school me on linux

[Le Jalapeno]

i can get a fairly good laptop for cheap, but it comes with linux on it.

not familiar with linux, but i do like windows

[chriscut]

rm -rf /





just kidding.. dont really run that.

pick up this book: http://oreilly.com/catalog/9780596002725/ I learned a lot from that book. And dont forget about google.

[taku]

Le Jalapeno, how technically inclined are you and what applications do you plan to use this laptop to run? It's not hard, but there's a large learning curve when going from Windows to unix based systems unless you just want to get online and send email or something super basic. Games/installing new hardware/software/using "windows" applications like Word etc can be a beotch to get to work right if you don't know what you're doing..

Oh yea, if the laptop is super cheap you can buy it and throw a copy of XP on it if you have one already.

[Le Jalapeno]

taku, my xp is pirated and has no office

i'm fairly technically inclined, i mean i can't make a living in DOS, but i've been my own tech support for a couple years. I can do anything hardware and most things software. I've helped fix small problems on friends vista, but when put on a mac it takes me 5 minutes to figure out how to find a program not on the desktop.

but I am a fast learner.

just as long as i have my right click i'm fairly happy, i just wanted to make sure i'm not going to end of with something bearably unusable. but i will be mainly using this computer for internet surfing, prolly put itunes on it if i can, and of course..... school and taking notes in school. so word would be really nice, and powerpoint would too.

word>notepad

[MrMarbles]

might i suggest firefox for web browsing and open office for notes/powerpoint.

the toughest thing you're probably going to find is installing programs on it. you have to either find the RPM/package or compile it yourself

also, what kind of linux is on it?

[Le Jalapeno]

MrMarbles, psssshhhhhhhh, i would never use anything other than firefox.

all else < firefox

ubuntu linux version 7.1


computer specs

SYSTEM COLOR Jet Black
PROCESSOR Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T5750 (2.0GHz/667Mhz FSB/2MB cache)
OPERATING SYSTEM Ubuntu Linux version 7.10 with DVD Playback
DISPLAY High Resolution, glossy widescreen 14.1 inch display (1440x900)
VIDEO CARD Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100
MEMORY 2GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 at 667MHz
HARD DRIVE Size: 120GB SATA Hard Drive (5400RPM)
OPTICAL DRIVE 8X CD/DVD Burner (DVD+/-RW) with double-layer DVD+R write capability
WIRELESS CARDS Intel® 3945 802.11a/g Mini-card edit
INTEGRATED WEBCAM No Camera
BATTERY OPTIONS 56Whr Lithium Ion Battery (6 cell)
SOUND OPTIONS Integrated High Definition Audio
Integrated NIC and Modem Integrated 10/100 Network Card and Modem
Processor Branding Intel Centrino Core Duo Processor

all this for like 750 bucks

good deal?

[dylo]

or just buy a 6 month old 15" macbook pro like me for $800

seriously you can find some mad deals for $750 maybe even 250 more you will open up a whole new range of things

[Macthc]

dylo, dang thats a deal

[dylo]

Macthc, Ebay FTW, had 2 and a half years apple care too

[Le Jalapeno]

dylo, why would i want a macbook?

[kornhouse]

Le Jalapeno, just download virtual pc on your linux and you can run any system you want on it and when it gets hosed up from viruses you simply can either reload from a saved date or create a new one real quick