My little sister wants to try Linux... (success)

[Brazen]

Originally posted by: SleepWalkerX

Also I want to also setup a dual boot on my laptop (A Toshiba Satellite A105-S1014) so I can also learn a bit of Linux... however it has a Radeon 200M integrated card. Any distro you guys recommend?

Here are the exact specs:
Celeron M 1.5Ghz
512 MB DDR2 RAM
ATI Radeon XPress 200M

Why not just use Kubuntu or Ubuntu like your going to give to your sister? Both are perfectly capable systems. Should be happy with them.

The laptop should work fine out of the box, even the video, but you'll want the propriatory drivers if you want to have 3d acceleration. I am sure that Ubuntu has on their website very good documentation on how to install it and set it up. It's a pretty common configuration, especially in laptops.

Also take a look at http://www.linux-laptop.net/
There they have people's descriptions on how to install linux on various laptops and what they have working, what they don't, and how they got were they were at. It should be usefull if you run into any snafus.

Ubuntu would probably give it the radeon driver and crash the x server.. Unless you don't mind playing around in the command line to fix Ubuntu after installing I'd recommend a different distribution. Suse works excellently (wait one more week and 10.1 is going to go final!!!). Mepis would work out of the box too.[/quote]

I would suggest using what you gave your sister, too. Go with Ubuntu or Kubuntu to begin with and maybe venture into stock Debian once you are comfortable with one of the *buntus.

 

[Lepard]

Originally posted by: SleepWalkerX

Ubuntu would probably give it the radeon driver and crash the x server.. Unless you don't mind playing around in the command line to fix Ubuntu after installing I'd recommend a different distribution. Suse works excellently (wait one more week and 10.1 is going to go final!!!). Mepis would work out of the box too.

... and that's exactly what happened. Kubuntu wouldn't load the correct driver for my video, I tried the "startx" command and it gave me an error message. So I tried out Knoppix and after it loads the x server it freezes, however I can still move the mouse but there is no actual "start menu".

I guess ill wait for Suse... or does anyone know the best looking Linux distro out there?

 

[SleepWalkerX]

Originally posted by: Lepard

Originally posted by: SleepWalkerX

Ubuntu would probably give it the radeon driver and crash the x server.. Unless you don't mind playing around in the command line to fix Ubuntu after installing I'd recommend a different distribution. Suse works excellently (wait one more week and 10.1 is going to go final!!!). Mepis would work out of the box too.

... and that's exactly what happened. Kubuntu wouldn't load the correct driver for my video, I tried the "startx" command and it gave me an error message. So I tried out Knoppix and after it loads the x server it freezes, however I can still move the mouse but there is no actual "start menu".

I guess ill wait for Suse... or does anyone know the best looking Linux distro out there?

Its just sad that Ubuntu still has this problem.. I just hope Ubuntu doesn't scare away newcomers and ruin linux's image for them.. Haven't used knoppix but once or twice, but I expect more from Ubuntu.

Yeah Suse 10.1 is going to come out in a week, can't wait. I would totally get that when it comes out. But until it comes out, check out kororaa. Its just a livecd (you have an option to install to the hard drive, but its still a beta. not sure I'd recommend it), but it includes accelerated ati drivers for the laptop and allow you to play with XGL. What could be cooler than a 3D rotating cube?

It doesn't come with network support however, its only downside. You should still play with it though, it'll knock your socks off. If you need a distribution now to play with and need network support, check out SimplyMepis. Its a livecd and an installer and is very reliable, it runs off KDE. You'll have to get 3.3.4, the betas and alphas for Mepis are only for subscribers. Their stable versions are free. These should tide you over until Suse.

 

[Lepard]

Does anyone know what is going to be new on Suse 10.1?

I want to go ahead and install it tonight (version 10.0) unless 10.1 offers a big update.

 

[SleepWalkerX]

You can go for 10.0 right now I guess. You don't have to upgrade to all the newest software, that's all 10.1 is going to be (as well as a newer kernel which means more better hardware detection although 10.0 detected everything I had). Everything gets upgraded and tested to make sure its stable with no bugs. You could do the upgrades yourself with apt or yast if you end up wanting to.

If you decide to get 10.0, let me recommend the dvd eval. Its nice to have one disc with everything on it instead of 5 different cds, plus the eval has java, flash, and mp3 codecs (might have w32codecs too).

 

[Lepard]

Originally posted by: SleepWalkerX
You can go for 10.0 right now I guess. You don't have to upgrade to all the newest software, that's all 10.1 is going to be (as well as a newer kernel which means more better hardware detection although 10.0 detected everything I had). Everything gets upgraded and tested to make sure its stable with no bugs. You could do the upgrades yourself with apt or yast if you end up wanting to.

If you decide to get 10.0, let me recommend the dvd eval. Its nice to have one disc with everything on it instead of 5 different cds, plus the eval has java, flash, and mp3 codecs (might have w32codecs too).

How easy will it be to upgrade from 10.0 to 10.1 using YaST?

Is the upgrade similar to say installing SP2 on XP? In terms of time and extreme care?

Wish me luck im going to be installing it tonight after I format and reinstall my current WinXP. Dual-booting here I COME!!!

 

[SleepWalkerX]

Originally posted by: Lepard

Originally posted by: SleepWalkerX
You can go for 10.0 right now I guess. You don't have to upgrade to all the newest software, that's all 10.1 is going to be (as well as a newer kernel which means more better hardware detection although 10.0 detected everything I had). Everything gets upgraded and tested to make sure its stable with no bugs. You could do the upgrades yourself with apt or yast if you end up wanting to.

If you decide to get 10.0, let me recommend the dvd eval. Its nice to have one disc with everything on it instead of 5 different cds, plus the eval has java, flash, and mp3 codecs (might have w32codecs too).

How easy will it be to upgrade from 10.0 to 10.1 using YaST?

Is the upgrade similar to say installing SP2 on XP? In terms of time and extreme care?

Wish me luck im going to be installing it tonight after I format and reinstall my current WinXP. Dual-booting here I COME!!!

Well one option is downloading the 10.1 release, burning it to a cd, booting it up, and selecting the upgrade option. It will upgrade all software to what's in 10.1.

Or you can (through yast) add

ftp://ftp.gwdg.de/pub/opensuse/distribution/SL-OSS-factory/inst-source/ (this link is purposely non clickable, would rather not have guests running down gwdg's bandwidth)

to your installation sources. Then do a system upgrade.

Edit: Oh forgot to say, Good Luck!! I hope Suse finds a nice home in your laptop.