So So Excited!!

levingst · n00b Joined: 10 Jun 2002 Posts: 4 Location: Atlanta, GA

I started out on an Apple IIe when I was about 6. I moved on to Mac around 12 or 13. I discovered the beauty and freedom of the PC at 16. And now, finally, at 23 I know what desktop freedom really is! I am so pumped for Gentoo. I have been dancing around the idea to play with Linux for about 3 years now and finally got together the time and hardware to do it. Any suggestion on how to ease into the world of Linux after I am all loaded up? Pograms? Games? Extras that might be cool?

Thanks

rizzo · Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2002 7:44 pm Post subject:

Be sure you cover your computer with plastic tarp before beginning. Sounds like you're going to explode there.

Well assuming you want to use this as your desktop box (not just a file server or something) you'll want xfree. You'll also need a window manager. I use IceWM and love it. The masses seem to like KDE, I think it's a pig. Then assuming you'll be on the internet you'll want some web tools. I'd recommend mozilla. Others will say Opera or Galeon. KDE also has Konqueror, which I haven't used. Mozilla also has an email and IRC client. I just use pine for email and xchat for IRC.

GAIM will handle your IM needs.

meh I'd better get back to work and let others fill in the many blanks.

jtanner · Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2002 4:25 pm Post subject:

KDE/GNOME are definitely a good way of easing your way into linux--the UI paradigms resemble windows, lots of programs included in the menu, decent online help.

How much experience do you have with unix? If you're new to unix, you might want to pick up a book or two--it's quite different than windows/MacOS <= 9.

Jim

klieber · Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2002 5:02 pm Post subject:

I'll second the book suggestion --unix system administration is a completely different paradigm than windows or mac administration is. (not including Mac OS X

)

Also, keep detailed notes of everything you do. I guarantee you're going to run into more walls than you can count, and to work around those walls, you're going to try all kinds of different things, one of which will eventually work. If you don't keep good notes, you'll have no idea what it was that you just did to get widget X to finally work, so you'll have to go through the whole process all over again. (not that I'm speaking from personal experience or anything.

)

Finally, patience is a good thing. Remember that when you're ready to throw your monitor through the window.

--kurt
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The problem with political jokes is that they get elected

craftyc · Guru Joined: 23 May 2002 Posts: 443 Location: Behind You.

Searching for solutions doesn't hurt either. And there's always this forum if you do get stuck.
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