Linux question

[Wojtek]

Hey people.

I want to download linux again, but I have a problem.

The last version I had didnt support my laptop's panel.

Is there anyway I can check the compatibility of a distro before I waste 800Mb of my bandwidth to download it?

[dsgdevil]

uh....u can check their website maybe?

[Bruce]

Check out http://www.linux-laptop.net

Linux on a notebook isn't always the easiest thing to do.

[Wojtek]

Ok,

I got the info I needed for screen refresh rate! :p tnx bruce

Now for the distro,
I have the redhat 6 cd here.
Should I download the newer version and if yes, personnal or pro?

What the diff between 6 and 8 and 8Pro

Is it worth wasting 800mb of bandwidth?

[Daniel]

Red Hat kinda sucks. I'd suggest something like Slackware or Gentoo, then you can really learn linux.

[Kaliber]

Originally posted by Daniel
Red Hat kinda sucks. I'd suggest something like Slackware or Gentoo, then you can really learn linux. or Mandrake :)

[Wojtek]

But I already have the redhat 6 cd + book I bought at a closing sale at walmarts for 4$ cdn :)

Is it worth wasting 800mb of bandwidth to download a better distro? or redhat6 should be just fine for now?

[Daniel]

Originally posted by Kaliber
or Mandrake :)

Mandrake is based on Red Hat Linux, thus is the closest thing to Windows(besides Red Hat).

I suggest you upgrade to atleast Red hat 7.2 or 7.3.

[Wojtek]

Ok, I just read somewhere that xfree v3 (the one I have) dosnt work with my ati chipset, so I'll have to get a distro with v4+ (2000+ distros)

Wich one do you recommend?

Mandrake?
RedHat?

Daniel,
You suggested slaskware and gentoo "so I can really learn linux"
What did you mean by that?

[Coolin]

He means that it's as hard as heck to use and once you understand it, you'll be a 1337 h4x0r.

[Wojtek]

hard to use =
redhat/mandrake
or
slaskware/gentoo

Is ZipSlack any good? Just throw in X and it would be ok, no?
if yes, what font file to get?
ftp://ftp.slackware.com/pub/slackware/slackware/slackware/x/

if no,
What to get?

[Daniel]

Originally posted by Wojtek


Daniel,
You suggested slaskware and gentoo "so I can really learn linux"
What did you mean by that?

Red Hat and Mandrake are simply X-windows only. No need for use of the console.

In Slackware, Gentoo, etc. the console is everything, pretty much. Plus in Gentoo you have to compile everything yourself. It's the best way to learn linux.

[Wojtek]

how exactly is this x/console difference seen?
redhat also boots to the prompt and you have to start x if you want to use it, if not, then just use the bash.

I don't understand your diference between redhat and slaskware


ZipSlack info


Disadvantages
Uses the DOS filesystem, which is slower than a native Linux filesystem.
Will not work with Windows NT.

NT = 2000? :(

[Daniel]

In Red Hat, if you boot to x, you can do everything you could as if you were booted into terminal.

In Slackware or Gentoo, X is limited.

[Wojtek]

I just finished installing slaskware and configuring x
and after booting to it, gnome had the same funcionability of the gnome in redhat6.

What limitations did you have in mind daniel?

[Daniel]

Gnome is the same in every distro but, in Slackware, I don't think you have the device manager, .rpm support, etc.

[tandoc]

Gentoo is also more efficicient.. everything will run 10-15% faster becuz u compiled it and it is optimized for your computer..

but i use Red Hat on my server

[dsgdevil]

if you want a easy to use system,then use redhat or mandrake,they're pretty much like windows,like Daniel said,if you want to learn linux and use mostly everything on the command line,get Gentoo or slackware or some other not as well known system.I use redhat