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Linux/Ubuntu, school me please

N

NathanP2007

[H]ard|Gawd
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So i essentially know nothing about it. If anyone has the time, i am very much so wanting to learn about it. I dont need the super details like how its coded lol. But like if i was to school a parent unfamiliar with operating systems on what Microsoft OS is and how there has been Windows XP, then Vista, then 7, i would tell them about which is oldest-to-newest, what each bring to the table, why (for example) you want Windows 7 not Vista.

When i have tried to google it or wiki it, its always so scattered, so many versions, 10.3 this and 2.5 that (examples, not real versions). So i can never wrap my head about whats newest, how do you upgrade ( example: say i have ubuntu and a new version came out), how do you download it (w/e version im told to DL), what computers/components/drivers are supported. etc.

Thank you :)
 
The best way to learn is with hands on experience...

Do what I did... install Ubuntu and learn stuff as you go along. Sound doesn't work? You'll spend some time learning how to fix it... problems with graphics? You'll spend time fixing it but you'll learn... Something didn't install right? It will take some reading to figure out why...

A new Ubuntu is released every 6 months I believe and it's currently 9.10 (Karmic Koala). On April 29th 10.04 is coming out.
 
MuZI said:
The best way to learn is with hands on experience...

Do what I did... install Ubuntu and learn stuff as you go along. Sound doesn't work? You'll spend some time learning how to fix it... problems with graphics? You'll spend time fixing it but you'll learn... Something didn't install right? It will take some reading to figure out why...

A new Ubuntu is released every 6 months I believe and it's currently 9.10 (Karmic Koala). On April 29th 10.04 is coming out.
Click to expand...

I think theres a lot i can learn from someone that knows it right here, like how much of it is do it yourself (like updating), and if there is a official linux/ or ubuntu website (for example, is ubuntu the same as having linux on your computer?)

BUT i do fully agree thats a great idea. Learning from experience like that, i would do it if i had a extra computer i could fool around on. Unfortuntely i dont.
 
The Ubuntu forums are pretty good, though I've found sometimes they are a bit...'archaic'. Really, the best way to learn for yourself is to assume everything works like Windows, and then when it doesn't, look for it yourself. If you still can't find it/get it to work, ask someone at the official forums. It's a learning process. You have to go through it to learn.
 
Mr. Pedantic said:
The Ubuntu forums are pretty good, though I've found sometimes they are a bit...'archaic'. Really, the best way to learn for yourself is to assume everything works like Windows, and then when it doesn't, look for it yourself. If you still can't find it/get it to work, ask someone at the official forums. It's a learning process. You have to go through it to learn.
Click to expand...

Haha good concept. I'll remember that when i (at some point) get a PC i can fool around with and install ubuntu onto. :) thanks.
 
NathanP2007 said:
I think theres a lot i can learn from someone that knows it right here, like how much of it is do it yourself (like updating), and if there is a official linux/ or ubuntu website (for example, is ubuntu the same as having linux on your computer?)

BUT i do fully agree thats a great idea. Learning from experience like that, i would do it if i had a extra computer i could fool around on. Unfortuntely i dont.
Click to expand...

Official Website:
http://www.ubuntu.com/

Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ubuntu_(operating_system)

When I first started a REALLY long time ago I'd go to Youtube and look up stuff like how to install things using their synaptic packager. Later I picked up some Ubuntu books from the library and then I'd go to the Ubuntu forums and just read around.

Luckily I had a laptop with tons of problems and a PC that was too old to install Vista on. I installed Ubuntu on both and just started chugging away. Trust me, you learn a lot when you really mess up badly and urgently need to fix things.

Like when I removed a linux partition and accidentally got rid of GRUB. I learned so much about MBR :)
 
I start to use linux on daily tasks: web surfing, e-mail, and forums. Like other said, Learning from experience, is best way to understand linux.

Other than wireless security: everything else is very easy.

I am using Linux Mint 8.
 
