Distrowatch, various Linux sites and Linux forums are all "must reads". (Most distributions have their own forums.) Browse around. Don't expect to understand it all from the get-go because you won't. That's OK. Keep reading. Register on the forums so you can ask questions. Most of the forum participants are more than willing to help---but don't be surprised if you get responses from egotistical asses eager to show how superior they are to a "newbie". Consider the source and let it flow off you. Others will help. But before you ask read a lot. Use the forum search function. You won't be the Lone Ranger and it's likely that your question has been answered.
5. Don't even start with Linux if you aren't willing to learn.
6. Use a live CD and try that shiny new Linux before you install it. What's a live CD? It's a complete operating system on a CD disk that runs directly from the CD and doesn't alter your machine at all. You don't like it? Take the disk out, throw it away and try another. You're a newcomer and with Linux you're the boss. Don't install a Linux you haven't tried. If you like what you try on live CD it can usually be installed directly from the live CD. Here's some suggestions: MEPIS, Ubuntu, Kubuntu, PCLinuxOS. Links are at the bottomof this article.
7. Use "final" distributions, stay away from release candidates. They are likely to be full of bugs, especially in early versions.
8. Choose a Linux that has a GUI installation. Much easier and you'll have all your hair (however much that may be) when you are done. Most have GUI installation now so that won't be hard to find.
9. Choose a distribution that will do the partitioning of your hard disk for you. There are a couple of partitioners that are routinely included in the installation package---Qtparted and Gparted. Gparted is easier but neither is a beginner's tool, in my opinion, so just let the installer do it for you. Linux doesn't run in Windows partitions and must have it's own brand of partitions. Don't fret over it. The installer will take care of it. There is a simple workaround for partitioning if you have found a distribution that you must have that doesn't partition automatically. First intall one that does, then install the one you want over the top of it. I like to use MEPIS to partition. It does a great job automatically. The laptop I'm writing this on was partitioned by installing MEPIS and then PCLinuxOS .92, which doesn't partition automatically, was installed on top of it.
10. Most versions of Linux include a suitcase full of programs that are installed right along with the operating system (no, AOL isn't one of them) but this isn't universally true. Ubuntu is an example of one that doesn't include many programs. The philosophy is to let you choose your own programs and install them after the operating system is up and running. This is great if you aren't a newcomer but not so hot if you are. There is an assortment of what might be called core programs for getting on line, office work and a few games included so you aren't left entirely on your own. Know before going in where you stand on this. My suggestion is to choose a distribution that installs a lot of programs. You can always get rid of them later.
11. The Synaptic package manager is your friend. Use it to install and uninstall programs. There are other package managers. (Programs are often called packages in Linux.) For instance Kubuntu, which is Ubuntu with a KDE face, uses a package manager called Adept. It works well and is pretty intuitive.
12. Did he say "KDE"? Yes. There are two main desktops currently used in Linux---Gnome and KDE. Which is best? Neither. It's a matter of personal preference although there is an ongoing fight between the two factions. Ubuntu uses Gnome by default. There are several other desktops you can try after you know a little about Linux (one popular one is Xfce4) but for now stay away from them. My suggestion to you would be to try KDE first if this is your first move away from Windows. You'll notice the differences from Windows but they won't be so extreme as to make you feel uncomfortable.
13. Back to distrowatch for a bit. You should check the distrowatch site regularly. Read the paragraph or so about the distributions. Even if you don't want to use them you can learn a lot by just reading. And see that column over on the far right of the page with the list of distributions and the number of hits? A higher number doesn't mean "better" but it does show you where the interest of the Linux community lies. You can feel confident about the ones toward the top of the list.
14. Install Linux on a desktop machine first. Linux installs and runs on almost any desktop now. There are still issues with Linux on laptops but they are rapidly being solved. The main one, to my way of thinking, is the wifi problem. If your laptop uses a Broadcom chipset in its' wifi, and most laptops do, you will have to use ndiswrapper to insert a Windows driver into the Linux kernel to fool the kernel into thinking it is a Linux driver. As a newcomer you don't want to even think about doing that. There used to be audio and video issues, especially on laptops, but I haven't run into those in a year or so now.
15. Be sure you are getting the right kind of distribution. The i386 distributions will run on most machines EXCEPT 64 bit machines. i686 distributions are also available but try the i386 ones first. There are 64 bit distributions out there but I have yet to find one that plays nice with my AMD64 sixty-four bit machine, including the ones that supposedly are written for 64 bit machines. Don't sweat this too much though because almost all are written for 32 bit machines. You'd have to hunt to find a 64 bit distribution.
16. Okay. So you're installed and ready to go. Poke around and explore. Try stuff. "But what if I break it?" Unless you have a ton of stuff on there that is irreplaceable (and you shoudn't have yet) it is no biggy. Just reinstall and go try to break it again. That's how you learn. Most distributions install in 25 or 30 minutes so you haven't even lost a lot of time.
17. So what distribution do I suggest for newcomers? Mepis. It partitions and installs smoothly and almost always works the first time. There is a great group on the forum that will really help you, not judge and hassle you.
18. So how do you get a Linux distribution? You download it (free almost always), burn an iso image on a cd and run it. The downloads are big, 650 MB or so. If you have a slower connection do your download at night. Let the machine do the waiting while you sleep.
One final thought about Linux. Have fun with it. Don't be intimidated. Enjoy your new freedom.
Comments and questions are welcome.
..................
Some Useful Links:
Linux tutorials
Distrowatch, includes download links
MEPIS
Ubuntu
Kubuntu
PCLinuxOS
tuxmachines
posted by Anonymous at 9:00 PM
4 Comments:
I still recommend linuxtracker.org to downlaod through bitorrent. It is nicer for slow connections also, since you dont have to start from the beginning if you have to disconnect ;)
Mike
nice tips, gonna print them cause I am an idiot with Linux! Oh and I think I am switching from ubuntu to kubuntu as you suggest oh wise ( and OLD ) one..lol
Great tips! It took me a few months to figure half of that out on my own. This is a must read for anyone considering a switch to Linux.
"Lonas" will be ready for distribution in 2020...
Hey Oldster, Your article was posted on the main page of tuxmachines.org.
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