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xiehung Just Arrived
Joined: 19 Apr 2002 Posts: 0 Location: Ottawa, Canada
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Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2005 8:57 am Post subject: Is it a good idea to use Redhat? |
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I was just wondering is it a good idea to use Red Hat window version? The latest one ... i am an xp user ... but thinking of trying something new ... But i am worried that Linux doesnt support softwares ... like games, movies, songs, etc etc ...
I know Linux is more stable right? Will i have to be worried bout getting hack on Linux? I know a lot of hackers like to hack Linux ... any suggestions?
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0x54 Just Arrived
Joined: 01 Aug 2004 Posts: 0
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Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2005 10:50 am Post subject: |
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You have a curious view of linux it appears.
I dont really know what you mean by "Red Hat window version" of random note, I'll just pretend you mean the latest thing to come out of redhat.
Perhaps http://www.redhat.com/software/rhel/desktop/
"But i am worried that Linux doesnt support softwares ... like games, movies, songs, etc etc ... "
Its not a case of linux supporting games, but rather games supporting linux. Some work in linux (either natively or in winex) and some dont. Theres lists around, if your curious if your favorate game works or not.
Linux will play whatever songs/movies you have - unless you use some really really weird format, I think after you get used to mplayer, youll sit starring at WMP pondering its bloated inferiority and inablity to play even basic things like vorbis out of the box (ohhhh. and dont even think about theora..).
"I know Linux is more stable right?"
In my opinion, thats not a question but rather fact.
"Will i have to be worried bout getting hack on Linux?"
Your level of worry should not exceed your current level of worry in windows xp.
"I know a lot of hackers like to hack Linux ... any suggestions?"
Oh really? Anything can be hacked, all it takes is a ignorant admin.
There is, unfortunately, a whole lot to many badly configured linux boxes sitting on the net right know set up by people that didnt really know what they were doing. The same could be said for windows too I suppose.
At any rate security is proportional to your education for the most part,
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elleqq Just Arrived
Joined: 06 Nov 2004 Posts: 0
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Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2005 12:02 pm Post subject: |
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I was just wondering is it a good idea to use Red Hat window version? The latest one ... |
Do you mean Red Hat 9 or a RH Enterprise product? - if you mean Red Hat 9 then, NO - it's old now - use a more up to date distribution - if your coming from XP, then possibly Mandrake, SuSE, Mepis, etc etc.....
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I know a lot of hackers like to hack Linux ... any suggestions? |
Yes..... - only install what software you feel you need - use good passwords - use an ordinary user account (ie NOT a root account) - disable any un-needed services - use a Firewall - keep your system updated with security patches/updates etc - (if you feel it necessary deploy intrusion detction software) - finally, a handy first line of defence - a hardware router/SPI firewall
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xiehung Just Arrived
Joined: 19 Apr 2002 Posts: 0 Location: Ottawa, Canada
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Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2005 7:37 pm Post subject: |
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Interesting comment all! Thank you ... Since my computer just crashes on me and now i have everything reformatted ... no worries bout crashing it again ... i think i might give it a try ... I am thinking of doing a dual boot tho. . ... Cuz if anything, i can always use my window to play games ... So is the redhat desktop any good compare to Mandrake, suse etc etc? or they are just the same thing?
Yea .. you are right, Linux window version i meant is the linux that doesnt require commands like back in the days but just like normal window ... haha
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caveman Just Arrived
Joined: 02 Dec 2004 Posts: 0 Location: The Void
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Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2005 10:31 pm Post subject: |
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Start using slackware if you want to "Learn" linux. If you want to use linux and want it to be easy to setup and not know what is installed and don't care to know what is running, use Fedora/redhat.
Just my opinion though......everybody has different views.
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elleqq Just Arrived
Joined: 06 Nov 2004 Posts: 0
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Posted: Wed Jan 05, 2005 12:27 am Post subject: |
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Yea .. you are right, Linux window version i meant is the linux that doesnt require commands like back in the days but just like normal window ... haha |
Yes - however - you might still want to use some "commands" though - take a "typical" Fedora update:
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# yum check-update
# yum update |
etc...
or maybe Mandrake sec. update:
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# urpmi.update -a
# urpmi --update --auto-select |
So although things are now more user-friendly, you still might want to use the CLI for a variety of tasks - plenty of scope either way
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mekros Just Arrived
Joined: 15 Jul 2003 Posts: 1 Location: Manila
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Posted: Wed Jan 05, 2005 3:18 am Post subject: |
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just a quick reply... try mandrake... am on dual and ive been using it for two months now and i can say that its "user-friendly" for someone who has been used to windows... installation is quite easy...
or you can try it on vmware first...
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xiehung Just Arrived
Joined: 19 Apr 2002 Posts: 0 Location: Ottawa, Canada
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Posted: Wed Jan 05, 2005 6:18 am Post subject: |
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Mandrake sounds good ... since you used it first time and find it alright ... hehe ... I have no idea what those command does ... :S i hope i dun have to encounter any ... hehe ... any good place i can download Mandrake? Trial version, i don't mind, but preferably full ... hehe ... i m greedy
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Ronin Just Arrived
Joined: 14 Jan 2003 Posts: 0
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Posted: Wed Jan 05, 2005 12:45 pm Post subject: |
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xiehung wrote: |
Mandrake sounds good ... since you used it first time and find it alright ... hehe ... I have no idea what those command does ... :S i hope i dun have to encounter any ... hehe ... any good place i can download Mandrake? Trial version, i don't mind, but preferably full ... hehe ... i m greedy |
Mandrake like all linux distros is free to use. Just go to the MDK website, click the download link, then the I am already a member one and away you go.
