Thinkpads Forum

I want to install and learn to use linux on my T40. What's the best version and maker of Linux and where do I download it? It's free, right?

Najib

There is no right answer; there is no right distribution; it is not free unless you are Linux-literate and knowledgeable in the first instance; and you should be purchasing a boxed set with support for at least ninety days for your first try.

I have purchased and/or downloaded and installed RedHat 6.1, 7.0, 7.3, 8.0 and 9.0; Gentoo Linux 2004; and SuSE Linux 9.0. I run them in VMware and have Samba running for internal networking. I have learned to use Ethereal, Nmap, Nessus and similar apps and so on. And (underline this) I am by no means knowledgeable and by no means expert. Still a new person with respect to Linux.

For your first try, I suggest purchasing a box of SuSE 9.1 Professional. That will give you installation support at a time when you will need it most.
... JDHurst

There are free and non-free versions of Linux available. Some popular ones are Slackware, Suse, Debian, Fedora, and Gentoo. Each is targeted towards a different kind of user...check out http://www.distrowatch.com/ for a nice guide. I personally use Gentoo on my T41, but this is hardly a "beginner distro". I've heard some good things about Fedora and ThinkPads though - perhaps you should check it out.

i'm going to say go with suse for your first try

You'll probably have better luck in the Linux forum:

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewforum.php?f=9

Download it free. Never buy it. Ask your friends. There must be one. Even you can manage yourself.

Try,

http://www.linuxiso.org/

Download redhat (centos or fedora) or SuSE personal 9.1 and enjoy.

regards
Parthiban.

For a pure beginner, I would go with fedora or mandrake, which you can make "windows-like" to make the transition easier. Sooner or later, though, you won't like them anymore.

I personally recommend to everyone that asks this question that they try Gentoo or Slackware. These two distributions will force you to learn some things about your system, which will come in very handy when you want to do something that windows can't do. I use Gentoo, because imo it has the best package system by far (portage). Mind you, Gentoo is a source-based distribution so you have to compile any new packages you want to install. That means that on one hand they compile for your system only which makes them a little faster than binaries, on the other hand it takes some time to compile (not that noticeable with the latest processors, but a PITA when you have a P2-366 or so)

If you want to try Linux risk free try knoppix, morphix or mandrake move. They are all live cd distros which do not have to install on your hard drive at all. If you decide Linux is for you then try a regular distro.
I just tried the latest knoppix (3.6) and it is very usable as an everyday distro on my T23 and my T21.

(edit) don't forget Suse Live eval as linked in this thread:
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.ph ... highlight=

I would also recommend Fedora or Mandrake as a first try...

I tried linux almost ten years ago but at the time it wasnt for me... More recently, I got curious again and I was actually very lucky as I picked Mandrake as my first try... If I had tried some of the more obscure ones first, I might have given up on the spot...

Fedora is also nice and is probably the most up to date distro you can get... They are also just about to bring version 3 of their desktop, actually in about 2 weeks time... Watch for that one...

Mandrake takes 3 CDs and Fedora 4... With Mandrake, you might just need the first two to give it a try....

As you get acquainted with linux, you might want to try a few of the other ones...
With gentoo, for example, you can compile all of your software for your particular machine...
Debian is rock solid but not very up to date....
Slackware is plain and true to the roots... One of my favorites
Xandros and Linspire are easy to use Windows-clones
SUSE is like Fedora and Mandrake and a good first try too...

I am at moment running both Gentoo and Slackware on my T40...

A great place to look at what's happening in the linux world is at www.distrowatch.com I check it out almost everyday...

Good luck and hope you have fun

Fedora Core 2 is a good all round distro thoug hbeware that it has some problems with some machines for dual boot configurations. It may kill off the windows booting option. This is why I relied on FC1 with 2.6 kernel (upgraded).

You can also consider Gentoo, though it is somewhat difficult to install. However after you install it it is supposed to be the easiest distro to manage and customize by far. I also planning to switch to Gentoo in the next months....

UbuntuLinux would be a good first distro for a new user. I've just started dual booting it with Win2kPro and it works great... detected everything first time.