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Topic: excelent distro but no good for newb's, I'm giving up

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totty

Group: Members
Posts: 17
Joined: Oct. 2003

Posted: Nov. 10 2003,13:48

Just like to say I'm really impressed with dsl, but I think it needs a larger user base before its going to be suitable for total linux newb's like myself.
I've found it too different to other distros to be able to search the web for help and try to muddle your way through which only leaves you with the forums on this site for help. Which if you look through you'll find loads where the problems were never solved, more than any other forum I've ever used. I'm not trying to blame the forum users (without there help I wouldnt have got x on my desktop or past the scsi scan on my laptop), but each person can only know so much, its just simply down to lack of users.
I think I'll probably try something more mainstream next like red hat and then maybe give dsl another go once I have a bit more experiance.

Thanks

Totty

That 1 Guy
Unregistered

Posted: Nov. 10 2003,20:34

Well I can understand where you're comming from. I was a complete linux newb and this was the first distro I tried. This was before the fourms were around. I used damn small to learn on because it dosen't need to be installed so if I screwed up I could just reset. Do it like I did, just jump in with both feet. If you screw up no biggie, just reboot. Now I'm not such a newb now I'm more like a newb with a clue(somewhat

), but to each thier own.

totty

Group: Members
Posts: 17
Joined: Oct. 2003

Posted: Nov. 10 2003,23:32

Well I'm pleased to say that Thanks to some recent help I'm giving it another try.
I chose dsl partly for the same reason but I was also curious to see exactly how much could be crammed into such a small distro. I've always complained about bloatware. The problem was I hit a total dead end with noting I could think of left to try, with more users would come more searchable info which would make dead ends less common.

blahblah

Group: Members
Posts: 10
Joined: Sep. 2003

Posted: Nov. 15 2003,07:34

Totty,
You did not specify what you really like to do with a linux disto-whether you want dsl as a LIVE CD or a hard disk installed system. If you want a distro with a lot of users I would suggest KNOPPIX and use it as a LIVE CD. It is also a good distro for a hd install.
If you migrate from dsl to Red Hat then as a newbie(I hate this word-I prefer Beginner) you are in for a big surprise as red hat is quite different to dsl.
DSL came from knoppix,so it would be better for you to go to knoppix first.And it only needs 1 cd .
The route you will be taking is DSL-Knoppix- Debian!

johnmarranca Offline

Group: Members
Posts: 8
Joined: Nov. 2003

Posted: Nov. 30 2003,17:52

As far as a distro for "newbies", I think DSL is PERFECT. Look, after struggling with Mandrake's "Linux For Windows", and a few other distros that I tried (and even became a shareholder of), they were still quite involved for the beginner. What's worse is that when mistakes were made, it was usually devastating. (Once or twice my "Linux Ignorance" even led me to have to revert to the old "a:/fdisk /mbr" to start AGAIN)

DSL running as the LIVE ISO is great (so long as you don't shutdown frequently), since any mistakes that a new user makes are wiped clean upon "reboot", I have learned quite a bit from using it in just a few days.

I now have a new use for my old AMD K-6 (I usually use BeOS...but the K-6 has a "non-compliant" video card)

John

10 replies since Nov. 10 2003,13:48

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