[vookster82]

Just wondering what everyone thinks is a better, more user (windowz) friendly.... Suse or Xandros. I think suse retail comes with more useful apps, but not sure b/c i havnt touched xandros yet.

Your thoughts please, thanks

[saikee]

Xandros is easy for installation and more Windows like because a user is given all his/her MS partitions in "C", "D", "E"....etc where the standard Linux partitions hda1, hda2, hda3 etc and the filing systems /boot, /home, /usr etc are hidden away and require admin privilege to see.

Suse is a full blown Linux and would make a good starting point to learn the system.

The thing to remember in Linux is you can have them both, plus Windows, plus any system you care to put into the PC because Linux's boot loader can boot all of them.

I run 2 versions of Xandros aand 3 versions of Suse in one box

[vookster82]

LOL, 2 versions of xandros and 3 versions of suse. Thats almost like one person using 5 seperate XP user accounts on the same machine. But im sure you make good use of em.

The reason i ask about the comparison between xandros and suse is that a few months ago i was going to give suse a real try, other than the BS "live" version. But the test computer i was going to use for the suse install didnt become available until now. And now im reading about xandros and its ability to run MS office and adobe apps. Granted my curiosity of getting away from windows was to well ....get away from MS period. But i like my baby steps.

Ill probably just give the open suse 9 a try first
bah gota go

P.S. and yes i know about open office and its similarity...just havnt gotten much time to use it yet

[Old Bob]

FYI,

The "deluxe version" of Xandros [with all those features] is the "commercial version" and costs about $ 80 or maybe more !! Xandros does have a "free versions" [Xandros 3.0 OCE] but the features are very limited.

[vookster82]

im gonna try out the freebie versions of both first. probably start out with xandros first and then give suse a try.

I still cant get used to a OS being "free" with "free" apps....

Hows the install for suse?...cant be any worse than windows? Im fairly knowledgable with an OS install from win 98 and up.

[saikee]

I think Xandros took 20 to 30 minutes. Suse first install, without updating with the web site is about 30 to 45 minuts. too.

One of the fastest I have seen is Kanotix, about 14 minutes. A light weight distro Slax needs less than 10 minutes, about the same time one installs a PcBSD.

You will have a long way to be surprised yet. Linux is not only free it is more powerful and well equipped with plenty of software.

[JohnWill]

I fired up the download for Xandros (using Bittorrent, my first use of a P2P program), and so far it's sitting on 0.0%, I'm not impressed. I'm getting a download rate of 2kb/sec and a completion time of 4 days! If this is what P2P is all about, I'm not missing anything.

[Old Bob]

Sorry guys,

I'm a "retiree" or dial-up and I get all my Linux distos here:

http://www.edmunds-enterprises.com/linux/

For 99¢ per CD.

vookster, For what it's worth, I bought and tried SuSE, didn't really like it and never used it. Xandros 3.0 OCE [free version] is my current favorite.

[vookster82]

Originally Posted by JohnWill

I fired up the download for Xandros (using Bittorrent, my first use of a P2P program), and so far it's sitting on 0.0%, I'm not impressed. I'm getting a download rate of 2kb/sec and a completion time of 4 days! If this is what P2P is all about, I'm not missing anything.

LOL JW, which torrent client are you using??? I dabble with P2P every now and then and have read up on it quite a bit a while back. I use Azureus as my client. There is a new version 2.4 which i dont like and dont suggest geting. But the 2.3.0.6 version is great. you can get it here: http://azureus.sourceforge.net/download.php

Ususally the p2p clients take about a good 5 -10 min to connect with a good majority of the peers and seeders, then youll be pulling a good rate. I usually get about 280 - 360 kbs on average. But theres so many factors between torrent clients, trackers, seeders, peers, java, router config, firewall, NAT, upload / download speed...and a few others.

If using a router you probably got to setup a port range forwarding port for the client program to use otherwise you probably get a NAT error and your DL will be very limited with it connection. Azureus is nice b/c it tells you whats wrong and how your connection is...along with all the other cool p2p goodies.

Im gonna be installing xandros 3.0 in about 1 hour....hopefully installing
Im sure ill be back tonight to let yall n=know how it went since my redbull has just given me wings

[vookster82]

well, here i am. Running Xandros and already posting on helponthe.net....id of never thought the install would have been that easy !!! Xandros rocks....so far. The first time setup guide after the install is a great idea too...make a note microsoft !!!

So far my only complaint is that the boot up is a little slow, but i guess im just used to XP. But the boot up time is of very little importance to me as long as the system is booted by the time i get back from grabbing a drink But i haven't really done much yet.....

Man im sooo excited...im glad i chugged a redbull cuz im gonna be running my xandros all night long.

Anything i should do / configure for this xandros clean install??? Oh, the boot manager is great too....and my XP install is still up and running !!!
I think your gonna like Xandros JW...you dont mind is i call you JW do you JohnWill? Your like my brother from another mother and my online computer mentor. ( You always seem to be there when i post needing help and i have always been grateful of your down to earth explanation.)

New to linux too JohnWill ? I would have figured you mastered linux judging from your computer knowledge.

Bah, got some school work to do before i play with xandros all night long...ill be back

P.S. i left my cat5 cable plugged in and my network setting were automatically configured during the install.

[Old Bob]

Better late then never dept !!

Meant to mention be sure all your "hardware" [printer, router, scanner, etc..] is turned on and Xandros [and most other distros] will detect and install it.

[vookster82]

really, leave em all pugged in? Im used to the "unplug it all" with windows. This is just a standalone test machine with only internet access so i only left my cat5 plugged in. I am also able to see my windows network with is surprising...figured id be SOL due to my linux super newbie skill.

Well i figured out the xandros update....i almost SMP (**** my pants) when i seen the update needed was service pack 2....LOL...so many bad thoughts ran through my head when i seen that update b/c of XP. But the update went smooth. My flash drives work too!!!!

A few things i cant figure out : Is there like a "device manager" to see if everything is working properly like in windows? B/c i noticed the xandros OS does run somewhat slow...bootup, programs, internet. Its mostly just the startup of the apps thats slooow. Once they are up and running there pretty fast. Cant compare them to running under XP...but ill take the security and stability over a little speed anyday.

Also, kinda a stupid question, but what file sytem does xandros use? And does it fragment like windows does? Its looks like there is not a utility for defragging, so id assume the file system is not really prone to fragmentation.

I also cant figure out how to change the cursor....
I gotta get a "dummies for xandros" book

[vookster82]

also, i have the HD partitoned as two...C: and D: I have XP on C: and xandros on the D: partition. How would i uninstall xandros so i can try out suse on the D: partiton. Should i just zero out the D: partiton? Or now that i thnk aobut it, maybe i can create a E: partiton and just throw suse on that leaving XP and Xandros alone....

[Old Bob]

vookster,

You might want to "bookmark" this.

http://forums.xandros.com/index.php?...23e309ebb73f5b

[vookster82]

LOL, yeah i was stumbling around in there last night