[silkstone]

This isn't an advert for Linux, but is intended to help anyone thinking of trying it out or even building/buying a compatible PC.

It's something of a miracle that a completely different operating system will run at all on a machine designed for Windows, but the latest versions ('distributions') of Linux often work straight out of the box. Sometimes it takes a while for open source or compatible drivers to catch up with the most recent hardware, but the good news is that you don't need such a high-spec machine to run Linux quicker than Windows.

Which version?

The most popular distribution of Linux is Ubuntu, and the latest version is Ubuntu 8.04 which is otherwise known as 'Hardy Heron'. (The previous was 'Gutsy Gibbon', before that 'Feisty Fawn', and.... well, you get the idea. )

You can download Ubuntu Hardy - Ubuntu Home Page | Ubuntu - and burn the ISO image to CD. (Most CD-burning software will let you do that, or you can download free Windows applications that will.) If you set your BIOS to boot first from CD - or enable the F12 boot menu - you can then run Ubuntu (very slowly!) from this 'Live CD' without it changing anything at all on your machine. This is a very good way of seeing if it works, before installing or changing anything.

If it does work and you're happy to take the plunge, there is an 'Install' icon on the desktop which will guide you through installing Ubuntu either on its own or as dual boot with Windows.

Hardware

With some telephone support from Chris H - ("Where's this b****y cable supposed to go?") - last weekend I dismembered a redundant 2-year-old XP machine and replaced the motherboard, processor and graphics card, before Installing Ubuntu Hardy.

First I booted into the Ubuntu Live CD, and (much to my surprise) everything worked. I then installed it properly and it still worked. I have since done some tweaking, adding extra codecs and so on, but basically this hardware configuration is just fine. Here's what I have...

Abit Fatality FP-IN9-SLi motherboard
Intel E4600 core-2-duo 2.4GHz CPU
Nvidia 8400GS 512MB graphics card

Legacy from previous machine...
2GB DDR2 RAM
2 x 320 GB SATA drives
1 x DVD ROM
1 x DVD rewriter
Seasonic 430W PSU
Cheapo case with front USB ports, mic and headphone sockets etc.

I also bought a new LG L226WTQ 22" monitor - very pleased with it.

This machine is not going to break any records, and I wouldn't recommend it for gamers, but it runs (almost) everything I need very well indeed.

If anyone is thinking of trying or installing Linux, please get in touch - either in this forum or by PM. There are some great shortcuts to getting everything running well, especially DVD playback, streaming video, etc.

[fgates]

I don't think most people will want to throw Windows yet, but Linux is quite simple to install and use. There are a few niggles though, but a Google search often supplies an answer. There is also plenty of free photo editting software, but as with any new software it takes time to get used to them.

You can even install both Windows and Linux on the same machine, but be careful that you do not format the drive and wipe out your data permanently. I've done it, it wasn't difficult but do not use the default options. Read everything carefully.

[silkstone]

You can also post a question on Ubuntu Forums and plenty of people will try to help. e.g. I installed a card reader in my new Linux machine today, and I couldn't stop the default application (f-spot) from loading whenever I inserted a card. I got a very simple solution within a few minutes of posting on that forum, and no, it wasn't "use Windows instead".