KDE or GNOME

well which is better?

Another vote for gnome

Some day I'll be rich and famous for inventing a device that allows you to stab people in the face over the internet.

kde 3.2 KICKS ARSE! I was a gnome guy too until 3.2...now everything kicks in in about 5 seconds...it's graphically superior IMO to gnome. Plus, there are many more applications geared toward it. However, I really don't use xwindows much at all (preferring to stay command line with slackware)...so I don't get to explore as much as I'd like. I think though that after seeing gnome and kde...I'd have to stick with kde.

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<b>It is always brave to say what everyone thinks. </b> <i>Georges Duhamel</i>

TKS

Those distros are OK, but if you know NOTHING about Linux, get your feet wet with Mandrake or something more user friendly first. There's quite a few distros to start with now... Knoppix has a lot of good noise around it. Gentoo and Slackware are relatively hard core and hands on.

KDE and Gnome are the biggest players in the desktop scene. They draw your windows, manage your desktop, provide libraries for applications to run with. It's much more than just a desktop, but that's the bit you see. They are individually themable (like StyleXP there?), but they are like the Windows Desktop is to Windows. In fact, to illustrate that, you can try LiteStep for Windows, and swap out your desktop shell for something quite different.

As for eyecandy, they can add the usual stuff. Transparency, fades, backgrounds, window decorations, pretty icons. Audio effects are there too. Browse <A HREF="http://art.gnome.org/" target="_new">http://art.gnome.org/</A> and <A HREF="http://kde-look.org/" target="_new">http://kde-look.org/</A> to get some ideas.

Honestly I don't know about the "hard part". If you dive into Slack or Gentoo there might be some head scratching over some configuration and what not, but more mainstream distros are generally pretty painless.


<i>Knock Knock, Neo</i>

Ok...new to linux?

Used to windows?


Only one recommendation for ya. Mepis Linux.

I just installed it on a spare machine of mine and it rawks. It is based on debian but is a cinch to install. It walks you through anything and the forum for mepis is active as hell. Give it a go. Mepis is by far the best windows like environ I have ever seen. I run slackware for my server and use Mepis for everything else. It's the coolest distro...and it is a live CD like knoppix so you can try it out and configure it BEFORE you install it on the hard disk. Enjoy!

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<b>It is always brave to say what everyone thinks. </b> <i>Georges Duhamel</i>

TKS

DAMN i just check out those sites... letds just say.. GOODBYE WINDOWS!!!!

ok just a few more questions. what will i be missing by going to linux? Any Awesome windows features i won't get the privledge to get at all? ALSO wow those Desktops, icons and fonts look AWESOME! for linux,

my current system

asus a7n8x, 2800+, 1GB, and 80 and 200gb harddrives with a cd-RW and dvdRW. As far as burning DVD's, chatting (aim, yahoo) webconferncing? voice chatting? dvd shrink on linux? I will have another main system, so if i CAN"T then not that big of a deal.

Thanks a bunch.
Rob

Asus A7N8X Deluxe
80gb Maxtor
200gb WD 8mb cache..
Lian-Li PC-60
LiteOn 52X/LiteOn 811s DVD-RW
AMD XP2800+
LeadTek GF4Ti4200 128mb
Hitachi CML174
1GB Corsair XMS PC3200

oh yeah sorry forgot to add.. When i do a freesh install of this OS... Do i load the ASUS driver CD? or i will have to get something for linux for my a7n8x motherboard?...... oh yeah and is there like a New hardware wizard? or i will have to manually install my cdrom drivers and all that stuff as well. THANKS ALOT GUYS

linus here i come!

Asus A7N8X Deluxe
80gb Maxtor
200gb WD 8mb cache..
Lian-Li PC-60
LiteOn 52X/LiteOn 811s DVD-RW
AMD XP2800+
LeadTek GF4Ti4200 128mb
Hitachi CML174
1GB Corsair XMS PC3200

Your distro should come with generic drivers to get you operational. After that you can download any updated drivers from the net.

