On Sat, 10 Jan 2004 08:28:22 +0000 (GMT), John Winters <newstmp@sinodun.org.uk> wrote:
>
>
> In article <bcad0998674508884821e58e3a588132@tatooine.homelin ux.net>,
> starwars <nobody@tatooine.homelinux.net> wrote:
>>I am thinking of giving Linux a try, and have a few questions, which I hope
>>the experts here will answer.
>>
>>I'm looking for a version of linux that is easy to install. If it could be
>>as easy as windows 98 to install, that would be ideal, but I'm willing to
>>do a little work if I have to.
>
> It would be difficult to find a version of Linux which was harder to
> install than Windows 98. The task of installing Windows has got easier
> since then but Windows 98 is a proper pig to install.
>
>>Standard office apps are available for linux, if I have it right, and so
>>are email clients and browsers, but I'm wondering how difficult it will be
>>getting linux to recognize my network card.
>
> It will almost certainly just work. It's hard to find a network card
> which doesn't have good Linux support these days.
>
>>Will there be any problem with the CD reader and the CD burner?
>
> Again, most unlikely. Assuming they're normal IDE devices they will
> work fine.
>
>>Once the network card is working, can linux 'talk' to the other computers
>>on our home lan? They are running windows, and are connected using a
>>Linksys router.
>
> Yes, no problem. Assuming you want to use Windows file sharing you'll
> need Samba installed on the Linux box. As long as you're using TCP/IP
> on your Windows boxes they can talk to anything. (If they're using
> Microsoft's obsolete NetBeui instead then upgrade them to TCP/IP.)
>
>>Any idea of the best way to acquire the OS - download or on CD?
>
> Probably easiest to buy a boxed set to start with.
>
> HTH
> John


Second the motion.

I've found the Debian install from the CDs to be a breeze on boxes old
and new.

When in doubt, just hit Enter during the install and the program will work
it out.

Debian installs in the textmode, taking care of the basics first, which is
a very intelligent approach.

AC