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hugo Forum Fanatic
Joined: 14 Jun 2003 Posts: 16777215 Location: Netherlands, Europe
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Posted: Wed Jan 05, 2005 6:10 pm Post subject: Re: Is it a good idea to use Redhat? |
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xiehung wrote: |
But i am worried that Linux doesnt support softwares ... like games, movies, songs, etc etc ... |
LOL that was my fear initially too. Before I knew any better, I was still an avid Windows user; and all I heard about linux was that there wasn't a lot of software.
Finally jumping in the deep proved that rumour seriously wrong.. (Probably Microsoft's intellectual property; that rumour..). I was able to do even more stuff on linux than I could imagine -- and most of it's free too! (From a developers point-of-view, open source operating systems are excellent.)
Back then, some file-formats were impossible to play or view, but nowadays most types of media-files are supported (.wav, .wma, .mp3, .ogg, .mpg, .wmv, etc. etc.)
Keep in mind though that, on open source operating systems, there is absolutely no way to play Microsoft DRM'd media files -- and I think it's never gonna come either. That is their dirty tactic for getting more people to run their stuff, while their dangling this juicy fish in front the faces of movie- and record executives which, to my disappointment, don't seem to get through their thick heads that DRM isn't the way to solve piracy because it's idea is technically flawed.
But I seriously digress... Point is that, if you might have purchased these media-files you will be disappointed when you wouldn't be able to play them. Just a thing to keep in mind.
There are also a lot of games, but don't expect the big commercial (PS2, Nintendo, etc.) titles to be released. Some 3D Windows games can be played on linux too; I have heard success stories playing Windows games through the program WineX; but don't expect too much of it.
Other than that, linux is great and it could possibly take a few different distributions before you find out which one you like most.
Have fun exploring linux if you're gonna go for it!
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capi SF Senior Mod
Joined: 21 Sep 2003 Posts: 16777097 Location: Portugal
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Posted: Wed Jan 05, 2005 10:45 pm Post subject: |
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Good call trying out an alternative to the Windows monopoly! You won't be disappointed - there are countless distributions (flavors) of Linux out there, aimed at the most varied tastes, from the most hardcore technical geek stuff to the most Windows-like (on the outside only, that is).
Remember, in operating systems as in everything, the consumer can only benefit from a wider range of options to choose from. The world desperately needs a viable alternative to Windows - if not for the technical reasons (which do exist and are strong enough to warrant a change), at least to ensure healthy competition and subsequent progress. But I digress...
I would suggest you take a look at a few threads we've had here at SFDC on a similar subject (users starting with Linux and looking for advice on which distribution to use, etc). A few that come to mind would be:
Everything you need to know about *NIX
secure linux
Installing Suse 9.1 Personal edition with Windows?
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xiehung Just Arrived
Joined: 19 Apr 2002 Posts: 0 Location: Ottawa, Canada
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Posted: Thu Jan 06, 2005 4:03 pm Post subject: |
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Thank you everyone ... i will look into it more, before i install it ... try to learn things first i'll post here if i have any problems running Linux ... hehe
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dadragon Just Arrived
Joined: 20 Oct 2004 Posts: 5
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Posted: Thu Jan 06, 2005 5:23 pm Post subject: |
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It's not a bad idea to run RedHat at all. Bottom line is this...do not run services that you do not need and if you are new to Linux or want to get a feel of the Linux environment i recommend KNoppix even though it's based on Debian. KNoppix is a live CD meaning that you can boot the OS right from the CD and there are lots of applications ready to run and i mean applications that you would pay a fortune for if you were running BillGates 98/2K/Xp or 2003 etc. Honestly i reckon it's probably the best way to learn Linux as i use a customised version for training courses.
Once you get that feel on KNoppix running RedHat will be a breeze for you. Remember that there are tools and applications like Wine and VMware that will enable for you to run windows based applications and virtual Operating systems. But you know there is nothing wrong with dual booting...
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xiehung Just Arrived
Joined: 19 Apr 2002 Posts: 0 Location: Ottawa, Canada
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Posted: Fri Jan 07, 2005 3:56 am Post subject: |
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I am so eager to try this now .... hahah ... but a bit afraid that i might screw up my comp ... lol ... what bout the drivers compatibility?
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ryansutton Trusted SF Member
Joined: 25 Aug 2004 Posts: 67 Location: San Francisco, California
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Posted: Fri Jan 07, 2005 4:49 am Post subject: |
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Linux has good hardware support now. Check out http://hardware.redhat.com/hcl/ for Redhat's hardware compability guide.
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Giro New Member
Joined: 25 Mar 2004 Posts: 22 Location: England
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Posted: Fri Jan 07, 2005 2:59 pm Post subject: |
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Linux hardware support is better out of the box then MS the only driver you normally need to install is the Nvidia/ATI drivers.
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