Thanks Sean! I pulled down the 32-bit version as well - just in case. I suppose being curious, I will load up the 64 bit first, just to see what it looks like. I will probably just load the 32 bit for general use if that will be more functional for him.
This will be my first "new" system basically born with Linux - so I am pretty excited about it. Good thing that he spends the day in school, and I work from home - I will get a chance or two to play with the system myself. JC 2009/3/16 Sean Dague <[email protected]> > Jack Chastain wrote: > > Greetings, group. > > I just purchased a new Dell for my younger son and will be installing > Linux > > on it when it arrives (I was able to find ONE desktop system with FreeDOS > at > > no charge, and will be just replacing that when it shows up). This is the > > system: > > > http://www.dell.com/content/topics/segtopic.aspx/e510_nseries?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs > > > > The CPU is listed as: "Intel Core2 Duo processor E7400". I searched this > a > > bit and it appears (thought I am not at all certain) to be a 64-bit CPU. > > > > I downloaded Ubuntu 8.10 last night, but this morning noted the file name > is > > "Ubuntu-8.10-desktop-amd64.iso" > > > > That "amd" part concerns me. > > > > Two questions for anyone: Is this CPU in need of the 64-bit or 32-bit > Ubuntu > > package, and if 64-bit, is the above listed file appropriate? > > > > (It is really weird - Dell's first page for Open Source systems shows a > > desktop system with Ubuntu all over it, but they presently only sell > > Ubuntu-loaded laptops. Sigh.) > > > > I will also take any alternate advice on the "proper" Linux for this > system. > > It will actually run either 64bit or 32bit, so you get to choose which > one you want. Unless the system has >= 4GB of Ram, I tend to recommend > people run 32bit, a few things are still simpler. 64bit will give you > performance boots in a few areas, but can add a little complexity with > things like browser plugins. > > You downloaded the 64bit iso, which will work fine on that machine. > amd64 is the architecture name Ubuntu uses for 64bit, x86_64 arch was > developed by AMD and licensed back by Intel, the 64bit implementations > by both vendors are equivalent as far as any mere mortal is concerned. > The Ubuntu/Debian folks use the amd64 naming convention because of that. > > -Sean > > -- > __________________________________________________________________ > > Sean Dague Mid-Hudson Valley > sean at dague dot net Linux Users Group > http://dague.net http://mhvlug.org > > There is no silver bullet. Plus, werewolves make better neighbors > than zombies, and they tend to keep the vampire population down. > __________________________________________________________________ > > > > _______________________________________________ > Mid-Hudson Valley Linux Users Group http://mhvlug.org > http://mhvlug.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mhvlug > Upcoming Meetings (6pm - 8pm) MHVLS Auditorium > Mar 7 - Web Hack-a-thon - SUNY Newpaltz > Apr 1 - EC2 and Cloud Computer > May 6 - TBD > -- Eschew obfuscation and pompous prolixity. Light a man a fire, he is warm for the night. Light a man afire, he is warm for the rest of his life. _______________________________________________ Mid-Hudson Valley Linux Users Group http://mhvlug.org http://mhvlug.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mhvlug Upcoming Meetings (6pm - 8pm) MHVLS Auditorium Mar 7 - Web Hack-a-thon - SUNY Newpaltz Apr 1 - EC2 and Cloud Computer May 6 - TBD
