[Bendug] Getting Started...

[Tim Howe]

What are your main goals with a distro?  Do you want to "do it yourself" or do
you want it done for you?  I have to say that, for a nice desktop, Ubuntu looks
cool.  I sort of like to roll my own workstation, so I have stuck with distros
like Slackware and Crux (current favorite).  I much prefer a ports tree to a
binary package manager, so Crux and Gentoo pull me a bit for that.  However,
OpenBSD will probably always be my first choice.  I switched to BSD many years
ago and only recently have I been compelled to play with Linux more.  Try
everything.  Trying is half the fun.  Once you know what you like, you can turn
any distro or BSD into what you want, and then you can focus on goals other than
desktop and drivers..

Now as far as hardware compatability, first you really need to know what it is
you have.  Don't be discouraged if you can't find a distro with all of your
hardware supported by default; if Linux supports it you can build it in.  Maybe
a bit of playing and research is something we can do at a meeting.

Speaking of a meeting, anyone can call a meeting (if there is a place to do it).
 I ussually hold them at the OneEighty office, but my situation there is
changing soon and I don't know if it will be available.  Also, I call meetings
and nobody shows so I REALLY need more input from people on what days work.  So
far I have only heard from Dave.

I think we need a thread about what days work and schedula a few in advance.

--TimH

On Thu, 19 May 2005 08:40:28 -0700
"Emery A Grantier" <emerygrantier at fastmail.fm> wrote:

> Tim,
> 
> I am having a difficult time finding a distro that I want to hang my
> (not red) hat on.  I have tried several on my test box, with and without
> doule boot with Win98SE, with variable results.  My top two picks so far
> are Kumbutu and Soloris 10.  I like Kumbutu, but the most recent release
> won't install doule boot.  I have a free copy of Soloris 10 which works
> well, but don't know about upgrades down the road.
> 
> I have not been able to install programs that were not part of the
> defined package set for any distro yet.  I want to install GnuCash to
> try it, and also netbeans and the java run time.  I need help with the
> various package installers (rpm etc).
> 
> My luck with finding and using my Win98SE workgroup and printer on my
> LAN have also been variable.  There are two Win98SE and one WinXP pro
> boxes on the LAN.
> 
> Getting the right drivers for my video and sound cards has also been a
> problem.  It is a HP box, and I have looked on drivers.com.
> 
> There are other periferal issues (data pen etc) also.
> 
> As you can see I need lots of help!
> 
> I could bring my test box with Win98SE pre-installed and the rest of the
> disk blank.  I would like to install Kumbutu, or Debian, or Soloris and
> then install some non-package software.
> 
> When and where would this meeting be?
> 
> I appreciate the help,
> Emery Grantier