If you use mandrake, there's harddrake which is sort of "new hardware wizard-ish" but not really. You will generally have to know what you have in your computer, get the drivers and install them manually. The nice thing is you don't have to reboot in order to use your new hardware. Just unloading the drivers, installing the new ones, and then loading the new ones will work for you. Kinda cool actually.

Some day I'll be rich and famous for inventing a device that allows you to stab people in the face over the internet.

I'm starting into Linux and am using Slackware. I've also messed a little with Redhat and for me Slackware works better. Not that Redhat didn't work and work well, it just is that I wasn't learning anything about Linux with Redhat. Redhat made me feel like "Oh, well, this is like Windows." Slackware on the other hand makes me learn Linux inside and out. Don't get me wrong, it worked fine out of the box, but there were things I wanted to change. And to do so I had to play with the command line and get into configuration files. For the most part there is no hand holding guis like in Windows. It takes up some time, but then again, I'm learning Linux a whole lot faster then I learned Windows. And I'm getting to know my hardware a whole lot better than I ever did in Windows.

Oh and as for compiling, I'm messing around with it too, and for:
1)it doesn't take that long (20 minutes tops maybe) with a AthlonXP 1500+.
2)This isn't a perfect analogy but I think the results of compiling your own kernel is like going through the Task Manager in Windows and turning off all of the stuff you don't use or want so it doesn't hog system resources
3)You don't have to compile your own kernel, it works fine straight out of the box. Maybe compiling your own kernel is like overclocking - everything works fine at stock speed, but if you play with it things could be better.

Anyways, my two cents - as I said I'm new to Linux and I'm just writing what I've experienced

<font color=blue><b>virtue is its' own punishment<b></font color=blue>

When ever I go to configure something, like say a dual monitor display, I have to dig up my manuals and stuff because the configuration utility was asking me for some bit of information about my hardware like the maximum refresh rate on my monitor. That is one way that I get to know my hardware better. Plus it seems like I have to interact with the hardware on a more basic level - i.e. you have to mount harddrive, cd-roms, or floppy disks instead of windows doing it all for you.

As for running faster, that is what I have heard. I would imagine it would be faster since you can tweak linux to your heart's content.

Oh, by the way, for me at least nothing is sweeter than getting something like this to work the way you want it. Makes the time spent getting it to work all worth it.

<font color=blue><b>virtue is its' own punishment<b></font color=blue>

well what i might do then is think about all the stuff i CAN do and then Compile everything at once and just let it run for 10hrs or whatever it takes so i can have a better experience when i actually use it. OK this mounting thing what's that about? when you say mounting 1 thing comes to mind.. Alcohol and it's virtual drive mounting images. Does that have anything to do with this, cause then i hope every time i wanna load in a cd i don't have to load up the cdrom and do all this stuff.

Asus A7N8X Deluxe
80gb Maxtor
200gb WD 8mb cache..
Lian-Li PC-60
LiteOn 52X/LiteOn 811s DVD-RW
AMD XP2800+
LeadTek GF4Ti4200 128mb
Hitachi CML174
1GB Corsair XMS PC3200

Even a full kernel compile with all modules installed (read: drivers for every network card etc) still shouldn't take more than 2 hours on a semi-modern system. The trick is knowing what you'll need and what you won't.

As for mounting, yes it's similar to alcohol and images. When you put a cd in the drive you have to issue a command:

mnt /dev/cdrom /mnt/cdrom

to access your files. Of course, with kernel 2.6.x you can compile supermount into your system so that when you put a cd in it automatically mounts the filesystem for you.

Some day I'll be rich and famous for inventing a device that allows you to stab people in the face over the internet.

wow ok i got ya.. thanks for all the info, Any sites you know of where i can find what i NEED and WON"T so i can make compiling nicer. I mean yeah i don't mind having to put in commands to do things.. but entering a command to use the cdrom is pretty crazy... so do you have any sites that will show me cool things like the supermount command so i can get familar with some of these commands and know a few things going into this whole linux process.