Thanks guys, im guessing thats about the best i'll get for now. I have to wait to get a PC i can fool around on and install ubuntu onto. :)
 
Deluded said:
Or you can create a partition and dualboot Ubuntu and try it.
Click to expand...

Very true, but i dont really know how to officially and how secure it is (in the sense of knowing i wont be risking my fully setup PC). I think il just wait until this PC becomes the HTPC (aka backup) and i will mess around with stuff like that.
 
Ubuntu comes with a great installer called WUBI

Insert the CD into yr drive while in windows and it will allow you to install to a file as oppose to a real partition. This way you don't need to worry about the risky business about partitions, or if you decide to remove ubuntu (and run into the MFT issues)

its not virtualisation (although there is a slight increase in disk access latency since you have to go through ~3 filesystems inode -> ext* -> ntfs) as well as it doesn't hold up too well to crashes (as in the virtual file can get corrupted... my Wubi install is corrupted on my work laptop atm).

As a way to test linux and install quickly/safely wubi installer is great
 
I'm a n00b about this stuff as well, but I'm trying out Wubi to get a little knowledge about Ubuntu. It's nice because you can install it on a Windows machine just like any other program and it'll set the dual boot up for you and all that. Installation was a breeze. If you don't like it, just remove it through add/remove programs like any other software package. Pretty slick.

Another option is to create a liveCD or liveUSB. I don't know if there's an easy way to do this with Ubuntu, but I created a LiveUSB with knoppix last week at work and it was easy and it's really cool to be able to boot up into a linux environment, complete with GNOME desktop, all from a USB drive.

EDIT: ha, I'm too slow. eeyrjmr beat me to it...lol!
 
Sounds like Wubi is worth checking out. Im assuming i download Ubuntu 9.10 and burn it onto a CD or DVD and when done, i put the cd/dvd in, go through it a bit till i find Wubi and install that. Cool.

I think though il wait until 10.04 releases (which i think is soon) and il try Wubi from that version.
 
I suggest waiting for 10.04 too. Ubuntu is a great "start on Linux" distro. Eventually there will be Linux Mint 9, which will be based on Ubuntu 10.04 (Ubuntu's numbering is always Year/Month, hence 10.04 = 2010, April. The next version will be 10.10, or 2010 October). Mint is built on Ubuntu but preinstalls a lot of the proprietary stuff (like the MP3 codec. See, since Ubuntu doesn't pay for proprietary video and audio codecs they can't bundle them - YOU have to be the one to install them. This is mainly because of USA software patents and whatnot. There are packages like "restricted extras" that give a lot of the proprietary codecs, fonts etc.. and stuff that isn't open source.) and has some additional tools, art, and features.

Keep in mind that when stuff doesn't "work' in Ubuntu, don't forget to read wikis, forums, and maybe jump into IRC. 90% of stuff is easy these days though and even when something isn't, there's usually a tutorial or link somewhere. Ubuntu is one of the most ubiquitous distros around at the moment so LOTS of content is focused on them.
 
I don't see what's so special about WUBI. Ubuntu comes with a LiveCD bootable and usable environment if you just wanna play with it and see if you really want to use it.

Though I don't see the point of that either. If you're really interested, install it in a partition/drive or a different box and use it the way it was meant to be used.
 
Xaeos said:
I suggest waiting for 10.04 too. Ubuntu is a great "start on Linux" distro. Eventually there will be Linux Mint 9, which will be based on Ubuntu 10.04 (Ubuntu's numbering is always Year/Month, hence 10.04 = 2010, April. The next version will be 10.10, or 2010 October). Mint is built on Ubuntu but preinstalls a lot of the proprietary stuff (like the MP3 codec. See, since Ubuntu doesn't pay for proprietary video and audio codecs they can't bundle them - YOU have to be the one to install them. This is mainly because of USA software patents and whatnot. There are packages like "restricted extras" that give a lot of the proprietary codecs, fonts etc.. and stuff that isn't open source.) and has some additional tools, art, and features.

