Switching to Linux, now what to buy?
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From: pmlonline on 23 Sep 2005 10:07 Hello, I am now switching over to linux as a workstation. I'm at cheapbytes.com, but I have no idea what flavor of linux to buy. I see three pages of CD's http://cart.cheapbytes.com/cgi-bin/cart/scan/mp=category/se=101/tf=title.html?id=sorJVU3v I don't know much about the different flavors but long ago an SA I knew swore by Mandrake. I also like RedHat, but I see so many different CD's and which one is the correct one to buy. For example, they have "CheapBytes Fedora Linux 1 Install Set, $13" and "CheapBytes Fedora Linux 1 Full Set, $7" Are they both install cd's? What's the difference? I just want to install the darn thing and get it over with-- no servers, just a good secure firefox or netscape browser, calculator, good word processor. I have an old 7.1 Mandrake, but I can't get it to work with my dhcp router. I have spent two solid days on it, read all the forums. It won't work! Someone said I need to install the dhcp-client. Did that, still don't work. I thought maybe 7.1 doesn't understand the latest version of dhcp until I talked to my friend who installed the latest Mandrake 1.5 years ago. He said it didn't work with his dhcp also, but that was 1.5 years ago. We both are behind a router. That's one good thing about Windows-- you just tell it you're using dhcp and it works. I see a good buy on Mandrake, "CheapBytes Official Mandrake Linux 10.1 (4 CD-R) $9" Is Mandrake still the kick as king in Linux security? Don't get me wrong, user-friendly is just as important to me as security. I can't stand spending anymore weeks on installing an old linux os. I hear Linux workstations are a lot more stable and user-friendly these days. Does Mandrake have issues with dhcp? What about all those other flavors and such as Pink Tie Linux? Anyhow, I would greatly appreciate any recommendations and info. I just want a desktop workstation that will guarantee to work with my router, very user-friendly, and secure. Thanks a million, Paul
From: Peter T. Breuer on 23 Sep 2005 10:22 pmlonline(a)gmail.com wrote: > cheapbytes.com, but I have no idea what flavor of linux to buy. I see Then buy them all. Or download them for free. What's the problem? > CD's and which one is the correct one to buy. For example, they have > "CheapBytes Fedora Linux 1 Install Set, $13" and "CheapBytes Fedora > Linux 1 Full Set, $7" Are they both install cd's? What's the Ask Cheapbytes. Why ask us? What is an "install cd"? I don't know what you mean by the term ... do you mean it contains a program of some kind that copies the rest of the stuff on the cds onto your disk and then asks you some foolish questions about what to put in some exceedinly bvious configuration files? > difference? I just want to install the darn thing and get it over > with-- no servers, Eh? Every linux machine is a server of many things, even if only to itself. How will you run any graphical applications without an X server? How will you receive mail without a mail server? How will you log in to your box without an ssh server? > just a good secure firefox or netscape browser, Then anything will do. As it would if you wanted a "server". > calculator, good word processor. > I have an old 7.1 Mandrake, but I can't get it to work with my dhcp > router. That's nothing to do with mandrake. A router which serves DHCP requests respons when you run a dhclient. The client does the rest of the config. Run dhclient and see! > I have spent two solid days on it, read all the forums. It > won't work! Someone said I need to install the dhcp-client. Of course you do! How else would you ask the dhcp server for an IP address lease? > Did that, Well, that's a start! Are you ging to tell us you turned on the computer next? Wow! What happened when you RAN dhclient? > still don't work. How do you know? What did you do that you think should "work" and what do you consider "work"? What does tcpdump show of the conversation? What does dhclient say? > I thought maybe 7.1 doesn't understand the latest > version of dhcp It's nothing to do with the kernel or the distro. It's purely a function of your client. Many