On Fri, Nov 25, 2011 at 5:09 AM, Sam Vagni <sam.va...@gmail.com> wrote:

>  On Thu, Nov 24, 2011 at 1:45 PM, Weaver <wea...@riseup.net> wrote:
>
>
> > Hello Sam,
>
> Hello.
>
> > It's good to go with, depending on what you're looking for.
> > If you want to learn, there's no Linux distro better for the purpose,
> > but an easier introduction could be by downloading and installing LMDE
> > here: http://blog.linuxmint.com/?p=1818 which many are switching to
> > from Ubuntu.
>
> You mean Linux Mint...? But I heard of Debian that: It is almost bug
> free due to its relatively low release schedule, it contains highly
> tested softwares and that's why sometimes, it lacks the cutting edge
> technology, I just need the most stable version to learn so that once
> addicted to it, I might feel better, I know for all reasons, that
> learning would be taking much much time since it is my curiosity to
> know not the full time job (which is a different one). But, yes, I
> would definitely go with your suggestion of Live CD trials of Linux
> Mint too, I heard of it being one of the most simplest distro in the
> world of Linux, but I have only heard.
>
> > After playing with that for a while and you feel you would like to get
> > more 'hands on', by all means, install Debian.
>
> Ah well, Debian, as I heard is one of the most stable and bug free (I
> think 0% bugs) distro...But I know that it might take way long time to
> be compatible with Debian, to know how it works and how to accomplish
> tasks using Debian, one of the most matured Linux distribution (I
> heard this too, :)...).
>
>
Well, there is no truly bug-free software. Debian has bugs, just like
everything else. After all, there are bugs in the upstream packages which
then get pushed into Debian. The Debian team does a good job of mitigating
those bugs. I was recently affected by a regression in the nvidia driver.
Upstream fixed it, and Debian pushed it out. That is the main difference
between Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) and commercial software. MS
has a number of bugs that are 17 or 18 years old that they admit they will
never fix.

On Thu, Nov 24, 2011 at 3:19 PM, Lisi <lisi.re...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > A simple, accepting all defaults to make life easy, installation of
> Debian 6
> > or higher will give you GNOME.  Anything else is more complex.
>
> That's right but please let me know 'Anything else' include(s) what?
> Like since I am downloading Debian, so it is Debian 6 only and since I
> have to install a fresh system, why would I go a version earlier than
> 6?s
>

I believe he means installation of other desktop environments (e.g. KDE,
XFCE, Enlightenment, etc.)


>
> > GNOME is the *default*, and that was the question I was answering.  I do
> not
> > myself use GNOME.
>
> Okay,GNOME is default, but amazing that you yourself don't use the
> default...? However, its your personal choice, but I am sure there is
> no issue with GNOME....
>

I also do not use GNOME. I am a KDE user, and prior to that I used
Enlightenment. One thing you have to remember is that Linux is about
freedom of choice. There are several choices for any conceivable app you
might run. In the Windows world, you have one or maybe two apps to do a
given task. With Linux (and *BSD), you may have half a dozen tools to do
the same task.


> On Thu, Nov 24, 2011 at 5:36 PM, Brad Alexander <stor...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > It also depends on what you want to learn and how deeply you want to
> delve
> > into Linux. I have been working with Linux for many years (I started
> using
> > Linux to teach myself SunOS 4.1.3). I started with Slackware (2.2.0.1)
> and
> > progressed to RedHat, then started using Debian, where I have been ever
> > since.
>
> Since you finally stopped at Debian, I came to know that Debian should
> be the king here otherwise you could have tried others more and
> stopped there, however, this is what I feel. Yes, target of mine is to
> know Linux basics, like how basically a Linux System works!
>

Personally, I think Debian has the best balance of the Linux distros I
tried. I like, and am comfortable with, the package management system.

Also, if I might suggest a couple of sources for additional Linux
information, a couple of Linux podcasts come to mind. The first was Chess
Griffin's excellent Linux Reality podcast, which is no longer made, however
the archives are still available at
http://www.archive.org/search.php?query=creator:%22chess%20griffin%22&usort=date

The other is called Linux Basix, and is available at
http://www.linuxbasix.com


>  > That said, IMHO, if your goal is to become a sysadmin or similar work, I
> > would recommend, at some point, dabbling in Slackware, Gentoo, or for the
> > truly hardcore, Linux From Scratch. While this can be frustrating at
> times,
> > it also has the advantage of honing your troubleshooting skills. If you
> are
> > wanting to become more of a casual user, Linux Mint, PCLinuxOS, Ubuntu
> (if
> > you can get past the Unity interface) are more complete solutions, drop
> a CD
> > in and it installs. It's like buying a car. You don't buy your teenager a
> > brand new Aston Martin DB9...You get them an older Honda Accord.
>
> Well, I try Live CDs. But you didn't say anything of Debian apart from
> Gentoo, Slackware, etc... whatever be many other distros.....
>

Don't get me wrong. I really like Debian, And you can learn from Debian,
but there are a lot of things that Debian does *for* you. It is great for
day-to-day operation, but if you want to get down in the weeds with the OS,
one of the first set of distros I mentioned (Slack, Gentoo, LFS) might be a
better laboratory environment. The second group does even more setup for
the user than Debian. (and the three that I mentioned are based on Debian
:) ) I was merely showing you the range of options which you might
explore...From having to compile your way to a working system and being
familiar with every config file on the system all the way through "answer 4
questions and your system is installed." Debian falls somewhere in the
middle of that range.

--b

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