[H-GEN] Question from a wannabe Linux newbie.

[Ewan Edwards]

[ Humbug *General* list - semi-serious discussions about Humbug and     ]
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Thanks for the responses so far.

One thing I did neglect to mention.  This PC is going to be connected to the 
'net through a Telstra cable modem via a built-in 10/100 ethernet interface.  
Not sure what (if any) difference may make.



On Thursday 16 January 2003 02:54 pm, Ewan Edwards wrote:
> [ Humbug *General* list - semi-serious discussions about Humbug and     ]
> [ Unix-related topics. Posts from non-subscribed addresses will vanish. ]
>
> Good afternoon all,
>
> I have the uneasy feeling that I'm going to start a bigger-than-Ben-Hurr
> discussion / flame war here, but here goes anyway.
>
> One of the people I work with has just ordered himself a brand spanking
> shiny new PC, on which he is planning to install a GNU/Linux operating
> system.  He has now come to myself and a few others here with the question,
> "Which distribution should I use?".
>
> My answer to him was, "I suggest Redhat 7.3 because I'm biased.".
> Others in the office have suggested Mandrake because thats what they use.
>
> So, the point of this email; What do various HUMBUG people suggest for this
> person?
>
> No doubt a lot of you will want to know more about what this person wants
> to do with his shiny new PC before giving a considered opinion.  To answer
> that, I can provide the following incomplete list.
>
> * Will be wanting to learn a bit about shell and Perl scripting, but he's
> not a programmer and has no intention of being a programmer.
> * He intends installing OpenOffice.org on this PC as well as on his office
> PC. * He intends installing VMware and running various versions of Windoze
> as guest operating systems.
> * He is a multi-lingual (English & Spanish) technical writer.
> * He wants to learn about producing platform independent product
> documentation.
> * He says that he needs "to be able to use it, learn about it, not be
> overwhelmed by configuration things, etc., and not be bitten in 6 or 12
> months and have to rebuild stuff."
> * He has some experience with Mandrake as a guest O/S in VMware on Windoze.
> (The lengths some people go to just to get away from Outlook.)
>
> All intelligent suggestions gratefully received.
>
> Regards,
> Ewan


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