i want to run my Windows Vista ( current OS ) and some free form of Linux with Cygwin. which versions of Linux are the best to use? any pro's and con's i should know about?

 

Ubuntu.

 

You realize that you dont run Linux with Cygwin, right? Cygwin gives you some unix type tools under windows, but you dont get the rest of the OS....are you wanting to dual boot, or do you just want some unix type tools?

 

i originally wanted to dual boot, but dont know how to partition.... so Cygwin only gives me tools, but not the full OS.....

 

Correct - cygwin gives you nice stuff like nmap, X11 servers, cat, grep, etc.....but not the stability of the kernel, et. al.

 

damn..... so whats my best bet?

 

dual boot

or

2nd HD and swap them around when you want to play with a different OS

or

2nd box that runs linux only

My pick: Fedora since I am a RedHat fanboy

 

You can run just about anything that will compile under GNU/Linux on Windows.

As to which distribution I would recommend, well, that depends on what you want to use it for and how much control you want over what is installed. For the best control I would suggest Gentoo. It's a from-source distribution, meaning you compile everything on your system. It also gives you the best control of what is installed and with what options. This is the only distribution I use; servers or desktops, it doesn't matter. It's very slim as the base install includes enough to boot it to a console with an SSH daemon (not enabled by default). Updates are handled through Portage, the same as package installs. (`emerge -DNuv world` for updates, `emerge -v <PACKAGE>` for installs, adding `-p` to options shows you what it would do without doing it)

If you "just want it to work", Ubuntu. It's like using an anvil to squish an ant, it will succeed, but it's a ***** to manipulate after you've got it. Updates are relatively automatic from what I remember of the one time I installed it. Package choice is somewhat lacking the last I checked.

 

It depends on what you need Linux for.

If you just need some open-source utilities, Cygwin will work. It is basically same open-source tools just ported to run under Windows. I use Cygwin on my Windows box sometimes for resizing/rotating pictures, renaming groups of files.. basically, batch jobs I can script using bash.

I used to be all into dual-booting, but sucky thing about that is you have to reboot.. sometimes, very annoying.

VMWare is a good alternative. Run a virtual Linux box inside your Windows machine, or the other way around. At home we have a Linux box, a Windows box, my Mac laptop and SO's Vista laptop -- works out pretty good.

As far as distributions go.. I used to run Slackware everywhere, Debian was nice, too. I used to hate RedHat, but have been running RedHat ES at jobs for many years now, and it works fine. CentOS is free RedHat ES, I'd use that because it's well supported.

Stan

 

This is what we use at the Studio Walt. I'm pretty happy with it!

 

I would argue against gentoo as a first distro....a first time user doesnt NEED or WANT full control of every compile flag or include option.

The best choice for a first time use on a desktop would be ubuntu or CentOS....I stay away from Fedora as it moves too fast.

 

thanks mcowger, DLing ubuntu as we speak..... er, type

 

Co-worker across from me here is running Ubuntu, he likes it. I personally never tried it, but I've run Debian and that was okay. Ubuntu is Debian-based.

Try out Compiz for a windows manager, it looks really cool. What are you putting it on?

Stan

 

2003-era Compaq Presario 2500 laptop. i originally upped to Vista but lost a few drivers, and am now pissed

 

I'm a complete newbie when it comes to this stuff and was able to install Ubuntu 6.06 (The Dapper Drake) on an old Dell laptop with no issues at all. Using it for web browsing and some spreadsheet/word processing duty. So far, so good. It takes a while to boot, but no longer than windows - the machine only has 256mb of RAM and a 700Mhz processor.