On Sun, Dec 18, 2005 at 10:45:37PM -0500, Chinook wrote: > I have an X86 based PC (with a ATI AIW 8500 card) on my LAN that I'm > expunging XP from and am trying to decide which Linux to install. I AM > NOT :-) looking for a heated debate of which is best (whatever that > means), but rather which might better facilitate a couple personal > general criteria. > > 1) My wife will be using it for documents and communication. I'm sure > OpenOffice will satisfy the documents use, and she prefers Thunderbird > and Firefox for communications. Oh yes, she says she has to have her > card games :<)) > Debian may do fine. Depends on the cardgames - but add in the games from KDE games. > 2) I mainly play at (I'm supposedly retired) software development on my > PMac G5 using ObjC/Cocoa. I would like to be able to expand into the > Linux world using GNUstep. > Debian possibly the only major distribution to have heard of GNUstep :)
> So, a combination of a simple home system and one on which an old SE can > keep his head busy :-) I'm comfortable using Unix, but have had no > experience using Linux. > Shouldn't be too hard to switch. > Though it may be as unneeded as on a Mac, I'll want to include ClamAV or > an equivalent. Some sort of firewall would also be a consideration, as > well as a volume cloning tool for backup and whatever system maintenance > tools might be appropriate. Maybe I'll even have more luck keeping it > networked with my Mac than I had with XP. > Clamav is there. IPtables and a GUI front end (guarddog) or script (shorewall) to assist configuration will do your firewall. Volume cloning - amanda for backup? partimage. Mac networking - Debian speaks AppleTalk at least :) > Any comments are appreciated. > Debian like distributions vary. Start with a LiveCD / DVD to test out a system without really touching the hard disk. The latest KNOPPIX 4.02 DVD is really good for this. Ubuntu provides a smooth install - but a much smaller list of packages by default. I prefer the KDE version kubuntu myself - but it doesn't matter because one can be converted into the other straightforwardly :) Try a live CD for (one of) Ubuntu (GNOME desktop) Kubuntu (KDE). Once you've tried these for a week or so, then slide to a Debian install. Debian stable will work well - but "feels" very old to some people. Debian testing is updated much more regularly - but there are occasional breakages as large packages like KDE change API / library versions and have to be coaxed in - that usually means a few days wait until your favourite application is there again. Debian unstable Just Works 99.9% of the time - but if it breaks, it breaks a lot :) Lurk on the list for a couple of weeks and get a feel for user issues and/or lurk on debian-devel to see the sorts of "stuff" going on there. Most questions at user level really do belong on debian-user - if you inadvertently post to the wrong list, someone may jump at you - but others will probably answer a misplaced question anyway :) HTH, all the above in my opinion only Andy > Thank you, > Lee C > > > -- > To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact > [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]