Keep in mind that when stuff doesn't "work' in Ubuntu, don't forget to read wikis, forums, and maybe jump into IRC. 90% of stuff is easy these days though and even when something isn't, there's usually a tutorial or link somewhere. Ubuntu is one of the most ubiquitous distros around at the moment so LOTS of content is focused on them.
Click to expand...

Thanks! That is great info that i wasnt aware of. That sounds like exactly what i'll do. Does that mean Mint is one you have to pay for? Just curious.

NoForgiveness: Not everyone knows how to partition or wants to mess around with their already setup windows computer by partitioning or getting a second drive to duel boot. WUBI and the Live bootable CD are helpful because they give the opportunity to people like me , that just want to get used to a unfamiliar OS. We dont all have backup drives keeping everything safely cloned incase something goes wrong, or backup computers to install Linux/Ubunutu onto.
 
When I first got into Linux (1999, age 16, Slackware 98) I went ahead and did it the DOSFS way first, but after realizing that it was crappy and not a native ext2 volume I decided to go the dedicated partition way. Resizing a partition is easy and can be done with the click of a button for free with one of a few free high-capacity partitioning tools out there. It makes learning the use of the system and how to get it to work with other systems a lot more realistic.
 
NathanP2007 said:
When i have tried to google it or wiki it, its always so scattered, so many versions, 10.3 this and 2.5 that (examples, not real versions). So i can never wrap my head about whats newest, how do you upgrade ( example: say i have ubuntu and a new version came out), how do you download it (w/e version im told to DL), what computers/components/drivers are supported. etc.
Click to expand...

Ubuntu version numbers are easy. 10.4 is coming out at the end of April 2010, 9.10 came out at the end of August 2009 - they're just the release dates. Since Ubuntu is made up of thousands of separate projects, this makes sense - it's basically a snapshot of the Free Software world at a given point in time.

Upgrading an Ubuntu system is cake - everything in the system is tied into the 'package manager'. When an update to -any- piece of software comes out, you get a notification that an update is available and the system can download & install it for you - generally, these are only going to be bug fixes, truly updated versions of software generally don't come in until a new release of Ubuntu comes out. When a new Ubuntu release comes out, the updater will give you the choice of updating the whole system. It's all generally simple, automatic & painless for the user to stay up-to-date.
 
NoForgiveness said:
I don't see what's so special about WUBI. Ubuntu comes with a LiveCD bootable and usable environment if you just wanna play with it and see if you really want to use it.

Though I don't see the point of that either. If you're really interested, install it in a partition/drive or a different box and use it the way it was meant to be used.
Click to expand...


I would agree with NathanZ, the appeal of WUBI for me is the ease of use. Installs very much like any other application and sets everything up for me. Yes, I could do it all myself and on a spare PC I have I plan to, but on my current windows system I'd rather go the easy route.
 
eh, get a copy of virtual pc (or similar software) and install any flavor of linux on it.
no need to wait, or dual boot, or anything.
 
MuZI said:
The best way to learn is with hands on experience...

Do what I did... install Ubuntu and learn stuff as you go along. Sound doesn't work? You'll spend some time learning how to fix it... problems with graphics? You'll spend time fixing it but you'll learn... Something didn't install right? It will take some reading to figure out why...

A new Ubuntu is released every 6 months I believe and it's currently 9.10 (Karmic Koala). On April 29th 10.04 is coming out.
Click to expand...

done in 1

+1 on the ubuntu forums too...
 
Well I would be more than happy to help anyone out with any Linux questions. I run a really nice website [not going to link to it atm], but I've been using Linux exclusively on the desktop over ten years, and Ubuntu just for the last few, so I should most likely be able to offer some help with whatever you come across. Just like MuZi said, once you get it installed, it's mostly just spending the time to see how to get around Gnome, or whatever desktop environment you decide to use. If you can manage to successfully get through the install [much easier than you will probably expect], then I would say you won't have any problems getting started. One thing you will probably want to know starting off is some good alternatives to the applications you are already using on your other OS.