After reading all this stuff i think im deff going with SlackWare and Gnome
---------------
what other stuff should i be aware of before loading linux.
ok so far i might have to spend up to 2+ hrs compiling my system before using it. Unless i add Supermount i will have to use a command to access my cd-rom's.. anything you can think of off the top of your head that will be like an every day annoyance. Super mount for your Hard drive? or i can just get my files from there....lol


Asus A7N8X Deluxe
80gb Maxtor
200gb WD 8mb cache..
Lian-Li PC-60
LiteOn 52X/LiteOn 811s DVD-RW
AMD XP2800+
LeadTek GF4Ti4200 128mb
Hitachi CML174
1GB Corsair XMS PC3200

ok man thanks a ton, um... ok i see ADs... and that's not good.... i know when running windows and IE you get ads and popups up the ASS... but i been using Opera and Adaware and my surfing is complete popup ad free. Speaking of adaware what kinds of apps like that are around for linux.

oh yeah and by the way.. that command/code you entered looks like chinese to me at this point.

i mean i can make it out i see alot of people right DEV in there command guessing that means Device, MNT = Mount? and not sure what hdc,fs=udf i see ISO9660 im guess that's the actual file...

ok so mandrake has alot of this built in? The thing is i wanted to become a hardcore linux user and i didn't feel like going through it in stages, i catch on pretty quick and i usually spend hrs and hrs of my time reading about stuff so i hope im not gonna be to bad. as for browsers im already very comfortable with Opera. Im gonna hope it sorta looks and works the same as the window one? Also OpenOFfice looks cool Im not that huge on useing it alot only because i really don't have any need my school has labs and i get my school work done there. As for backups i got this big job lined up once im done with that i am blowing 3 grand on a Laptop and that will have xppro so JUST in case anything i will still be good incase i can't get this linux box up and running.

for linux is there such things as like Java for the websites and PDF readers? or there's acrobat for linux, i already know Photoshop works good with linux my friend said he uses it

Asus A7N8X Deluxe
80gb Maxtor
200gb WD 8mb cache..
Lian-Li PC-60
LiteOn 52X/LiteOn 811s DVD-RW
AMD XP2800+
LeadTek GF4Ti4200 128mb
Hitachi CML174
1GB Corsair XMS PC3200

great info thanks a bunch.. Ok the Gimp would be a paint/image program? Something like the "Paint" app in windows? or alittle more advanced? Yeah well i think im gonna go the Gnome route cause i deff like what i see. I also been reading up on Kopete but that's just for KDE? and also if yes i know there's Gaim but does GNOME have an app like kopete where you can talk to yahoo, msn, and aim at once?

thanks alot again guys im sure when i get my new laptop and i actually get linux going i will be in here posting alot on stuff.

Asus A7N8X Deluxe
80gb Maxtor
200gb WD 8mb cache..
Lian-Li PC-60
LiteOn 52X/LiteOn 811s DVD-RW
AMD XP2800+
LeadTek GF4Ti4200 128mb
Hitachi CML174
1GB Corsair XMS PC3200

Basically the best way to find out what you should and should not compile into your kernel is to go through it yourself. You'll see a huge list of options, all in sections, so just go through and find what you need. For example, there's a device drivers/network cards section which has drivers for all the network cards out there. If you know you have a 3com card, just compile the 3com drivers (as modules usually, but you'll learn about that later too), and you're good to go. Compiling support for extra stuff will just make it take longer to compile and (if you compiled everything directly into your kernel) longer to load. If you're missing something, you'll find out when you reboot and something doesn't work.

I got supermount to work just by selecting it in my kernel compilation and then adding a line (not exactly like poorboy's) to my /etc/fstab (you'll definitely want to learn about this file and what it does).

Some day I'll be rich and famous for inventing a device that allows you to stab people in the face over the internet.

ahh great. Well my plan is this. I wanna try to read up and learn about it alittle i might even get a book on Slackware or something if i can find one in the library.. or just read alot about it.
In about 4 months if things look right im buying a killer laptop.

Soon as my laptop is up and running, i will download slackware(gnome is included with slackware right?) and then i'll have the THG open on the laptop and then when i have a problem i will type it in.

so basically i should get my monitor, keyboard, mouse, motherboard cpu, cd and dvd rw books cause i will need to know specific info?






