Wanna try other Distros

[RealG187]

http://home.clara.net/oldpresident/linux/frontpage.pdf

That's where I started finding out info on Linux, actually from this one guy and Here (http://ca.answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AiHEWGTSRCGjOzEZkgUP6EHAFQx.?qid=200611 27120740AA2pneA) to be more specific.

This page appears to promote PCLOS more than any other distro, it says PCLOS is the easiest to use, isnt that what Ubuntu prides it self on (or was this made before Ubuntu)?

Anyways I wanna try PCLOS, it looks cool there and even cooler here:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f2/Pclos0731.png

It PCLOS free? I heard somewhere it costs money.


I also am hearing about something called Linux XP, I hear that makes you activate after the 99th boot! But here (http://cgi.ebay.com/Linux-XP-2007-Best-Windows-OS-BONUS-Ubuntu_W0QQitemZ110154701463QQihZ001QQcategoryZ147 789QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem) it says there is no activation, and even if there is, activation after 99 boots seems kinda stupid to me!

Should I try Linux XP? Can it run Windows apps or is it just Linux made the imitate only the look of Linux and is its ability to run Windows apps the same or less than using Ubuntu and Wine?

[bulldog060]

i would check www.distrowatch.com to look around at what everyone is saying about it there.

personally if for some reason ( hell freezing over,etc ) I wanted to run Winblows on my system I would set it up using VMWare Server ... there you can do a normal install of it that is in its own little sandbox so when something goes wrong with it you can just restore it to your last good image and if you don't need to get on it you just don't start the virtual machine.

~ron

[67GTA]

I would also recommend looking at http://distrowatch.com/ The top ten is a good place to start. You can get a nutshell description by looking at the "major distrobutions" link. Try the search link at the top of the page to look for something specific. Also check out http://www.zegeniestudios.net/ldc/ When it comes to Linux, looks are relative. Any distro can be made to look like another. Do not choose by looks alone. The great thing about most Linux distros is that they run as "live cd's". You can download and burn to cd, and then try them without installing. PCLinuxOS is a fine distro, it is based on Mandriva, but I prefer Debian based distros and stay with Ubuntu. It's all about choice.

Linux XP is only made to look like Windows. It will not natively run windows apps.

[wolfen69]

cool looks do not pay the rent. i'll take a distro that looks like(a stripped down) win2000 and runs like ubuntu any day.

[RealG187]

Is it encouraged I try other distros? Will trying them out help me understand Linux better and in turn help me understand Ubuntu better too?

[Bachstelze]

Distros like Gentoo or Slackware will certainly help you learn a bit more about hat happens "under the hood", which is very similar (but not 100% identical) in Ubuntu. So yes, you could say that a bit of Slack could hep you know your Ubuntu better :)

[HermanAB]

You should install VMware, Virtualbox/Qemu, then you can play all you want without screwing up your main system. That is what I do - my systems are all Mandriva/Redhat and I run Ubuntu for fun in virtual machines.

PCLinuxOS is based on Mandriva, which really does have more and better configuration wizards than Ubuntu. You can set up a complex Mandriva server with a few clicks.

The difference with Ubuntu is that the amount of software installed by default is very small and select, so it is less confusing to beginners, since there simply is no choice.

In contrast Mandriva/PCLinuxOS is a large distribution that includes everything and the kitchen sink, with typically at least three different programs to do any one thing - so it can be a bit intimidating to a beginner.

Cheers,

Herman

[nhydra]

If you want to learn more definitely take a look about Fedora.
http://fedoraproject.org/

[darrelljon]

Depends on your requirements, but try Knoppix, Kanotix, Sabayon and Tmxxine.

[RealG187]

Does PCLOS or LinuxXP cost money? Is it true that Linux XP makes you activate? Isnt Linux supposed to be free?

[Bachstelze]

Isnt Linux supposed to be free?

Free in terms of freedom, yes. Not necessarily in terms of price.

http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/selling.html

[jacob01]

Is it encouraged I try other distros? Will trying them out help me understand Linux better and in turn help me understand Ubuntu better too?

i believe the best thing to help under stand linux would be to use the command line a bit and to just try things, trial and error

experience is the best

[Tux Aubrey]

i believe the best thing to help under stand linux would be to use the command line a bit and to just try things, trial and error

Apparently, an infinite number of monkeys typing for an infinite time on an infinite number of Linux terminals will eventually install Compiz-Fusion. There are a number of threads on the beginners' forum that have been specifically established to test this theory.:)

Re the OPs question:

Is it encouraged I try other distros? Will trying them out help me understand Linux better and in turn help me understand Ubuntu better too?