Here are a few that I can recommend:

pidgin -Most all of the common IM protocols are integrated into this client, no need for multiple apps.

pidgin-otr Off-The-Record messaging for some really nice security [make your friends install it to, otherwise you can't use it]

Gimp is the best photo manipulation app on Linux as far as most are concerned

Blender for 3d rendering

Google Earth is great on Linux

k3b or Gnomebaker for burning media, k3b has much more capabilities. It's developed to work under KDE though so you'll have a bunch of extra libraries running, though it will work just fine.

k9copy for backing up your movies, Converts/compresses DL DVD's to a single layer size.

Devede for encoding avi and other format clips into a compatible DVD format disc

Vidalia + tor for anonymity and a nice GUI.

vlc for all of your video player needs

Rhythbox for playing music. -Supports and displays album covers, cddb support, and of course podcast support.

isomaster for created/edition .iso files

Abiword for a perfectly functional but small text editor with formatting tools
OpenOffice of course for a somewhat oversized IMOoffice suite

IPBlock/iplist if you're into using blocklists, use the lists of your choice with this nice GUI app.

scite - If you do any type of coding, this has integrated syntax highlighting for scripting and most programming languages, or just an all around very light text editor

Deluge if you like bittorrent, great for downloading the latest Distro of choice

There are a handful of great web browsers but I highly recommend chromium/google chrome. It's very light and very fast. If you like having way too many open tabs like I do I don't think there's anything out there better for it.

A couple of tips:
Synaptic package manager will become your friend, but for things that you end up wanting to install that are not available in the official repositories can often be found in package form [vs compiling from source code] are available from a PPA, more on that over at LaunchPad.net

Feel free to ask questions, but part of learning, especially in Linux is being resourceful. Always attempt to find answers on your own and the community will be much more willing to help you when you get stuck somewhere.

No need to avoid the command line, cli, terminal, whatever you choose to call it [it's all just an interface to the shell, bash more specifically by default]. The more you learn along the way, the better off you will be when you need it later on down the road.

I can confidently say that if you do spend some time, you will eventually come to love Linux for what it is, free, open, and secure. Games will need Microsoft for a long time to come so if you're into that, keep an install around somewhere. The more you play around with Linux, over time, the more you come to realize that there just isn't much to keep you tied to windows [aside from games].



/soapbox :p
 
freebsdwiki.net: command-line and setup for freebsd(linux)
daemonforums.com : support forum (2nd of 3, third at freebsd.org)
(first one succumbed to the rise of thread spam, and is extinct).
forums.bsdnexus.com (an early one, seldom active now).
........
You can get linux help on most of those. I'd recc. the thread
"what is your favorite linux" or some similar at freebsd.org forums, then
choose one per its particular forum if you want a desktop-ready linux VS
pcbsd or desktopbsd or freesbie.
....
OTOH the very first thing *I* would do is peruse the forums at
freebsd.org to see what common problems or solutions might be. THEN
decide if freebsd or linux THEN ...
......
Just posting (BSD) because no one else did.
I notice in other subsections of
this forum, others have posted freebsd-advocacy posts (most notably
in the data storage section, lately).
 
jb_hafo said:
freebsdwiki.net: command-line and setup for freebsd(linux)
daemonforums.com : support forum (2nd of 3, third at freebsd.org)
(first one succumbed to the rise of thread spam, and is extinct).
forums.bsdnexus.com (an early one, seldom active now).
........
You can get linux help on most of those. I'd recc. the thread
"what is your favorite linux" or some similar at freebsd.org forums, then
choose one per its particular forum if you want a desktop-ready linux VS
pcbsd or desktopbsd or freesbie.
....
OTOH the very first thing *I* would do is peruse the forums at
freebsd.org to see what common problems or solutions might be. THEN
decide if freebsd or linux THEN ...
......
Just posting (BSD) because no one else did.
I notice in other subsections of
this forum, others have posted freebsd-advocacy posts (most notably
in the data storage section, lately).
Click to expand...

