[CLUE-Talk] would like to try Linux

[Timothy C. Klein]

Technically Linux will run on a 386 with 4 mb of RAM.  Realistically,
most distributions won't install on that anymore.  A Pentium 133 or
above is usable, but a bit slow, for the X Window System.  X is the GUI
that is used in Linux, and would be needed for what you are describing.
Star Office or Open Office will inter-operate with MS Office, more or
less.  A PII/Celeron/K6 in the 300 MHz range with 128 MB of RAM is
completely usable.  Look for at least a couple GB of hard disk, the more
the better.  There are many distributions to choose from.  I hear good
things about Mandrake for newbies, but RedHat is the most popular
probably.

You should check out www.linuxdoc.org and read some of the beginner
HOWTOs to get a feel for what you will need to do.  Also, keep your eye
out for an InstallFest, so you could get expert help installing Linux.

Lastly, you might check out http://www.knopper.net/knoppix/index-en.html
if you have access to a CD burner and BIOS that can boot from a CD.  It
is a completely self-contained Linux distribution that boots from you
CD-ROM.  You can get a feel for what it is like, with 0 commitment.

Tim

* Walter Hildebrandt (hildy at totalspeed.net) wrote:
> I would like to learn how to get and use Linux for word processing, spreadsheets, and the Internet.  The files must be interchangeable between Linux and Microsoft,Word and Excel.  Where can I get help?  I am completely new to Linux.  I have used computers for 15 years or so and have no programming experience
> 
> I am considering getting a used computer so I do not have to use, and maybe foul-up, my present computer.  What is the minimum specs to use for the "Linux" computer that will do the job very well?
> 
> Hildy
> 
--
==============================================
== Timothy Klein || teece at silverklein.net   ==
== ---------------------------------------- ==
== "Hello, World" 17 Errors, 31 Warnings... ==
==============================================