free linux??

FOX · Posted: Fri, 13 May 2005 16:27:49 Post Subject: free linux??

i acquired another spare hdd and i was thinking about putting linux on it as a second os for my main computer and i was wondering if there were any free (good) linux os's out there that are worth a try even....

then to install it on the second hdd is easy then when i boot xp pro itll give me the option which is i want right???

thanks guys

IceNine · Posted: Fri, 13 May 2005 16:50:56 Post Subject:

99% of distros are free. For a noob, I'd suggest trying Ubuntu Linux.

Others to try:
Fedora <- Very noob friendly
Debian
Slackware
Lunar Linux
Gentoo

If you have any questions, Dud3!, ThePMG and I are fairly well versed in this realm.

BeerCheeze · Posted: Fri, 13 May 2005 17:50:06 Post Subject:

I've been losely playing with CentOS which is based on the enterprise version of RedHat.

**Doctor Feelgood** · Posted: Fri, 13 May 2005 17:51:35 Post Subject:

I liked Mandrake for its ease of use... but now they call it Mandriva... still should be free, although they will gladly take your money, if you want.

IceNine · Posted: Fri, 13 May 2005 18:00:14 Post Subject:

I'd steer clear from Mandrake/Mandriva. I had a friend who used it religiously until 10.1 came out. Apparently it's crippleware...?

And CentOS would be good for a server, but perhaps not for a workstation OS.

**Doctor Feelgood** · Posted: Fri, 13 May 2005 18:03:22 Post Subject:

Hmm... Mine is 10.1... pre-Mandriva, so maybe it changed.

IceNine · Posted: Fri, 13 May 2005 18:06:49 Post Subject:

I'll ask him what the deal was. Wink

Now that I think about it, it might have been dependency hell due to attempting to install software without going the Mandrake route. I think it was Apache...

Then again, I'll just have to ask.

**Doctor Feelgood** · Posted: Fri, 13 May 2005 18:14:57 Post Subject:

Ahhh... OK, I didn't install much beyond the base it offered (which was pretty good), and was really just using it as a desktop, although I did try some of the server type stuff. Tried to use it as an HTPC, and the specialty hardware just didn't have good drivers for Linux... no matter what the flavor.

IceNine · Posted: Fri, 13 May 2005 18:18:03 Post Subject:

I'm planning to learn C/C++ mainly for kernel hacking and such. I was looking for a worthwhile and extensible project... Sounds like an HTPC distribution might be a good niche!

**Doctor Feelgood** · Posted: Fri, 13 May 2005 18:20:03 Post Subject:

Yeah... I am still interested, and saw an article today called "Build Your Own Linux Home Theater PC" that I thought might help...

http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1558,1814975,00.asp

Project just kinda ends, with many aspects failing to work... Laughing