Yay Linux!

Lots a questions! There are many places on the ''net to get your answers: Linux Junior is my fav. Linux Newbie is another good place. Linux Docs is a really good place with some tutorials and how-tos. There are many other sites, too.

I hate KDE. I''m using Blackbox right now (with the AlmostX theme) and it rocks. Also, try Window Maker.

Resist everyone
Talk on RavForum(tm)

Ugh!! Why is it everytime someone installs Linux they have to post and brag about it. I see it on Slashdot, ZDNet, and linux.com actually had an article about it!!! They all act like they saved WW III by installing Linux.

Ok, I''m done being a prick now and offering some help. Most distros have a desktop manager which will allow you to switch between Gnome, KDE, and some others. Same goes for the desktop resolution, you might have to dig around in the menus for something labled "configuration" or "control panel".

Gaim is pretty easy to build, usually consists of 3 or 4 steps. First download the source, then untar it in to a directory. I prefer /usr/local/src/ for all my source directories. Build instructions really quick:
tar zxvf gaim-source.59-6.tar.gz
cd gaim-source
make config
make
make install
gaim &

That should get you up and running. Usually the same directions apply to most source apps, untar, make config, make, make install. There is a general build sheet with most source apps called "README". Just "less README" and it will say at the top "general build instructions".

Also of note is like spiffgq said, the linux docs and a few others can be a valuable source to learn from too. If you have a redhat distro then I know redhat has a starter''s guide on their site. I can link to it if need be. Happy trails!

Another linux user, YAY! \(^_^) This is great, stick with it and do not hesitate to read manuals and references and generally mess around with the system, but make clear what you are doing before you start. Working, using and configuring stuff in linux is much more fun than doing the same in Windows. Has anyone managed to get 32 bitdepth 640x480 HQ divx''es running without no lag whatsoever on a 300 MHz Celeron on a windows system ? Well, I did on linux (mandrake). All it took was recompiling xine and the X server with slightly different optimization settings for the compiler. The fact that I can do such things in linux makes me love it :D

I finally got Mandrake 9.0 set up on my machine last night. Only took about three-quarters of an hour! Lets see a Microsoft OS do that!

It is soooo much better than Man8.1. Gnome2 is just beautiful, and bloody fast. The 2.14.9-mk6 kernel seems to have sorted out the memory problems I had with Man8.1, and I finally have the full bash command table and ability to mount my NTFS partition (albeit in read-only format, but at least I can get to my wallpaper folder =p). I don''t know, maybe I just had a dodgy install with the last version, but I just love the new one...

BTW: Mr. Gates, when are Windows users going to see Gnome2''s excellent default 2-panel taskbars??

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#Old Steve, he said to Xerox "Boys, turn your heads and cough"
And when no-one was looking he ripped their interfaces off#
Three Dead Trolls in a Baggie on the truth behind MacOS 1

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