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RedHat Linux: Fedora 9

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Deozaan:
Okay, I'm another one of those life-long Windows users who doesn't know a lot about linux. I've accessed a few linux clusters using PuTTy a few times but other than that (and even including that) I don't really know what I'm doing when it comes to linux. I just started a new semester in school, working on my Computer Science degree, and for my programming class I'm going to be doing a lot of Java, working in a linux shell, and accessing a Linux cluster to submit my homework and test my programs, etc. If you are an experienced linux user, you will most likely be able to tell by my vocabulary that I really don't know what I'm talking about when it comes to linux vocabulary. I decided it was time to get linux installed on a computer of my own and thought I may as well use what my school is using.

So, I just purchased a netbook (MSI Wind U120-024US), and scancode was helpful enough to help me out with nLite and the HP USB Format tool to create a bootable USB drive so I can install Windows XP Pro SP3 on the thing, but I also want to dual boot with linux. The Wind won't arrive until sometime next week so I'm taking this time to prepare getting the software I want on it for installation. So, back to Fedora 9.

After navigating RedHat's website I found this mirror to download Fedora 9. And this is where I'm not sure what to do. It appears as though Fedora 9 uses 7 CDs to fully install (What the smurf is that about? Windows XP fits on a single CD!) but before I even get there, do I download the i386 version or the x86_64 version?

Once that question is answered, should I download all seven ISOs or just the NetInstall ISO or get a Live CD? Just keep in mind that netbooks (or at least the Wind I ordered) doesn't actually have an optical drive, so if I need to boot from CD I'm kind of smurfed unless I can get it to work on my 8GB or 512MB flash stick.

I suppose those are all the questions I have for now regarding which one to download. Also if any of you have personal experience with Fedora I'd especially appreciate your input on whether or not it's a good idea to go with that particular distro or if it's a pain in the neck. The one at school doesn't seem that difficult but then again, it's already been set up for me. I didn't have to mount filesystems or whatever to get it running first. It just boots into a windows-like GUI of some sort and I click the button for the shell from the Fedora equivalent of the quick launch bar.

f0dder:
Personally, I'd go for Ubuntu or KUbuntu - easy to use, pretty updated, comes on a single install media. Should be possible to netinstall (though I never did that myself. You need a netboot installer, which come as CD ISOs usually, dunno the procedures involved in getting it onto your flashdrive).

Grab the x86 version, you don't have a use for x64 - I'm not sure whether the ATOM CPU in the machine supports 64bit anyway.

8GB SSD for both XP and Linux? Going to be cramped for space.

Deozaan:
Personally, I'd go for Ubuntu or KUbuntu - easy to use, pretty updated, comes on a single install media. Should be possible to netinstall (though I never did that myself. You need a netboot installer, which come as CD ISOs usually, dunno the procedures involved in getting it onto your flashdrive).

Grab the x86 version, you don't have a use for x64 - I'm not sure whether the ATOM CPU in the machine supports 64bit anyway.-f0dder (January 23, 2009, 12:54 AM)
--- End quote ---

I'm sure the ATOM CPU doesn't handle 64bit either. But the iso from the mirror doesn't let me choose x86 or x64. It gives me a single choice of x86_64, which I'm guessing at this point means it contains both x86 and x64 versions on the ISOs.

8GB SSD for both XP and Linux? Going to be cramped for space.-f0dder (January 23, 2009, 12:54 AM)
--- End quote ---

No. The Wind has a 160GB SATA drive. But since it has no optical drive the only alternative I can think of is somehow booting ISOs on my 8GB USB stick.

f0dder:
Ah, my bad - I read that as 8GB (SSD harddisk implied) or 512MB usb drive :)

AFAIK some of the ATOM models do include 64bit, but the models used in netbooks are 32-bit only - could be wrong, though. But again, even if it supported 64bit, I'd go for 32.

Anyway, there's only "x86_64"? I personally read that as 64bit-only - but it's damn annoying that 64bit x86 has been called so many things, can make the things a bit muddy. Personally I prefer x64, since you can say simple "x86" or "x64", same number of chars. A lot of linux distros prefer "i386" or "amd64", respectively... while I'm not fond of those naming conventions, at least it makes stuff pretty unambiguous. Ubuntu uses this naming scheme, hint hint ;)

Any particular reason you feel like sticking with redhat? It sounds like you've only had relatively limited linux use so far, things that are going to be more or less the same across different distros. Imho Ubuntu is a good choice because it's got a lot of inertia going, and it's relatively easy to deal with - without trying to to clone Windows and such.

zridling:
Yea, I'd forget RedHat, too for a netbook. Those 7 CDs include the extras, which are tons of drivers and all the extra software (so that you don't have to download them). However, I presume you're not going to be using your netbook as you would a full laptop or desktop, so why not consider a lean cloud-centered distro like gOS?



The latest beta (3.1) works fine and though it sets up a number of gadgets on the open desktop, you can close or dock them. If you need a Gmail/Google account, email me at [email protected] and I'll send you an invitation.

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