[ILUG] Advice on setting up Linux please

[Justin MacCarthy]

> I'm hoping that this is the right place to ask the following questions.

Yeap welcome !

> What I want to do is install a version of Linux.

I persume that you want to "DUAL boot" your computer so you can still use
windows for VB etc .. Check out these links
http://www.linux.ie/articles/tutorials/dualboot.php
http://www.linuxdoc.org/HOWTO/Linux+Windows-HOWTO/index.html

There is also info on Dual Booting in the "Linux in a Nutshell " book
mentioned at the bottom.

http://www.linuxdoc.org has alot of linux documentation to download . view
etc...

You'll need to get linux versions of

ICQ,
Internet Explorer &  Outlook Express
Spreadsheets

for Linux check out http://www.linux.ie/newusers/alternatives.php
for these...

Check out http://www.linux.ie/newusers/ for lot of other handy stuff for the
Irish Linux user.

> My questions are:
> For the above uses, what is the best version of linux to install?

This is a very personal choice. People will argue for ages on the best
version.
here is a "Howto" on the different dists.

http://www.linuxdoc.org/HOWTO/Distributions-HOWTO/index.html


> Where in Dublin can I get disks for this install? (Linux is too big to
> download on 56K dial-up)

Lot of shops have Linux in stock, prices vary. But several people on this
list will give you disks for next to nothing (or food in Kates case)

> What books should I be looking at for basic user?

Using Linux
Linux in a Nutshell

 both by O'reilly should give you everything you need to

> What books should I be looking at for more advanced user?

all order , depends what direction you want to go. Programming ? Office
user? networking?

> Anything else I should be considering?

Yeap it's an adventure :-)  also you'll need to check you printers /
scanners, modems work with linux....oh yeah don't expect too much support
from places like IOL , Esat etc .. WE "don't support linux" is something
you'll hear often. But there is a huge base of linux user out there that
will help..

> Thanks in advance
> John
>

Your welcome,

Justin