Ok.. I'm going Linux for my secondary OS.. Finally.

Elif Tymes · Apr 10, 2006

Here are my requirements:

#1) Must have a broad range of drivers available for the platform, specifically support for the Core Duo line.
#2) Must have a low impact GUI bundled with it
#3) Must have easy to use package installations
#4) Must be able to work with NTFS/FAT file systems without issues.

Not a hugely difficult list. Fill me in

itshondo · Apr 10, 2006

Look at PCLinuxOS- It should fit the bill.

khiloa · Apr 10, 2006

Also check out Ubuntu, http://www.ubuntulinux.org

Should fill all your requirements.

Gnufsh · Apr 10, 2006

Elif Tymes said:
Here are my requirements:

#1) Must have a broad range of drivers available for the platform, specifically support for the Core Duo line.

Should be no problem with a recent distro.

#2) Must have a low impact GUI bundled with it

Don't know about this one. What system specs are you talking about? Light weight WMs tend to have less fancy gui config tools to use. Unless you have something truely old or a very small amount or ram, KDE or GNOME should work fine.

#3) Must have easy to use package installations

Aim for something debian based, like Ubuntu or Kubuntu.

#4) Must be able to work with NTFS/FAT file systems without issues.

FAT is no problem, NTFS is more difficult. The linux NTFS driver is reverse-engineered, and currently only fully supports read only access (although write support is improving). You can get read/write support with captive, which wraps around the windows drivers, but it's substantially slower.

TollhouseFrank · Apr 10, 2006

Try Kanotix http://kanotix.com/

Elif Tymes · Apr 11, 2006

Heh, I don't know if Kanotix has an English version

.

As for Debian based... I was thinking about going straight debian. I've used debian in a server enviroment before, and I really liked it.

Is there a significant difference between *untu and Debian? I'm going to probably do a PCLinux Install today, see if I like it.

It's going to be running on a Dell Inspiron 9400, so Driver support is a big deal for me. Windows didn't even detect my Wireless/Standard network cards

.

Gnufsh · Apr 11, 2006

Ubuntu is going to be better at dfetecting your hardware, easier to install, and easier to configure than straight debian, I believe.

itshondo · Apr 11, 2006

Xandros is another very good Debian based distro. The only problem I have with the OSS version is that CD burning is intentionally linited to 2X. If you buy the standard version, it is unlocked.

Newegg is selling the Xandros Desktop OS Version 3 Standard Edition for $35.00 with a $35.00 mail in rebate, so it's actually free.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16832106501

Even though I really like Xandros, IMo it still lags behind PCLinuxOS.

Elif Tymes · Apr 11, 2006

Tried PCLinuxOS, but it didn't have any driver support for my network cards/Intel video, so I was forced to run @ 800X600 and have no network connectivity...

itshondo · Apr 11, 2006

My Laptop has Intel video and it works fine.

Did you download the correct ISO file? The downloads are based on your video card.

Also, was your LAN plugged in? It should still have seen it.

And was that the Live CD or an install?

itshondo · Apr 11, 2006

Also, what hardware are you using?

Elif Tymes · Apr 11, 2006

Ok you guys, for some reason X11 refuses to work with my screen?

I'm running a Dell Inspiron 9400 with the integrated 950 graphics... It detects hte hardware fine, and I just use the defaults but it refuses to start.. I'll try to get a log dump

Gnufsh · Apr 11, 2006

It should even have 3d support with the open soruce drivers. What does your config file look like?

Elif Tymes · Apr 11, 2006

Ok, I found some info...

https://wiki.ubuntu.com/i915Driver

About ubuntu, and I believe this is the issue. I forced it to use VESA instead of i810 for the driver, and that helped. I can now use 800X600 resolution(maybe more)

Which config file do you want Gnufsh? X11.conf?

itshondo · Apr 11, 2006

I'd try chaging the screen resolution in the PCLinuxOS Control Center- you can choose the screen type and resolutio. This has more capability than the KDE resolution app.

Elif Tymes · Apr 11, 2006

Well, considering I'm using Kubuntu(Was using Ubuntu, decided "Meh! MAybe it's GNOME!" so I reformated as server and am running apt-get install kubuntu-desktop

Anyway, the problem appears to be with driver support for the X11 system, however I don't know how to find/install the opensource drivers.

itshondo · Apr 11, 2006

Did you do a hard drive install with the PCLinuxOS?

Elif Tymes · Apr 11, 2006

Odd, apparently the chipset is the 945, and there is very little kernel support out for it already... Hmmmm, Starting a thread on notebook support on the ubuntu forums.

Elif Tymes · Apr 11, 2006

I am using Kubuntu, not PCLinuxOS

itshondo · Apr 11, 2006

Elif Tymes said:
Tried PCLinuxOS, but it didn't have any driver support for my network cards/Intel video, so I was forced to run @ 800X600 and have no network connectivity...

OK, I thought you tried PCLinux OS-

Ok.. I'm going Linux for my secondary OS.. Finally.

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