If it's your first time with Linux I would recommend Ubuntu. It's super easy to install and the forum is really great. It's seriously not as hard as people think it is. I was actually surprised by how smoothly the installation went the first time I tried it. My laptop is dual boot with Windows -- if you aren't familiar with that, it means that at startup a menu comes up and I choose if I want Windows to load or Linux. That way I don't have to give up any games or programs that might run under Windows only. Linux is suprisingly faster than Windows and much more customizable too.
Thanks! Ubuntu is what I was thinking of using, as it seems to be popular. I read that the Aspire One boots up in like 15 seconds with Linux, as opposed to twice that or more with Windows XP.
As far as learning by doing, I was thinking maybe there would be a good reference guide. I looked at a book today that was called something like Ubuntu Linux for Non-Geeky People, where it's kind of task-oriented, rather than 'theory'. Just wasn't sure, though, so I didn't get it.
I have a PDF of Ubuntu Linux Bible but I have seriously never looked at it. I've uploaded it if you want to download and take a look at it. I think it may be more what you were looking for.
The installation was a breeze, I just followed the instructions... and whenever an issue arose I just googled it and found the answer within minutes - but then I'm more of a 'learn by doing' kind of person.
And don't be discouraged by the icky brown color of the default Ubuntu desktop. I was able to make mine all pretty and blue in a matter of hours.
Oh, awesome, thanks! I do like how your desktop looks! I'm definitely grabbing the pdf. I mostly learn by doing, myself, but I need a reference guide to get me through stuff. :D
For someone new I would defiantly say try ubuntu. Its easy to use and being one of the most popular distros out there you will find plenty of tutorials and walk through specifically for it. Plus there are various versions of it out there depending on which interface you like best or what you plan to do with it.
As for a book...I found the best way to learn was to use it and if you have questions or problems search and read up on those. The books I have are more advance/specific topic. Also helpful for new people are online resources that your choice of linux might have such as https://help.ubuntu.com/ or the handbook (http://www.freebsd.org/doc/en_US.ISO8859-1/books/handbook/) for freebsd(my unix of choice but not its not linux)
There is also a guide to installing ubuntu on your new netbook https://help.ubuntu.com/community/AspireOne
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branchandroot
no subject
Date: 2008-10-26 02:36 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-10-26 02:46 am (UTC)As far as learning by doing, I was thinking maybe there would be a good reference guide. I looked at a book today that was called something like Ubuntu Linux for Non-Geeky People, where it's kind of task-oriented, rather than 'theory'. Just wasn't sure, though, so I didn't get it.
no subject
Date: 2008-10-26 03:08 am (UTC)http://melancholy.bywayofsorrow.net/UbuntuLinuxBible.pdf
The installation was a breeze, I just followed the instructions... and whenever an issue arose I just googled it and found the answer within minutes - but then I'm more of a 'learn by doing' kind of person.
And don't be discouraged by the icky brown color of the default Ubuntu desktop. I was able to make mine all pretty and blue in a matter of hours.
http://bywayofsorrow.net/stuffbymuff/screenblue.png
You could make your desktop all white and pink to match your nifty new pink laptop :)
no subject
Date: 2008-10-26 03:30 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-10-26 07:26 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-10-26 12:15 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-10-26 08:54 am (UTC)As for a book...I found the best way to learn was to use it and if you have questions or problems search and read up on those. The books I have are more advance/specific topic. Also helpful for new people are online resources that your choice of linux might have such as https://help.ubuntu.com/ or the handbook (http://www.freebsd.org/doc/en_US.ISO8859-1/books/handbook/) for freebsd(my unix of choice but not its not linux)
There is also a guide to installing ubuntu on your new netbook https://help.ubuntu.com/community/AspireOne
no subject
Date: 2008-10-26 12:15 pm (UTC)