First off, Hitman , that is a great list that i will definitely come back to once i start using linux/ubuntu.

Second, JB, that...for the most part went over my head lol. I got that the websites are like linux forums, but besides that, sorry, it went over my head.
 
He was just recommending another operating system as an option if you're interested... FreeBSD.
 
First off, Hitman , that is a great list that i will definitely come back to once i start using linux/ubuntu.
Click to expand...

Thanks, glad to help a fellow up and coming Linux user.

JB, personally I use FreeBSD on all of my servers, including the one sitting right next to me handling all of my in house network needs :D . FreeBSD is an excellent flavour of BSD, it has also has the largest community behind it via forums and mailing lists.

IMO, FreeBSD would be much better for a veteran *NIX [Linux/BSD] user, but I would not recommend it personally as a first time user for the *NIX family. Ubuntu Linux possibly even Debian would be of my highest recommendation due it it's friendliness to new users, although even at the most experienced level, it serves still yet as a perfectly complete choice.

When choosing a Linux distribution, consider it's package system, you will most likely be installing apps, updating, and upgrading on occasion for as long as you use Linux. It's reliability and function will be one of the most critical reasons to choose a particular distro. Apart from obviously how well it works, is how easy it makes upgrading, and most importantly which system offers the most available software. As a new user, you don't want to have start compiling things from source code right out of the gate, just to get some common application installed. The bigger the community, the larger the support, the more packages that are available.

All of that being mentioned, apt-get and dpkg [Debian and Ubuntu's package system] is one of, if not the best, most reliable package systems available. Ubuntu also has one of the largest communities available offering tons of archived forum topics, and active users there to help. Personally I would highly recommend staying with Ubuntu as a first choice as you previously outlined, that's just MHO, hope you have fun with whatever you decide on, that's what it's all about.

For some very nice desktop eyecandy, check out Compiz-Themes.org
 
Oh ok, well with being just a regular Windows XP-Vista-7 user, the lingo for all these community/college made OS'es (and the many versions that linux offers) goes over my head. Thanks for the recommendation JB.

Yeah hitman, i understand what your saying. Ubuntu definitely seems the most user friendly of the Linux versions. I still dont really understand all the codecs stuff, i know only a little about codecs just from downloading videos that WMP didnt support the codecs and having to Download VLC media player cause it plays like every codec. Im guessing WHEN i get a computer i can install Ubuntu onto, and run into needing codecs, i will then start to learn what they are and what il need to play them (your list will come in handy then :) )

Those themes look wicked. A few i could kill for to have. Very nice. I love the idea of a skin on my OS that is to my perfect liking. Instead of OS-X and 7 forcing their skin onto you.

From everything i understand, most likely what will happen is i will download Ubuntu (once its 10.04 and use WUBI to get familiar, eventually down the line (hopefully) coming across a PC that i can use as a experiment computer, and install Ubuntu onto it. Use it and get very familiar with it...learning as much as i can from experience. Then either sticking with it, or moving to Linux Mint. Once VERY familiar, i will attempt to dual boot/ put on a hard-drive , some version of linux (ubuntu or Mint) and install it on my HTPC.
Sound good or am i assuming stuff that isnt correct?
 
BTW the post above this one was being composed while
I was composing this one probably so is ignored below, sorry!

Before I purchased Freebsd (a box set at fry's, I had to upgrade
usb somehow). (the OS is of course free). I read most of
"running linux fourth edition" which was on closeout. That
had most of the commands mentioned in the above wiki site(s).
A book before the distro/bsd would be invaluable, as
familiarity in the first hours esp. at the install and configuration
is critical.
...
So I'd enhance my recc. to include not only a comparison of
support by forum, but a comparison of install/configure books
to guide one along. (Book threads exist on most bsd/linux
forums... complete with links. Many of those links have
used copies cheap which are still very valid even if newer
editions exist.)
 
