This is a little page of my experience with Linux.

Why did we get started on Linux? Well, it was probably a combination of reasons. My son wanted to learn programming, and the cost of MS software is pretty high whereas Linux already includes compilers. Also, our Win98 system was crashing occasionally. And trying out a new OS seemed like fun anyway.

So when I bought a bigger hard drive for our PC, I built it up as dual boot Win98 and Linux. This meant installing Windows from scratch as well, which was also a learning experience for me. If anything, I found Linux easier and more straightforward to install.

I used RedHat 7.1 from a PC World minibook. This cost only A$17.95 and included RedHat 7.1, Mandrake 8 and a 4th CD of applications and stuff. The minibook is brief, but had ample detail for me to get going.

Now, I don't work in an IT job, and have no IT training. Still, I had no trouble installing Linux (in Oct 2001). The home PC is Pentium II 300MHz, 192 MB RAM, two hard discs (20GB and 4GB), CD-ROM, CD-RW. It is now dual boot Linux and Win98.

Since then, I've installed it on my work laptop (Toshiba Tecra 8100, Pentium III 650MHz, 12GB HDD, 128 MB RAM, DVD). The laptop was a bit more of a challenge as it runs W2k and has a Lucent winmodem. Still, groups.google is just as good for solving Linux problems as it is with Windows problems. This is now dual boot Linux and W2k.

More recently, we've purchased a second hand PC for my son. This is a Pentium 166MHz, 64MB RAM and 1.2GB HDD. Again, Linux RedHat 7.1 installed fine. The only challenge was whittling the distribution down to fit in the 1.2GB. (No Windows on this one.) It has a good range of software, including KDE, the Gimp and various development packages.

So there. Three PCs out of three, Linux installed ok by a newbie/amateur!

I've also discovered some of the philosophy behind open source and GNU. I recommend reading the Cathedral and the Bazaar.