So, I have this old PC lying around and am considering putting Linux on it...

[Pierre.Suave]

What do I need to know before doing it?

[YankeyMCC]

1. Consider FreeBSD first

That is what I use for old machines and I think it is much more light weight and better suited for that sort of thing.

I'm sure a customized Linux can be good too but look at all options.

[Pierre.Suave]

2. How does that differ from Ubuntu?

Inquiring minds want to know.

and, what are all the options?

[YankeyMCC]

3. Ubuntu is based on the Linux kernel

FreeBSD is based on a BSD Kernel.

Different user/open development community.

You can learn more here: http://www.freebsd.org/

There are some newer packages you might like to look at too such as PC BSD: http://www.freebsd.org/news/newsflash.html#event20080915:01

Or

DesktopBSD 1.6 RC 3 is now available for download from our mirrors or via
BitTorrent. This release candidate is considered a large step towards a final
release 1.6 with major changes such as:

* X.Org release 7.2, improving support for modern graphics hardware
* NVIDIA graphics driver, providing hardware 3D acceleration for NVIDIA video
cards
* Latest FreeBSD 6-STABLE as base system with High Definition Audio (HDA)
support
* More up-to-date software packages from the DesktopBSD build servers
* Many small bug fixes and optimizations

Upgrades from 1.0 and previous release candidates are supported. An additional
language CD and 64-bit (AMD64) DVD will be released soon.

Please use the tracker, forums and mailing lists to post your experiences and
report problems.


- Website: http://desktopbsd.net
- Download: http://desktopbsd.net/index.php?id=84
- Tracker: http://svn.desktopbsd.net/trac
- IRC, forums and mailing lists: http://desktopbsd.net/index.php?id=35

[Pierre.Suave]

4. Which one is easier

for a complete noob to use?

[YankeyMCC]

5. I haven't tried PC or Desktop but they are supposed to be the easiest

using the current stable version of FreeBSD is pretty easy too just follow the Handbook

[Pierre.Suave]

7. this is what worries me...

"just follow the Handbook"

Do I need a handbook to use it?

[YankeyMCC]

11. Yes

[Pierre.Suave]

12. Well

we can cross that option out then.

[YankeyMCC]

14. Just curious

how do you expect to run any operating system without reading the handbook or manuals?

[Pierre.Suave]

15. When you run OSX, you dont need the manual

it is intuitive and it works, without hassles.

[jobycom]

16. You'll need one for Ubuntu, too.

It's intuitive--meaning it's similar to Windows--but there are differences in the way you download and install programs, and even simple things like viewing Youtube requires downloading add-ons and getting them to work. Not hard, but you'll find yourself searching instructions for things you don't even realize are separate programs in Windows or Mac.

I've never used FreeBSD, though, just Ubuntu, so I can't compare them. Ubuntu isn't hard, and it's got some great games--you can get addicted to Konquest--but you aren't just going to plug it in and never look back.

It's fun, though. You learn more about all operating systems when you use one that you aren't familiar with. Have a blast, whichever way you go.

[Pierre.Suave]

17. You know, I liked Joby.org a lot better...

:P

Anyway, thanks for the tip. I have it downloaded and am readying to burn it to the CD right now.

[jobycom]

19. Hehe! But my last name is Com******, not Org*****.

:rofl:

Good luck. I run Ubuntu off a USB hard drive, so I can boot from it when I want to. It took me burning six CDs and downloading the file a couple of times before I got one copy good enough to intall to the hard drive. Hope yours goes smoother. :rofl:

[Pierre.Suave]

20. I am replying from

Firefox 3 in Ubuntu 8.04 right now. it seems to be working!

[jobycom]

21. Good job!

You are the master of me, then! I shall bow and remain silent! :yourock: :headbang: :applause: :patriot:

[Pierre.Suave]

23. it was pretty easy!

:rofl:

[Nickster]

18. Ubuntu was very easy for me to use. It's the closest I've seen to a great new user linux version.

They have a great support forum too.

[Lethe]

6. check out Ubuntu

You can actually run Ubuntu from the cd, to see how it will perform with your system before you install it to a hard drive. It will be slower than normal when running from the cd though.

[Pierre.Suave]

8. I was hoping to do it today

as my sunday project, not waiting for the CD to come in the mail...

[Lethe]

9. you can download the cd image from ubuntu's website

and then burn it to a cd

[Pierre.Suave]

10. Ah

sweet. thats what I am going to do right now then.

[Frank Cannon]

13. This is the route I recommend, as well

I have a machine that dual-boots both XP and Ubuntu, so that I could learn a little about it and the open-source way. Ubuntu has its positives, but overall I found the learning curve a little steep. I was never able to get it to work with my printer. YMMV.

[Pierre.Suave]

26. this old computer would need a new HDD

if I were to dual boot on it.

The thing is not my primary machine, and I was getting ready to get rid of it anyway. So putting money into it for a new, bigger HDD is out of the question just to run linux and Winblows.

[NJmaverick]

25. This good advice, it's what I would suggest

[ironflange]

22. Don't just automatically go to Ubuntu

There are plenty other good distros, spend a little time at http://www.distrowatch.com. I actually use two distros:

1. Pardus is my main one; I just plain think it works the best.

2. Mint (based on Ubuntu but better imho), for one package I need to use that only comes in a Debian flavor, and I'm too lazy to try to compile it for Pardus, though I still might do that.

Try out lots of live CDs, that's what I did. Mandriva, PCLOS, openSUSE, there are lots of them. Fiddle around until you find the one that suits you best. Pretend you're car shopping, don't jump at one model just because there are lots of them on the road.

[DarkTirade]

24. Make sure the harddrive on your old computer isn't about to fail.

I made that mistake the one time I installed Linux on an old machine. I thought I was somehow special, managing to crash Linux like that.

Then I found out why. :P