Re: Where the F**K do I begin?

Responding to GregForester@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I have never even had any interest in Linux, but since I just got a
new computer I have my old Pentium III 700mhz. I also have a spare 15
gig harddrive to install it on, and by swapping hard drives, I can put
back my regular drive. Anyhow, I went to linux.com to download it.
That's where I about *** my pants. First of all, there are 20 or 30
different versions. So which one do I use? I thought Linux was
Linux. Then I see that to download I need bit-torrent or emule.
Well, that's not going to happen because no computer of mine will ever
connect to either of those virus ridden things. I finally find one
that has a link that directs me to a FTP site. I decide to just
download it and see what happens. That's until I discover there are
many files. Some are smallish .ZIP files, and I highly doubt they are
the OS. There are numerous text files, and finally a 700 meg file
with an .iso extension. I assume from the size that the .ISO is the
actual OS, but what the f**k is a .ISO file? Just for grins I clicked
on that ISO file, and was told that the download would take about 4
and a half days on my dialup connection.

Well, all I really wanted to do was see what Linux looked like on my
screen. I really had no intention to actually use it. I dont love
Microsoft or even like them, but at least my Win XP on one computer
and Win98 on the other both work and make sense to install. (I still
prefer Win98 over XP, not that this matters to Linux). I heard Linux
was complicated and was really only for the ultimate class of computer
geeks, which I am not. However, I do have 18 years of computer use
under my belt, so I thought I could at least install the friggin thing
and take a look at it. But hey, if it takes a geek diploma just to
download the damn thing, I think I'll pass.

Maybe someone can post a few .jpg pictures of their linux screens,
because I think that is the closest I will ever get to it, and at
least I can see what it looks like without hours of torture. I'm not
posting this to bash Linux, just stating the truth. I don't know much
about it, but from what I saw on their site, if Linux ever wants to
gain popularity they will need to get ONE version, not 20 or 30, and
upgrade that one version the same way that MS does every few years
with patches in between. They also need to make their website so that
anyone can make sense of the site itself.

OK, I know someone is going to tell me to buy it on CD. Well, if the
price was the cost of a blank CD, plus actual shipping I might
consider it. but I would not pay more just to "look at it", and likely
never use it again, "IF' and "ONLY IF" I could even install the damn
thing. Like what the hell does one do with a .ISO file anyhow?

Go ahead, post photos..... That's all I need.....

Greg

Go to www.slax.org

Read the website.

Download the "SLAX Standard Edition v 5.1.8.1"

Burn the CDROM.

Set your BIOS to boot from CDROM.

Stick the SLAX CDROM in the drive, and reboot.

And don't panick! SLAX runs directly from your CDROM drive. It will
not alter your hard drive contents, unless you specifically tell it
to. You will be given an opportunity to save changes you've made to
SLAX to a single file to be saved on a hard drive of your choice, and
when booting up again, given a choice to load that file, or not.

A damn good way to learn about Linux, as a "hobby", before realising
its WAY more useful than the "Ford Focus" of operating systems,
Windows.


You will be confused. You will reboot to Windows several times, just
to read up on things you had no idea about. You will curse Linux many
times, until you realise that it is your ideas about what an
operating system is, and how it should "work", that are getting in
the way of you LEARNING something where Windows rushed you past with
a little "Click here" box.

Sooner or later, you'll start cursing Windows for training you to be
so clueless, and then you'll start understanding that there are MANY
ways to do a job other than the "M$ way".

About then you'll be ready to do your own research, and choose the
Linux OS that will be the one you need. If you do your learning with
SLAX, you'll already have had the primer to get you started on
Slackware, the most "standard" of Linux distributions, as its been
around for a long time and uses a collection of standard software in
it's construction.

Its a bit like leaving school and realising most of what they tried
to indoctrinate you with was utter tosh, and then discovering there
are many levels of "Oh! Right! NOW I get it! Wow!" to be reached.

With Windows, the main limit is how far M$ want you to be able to
think. With Linux, the only limit is your own capacity to learn.

--
Yellow Submarine?
Nah. Its a TeaPot!
www.tinyurl.com/382gmp
.

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