Asus A7N8X Deluxe
80gb Maxtor
200gb WD 8mb cache..
Lian-Li PC-60
LiteOn 52X/LiteOn 811s DVD-RW
AMD XP2800+
LeadTek GF4Ti4200 128mb
Hitachi CML174
1GB Corsair XMS PC3200

Oops. Replied to that in threaded mode and didn't see Silverpig's answers...

You just need the normal install info. If your components are common, odds are you won't need much info. If not, monitor frequency specs might be needed, and maybe mouse type. Most of it should be autodetected anyway. One trap for young players is to make sure you know your NIC chipset.

<i>Knock Knock, Neo</i>

Here's my desktop, as of right now: <A HREF="http://home.clear.net.nz/pages/rich_b_nz/THG2.png" target="_new">http://home.clear.net.nz/pages/rich_b_nz/THG2.png</A>

<i>Knock Knock, Neo</i>

Oh and I wouldn't recommend THG for your linux support needs. The chances of one of us being online to answer your questions as needed isn't very good. There's just not that many of us. Try the slackware forums as they'd have specific slack help. I know the gentoo forums are excellent at giving up to date and timely support. Chances are you can just search the forum for your problem and find someone else has posted it, and others have solved it already.

Some day I'll be rich and famous for inventing a device that allows you to stab people in the face over the internet.

no im deffinetly the type who will go out and buy a few linux books and read up before i check it out so i KNOW i will have more of an easy time getting through it.

ok on the first link.. the TOP portion would be close to like the quick launch bar on windows? from what it looks like .. just a bunch of program icons. .... i see xmms minimized on upper right?... the stuff above the xmms which looks like text is that actually something? or just text...

what's that icon above the server icon and that icon above that.. root directory? i think thats what it says.. and the other icons for your cd roms are just for when you load a cd, just to click on those to access it?.... nice desktop i like it.

Asus A7N8X Deluxe
80gb Maxtor
200gb WD 8mb cache..
Lian-Li PC-60
LiteOn 52X/LiteOn 811s DVD-RW
AMD XP2800+
LeadTek GF4Ti4200 128mb
Hitachi CML174
1GB Corsair XMS PC3200

Yes,the icons on the left of the top panel are launcher buttons. The Foot Menu icon is similar to the Windows Start Menu. On the right, I've got a character map panel applet, a CPU usage monitor, and volume control, clock and task list. Yes, that is XMMS is minimized (well, reduced anyway). Bottom panel is the Window List, Show Desktop Button, GAIM system tray icon, and Desktop Switcher.

The icon above the server icon is for my MMC flash card (via supermount). The icon above it is a link to the root directory / and is read-only for regular users (hence the no-write label). The CD drives work as you describe, also through supermount.

<i>Knock Knock, Neo</i>

You can just hit the Screenshot button (the camera on my top panel), and then choose where to save it (or copy to clipboard). I think the Print Screen key can be configured to do the same thing.

<i>Knock Knock, Neo</i>

poorboy i deff like your setup there... the icons rock.. deff a sharp looking desktop. neat and simple.. nice.

i see these alot in theme screenshots, those transparent chat looking wondows here's one.. take a look at this sorry i forgot how to make it clicky.

http://art.gnome.org/screenshots/9.php
and try this one.

http://art.gnome.org/screenshots/11.php


also what's with the Start HERE and the TO DO icon's for? seen them in a few screen shots



Asus A7N8X Deluxe
80gb Maxtor
200gb WD 8mb cache..
Lian-Li PC-60
LiteOn 52X/LiteOn 811s DVD-RW
AMD XP2800+
LeadTek GF4Ti4200 128mb
Hitachi CML174
1GB Corsair XMS PC3200

Wow that was weird. I just realized I changed my desktop background to the non-perspective version of the desktop on Silverpig's box. I viewed that shot one time, and wasn't even trying to copy it. Very subliminal...

<i>Knock Knock, Neo</i>