and by the way, i have also a live cd or should i say dvd for suse 9.2. which is better, knoppix or suse? better in the sense that i dont have to read stuffs. forgive me for being lazy. =) there are a lot of people like me that are used to windows but wants to switch to linux but are afraid of going back to zero again.

IMHO, if you are "too lazy" to read, and want your OS to work like what you are used to, then just stick with Windows. Linux for the desktop is still rough around the edges.

I've got Red Hat Enterprise Linux WS at work and a dual-boot XP Pro and Mandrake Linux 10.0 at home. The Mandrake system will automount and auto-unmount removable media. However it took much research and experimentation to get the display driver properly configured for my DVI monitor -- this was automatic under Windows. And configuration of the system options are much different for Linux -- everything is in text configuration files, which you either have to manually edit or use a GUI front end, the front end is different for each Linux implementation.

If you want to get rid of Windows, with the least amount of reading, get a Mac. We just added one to our home network. Mac OS X is Unix based, but with probably the best user interface of any OS. A very pleasant experience, indeed!

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@treebarkgem wrote:

thanks for the info. i guess it will take longer to save for a mac than to read a book about linux. i think i have no choice but to read. :smileyvery-happy:

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Yeah, I know the Mac Solution doesn't help if you already have a PC box and are contemplating Linux, but keep it in mind for future purchases. Rumor has it that Apple will be introducing a $500 model (less monitor) in a month or two -- they are finally going after the not-rich crowd, it seems.

Hi, I guess if you really want to switch, you have to learn again, because there isn´t much alike, at all between, the GNU/Linux system and the Microsoft windows system. Take it as a pure and new relation in a new world. I´m sure if you want to learn and read again for about a month or three, you will laugh at yourself and the tiny knowledge of (microsoft)computers in the end.
I started also with Knoppix, about a year ago, and it is still a fantastic thing. I still use it to help people with their all messed up Microsoft computers, to make back ups, etc. I play sometimes with DamnSmallLinux, or MuLinux, but when you want to install something, go for Debian, Slackware or Suse.
You really, really, better learn to use the command line.
I have a dual boot ms win 95 / DamnSmallLinux on an old Pentium 75Mhz, with a 1,5 Gb HD and 48 Mb RAM, booting with an exotic boot program.
I have a Dimension4500 and a Dimension4600 with dual boots MS win xp home / Suse 9.1
Than there is an older Celeron 666Mhz with 20Gb HD and 128+64 Mb RAM, running only a Hard Disk installed Knoppix 3.6
And to be honest, I only boot windows to play DEUS EX.
Have a lot of fun, and greetings from Belgium - Europe.

Greetings, I would say if you want to give Linux a try....bravo to you! :-)
Don't be afraid to try it. I haven't tried Knoppix, but i hear that it is a good way to experience a Linux OS w/o having to install to HDD.
Personally I use Mandrake Linux, currently 10.1, and have been using it since 8.2 for the most part. At first I got my feet wet by setting up a dual-boot with MS, but on my current setup, I am running Mandrake exclusively on my new Inspiron 1150.
You WILL have to learn/relearn some things to use Linux, but the experience, I have found, is very rewarding overall.
And, not having to be constantly paranoid about the latest virus threats is a wonderful blessing. :-)
Mandrake has a friendly user interface, is easy to install under most circumstances, and is well designed and solid OS.

I am sure that other Linux flavors are very good as well, but I am only familiar with Mandrake at the moment.

You can use Linux if you have the desire. Look at it as a challenge, and most importantly....have fun!

Best regards to you.