Hello! My name's Dan Rasmussen. I'm a junior in high school in Cedar
Rapids. I'm fairly new to Linux, but would like to achieve the same level of
mastery with it that I have with Windows. I started out with Mandrake 6.0,
which I obtained in a magazine I bought at a bookstore. After a while, I
found out that the version I got was compiled mainly for 586s. However, the
computer I use for Linux is a 486. The slowness really annoyed me, and I
heard that there were some networking problems or something with it. So I
bought a copy of TurboLinux (virtually free after rebate!), which I am
running currently.
Judging by my level of experience with Linux, I probably belong on the
newbie list, but I got so many emails every day about problems installing the
newest version of Mandrake and StarOffice every day that I figured I would
learn more from reading this list. I have a few questions which I would like
to ask.
First of all, is it safe to say that basically, all Linux distributions are
about the same? It looks as though the only real differences between the
distributions deal with the installation process and the choice of packages
that each company chooses to include, is this true? And if it is, are
problems encountered with other Linux distributions pretty much relevant to
this list?
I would also really like to get an idea of the way the directories are set
up. For example, where are the most common places to put files at, such as
mp3s, files downloaded from the internet, pictures, etc. Also, where would
be a good place to look to figure out how all the various .conf files and the
Linux equivalent of autoexec.bat affect my system?
I would really like to talk to some Linux users in real time. If this is
possible for any of you guys to help me out with the type of questions that I
would feel stupid asking in this list, I would really appreciate it. Also,
perhaps I could have a few reference sites to find out more of these general
things I will have to get used to in moving from Windows and DOS to Linux?
I have no problem reading things (preferably online materials, as I have no
money), I just don't know where to look.
Thanks!
Dan Rasmussen
Instant Messenger: Spiffy1two
ICQ: 4689648
