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SuSE is a good first distribution because it lets you work at whatever your level is. It has setup tools named YaST (Yet another Setup Tool) and YaST2 for general system work (adding a printer, etc.) and SaX (SuSE advanced XConfigurator) or SaX2 for setting up X (the base on which you run a GUI). As you learn more about Linux, you can rely less on the setup tools and begin to do stuff by hand, but the setup tools will still be there to use for the harder stuff and (here's what makes it different) the tools will continue to work despite (almost) any changes you have made without using the tools. This way if you feel like experimenting with something and the experiment goes wrong, you can use the tools to bail you out.

Another advantage of SuSE is that YaST/YaST2 work without X, which means that if something goes wrong and keeps you from running X you can still use the tools in case you need them to fix the problem. Since you've got an older computer, you will probably be glad the config tools don't use X just because of the increased speed.

Whatever you choose, have fun. Linux is Linux no matter what distro you use.

A couple sites that might be helpful with any distro: The Linux hardware compatibility database (http://lhd.datapower.com) and linmodems.org (http://www.linmodems.org). Often first-time Linux users will have winmodems, and win-just-about-every-thing-else. These sites can help get win-crap^h^h^h^hhardware working under Linux.

Why not check laptop ratings at the Linux Hardware Database? For the most comprehensive resource I've found, visit Linux on Laptops. Individual laptops aren't rated, but you'll learn if anyone's had success with the hardware you hope to use.

Helevius

Why not check laptop ratings at the Linux Hardware Database? For the most comprehensive resource I've found, visit Linux on Laptops. Individual laptops aren't rated, but you'll learn if anyone's had success with the hardware you hope to use.

Helevius

There's even a place in the same city as Spindletop where I usually buy my hardware. PCs for Everyone checks out each component for Linux support.

The price I pay over cost is a contribution to what seems like a superfluous project. I just don't see the added value.

All of which is not to say that I would turn the dogs on the UPS driver if he showed up at the door with one...

As long as I'm wishing, I might as well wish for a pony...

How does this differ from the long established Linux Hardware Database ?

Maybe you are looking for http://lhd.datapower.com/?

Dear all, I'm now using my athlon 500 MHz since it was available in Europe. Some where in November 1999. My mainboard is a Biostar M7MKA, i've never had a crash or somthing that could not be explained. By the way kernel 2.3.x and the upcomming 2.4.x kernel wil be great as they are optimised for the Athlon. :-) By the way i'm using SUSE Linux 6.4 now. Before i used SUSE 6.3 See you, Joop. See this link for Linux hardware (database)

If you have a Matrox G200, a G400, and ATi RagePro, Intel 810, RivaTNT or an S3 Virge, Utah GLX will support your card

I guess I'll be buying one of those then. Currently I have a Diamond Stealth III s540 16MB which develops unpleasant rubber banding problems under gimp. Enough to make it unusable in fact. From the UtahGLX mailing lists I note that several people have been trying to get S3 to release specs so that they can work on the Savage4 chipset. No dice so far apparently. I've also noticed several messages on comp.windows.386.x with people complaining about the rubber banding and freezing on Savage4/StealthIII implementations.

Basically it seems that manufacturers want to keep their hardware specs secret, they don't have too much of a problem if it's an older chipset (e.g. ViRGE for S3) but they perceive an advantage in secrecy for newer cards. The result of this is that their cards won't work for "advanced" functions such as GL and have weird glitches in ordinary, but intensive applications such as gimp. Result? A hearty recommendation from me not to buy a recent S3 chipset containing card - specifically the Savage chipsets.

My question would be, what is it that makes Matrox able to grok this and S3 not? Anyway, I'm dumping this thing and going for one of the one's you've mentioned. It might be useful if people went to The Linux Hardware Database and gave their experiences and ratings of graphics cards. This site provides a nice tabular, user reviewed summary of hardware and it's obvious from the XF86 FAQ that "what card should I buy" is something lots of people want to know.

How would you rate this card for use with linux?

http://lhd.datapower.com/db/dispproduct.cgi?DISP?9 07