🚀 go-pugleaf

Nathan J wrote:
> 
> Haven't started using Linux yet, but I'm interested in Linux (mmm....
> free....) and I was wondering if anyone could provide me with the
> following details:
> 
> 1)      I'm looking at Debian v. RedHat at the moment, and Debian
> looks better, but in your opinion, which is more supported and which
> will (for now) a newbie find easiest to install and get to grips with?

If you've never used Unix before, go Redhat. If you're a hacker, you'll
prefer Debian.

> 2)      What's sort of machine will Linux run on at minimum? I mean I
> could install it on the P133 I've got here, but it looks like I'll
> have to purchase a new machine because the 133 belongs to my parents
> =).

One of the wonders of Linux is the _realistic_ minimum configuration. 
(windows '95 will run on 8meg? ha ha ha...)
If you're not going to run X, Linux will run fine on an i386 with 8 meg
of ram and a 16meg swap space.

Plenty of people run on 486's, which are cheap as chips now. This is
plenty of box for a learning machine. 

If you're going to buy a new box, don't mess with pentiums, get a PPro,
which is a 32 bit processor. Linux, being native 32 bit, will love it.
 
> 3)      From Q1, which retailers / bookstores stock this distribution
> and a book on getting to basics with it?

Hotline Books in Chatswood Sydney sell the Redhat Power Tools box set
(comes with lots of nice RPMs), or Redhat 4.2, which comes with manuals
that take you through the install. Consider a postal order?

Adelong Electronics, again Sydney, stock the Infomagic 5 CD set, which I
know comes with Slackware on it, and Debian too I think.

Dymocks bookstores also used to stock this.
 
Cheers

Paul

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                                             ,--- 
    Paul Wilkins                            | o o |
    Internet Operations Manager             ` \_/ '    Linux 
    TMP Worldwide                           /\___/\    The Choice of
    paulw@tmpw.com.au                      |_/ . \_|   A GNU Generation
    http://www.monsterboard.com.au         \_/___\_/

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