So I've finally joined the Linux world...

[[AK]The Beast]

I cobbled together a decent box out of spare parts, and an now running Red Hat 7.3 (2.4.18_3 kernel) on a P3-550 with 192 MB of RAM. The hardest part was finding "Linmodem" drivers for the Lucent-based winmodem I had laying about, but for whatever reason, it worked absurdly easily this time through. (I'd been through 3 rebuilds previously.) So now that I'm up and running, give me some advice, cool apps, etc. I'm hoping to turn this into my "work" computer, ie, use KOffice (or whatever works best) for work-related functions. I'd also like to be able to download and kick out some tunes on this thing for while I'm working, so any good music clients would be great too.

My first impression of the OS is that it's going to take some serious learning at first, but that it will do everything my Windows box will do (except play Windows games, of course). KDE rules--Gnome is easy to use, but doesn't put enough apps within easy reach.

[[AK]Hylander]

Beast,

Welcome to the world of TUX!

I use Linux Mandrake 9.0 myself. Which version of KDE are you using?

If I were you, I would get the latest version of Open Office from OpenOffice.org and as far as media players... you have your choice but I personally like Noatun but the KDE media player is suffice too.

Any videos you may have I would suggest Xine as a good player.

It takes some time but Linux is a powerful OS once you learn your way around it.

[[AK]The Beast]

I'm running release 3.0.0_10 of the KDE environment. Is there an upgrade out there that's worth downloading? Would I put my modem drivers at risk by doing so? I know there's also a later version of the kernel available--I botched the installation of it and had to rebuild. Something about a missing component that I didn't download--I don't remember exactly what it said. Do I risk my Linmodem not working if I update the kernel? (The modem driver was written for my specific version of kernel.)

I'll look into getting OpenOffice and Xine tomorrow. Thanks for the advice! I'm sure I'll have plenty of posts in here as I work my way through the quirks of a new OS. It's like learning to use a computer all over again.

[[AK]Hylander]

I wouldn't mess with updating the Kernel, etc unless you just want the experience of compiling a kernel. (I've never done it myself but I'm a Linux newbie too )

KDE 3 is fine.. I wouldn't mess too much with upgrading that yet either. Get to know the system and become familiar with the components, etc and then you will learn what you need or don't need to upgrade, etc.