Mercurybird
Premium
join:2004-06-24
Hooks, TX
 ·Allegiance Communi..
·CableOne
| Simplify it for me please...
I went to distro watch and began looking at all the Linux versions out there. Man they have more flavors than Baskin Robbins. I would sure be beholdin' to someone if you would simplify the process for me.
I'm running Smoothwall. Hence the avatar. Now I'm ready to jump into a full blown version of Linux. Let me say though, I'm coming to Linux out of a love for Linux, not a dislike, or hatred, of Windows. I love Windows XP Home. It's stable as a rock for me. Does everything I want and need it to. No hiccups.
But I've seen the GUIs of the Linux flavors out there and I'm intrigued. Such eye candy- and from Linux!  I want a version that will do all the things (within reason) that Windows will do. Especially the web and email. But a version with some security built into it.
Your FAQ said choose Mandrake, Red Hat, etc.. So I'm willing to start there. Or stay there if I like it. So I just want to get pointed to the right link and download it, and get neck deep in it. It'll be fun clawing my way back out of it. But I'll learn a lot along the way. 
Anyway I appreciate all of you!:D
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They said if I wanted to take the "C" out of RAP that I would have to put it in somewhere else. So here it is; What's crappening? |
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Happyrat
Google Is Your Best Friend
Premium
join:2002-07-01
Disneyland
| Your best bet will be to try the Live CDs and DVDs out there and see which size fits you best.
Asking this question in this forum will simply bring up a lot of regulars touting their own favorite flavors.
"*cough* SuSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *cough*"
Anyway, don't really expect too much constructive advice from this thread. You can get the same answers from reading a thousand similar posts in this forum 
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Welcome to the 21st Century...»www.fuzzyrat.com |
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wiles
Premium
join:2002-03-17
USA
| reply to Mercurybird
I started with an installation of Arch Linux. This is what I use to this day. It has a very nice package management system, pacman, and it is relatively easy to set up if you know what you are doing in a sense. By this I mean, you'll learn a decent amount about how the system works and its config files. It's optimized for faster processors so you might see a bit better performance. Read their installation guide, it's only a few steps and after partions are set up, you'll be up in running in 30 mins. |
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Al1776
join:2004-04-28
Fair Oaks, CA
| reply to Mercurybird
said by Mercurybird  : I'm coming to Linux out of a love for Linux, not a dislike, or hatred, of Windows. I love Windows XP Home. It's stable as a rock for me. Does everything I want and need it to. No hiccups. I am NOT trying to troll. I may have to run WinXP-Home (for job) and I would like to know what you use to keep out the spyware and adware and virus ware? I've been running Linux for the past four years and I have no knowledge on how to secure Windows XP because it has never been an issue with Linux beyond the router firewall and the client firewall that comes with my distro (Kanotix).
Thanks for any information on what I should buy, install, etc.
Al |
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dave
Premium,MVM
join:2000-05-04
not in ohio
 ·Verizon Online DSL
 ·Verizon FIOS
| said by Al1776 :I would like to know what you use to keep out the spyware and adware and virus ware? I find "a brain" works quite well.
You might be better off asking this question over in the Security forum, though. |
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Al1776
join:2004-04-28
Fair Oaks, CA
1 edit | said by dave :You might be better off asking this question over in the Security forum, though. I agree, but I was hoping the OP would tell me what HE uses as I want to hear from actual users who are not XP haters.
I wonder how Access 2000 would run under Crossover Office. Maybe I won't have to run Windows? Then again there is the 'right tool for the job' thing... and I have a dual boot box.. but have not booted to XP for 2 years... and never while connected to the router.
Al |
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Mercurybird
Premium
join:2004-06-24
Hooks, TX
·Allegiance Communi..
·CableOne
| reply to Al1776
said by Al1776 :said by Mercurybird : I'm coming to Linux out of a love for Linux, not a dislike, or hatred, of Windows. I love Windows XP Home. It's stable as a rock for me. Does everything I want and need it to. No hiccups. I am NOT trying to troll. I may have to run WinXP-Home (for job) and I would like to know what you use to keep out the spyware and adware and virus ware? I've been running Linux for the past four years and I have no knowledge on how to secure Windows XP because it has never been an issue with Linux beyond the router firewall and the client firewall that comes with my distro (Kanotix). Thanks for any information on what I should buy, install, etc. Al Take this request to the Security Forum and look at their tab for Security updates. Notice that the updates are seperated into categories. Go to the webpage of each one and read their blurb. You'll be very knowledgable before too long. Also, in the Security Forum, look at the left panel. Look for the polls of each type of security software. Look at each of the poll's results. You'll see what's best by what's most popular. I wish you well. But most of all, remember, security is mostly common sense and discretion. 
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They said if I wanted to take the "C" out of RAP that I would have to put it in somewhere else. So here it is; What's crappening? |
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wiles
Premium
join:2002-03-17
USA
| reply to Mercurybird
You know, the problem with Windows is more of the user's fault. I have Windows XP Pro on some machines, even as a dual boot with my linux. I run absolutely no protection on it for virus or spyware, aside from doing the regular security updates and a router firewall. I've never had one issue with spyware. It is a question of what sites you visit in order to compromise your machine. I find also just setting certain options in the web browser pretty much prompts you if you want to install a piece of spyware.
I'm still kinda interested in how they ran a test by just installing a copy of windows and connecting it to the internet on how it got infected and compromised. |
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Mercurybird
Premium
join:2004-06-24
Hooks, TX
·Allegiance Communi..