Here is a screenshot of my current desktop.


Updated2_0.preview.jpg


Super Massive [native] Size - Get ready to scroll :D
 
The "super massive size" is showing the same small size like in the post.

JB, i get that books are important and if i can find any that are relevant to what i want to do , i will buy them. But so far everyone has said its a lot simpler than i probably think, and your saying the install and setup and first 24 hours are very complex and important, also the lingo of things like "distro/bsd" i dont understand. Sorry.
 
As a primer there is a huge list of how-to articles which over time has become an excellent resource, by the Ubuntu community if one was to want a very comprehensive document reference. http://ubuntuguide.org/wiki/Ubuntu:Karmic

As far as codecs go, I'm not sure why so many people have kept complaining about that :p, after VLC came out, it was amazing, everything wrapped up into one. One simple command will give you all the codecs you could ever wish for bundled into one program.

'sudo apt-get -y install vlc'

A few years ago, we were forced into using several media players, mplayer for these few, Totem for others, it was a mess. Nowadays there is nothing to it.

If you download any current Ubuntu installation disk, you can actually throw it in the CDROM, and reboot the computer into Linux, right off of the CD. There won't be any changes to your machine whatsoever unless you enter into the installation. You can actually just get online and try things out without modifying any of the information currently on your computer. Your RAM is used as a temporary 'hard drive' where you can install things and change settings that will all remain until you reboot the machine, a very handy feature to those weary of committing to a full installation. It really comes in handy if your at a place where you just need to do some quick work! Good Luck to all.
 
Last edited:
hitman_forhire said:
As a primer there is a huge list of how-to articles which over time has become an excellent resource, by the Ubuntu community if one was to want a very comprehensive document reference.

As far as codecs go, I'm not sure why so many people have kept complaining about that :p, after VLC came out, it was amazing, everything wrapped up into one. One simple command will give you all the codecs you could ever wish for bundled into one program.

'sudo apt-get -y install vlc'

A few years ago, we were forced into using several media players, mplayer for these few, Totem for others, it was a mess. Nowadays there is nothing to it.

If you download any current Ubuntu installation disk, you can actually throw it in the CDROM, and reboot the computer into Linux, right off of the CD. There won't be any changes to your machine whatsoever unless you enter into the installation. You can actually just get online and try things out without modifying any of the information currently on your computer. Your RAM is used as a temporary 'hard drive' where you can install things and change settings that will all remain until you reboot the machine, a very handy feature to those weary of committing to a full installation. It really comes in handy if your at a place where you just need to do some quick work! Good Luck to all.
Click to expand...

Thanks, what is a primer? Yeah that was kinda my thinking, it sure seems that VLC plays everything, all codecs. Yeah i heard about that live disc. I'll have to consider that as well as a very good option.
 
NathanP2007 said:
Thanks! That is great info that i wasnt aware of. That sounds like exactly what i'll do. Does that mean Mint is one you have to pay for? Just curious.

NoForgiveness: Not everyone knows how to partition or wants to mess around with their already setup windows computer by partitioning or getting a second drive to duel boot. WUBI and the Live bootable CD are helpful because they give the opportunity to people like me , that just want to get used to a unfamiliar OS. We dont all have backup drives keeping everything safely cloned incase something goes wrong, or backup computers to install Linux/Ubunutu onto.
Click to expand...

No, at current there are very few Linux distros that you actually HAVE to pay for (Not sure if Xandros still is, or not). Mint is completely free, and they have both the standard edition and the universal edition which has the "restricted" stuff removed. The idea is for people that live outside of the USA and Japan, users aren't compelled by law to buy licenses for certain patented software etc and its simply an issue of legalese. That same 'restricted' extras package for instance also contains DeCSS so you can decode DVDs - Its technically illegal to install in the USA, but totally legal in other parts of the world. Thus, it has to be the user's choice if the distro is hosted in the USA for instance and they can't bundle it.

