Linux-Noob Forums

My Dell 1.8ghz / 256mb ram is getting a bit slow with XP and I'm thinking of trying out Linux. I'm at a loss as to which version to get. My main requirement is speed, but looks / ease-of-use are also important. I'd like a free version, and I'm currently eye-ing up Fedora, which you seem to like. Any comments on whether this is a good / bad decision?

 

I really suit your new domain linux-noob. I've heard a wide range of stuff about compatability, and I don't know what to believe. My main concerns are these:

 

- Photoshop / Dreamweaver / Fireworks - Are there any issues you know of?

- Web serving - Just need a testing server, nothing serious. I'm sure there's an appropriate app.

- Domain connecting - My school disallows anything other than Windows because they're afraid on it, but MacOS works so I suspect Linux might. Its a regular Windows Server 2003 domain.

- Multiple monitors - Got another monitor on my laptop now with XP, works a dream. How are linux on this?

 

Anything else you think I might need to know? I appreciate this is a lot to ask from someone I don't even know, just your site seems the most informed Linux resource. Any answers, however brief, would be much appreciated.

 

Thanks in advance,

 

Michael Dent

hi michael and welcome to the forums

 

Quote:- Photoshop / Dreamweaver / Fireworks - Are there any issues you know of?- Web serving - Just need a testing server, nothing serious. I'm sure there's an appropriate app.

- Domain connecting - My school disallows anything other than Windows because they're afraid on it, but MacOS works so I suspect Linux might. Its a regular Windows Server 2003 domain.

- Multiple monitors - Got another monitor on my laptop now with XP, works a dream. How are linux on this?

 

ok lets start with the first one

 

- Photoshop / Dreamweaver / Fireworks - Are there any issues you know of?

 

these are not designed for linux, windows only as far as i know, however, you can get some success running them under WINE or Crossover office, results will vary but i know they can work quite well.

 

[/url]http://www.winehq.com/

 

http://frankscorner.org/

 

http://www.codeweavers.com/site/products/

 

try those links above for more info.

 

 

- Web serving - Just need a testing server, nothing serious. I'm sure there's an appropriate app.

 

for this, there is apache (and more) and to let you know, linux-noob.com runs on apache, so yeah, it can do lots of web serving :)and there are lots of tutorials right here in the server/admin section of the forums (just look for apache)

 

 

- Domain connecting - My school disallows anything other than Windows because they're afraid on it, but MacOS works so I suspect Linux might. Its a regular Windows Server 2003 domain.

 

you will need to use SAMBA to connect to windows domains, more info here [url=http://www.samba.org]http://www.samba.org

 

 

- Multiple monitors - Got another monitor on my laptop now with XP, works a dream. How are linux on this?

 

depends on the graphics card, and whether or not there are linux drivers for it

 

 

oh and yes, i'd recommend fedora core release 2 (or 3 which is coming out in a few days)

 

please join us on IRC for live chat, we are on EFNET and the channel is #linux-noob

 

cheers

 

anyweb

Thanks for all your help. I guess there'd be certain apps for doing each thing, it was just finding them that's difficult.

 

Mutliple monitors is my only main concern now. My graphics card is a Mobility Radeon 7500 thats pretty crap tbh but its got an ATI driver and I think both ATI and Radeon are large enough companies to have some kind of a Linux solution (complete longshot, please correct me if I'm wrong).

 

I will probably wait for Fedora Core 3 as you say.

 

Finally, (to anyweb), I know that on your site you abstain from making a decision over whether you prefer Windows or Linux. I'm just not quite sure I'm ready to take the plunge yet - could you possibly sum up in a few points the best and worst of Linux (Fedora) that I've got to look forward to.....

 

:):)

try www.ubuntulinux.org

 

very nice release based on Debian