Linux with easiest learning curve?

[Frank W.]

I'm getting so sick of Window's idiosyncrasies that I'd like to try a version of Linux. Is there any
version that is closer to Win2k or XP than others? I don't want to spend 500 hours learning a new OS.
And can I have it lurking on the same drive as Win2k or XP without the Windows OS having a bitch fit and
being uncooperative? I guess removable hard drive trays aren't so bad though - if necessary.

 

[Rod Speed]

I'm getting so sick of Window's idiosyncrasies that
I'd like to try a version of Linux. Is there any version
that is closer to Win2k or XP than others?

Something to be said for trying knoppix in that situation.

No installation at all, you can run it from CD and its
got a very decent manual and it looks quite like XP.

I don't want to spend 500 hours learning a new OS.
And can I have it lurking on the same drive as Win2k
or XP without the Windows OS having a bitch fit and
being uncooperative?

Its usually best to give it its own partition and most
version want a separate swap partition in addition to that.

I guess removable hard drive trays aren't so bad though - if necessary.

They're certainly not necessary.

I'd have a look at knoppix on CD initially, then install it on
its own hard drive partition if it looks usable and then consider
what you want to do after that if you like it enough to use it.

 

[Ann Onimus]

I'm getting so sick of Window's idiosyncrasies that I'd like to try a version of Linux. Is there any
version that is closer to Win2k or XP than others?

What do you mean?

Linux can "look" like a winblow$, but that's not really an issue, is
it?

I don't want to spend 500 hours learning a new OS.

If you really want to migrate from MS to open source, that that's
exactly what you will need to do, IMHO.

And can I have it lurking on the same drive as Win2k or XP without the Windows OS having a bitch fit and
being uncooperative? I guess removable hard drive trays aren't so bad though - if necessary.

I use rack. Try it.

 

[J. Clarke]

I'm getting so sick of Window's idiosyncrasies that I'd like to try a
version of Linux. Is there any
version that is closer to Win2k or XP than others?

Linspire and Xandros are intended to be "Windows-like". How well they
succeed I don't know.

and
I don't want to spend
500 hours learning a new OS. And can I have it lurking on the same drive
as Win2k or XP without the Windows OS having a bitch fit and
being uncooperative? I guess removable hard drive trays aren't so bad
though - if necessary.

You can configure a dual-boot installation with a separate partition or
three for Linux (normally it wants a boot partition, a swap partition, and
the main partition). Most Linux variants can also run from a FAT drive but
this is not recommended.

It also runs well under VirtualPC or vmWare, which might be a less painful
path--vmWare also goes the other way, letting you run Windows under Linux.

Just remember this mantra "Linux is not Windows". No matter how great the
superficial resemblance, they are very different systems. Personally, I'd
say to go with something like Gentoo that gets you exposed to the nuts and
bolts early on and in the long run you'll be a lot happier.

 

[Arno Wagner]

I'm getting so sick of Window's idiosyncrasies that I'd like to try
a version of Linux. Is there any version that is closer to Win2k or
XP than others? I don't want to spend 500 hours learning a new OS.
And can I have it lurking on the same drive as Win2k or XP without
the Windows OS having a bitch fit and being uncooperative? I guess
removable hard drive trays aren't so bad though - if necessary.

This might be the wrong approach. An OS is a far more complicated
object than paper and pencil, yet you probably spent years mastering
them. Linux expects you to know what you want to do and it will behave
in predictble ways that change little over time. The intelligence and
competence has to be supplied by you.

Windows lets you do stuff immediately but will continue to backstab
you and change its behaviour in surprising ways. Linux expects you to
be a competent, educated user, since it is a complex and advanced
tool. It is also (other than Windows) a professional tool that will
act reliable and predictable most of the time.

Arno

 

[Ann Onimus]

Windows lets you do stuff immediately but will continue to backstab
you and change its behaviour in surprising ways. Linux expects you to
be a competent, educated user, since it is a complex and advanced
tool. It is also (other than Windows) a professional tool that will
act reliable and predictable most of the time.

very well said.

 

[Arno Wagner]

Arno Wagner <[email protected]> shared:

very well said.

Thank you!