Thread: Linux or OpenBSD?

  1. #1
    Novice Programmer Pyroteh's Avatar
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    Linux or OpenBSD?

    Which is a better Open-Source operating system? If Linux which version do you prefer? I don't really know much about OpenBSD....

    I want a Unix based open-source operating system installed onto my computer.....

    I currently have a Dell Dimension DIM4600 intel pentium 4 CPU 2.80 GHz 2.79GHz, 512mb of RAM.

    I'm running Windows XP Professional.

  2. #2
    Registered User MathFan's Avatar
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    I vote linux. There are several distributions, but I prefer Slackware. It's the one that is the most unix-alike. Though it isn't really user friendly, so I don't know if it's a good thing to start with if you are a beginner.

    Mandrake or RedHat would have been a better choice I think. Much more user friendly, less configuration needed (that is more of it is done automatically) etc...

    Debian is also a possibility. It stands somewhere between Slack and Mdk and RH. It is more difficult than the last two, but easier than Slack (at least in my opinion). It is though most remarkable for its package system. It is very easy to update/upgrade and install packages. It is done automatically through a server so you do not need to look for them elsewhere... The only thing you need to know is app's name.

    You can also give Slax a try. It's a great live linux dist. It can run from ram, so you really don't need to install anything. Very nice design and many features of the full system.

    Here are some links you can take a look at:

    Slackware
    Mandrake
    RedHat

    SLAX
    The OS requirements were Windows Vista Ultimate or better, so we used Linux.

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    Novice Programmer Pyroteh's Avatar
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    haha... love the signature MathFan....

    so which one has the best price? I know that through Linuxonline.org I can download a version of Linux....

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    Registered User MathFan's Avatar
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    You mean price like how much it costs? Well, all of the distributions above are free, like most of the linux distrivutions in general; there are exceptions though, like Suse, which is totally commercial. Mandrake and RedHat have also commercial builds. But those are mainly for larger companies etc. What you need is the free version. Just look at the links I wrote in the previous post (Yeah, I know, Mandrake's and ReHat's sites are rather hard to navigate, but eventually you will find what you are looking for). Mind you, the free RedHat dist is called FedoraCore. If you can't find where to download these dists, just google it and I'm sure you'll find them somewhere...

    Here is a useful page for those who are downloading linux for the first time.

    There is also a more or less full list of distributions here. (As you see, there are REALLY many of them )


    If you are asking which of the distributions is best, well... There is really no answer to this question. You should try them for yourself and find out which one of them you like best. But for a beginner, I think Mandrake or FedoraCore would be great.

    Hope this helps...
    The OS requirements were Windows Vista Ultimate or better, so we used Linux.

  5. #5
    Novice Programmer Pyroteh's Avatar
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    ok right.... but I have a 56k modem.... and... damn.... haha... its going to take forever....

  6. #6
    Registered User MathFan's Avatar
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    Hmmm... now that's a problem... Like, Debian, it's on 9 (!) cd-s! Hehe...

    But you can get linux otherwise, too. You can for example order a cd set of some distribution (may cost something like 6-10$) or you can buy some linux magazine (like Linux Magazine or Linux Format) - they very often include full distros on their cds/dvd. Or you can always ask a friend to download it for ya'...
    The OS requirements were Windows Vista Ultimate or better, so we used Linux.

  7. #7
    Novice Programmer Pyroteh's Avatar
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    hmm... yeah... maybe I can ask my cousin... he's got a pretty good connection.... thx though big help... I think Linux is the direction I'm heading...haha..

  8. #8
    Novice Programmer Pyroteh's Avatar
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    ok... another question... haha.... last one.. I promise....

    I'm currently looking at the website linuxcd.org.... and I have found the cd that I want... I want to get the fedora core 4...
    my question is... one has i386 and the other has x86_64.... I assume that I should get the x86_64 because.... it just sounds right... but I'm not all too keen on these things so.... which one should I get?

  9. #9
    Registered User MathFan's Avatar
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    ok... another question... haha.... last one.. I promise....
    Just ask as many as you can come up with

    Unless you have an AMD64 processor, choose i386...
    The OS requirements were Windows Vista Ultimate or better, so we used Linux.

  10. #10
    Novice Programmer Pyroteh's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by MathFan
    Just ask as many as you can come up with
    haha will do....

    I don't have an AMD 64 processor... so I take it go with the other one?

  11. #11
    Novice Programmer Pyroteh's Avatar
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    or wait.... unless I have an AMD64.... so I should get the i386? I miss read.... haha....

  12. #12
    Crazy Fool Perspective's Avatar
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    x86_64 is for 64 bit architectures (like AMD64, IA64)

    you want the i386 (or x86). Pentium chips are x86.

  13. #13
    Novice Programmer Pyroteh's Avatar
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    haha yeah... ok... thx

  14. #14
    Registered User MathFan's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Perspective
    x86_64 is for 64 bit architectures (like AMD64, IA64)
    Hold on a sec, isn't x86_64 ONLY for AMD64? Or say it the other way: The AMD64 IS the same architecture as x86_64 or simply x64.

    IA64 (Instruction Architecture 64) is (as I understand) another architecture, which is different from AMD64.


    Or am I totally wrong now?
    The OS requirements were Windows Vista Ultimate or better, so we used Linux.

  15. #15
    Crazy Fool Perspective's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by MathFan
    Hold on a sec, isn't x86_64 ONLY for AMD64? Or say it the other way: The AMD64 IS the same architecture as x86_64 or simply x64.

    IA64 (Instruction Architecture 64) is (as I understand) another architecture, which is different from AMD64.


    Or am I totally wrong now?
    your right, IA64 (Itanium) is not x86_64.. my bad.

    x86_64 is for generic 64 bit x86 CPU's, AMD64 is the only commercial one at the moment, but intel is rumored to be making one.

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