How to get into Linux?

[orangecat]

I need someone to seriously help me I want to use Linux not switch but i cant figure anything out at all its like big brain fart when i see the desktop.

[IdeaStormer]

Well first off you need to have some kind of agenda/goal for what you want to do with Linux, try to do what you would do if it was the usual OS you have previously used. See if you can accomplish the same things. Some say you can't game but if you look hard enough you'll find games, maybe not crysis level games but they are out there. As for regular apps they are also there, just have to look and well have a need to use them or find them.

[lutzee]

Okay first some background information on what you have gotten so far.

 

What distro did you install?

What do you plan on doing within linux as your main task?

Are you planning on running it as your main OS?

 

Things you need to understand. Most programs are available via the program repositories. This is where you go first to find a program you want.

Second all the programs on the repos are freeware and open source. Coming from a windows enviroment you may find programs you know and love are not available easily on linux.

Third, a decent distro aimed at desktop use will come with most programs you will need to start with, eg ubuntu comes with Firefox, gimp, thunderbird, libre office, a music player, a video player.

 

This is just a start with linux, there is a lot to learn in the background, for now I'll leave the terminal shell out until you are used to the desktop environment.  

[Darkfeign]

You can get yourself virtual machine software, such as VirtualBox from Oracle (free) that you can then run linux in to try out different distributions. It won't run as fast as if you had installed linux alongside Windows but it does let you try out their features and decide which distribution is right for you.

 

I would recommend Linux Mint as it sticks very closely to a traditional desktop environment. Maybe Debian but Linux Mint retains better update cycles.

[GoodBytes]

If you use Ubuntu, you have Ubuntu interface, or you ca switch on the log-in manager screen, and can pick: KDE or traditional desktop called "Gnome classic".

Gnome Classic is the more of a desktop more traditional of Windows, and KDE is if you want every element on the screen be a widget.. including task bar, app bar, desktop icons and so on. Kinda like Rainmeter... but for desktop interface. If that doesn't fit your style, you have as suggested, Linux Mint, which is like Windows XP desktop with a similar look a like file manager, unified app/task bar like in Windows, and so on. You can also check out xfce, if you want something light weight, but the terminal emulator sucks.. well at least last time I tried it, might gotten better, great for low powered computers.

[Lyons]

1. Figure out why you would actually want to use Linux
2. Figure out which distro is appropriate for your needs

3. Use rufus (http://rufus.akeo.ie/) or similar to make a bootable Linus ISO

4. Boot from the USB, but don't install. Do a live boot.

5. Try the distro out, decide if it's right for you

 

Done. Ubuntu, Mint, and Crunchbang are all excellent starting points.

[dolarsignzeroxeighty]

set yourself a goal of what you want to learn.

google for guides of how to do a small part of it

do it multiple times , after 7 times , your memory will start to build up ( i know that because it's how i learned 14 numbers after the period in pi before i need to actually start thinking to get to 20)

using it to surf the web and basic stuff is quite easy usually if you have a user interface.

If you're looking to understand really how it works ( user interfaces are command lines dumbed down), google around for modifications of whatever linux distribution you're into and don't use a user interface to do those modifications.

At first , it will make no sense at all , but further you go , you will start to build up the logic on how it works, assuming of course that you're reading some guide that explains you what you're doing.

 

i've been messing with freebsd for approximately 10 hours + time to google for guides with no user interface and i already built some logic , just by installing freebsd using a live cd with some modifications.

i posted a log of what i'm doing in another forum that i'm more active , if you're curious , i guess i can post or pm the link of the log of what i'm doing.

[wkronbaek]

Welcome to the joyful world of linux!

Just get used to it by trying it out, and get used to the terminal - it's really an important part of linux.

 

Oh, and use wine to emulate windows. good for basic apps on some games

And google around. you'll get the hang of it eventually

[xXxYOLOxSWAGxXx_420BlazeIt]

Install Gentoo/Arch and customise them to suit your needs. You will learn more about Linux using these than you will from using Ubuntu or something similar.

[MdX MaxX]

Just sit down for a couple hours and use it.

 

Start off with an easy distro like Ubuntu or Mint and just play around with it.  Dig into the settings, download some applications, and get a feel for how everything is laid out.  You obviously won't know everything at first, and there's nothing wrong with that.

 

Also, get familiar with the terminal as soon as possible.  A lot of the times, the terminal is the easiest way to go about doing something in Linux.  Start with basic commands, like cd (change directory), mv (move), and so on.  Use man pages (type man followed by any command in the terminal) to figure out how to use all sorts of commands.  Most tutorials for accomplishing things in Linux will have you use the terminal, so you'll learn the most important commands quickly.

 

I mean what's faster: Opening Software Center, waiting for it to load, searching for Python, clicking on the page, and clicking install?

Or Ctrl-Alt-T into the terminal and typing sudo apt-get install python?

Definitely the latter.  And it makes you feel techier, too. :P

 

The most important thing is to not get discouraged.  Obviously if you've been using Windows all your life, Linux will take quite a while to get used to. :)

[madcow]

Go for a Linux home server. Distro doesn't matter too much but I'd say centos or ubuntu because it will be easy to find guides for them.

 

1) Less hardware to deal with - no sound cards, finger print readers or 30 button macro mice.

2) Servers is where Linux excels so you will probably appreciate it more.

3) Many step by step how to guide for complete home server builds with many common services.

4) No risk of breaking your desktop OS.

5) You won't be tempted to try wine which I think is a terrible path for new users to take. It will probably disappoint you.

[A10-FTW]

the keyword is "stability"

 

don't think it about it   B)

 

Ubuntu 12.04 LTS 64 bits