Yes! And you may have some fun as well. I'm not sure you will really learn all that much by playing it safe - with the likes of PCLInuxOS, Mandiva, Fedora, Mint or SimplyMepis - because, like Ubuntu, they are really well designed so you don't actually have to learn much at all. Gentoo, Slackware and Arch, on the other hand, will really challenge you.

I still think a great "experimental/learning" distro is Damn Small Linux. And at 50Mb for the iso, you aren't going to bust any download limits getting it. (I'd recommend getting the current stable release -3.4 - rather than the 4.0beta). It is based on Debian (via Knoppix), so if you know your apt-get commands (and are happy with fluxbox) its great.

And VMs (if you have some spare RAM) are a great way to play with other distros - I always have three or four available.

[RealG187]

I cant get VM Working i Ubuntu, but then again I made the VM in Windows on my Laptop and tried to run it on my P3...

I can run VM on Laptop and maybe VM Ware didnt work on P3 cuz it sucks.

Anyways, so is Linux XP cost, but is PCLOS free?

[walktod]

I use Virtual Box in Ubuntu to try out other distros.

Supports almost all other OS's, but only 32bit versions of the distros.

Fast and easy to use, give it a shot.

[jbaerbock]

If you like the looks of PCLOS but ubuntu's uberness try Kubuntu. KDE gives more functionality and options than Gnome which is what Ubuntu uses. PCLos is a ripoff of Mandriva from what I have tested and it has lots of odd glitches, at least on my computer. On the upside PCLOS has the nice control panel that they got from Mandriva which makes setup of hardware easier.

[Slychilde]

I fail to see the appeal of a Linux-windows-look-a-like, other than for transitioning from Windows TO Linux. After a while, you really ought to broaden your horizons and see the multitude of options linux allows you to have. If you can and have used Ubuntu, I think it would be better for you to step forward and try something more complex rather than something dumbed/watered down.

Try out Arch, Slack, Zenwalk, or even stick with Ubuntu and start looking under the hood. It's addicting and good for you. Plus, there are much more efficient ways of doing things than the 'windows way'. One good example imo is the right clicking desktop for start menu that XFCE etc. uses.

Sorry, I had to rant a bit. I don't understand the appeal of PCLOS Mepis, et al. They're just a wolf in sheep's clothing.

[miggols99]

Linux XP is just a waste of money. All it does is use wine to run windows apps. Just like any other distro. You can get KDE/Gnome/Xfce to look like windows XP or vista. The are many themes out there. I use KDE look and Gnome look:

http://kde-look.org
http://gnome-look.org

I am using Arch at the moment, which has taught me a lot! I recommend you try it if you want to really learn Linux. PCLOS is decent, but when I installed it, everything was REALLY slow and I mean slow. So I got rid it it soon after I installed it. But for you it may be different.

[GerryB]

I cant get VM Working i Ubuntu, but then again I made the VM in Windows on my Laptop and tried to run it on my P3...

I can run VM on Laptop and maybe VM Ware didnt work on P3 cuz it sucks.

Anyways, so is Linux XP cost, but is PCLOS free?

Yes, PCLinuxOS is free. There are no activation charges from them, nor from Ubuntu. Although I've played with at least 10 different distros, no other forum comes close to the Ubuntu forums for help, interest, discovery, excitement, practical awareness and just plain fun. That's why my distro of choice is Ubuntu.

[RealG187]

I have Kubutnu and PC LOS still looks cool.

So Kubuntu and Linux XP have the same Windows capabilities?

Where can I get Virtual box?

[glotz]

www.google.com

[gundumfx]

wel i would say you go to this web an check you knoldge first http://www.zegeniestudios.net/ldc/

[RealG187]

So PCLOS is free, Linux XP aint, and its not worth it anyways?

[glotz]

Amen brother!

[RealG187]

Okay, so how come the PCLOS in the PDF and the one in the image I embedded look different? Can I make mine look like both of those?