This is a good time to talk about "Free" as it applies to Linux and other Free and Open Source software. There are several definitions to "free" and for those not experienced with Linux or other open source software, it may get confusing.

"Free as in Beer , Freeware" - This typically means that the software has no monetary cost, like someone giving you a free beer. However, that does not mean it isn't closed source - just because you bought the beer, doesn't mean someone is going to give you their secret proprietary recipe. You can't modify the beer, and you certainly can't pour it into your own bottle and sell it as your creation etc...
"Free as in Speech, Free as in Freedom" - When someone says "Free and Open Source Software", this is what they're talking about. It means that the software is licensed under something like the GNU General Public License (GPL), or the BSD license. The software's source code is available, and you can modify it. Depending on the license there may be certain limitations - for instance,with the GPL you can't take a Free GPL program and use it to build a closed proprietary thing to sell yourself, you have to open your code as well. The BSD license has no such clause, which is how we get Apple's OSX, which has a ton of BSD/UNIX code in it packaged in a VERY proprietary package. Also, just because the software's source is available, doesn't necessarily mean that it has not cost. Though pretty rare, there are FOSS programs that require the users to purchase a license to use and that's completely okay - you get the source along with the program.

99% of Linux distributions cost absolutely nothing for the distro itself. The most popular way to monetize Linux is to sell support. For instance, CentOS, which is really RedHatEnterprise Linux sells support contracts. Mandriva has certain editions that cost money too that usually come with a year of technical support and often a long reference manual, or something like that. You can even buy support directly from Canonical for Ubuntu.

Buying a year of support may not be a horrible idea for a Linux newbie - if you don't think you have the time/energy/patience to google, use forums and IRC, or just want to have someone who is compelled to fix your issue, a support contract may be a good idea. Ubuntu for instance, has 3 packages for desktop support Basic, Advanced, Professional and even the Professional version only costs around $200 which is less than a copy of Windows 7 Ultimate without any live phone support and it covers all sorts of stuff including setting up SAMBA shares, virtualization and more.
 
Xaeos: Well that is really good info. Some stuff i currently am not up on, such as what a Distros is. I do understand your description of the legality of "restricted version and non restricted version". I also understand your deffinition of different types of free. Very well described, and there are no issues there cause i dont mess with source code or any of that stuff at all. I just download and use, if it doesnt work, i uninstall.
Obviously the licenses i dont understand their meaning, but i get the jist of what they mean in connection to being free or not.
Its possible down the road i will go extreme and get very into linux and pay for it, but as for the next year or so, IF i can get my hands on a extra PC to install Ubuntu onto, i'll just be experimenting with it, getting the hang of it, learning the lingo and versions lol, perfecting it to my preferences. If i start to love it, i might invest in buying a version that costs money.
 
NoForgiveness said:
There's no reason for that. There's even less reason once you actually learn how to use it.
Click to expand...

Haha i guess thats true. Didnt think of that. Well then minus out the part of paying money. Btw is the consensious that Mint is better than Ubuntu? As in having ubuntu , using it for a while then moving on to mint, that a step up?
 
There's no consensus. Every time you bring up distribution of choice there's always a lot of variation in what people think is good and why. Basically, only you can decide based on your needs and preferences which one is your favorite.

Debating which is the best distro can be similar to debating what is the best gaming console. There's fanboys for all of them, and from time to time you will see the fanboy fights break out as to which distro is best and why. That attitude has calmed down a lot throughout the years though (as the distros become more and more alike).
 
MuZI said:
Distro = Distribution

Like Ubuntu and Mint are Distributions of Linux.
Click to expand...

Thank you that makes sense. So is linux the overall company and ubuntu and mint (etc) are versions? Kinda like...microsoft is the company and XP-Vista-7 are their versions of their OS....except in this case for Linux, Ubuntu and Mint (for example) arent like xp-vista-7 in the sense that they arent the same thing but updated.
 
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