·CableOne
| Well you're probably running a NAT router, which protects you better than the earlier models. I run a NAT router, but because I added a Smoothwall box after that, I've bypassed the WAN port on the router and using it as a hub, of sorts. So I'm not sure if the NAT features, or any other features for that matter, are still in effect. Likely not since I can't connect to the router's web GUI. But Smoothwall takes care of all of that for me.
One thing though, you make an excellent point on the more advanced settings of your browser. I've never set my settings up to the higher levels. Just the more basic advanced levels to allow just session cookies, etc.. I'm going to go ahead and do that now that you've reminded me of it.
I don't know what test your referring to, but I can imagine. It creates a mental picture of someone sticking a lamb on the edge of the forrest and leaving it there to see if anything bad is in the forest. No wait a minute... that would be a test to see if a lamb really is defenseless.
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They said if I wanted to take the "C" out of RAP that I would have to put it in somewhere else. So here it is; What's crappening? |
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wiles
Premium
join:2002-03-17
USA | I remember reading somewhere that an unupdated version of Windows XP freshly installed and connected to the internet ended up compromised in like 40 minutes or something like that. |
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Mercurybird
Premium
join:2004-06-24
Hooks, TX
·Allegiance Communi..
·CableOne
| reply to Mercurybird
Thanks everyone. I've been looking at different versions. I've settled on Ubuntu. Mainly because it is so well supported, and that support is so positive. They are very generous with all the advanced features and software. They are also sending me a free CD. Really first class.
That was sadly contrasted with Mandriva (sp?) which would give you a free version, but apparently they blazen a big FREE accross the front of it.
There were other things, the GUI, etc.. Thanks everyone!
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They said if I wanted to take the "C" out of RAP that I would have to put it in somewhere else. So here it is; What's crappening? |
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Mercurybird
Premium
join:2004-06-24
Hooks, TX
·Allegiance Communi..
·CableOne
| reply to wiles
Oh yeah I remember reading that. I remember the reference to the 40 minutes. Not updated huh?  They probably didn't have that cheesy firewall configured either. I bet a blind buzzard at 40,000' coulda seen that PC on the net.
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They said if I wanted to take the "C" out of RAP that I would have to put it in somewhere else. So here it is; What's crappening? |
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alien9999999
Your Head Looks Nice
Premium
join:2002-05-21
B-3000
| reply to Mercurybird
said by Mercurybird :That was sadly contrasted with Mandriva (sp?) which would give you a free version, but apparently they blazen a big FREE accross the front of it. lol, that's just the wallpaper ...
btw: at my previous work, I have had a windows PC fully viralled in under 12 seconds, since I was just installing it, and wanting to install SP2 to get the firewall installed. Anyway, i donno much about windows security, but it was just installed and already done for...
PS: linux distributions need to survive too, so they sell versions with support... hence the free versions, (if you dislike the free, just buy it ).
PPS: I prefer mandriva, cause of the easy install and the very good Mandrake Control Center...
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Alien is my name and headbiting is my game. |
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Mercurybird
Premium
join:2004-06-24
Hooks, TX
·Allegiance Communi..
·CableOne
| Okay thanks for the heads up on M. I'll keep that in mind. Ya never know, I might be in the market for another flavor if this doesn't work out. And what can I say, I'll probably be driven toward it later on just out of curiosity. After all, back to the Baskin Robins illustration, with this many flavors at my fingertips, how can I try just one?
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They said if I wanted to take the "C" out of RAP that I would have to put it in somewhere else. So here it is; What's crappening? |
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alien9999999
Your Head Looks Nice
Premium
join:2002-05-21
B-3000
| there is that,
but also, don't switch distro's like you switch food...
be patient with your food and try it a few times...
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Alien is my name and headbiting is my game. |
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Mercurybird
Premium
join:2004-06-24
Hooks, TX
·Allegiance Communi..
·CableOne
| Where in the heck is B8511? You're not on the map. I know it irritates you but try and be international in your outlook. Did you see that guy that's way up there at the north pole? Well, close anyway. Boy he must be COOOOOOLLLLLLLD! I can't believe he has cable way up there. And to think I can't get cable right here. Boy go figure!
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They said if I wanted to take the "C" out of RAP that I would have to put it in somewhere else. So here it is; What's crappening? |
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computx
Is it Friday yet?
Premium
join:2000-09-02
Kirksville, MO | Since his name and avatar is Alien he is probably hanging out somewhere with Sigourney Weaver.
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To err is human...to really foul up requires the root password. |
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Mercurybird
Premium
join:2004-06-24
Hooks, TX
·Allegiance Communi..
·CableOne
| Bummer! I mean, "bother, said Pooh", "that alien slobbers so bad, he's ruining all my honey." But then, he's hanging with Sigourney. What can you expect?
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They said if I wanted to take the "C" out of RAP that I would have to put it in somewhere else. So here it is; What's crappening? |
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No_Strings
Premium,Mod
join:2001-11-22
The OC
Host:
Wireless Networking
All Things Unix
Cox HSI
Qwest
Efficient
| reply to computx
said by computx : he is probably hanging out somewhere with Sigourney Weaver. Not even in his dreams. |
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ironwalker
World Renowned
Premium,MVM
join:2001-08-31
Keansburg, NJ
clubs:
·Optimum Online
| reply to Al1776
said by Al1776 :said by dave :You might be better off asking this question over in the Security forum, though. I agree, but I was hoping the OP would tell me what HE uses as I want to hear from actual users who are not XP haters. I wonder how Access 2000 would run under Crossover Office. Maybe I won't have to run Windows? Then again there is the 'right tool for the job' thing... and I have a dual boot box.. but have not booted to XP for 2 years... and never while connected to the router. Al I use xp too....and to answer your question and to mimic dave.....a brain.
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Live Free or Die! |
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