Let me try to answer these questions as the come, so check below... :-)
----- Original Message -----
From: Richard Salts <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Monday, June 28, 1999 11:29 PM
Subject: New user in Linux land
> Hello people,
>
> Not only am I new on this list but I am brand new to Linux as well. I
have
> responded to an e-mail by Xoom.com and, through them have ordered a copy
of
> Red Hat Linux 6.0. I may probably receive it about the beginning of next
> month. Among other things, it has this X-Windows interface (GNOME), a
copy
> of Netscape, and then some other things.
>
> What I intend to to is to use Linux and Windows 98 in separate partitions
> on a 10 gig drive which I have also yet to get. Then I will begin an
> adventure of installing Linux 6.0, the Linux version of Netscape and then
> see how those work.
>
> I am going to be running both OS's on a PC with an AMD 230MHZ CPU.
Perhaps
> I may be changing the AMD 230 for an AMD 300 CPU in this bunch of changes,
> I don't know yet.
>
> I would like to ask whether anyone on this list has done what I am about
to
> do. If so, how have you fared with Windows 9x and Linux? Which OS do you
> like better?
>
My machine at work (tech support for a local ISP) dual-boots Win98 and
Linux. Now that I've got my machine running fairly well (heck, what machine
CAN'T use some "tweaking" <G>) I prefer Linux. It was pretty easy. 'Course,
I *did* have some incompatible hardware (S3-Trio3D AGP) so when I first
installed Linux, I had to use Linux Mandrake (which is based on RedHat)
because it was the only one which supported that video card at the time. :-)
>
> More questions: I am also an avid gamer. Are there any Linux users who
> also like to run games? Are there any games out there that Linux can
run?
> If so, what are they?
>
Sure....ever hear of Quake3 Arena? :-) It's going to have a Linux version
available on the shelf at the same time as the Windows version comes out.
Quake2 and the original Quake are now available for Linux as well. :-) I'd
check the games you like and find out if there's a Linux version.
>
> If anyone has gone through installing Windows9x at some point and Linux at
> some other time, how does the installation process compare with each
> other? Is Linux a little more technical in parts than Windows 9x or not?
>
Yes....the easiest way to do it if you have the drive space is to install
"everything" and then go in and select "individual packages." This is what
we do where I work.... and we install EVERYTHING except the foreign language
"how-to" files. I would highly recommend that you find someone in your area
who knows Linux and get them to help you on your first install so you don't
have a "wide-open" Linux box that someone on the 'Net can take over. Another
tip: NEVER EVER "surf" as "root." This is a BIG security risk!!
>
> Can Linux run software designed for Unix platforms or just those written
> specifically for Linux. I see in software lists for Linux software that
> seems to be written for Unix, X, etc. Can they be run on Linux?
>
Hmm...Maybe. You're probably thinking of programs that you have to compile
for your system. Most of the time, the answer is "give it a shot...it's not
likely to hurt." :-) But, it's always good to have backups. :-)
>
> Does this Linux 6.0 have a MS-DOS mode? If so, can older applications
made
> for MS-DOS 6.x, say, be run in this mode?
>
No...Linux does NOT run MS-DOS. However, it DOES have "dosemu" which is a
DOS Emulator. It MAY run some MS-DOS 6 apps under dosemu.
>
> I have been curious about Linux for a few years but whenever I asked the
> clerks of the stores Best Buy and CompUSA what could Linux run, I could
> never gat any good answers other than users toying with the OS for its own
> sake. At least the Xoom mailing was an answer of sorts. And so I ordered
> my copy. Now I'll have my own experience with it when it comes.
>
That's how a lot of us got started. :-) I got started "dabbling" with Linux
awhile back and when I got this job, I got dropped into Linux feet-first and
had to learn. Heck, I'm STILL learning. :-)
