General Linux Stuff

[michaeld]

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

[anyweb]

hi michael and welcome to the forums

 

- 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

[michaeld]

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.....

 

:):)

[Guest]

try www.ubuntulinux.org

 

very nice release based on Debian