winXP->linux

[phreakonaleash]

Hi,
I'm running winXPsp2, & I want to start using Linux. I was wondering which distro you used (if you use linux :)). I'm going to need a downloadable live-cd version , with gnu make, prc-tools and openoffice, IRC, firefox, mail, and AIM/Yahoo IM (if possible)
I'm switching to linux, not as my main os (yet...) , but mostly for developement, and, as I support GPL, freedom from having to pay for stuff, and the ability to further gpl.
Thanks for your time. And please give a poor MS boy a helping hand!

[headcronie]

I'm using KUbuntu Dapper Drake. Live CD is one of the options you can download. You can also install to hd from live cd. If you don't like the KDE interface, you can just go for Ubuntu (Gnome), or if you like the minimalist set, you could do XUbuntu (Xfce). Well supported, with very active forums, and continuous updates. I got my machine up and running in a matter of a few days after getting support on their forums. I never had tried linux previous to this.

[phreakonaleash]

do you use it as a dev system? The main reason i'm upgrading :D is because make (and prc-tools) is built around linux (or so i read). I'll be running it on dialup, and live (cuz I'm using it on multiple computers) so I need most of this stuff on the iso or in the download.

When i (and you) say 'live cd', can it also run off a usb pendive /flashdrive? Can I still store other things on it? the drive

[headcronie]

I'm not a developer, so I can't say what there is for software. As for doing updates... ouch. Dialup eh. I'm sorry about that. At least with Ubuntu, or it's other two flavors, you can get them to send you a CD for free. I do believe that you can run it from a pen-drive as well. I've not done that myself.

You may find more of your questions answered at their forums: http://ubuntuforums.org

Best wishes.

[Dngrsone]

DSL is a good live distro to play with; it's small and yet carries a lot of applications.

If you want ease of use, then Ubuntu or one of its variants. If you want to know your linux OS, then Slackware can teach you.

Distrowatch.org is the best place to go shopping for a distribution-- they have synopses of the various distros out there, small reviews, and links to all the pertinent websites for each.

[phreakonaleash]

Negus Liive linux series has a book "live linux cds" I just got. interesting stuff! Thanks for the help, all!