things could be wrong. Not configuring a hostname in dhclient.conf, for example. But until you show us yoru config and or the tcpdump, we won't know, and nor will you! > until I talked to my friend who installed the latest > Mandrake 1.5 years ago. He said it didn't work with his dhcp also, but It works fine. > that was 1.5 years ago. We both are behind a router. That's one good DHCP does not pass routers. > thing about Windows-- you just tell it you're using dhcp and it works. On linux you just run dhclient and it works! Why is windows making it so hard for you? > I see a good buy on Mandrake, "CheapBytes Official Mandrake Linux 10.1 > (4 CD-R) $9" Is Mandrake still the kick as king in Linux security? Eh? Linux does not need "security"! > Don't get me wrong, user-friendly is just as important to me as Nonsense. "Idiot-friendly "is what you want. Peter
From: Michael Heiming on 23 Sep 2005 10:25 In comp.os.linux.setup pmlonline(a)gmail.com: > Hello, > I am now switching over to linux as a workstation. I'm at > cheapbytes.com, but I have no idea what flavor of linux to buy. I see > three pages of CD's > http://cart.cheapbytes.com/cgi-bin/cart/scan/mp=category/se=101/tf=title.html?id=sorJVU3v > I don't know much about the different flavors but long ago an SA I knew > swore by Mandrake. I also like RedHat, but I see so many different > CD's and which one is the correct one to buy. For example, they have > "CheapBytes Fedora Linux 1 Install Set, $13" and "CheapBytes Fedora > Linux 1 Full Set, $7" Are they both install cd's? What's the Completely outdated, you really don't want to pay for garbage. Recent Fedora version is FC 4. > difference? I just want to install the darn thing and get it over > with-- no servers, just a good secure firefox or netscape browser, > calculator, good word processor. > I have an old 7.1 Mandrake, but I can't get it to work with my dhcp > router. I have spent two solid days on it, read all the forums. It Again garbage, don't waste your time with completely EOL stuff, you wouldn't try to mount snow tires out of the sixties on your brand new car, wouldn't you? Linux is moving quite fast, do yourself a big favor and install something recent. Many distro can be downloaded freely, if you have a halfway reasonable internet connection. Good luck -- Michael Heiming (X-PGP-Sig > GPG-Key ID: EDD27B94) mail: echo zvpunry(a)urvzvat.qr | perl -pe 'y/a-z/n-za-m/' #bofh excuse 295: The Token fell out of the ring. Call us when you find it.
From: pmlonline on 23 Sep 2005 10:39 I can only talk about linux older than 1.5 years. The insall was straightforward. I also tried RedHat 6.1. The insall will ask if you're using dhcp. Everything installed. No modifications and you boot it up and the internet does NOT work Don't give me your idiot-friendly stuff. My IQ is over 150. I've installed windows countless time. Never had a problem with network. I don't want a linux that you need to tcpdump, editing some dhclient.conf file. It should only need to know one thing, "are you using dhcp." Try reading all the posts regarding mandrake and dhcp. People say you need dhcp-client installed. If you tell the installer you need dhcp and it doesn't even install dhcp-client then that's real smart. Paul
From: Peter T. Breuer on 23 Sep 2005 10:53
pmlonline(a)gmail.com wrote: > I can only talk about linux older than 1.5 years. The insall was > straightforward. I also tried RedHat 6.1. The insall will ask if > you're using dhcp. Everything installed. No modifications and you > boot it up and the internet does NOT work Don't give me your > idiot-friendly stuff. My IQ is over 150. :-). Ordinary tests only go up to 145! You must be on one of those pay-and-we-evaluate-you schemes! > I've installed windows > countless time. Then I don't see that your IQ can be above 90. The way you act shows it closer to single figures than triple! > Never had a problem with network. I don't want a > linux that you need to tcpdump, editing some dhclient.conf file. It There you are - no IQ. There is no "some", there is no "want", there is only "do". Those who can, do. Those who can't live under the impression that Archie Bunker is King and tripe sausages grow on the trees... Peter |