LINUX

[Daniel-Z]

Originally Posted by bytech

For someone just starting with Linux I'd recommend Kubuntu, Mepis, PCLinux, Mandriva, and Ubuntu. I'm not sure why people recommend Gentoo to someone just starting out with Linux. One sure way to never hear from the person ever again.

Linspire, and Xandros are the ones I got started with, both pay. Since then the distros I mention first are pretty much just as friendly as Linspire or Xandros (Linspire has a free version called Freespire).

I'd recommend starting off with using Linux for the day to day basics first, with windows as a backup to fall on when you need a familiar environment where just can just do what needs to be done without learning too much. Use Linux more and more every day as you get comfortable with it.

There are a few Linux things that could still be improved on the usability front, but I think they are well worth dealing with vs. all the viri, spyware, and patching on a windows machine.

Remember, Linux is another OS. If you are looking for a Windows clone, I would not recommend Linux. Things will be a bit different. They have to be, or else it would just be another version of Windows.

Some peeps in the Linux community are doing more damage to it than good, so be aware of those people before you jump in. Ignore the RTFM jerks that plague some communities, and just take things a day at a time. In the end the experience will be rewarding in many, many ways.

I agree with Bytech here. It's best to have a windows machine to use while learning Linux. Personally I LOVE the console. I love how much is command line driven.

When I started learning Linux back in the days of RedHat 1.0 etc it kinda brought me back to when I was 9 years old and used DOS all the time.

I had been using a PC since years before the first wversion of Windows came out so yep Linux sorta made me feel like a kid again

After spending a good year or so messing around with it only then did I start to feel very comfortable with Linux.

[Daniel-Z]

Originally Posted by littleFella

I also manage a few Linux boxes, as file servers and in the capacity of security appliances. But for email MS Exchange is great as it gives the users all the bells and whistles they want. Stabiltiy is good, and if hidden behind some solid security protection then, there are more reasons to use it than not.

There is no 100% Linux equivalent of MS Exchange although OpenExchange comes close. I wanted to buy Novell's Open-Exchange but guess what... MS SBS Server (allows up to 70 users, I needed 50) was cheaper by about 25%. I called Novel, they were unwilling to give me a competetive break on price. I called MS and I got additional 15% off. They even told me how to upgrade from SBS Standard (without MS SQL) to Pro (with MS SQL) without having to pay the fulll price. Yup, hard to believe, I was shocked myself. Happilly running it since May 2005, no issues, no crashes. Reboots? Yes. All maintenence ones and scheduled.

Now, don't take me wrong. I am not saying MS is better. I have been a Linux user since Red Hat 5.1 (1998 ), and I have a mix of Win and Lin machines at both work and home. The truth is there is no single OS that does it all better than any other OS. Some benefits of Linux are there and they are worth pursuing. Windows has its pluses too and it would be silly to ignore that and stick to only Lin or only Win just because.

I agree LittleFella Nothing is quite like Exchance. We use an exchange server at the office and I love how Outlook works hand in hand with it. I agree there is no real linux equivalent to Exchange.

I too use both Linux and Windows and have never said that Windows doesnt have its GREAT aspects

The only thing I was stating is that I love the stability and uptime that Linux provides even with a huge heavy load on the server.

I don't use Linux to surf the net etc. My laptops are dual boot windows and linux. I mainly use linux of the laptop to screw around with X and install things like GKrellm. Also to use as a dev server to code up apps etc.

Again I do agree MS Windows has its strong points as does Linux and no OS will have it all.