Changing over to linux

[DeTaiLs]

I have an old computer with windows 98, and I was thinking about putting linux on it. What do u think is the best Linux version to put on it.

[K]

I have an old computer with windows 98, and I was thinking about putting linux on it. What do u think is the best Linux version to put on it.

If you've never used linux before, I would recommend Ubuntu.  It will auto-detect almost all your hardware and set everything up for you.  Plus, it provides an easy way to keep your system up to date and install new software via the synaptic front end for apt-get.

Others will probably suggest slackware, which isn't a bad choice, but for a new user I wouldn't recommend it.

[Yegg]

Ubuntu looks pretty interesting. I was going to suggest Mandrakelinux for a beginner. I might try Ubuntu myself.

[K]

Ubuntu looks pretty interesting. I was going to suggest Mandrakelinux for a beginner. I might try Ubuntu myself.

The only real downside I had with Ubuntu was that by default it doesn't install a lot of stuff I wanted -- emacs, gcc/g++, automake, autoconf, the development man pages, subversion, some development libraries, etc.  However, this is easily fixed with synaptic or an apt-get.

[DeTaiLs]

I just got done talking to my dad and if I get the old computer working he wants to use it to, so is there any other versions of linux that is user friendly or the best bet is to stick with Ubuntu.

[Topaz]

What would you use Linux FOR? The best OS suited for you is the one suited to your needs.

[Warrior]

Because ANYTHING is better than Windows 98.

[Yegg]

I just got done talking to my dad and if I get the old computer working he wants to use it to, so is there any other versions of linux that is user friendly or the best bet is to stick with Ubuntu.

Mandrake Linux is said to be one of the most user-friendly distributions of Linux available.

[iago]

My personal favorite is Slackware.  It's not newby-friendly, but there's no better way to learn than emersing yourself in it.  And once you can use Slackware, you can use any distro.

However, I've heard a lot of good things about Gentoo.  I would recommend trying that.

Fedora and Debian make life easy by giving you the functionality of having apt-get, which automatically downloads/installs .rpm's, but Slackware has an equivilant called slapt-get, which is nearly as good

[Newby]

My personal favorite is Slackware.  It's not newby-friendly, but there's no better way to learn than emersing yourself in it.  And once you can use Slackware, you can use any distro.

Bingo. Signed. Quoted for truth.

[Kp]

Because ANYTHING is better than Windows 98.

Even Windows 3.1?

[iago]

Because ANYTHING is better than Windows 98.

Even Windows 3.1?

Sure, why not?  That's like comparing killers to rapists; at that point, who cares what's "worse"?

[Warrior]

Well windows 3.1 didn't have as much so not as much to worry about, on the other hand windows 98
REALLY sucks

[MyndFyre]

Well windows 3.1 didn't have as much so not as much to worry about, on the other hand windows 98
REALLY sucks

As much as I like Win3.1 over Win98 (believe me, a LOT), it depended on DOS and himem.sys for its virtual memory space. 

[shout]

with potentially catastrophic consequences.