Linux Help? WiFi? ?

Question

Hi, I'm getting an Acer EeePC with Linux for Christmas, I just wanted to know how different it is to Windows XP, how the WiFi works, can you watch DVD's? Thanks.

Answer 1

Depends on what distro is on it. Having difficulty finding the specs.



WIFI is setup basically the same as on windows. You'll need to know the root password on most distros, on Ubuntu that won't be an issue.



With almost all Linux distros you'll have to install support for propriatory formats to do things such as play DVDs, mp3s, etc. The reason for this is Microsoft and a few other companies love sueing competition. So support is left out of the distro to avoid law suits. Easy enough to fix however.



For Fedora, RHEL CENTOS just go here.

http://www.fedorafaq.org/



For Ubuntu

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/RestrictedFormats



Both have detailed installation instructions to get yourself set up for all the major formats.



The big difference you'll notice is that under Linux there are a dozen ways to do anything you could want to do. Which is the best way for you personally you just have to try out the different ways and decide. It's this way because the philosophy is different. With Windows you have a one size fits all approach and very little control or customization. With Linux you have a very personal approach that allows you to do customization way beyond what windows is capable of. Thus your machine works WITH you not against you.



Another key aspect of Linux is that you spend far more time doing useful work. No virus scans to worry about, no spyware, or anything like that. Keep your machine patched and you'll have very few problems.



Distros are sort of like windows 95, NT, 2000, etc except they are kept up to date. They are built to help specific people. So which distro you use is often which distro closest matches what you want to do on a computer. I run multiple distros myself. Ubuntu on my laptop, Fedora on normal desktops, CentOS for my server experiments and I'm trying out musical distros for my recording studio (Ok so it's a couple break out boxes a computer, mixers and my instruments. Close enough to a studio :) )



You most likely will have Ubuntu though Fedora, SUSE and Red Hat Enterprise are common laptop distros as well. Once you know what distro I can help point you to more specific resources for your distro and tips specific to your distro.



I do strongly remcomend installing KDE first thing. Unlike windows you have a choice of desktop managers, the two most common are KDE and Gnome. Gnome is the default on both Ubuntu and Fedora, KDE the default for SUSE and Knoppix. KDE tends to be easier to get used too for people switching from Windows. You'll have a shorter learning curve with KDE. Even if you decide you like Gnome or another desktop manager better there are a number of KDE apps that are best of breed making even commercial products look pretty sloppy in comparision. K3b for example is the best burner software out there in my opinion. You can run KDE apps in Gnome and Gnome apps in KDE so as long as you have KDE installed you can use KDE apps.



Your welcome to ask me questions as well as most Linux users. As a group Linux users are very open to helping new Linux users. It takes a little adjusting but after using Linux the last several years I feel like I'm on fake computer when I have to work on a machine using windows. I find windows so clumsy and limited in what it can do that it's just not a real computer.

Answer 2

There is no Acer Eee PC.



So you're getting either an Acer Aspire One or an Asus Eee PC.



The Acer Aspire One comes with Linpus Linux, which is a crippled version of Fedora Linux.



The Asus Eee PC comes with a special crippled version of Xandros.



Unfortunately, there aren't any preinstalled Linux netbooks that give you the full experience of a normal Linux version. You can install a normal Linux distribution on the Eee PC, but the boot time will be a lot slower.



Wifi works the way you think it would (select a wireless network and connect to it). You can't watch DVDs on netbooks. There's no optical drive in them.

Answer 3

Linux installs instant drivers via default, it does not set up wifi via default. If Ubuntu open utility center form in Ubuntu limited and set up the proprietary hardware drivers and utility to be put in, additionally in the hunt form in Wifi and set up the wifi motive force records. Then see if issues paintings for you. each Linux you install from a LiveCD the 1st project you will desire to do is come across the replace supervisor to convey it as much as this point and modern. no person needs to apply terminal instructions except they are changing working device records or setting up some project not in that distributions repository document device.

Answer 4

i purchased the new acer aspire one with linux,it was a nightmare just trying to get it to work,much less help,i finally sold it for 125.00 less than i paid for it ,then went back and purchased aspire one with windows xp-now im 100 5 satisfied,the most help i got with linux was at my local staples store,the sales clerk was a little computer savory and helped some,from what info i got you can go to linux web site and download or trouble shoot any problems,to me its just not worth the trouble,hope this helps,steve

Answer 5

It's a lot different, it all depends on what Linux operating system will be on the laptop...



Unbuntu, Red Hat, Suse...and so on...



Check into a few of the Linux forums on the web and ask your question there hon.



And yes you can watch DVD's on a Linux machine :)

Answer 6

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