Posted: 12/15/2006 9:15:30 AM EDT
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I would like to try Linux, but I don't want to spend money and find out that I hate it. Are there any free basic versions out there, or are they all pay versions? Also, has anyone ever toyed with running it on a virtual machine? Kris |
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Almost all versions of Linux are free. I'd suggest Ubuntu or openSuSE, as both are pretty user-friendly. Backup any important data, too. Edit: the only for-pay versions I know of are SuSE/Novell enterprise, Red Hat enterprise, and Xandros. Plus some free versions will send you pre-made install discs for a fee, but you can download the ISOs and burn them yourself for free. |
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If you are just trying it out, why don't you use one of the versions that boot off a cd or dvd? That way you can switch back to Windows easily if you want. Knoppix is the one I have tried most recently. www.knoppix.org/ 
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I use knoppix regularly to diagnose screwed up Windows machines... Its not really great for seeing the wonders of Linux. |
 Check out sourceforge.net. They have a bunch of versions of linux for free download. Slackware, mandrake, redhet, or anything else mentioned in here is great. Slackware will take some getting use to but it's still a great distro. |
+1. since it runs off the cd-rom (the live version), people think all linux apps are slow. |
it's not a geek fight until the *BSD zealots get in! |
Download the free VMware Player here... www.vmware.com/download/player/ ..and pick an OS to run on it here... www.vmware.com/vmtn/appliances/directory/cat/45 |
For you ( a n00b  ).Go here: www.distrowatch.org Flavors (full size): Kunbuntu Unbuntu Fedora Core If you want to try a "small" one before you go for the big install try: "Damn Small Linux", it runs from a business card size cd. Vector Linux Puppy Linux And yes, VMWare server is a free download and you can either install Linux into a virtual machine or run the .iso (in the case of Live-Cd's like Kunbuntu) from a virtual machine. Enjoy. |
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I say between Fedora Core and Ubuntu, pick Fedora Core. Here is WHY, since most people are declining to give any real reasons. Ubuntu does not come with the YUM system, which is a command line interface for downloading distributions of software over the internet, which then undergo an automated install process, without having to compile, make, and make install the package. YUM has thousands upon thousands of software and libraries available to it, so when you find a program that is missing a runtime or dependency (and you will), just go to a shell and type yum installl runtime. You can search with it etc. Granted, you can download YUM into Ubuntu, but for a newbie, making links, compiling, make and make install may be too much to start out with if you aren't a code junkie (enjoy reading the lines of code and error messages!), might as well start with what you need from the getgo. That being said, UBUNTU feels very idiot-targeted (to me anyway). Fedora has a more professional air to it while using the operating system. ETA: The Fedora DVD distribution has all CDs built into one, with a plethora of software and such that Ubuntu doesn't, so the majority of software you may end up looking for will already be on your Fedora DVD to install at the ready. ETAA: That all being said, Debian, Suse or Slackware are all great as well, I like Fedora because I'm an old time RedHat devout. |
um...
...all installed packaged updated with current versions. Does not get any easier than that. I don't want to compile Firefox, I just want to use it. Installing Firefox:
done. eta: Want to install the newest version of Ubuntu?
Done. |
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Ubuntu and install Automatix to easily install all the codecs and players to be able to watch dvd's and other formats and also have the video plugins to run in firefox also lots of other goodies automatix will install for you. You can do it manually but automatix is so much easier. I'm running Ubuntu edgy now as my main pc o.s. Everything works , digital cam , all my usb stuff everything. Fedora is ok but I hate dealing with all the dependencies. Ubuntu uses Synaptic Package Manager and that will download and install programs very easily. There are I think almost 20,000 programs to chose from. |
 I like the documentation when I have questions. I believe it to be the most stable version as well. www.freebsd.org/ |
[ROFLMAO] awesome! |
Exactly. Debian is definitely made Linux a lot better due to their pre-compiled packages. Ubuntu is based on Debian, so it natively uses the same system. Also, in Ubuntu, there is also a graphical interface called synaptics.
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For the noob Mepis is the only way to go. Wireless works no screwing around, great utilities, plus I prefer a distro that favors KDE. Its Deb/Ubuntu based and much more polished. You can do a non-destructive repartition of your windows install with the live cd and dual boot your machine - probably a bit easier than messing w/a "virtual machine" - or not install it on a hd at all. Sudo what? Log in as root! Jeesh. No wonder noobs are confused. Next we'll hear someone suggest LFS. |
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Go to distrowatch.com and read about the top 20 Linux distros. Here is the list  I use PCLinuxOS beacuse it supports all of my hardware, and has excellent community support. Also it has a repository o fover 11000 programs to choose from. The only thing I had to download right away was the DVD and Audio codecs (as with most distros). I had trouble with Ubuntu, Kubuntu, Mepis, and Fedora. PCLinux OS was the only one that gave me no problems. Good luck in finding one that works for you. |