newbie experience

Matt3o · 2007-09-13 15:52:30

hello Archers,
I am not a linux expert, I installed a bunch of linux distros in the past but I can be easily defined a newbie. I recently built a new desktop PC and decided to completely switch to linux (no dual boot and no VM ). I tried many distros before landing on archlinux but now I have a fully functional, light and fast desktop environment.

I needed 3 days to:
- understand archlinux "philosophy" (day 1);
- install the base system, cpufreq, gnome, alsa (day 1);
- install compiz fusion, extras, eye-candies, plugins, printers, camera (day 2);
- learn to build my own packages, update HPLIP package from 1.7.4 (in the repos) to 2.2.6 (latest stable version) (today)

Compared to ready-to-go distributions like Ubuntu it's a lot of time, but probably now that I know arch better I would need no more than a couple of hours, plus -repeat- I am quite a newbie.

What's the meaning of this post? Well, just wanted to encourage users evaluating the possibility of installing arch linux to give it a spin, it's not (just) a distro for gurus, anyone can install it and it gives great satisfaction. It's one of the few distros that lets you configure the system exactly the way you want it and it's not bloated with dozens useless applications/deamons/modules/etc.

I don't understand why arch is not more "mainstream" (and reading the forums the developers seem proud of it), anyway to me this is the way linux should be.

Last edited by Matt3o (2007-09-13 15:54:42)

Misfit138 · 2007-09-13 16:46:31

Welcome to Arch, Matt3o.
I agree with much of your post, and felt similarly when I first tried Arch...it just 'fits' like a glove.

skottish · 2007-09-13 17:51:46

Welcome to Arch.

Matt3o wrote:

I don't understand why arch is not more "mainstream" (and reading the forums the developers seem proud of it), anyway to me this is the way linux should be.

I feel the same way. I used Linux for years without ever knowing anything about Linux. In effect, I was a Linux idiot. Since I started with Arch, I've upgraded to a Linux moron. I'm getting better!

Misfit138 · 2007-09-13 19:27:25

skottish wrote:

Welcome to Arch.
Matt3o wrote:
I don't understand why arch is not more "mainstream" (and reading the forums the developers seem proud of it), anyway to me this is the way linux should be.
I feel the same way. I used Linux for years without ever knowing anything about Linux. In effect, I was a Linux idiot. Since I started with Arch, I've upgraded to a Linux moron. I'm getting better!

LMAO! Good 1. I view myself as a Linux knucklehead..hoping to graduate to moron soon.

Thrillhouse · 2007-09-14 00:41:18

You live and Florence and you're running Arch? You must be in heaven.

Like you, I tried most of the mainstream distributions before coming to Arch. I didn't expect to but I've become a dedicated Arch user ever since. I'm not even the type of person who likes to build things themself (I'd rather have everything I need installed for me) but I've found that the system runs much faster and cleaner when you do it yourself and you usually know what's going on at all times, so I'm very happy I did it. And the best thing is: I don't have to do it all over again when there's a new release, just a simple pacman -Syu does the trick.

Good luck with the rest of your endeavors!

HydroDiOxide · 2007-10-15 09:07:38

I'm a complete Linux n00b as well. I'm running some 'big' distros as well in vm's and on an external hdd (ubuntu, xubuntu, fedora, that kinda stuff) and used gentoo on my laptop. I must say: Arch is bliss. Although gentoo seemed to run a bit faster on my old laptop (gentoo with gnome DE vs. arch with xfce DE), but the binaries of Arch make installing way, way faster.

The one thing I hate is that a just don't know all those little commands (like df -h, or find). So anyone with a good reference for all those, please post (guess that goes for any distro I use)

Otherwise, I love Arch.

pressh · 2007-10-15 09:35:31

HydroDiOxide, one such guide can be found here, but there are lots more (and probably better ones) to find using google

Last edited by pressh (2007-10-15 09:35:46)

Hiko96786 · 2007-10-18 00:25:15

Aloha,
The sticky thread in this forum....
http://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=4016
has an amazing wealth of information. I learned a lot just going therough all the website listed there.
Mahalo,
Edward

LinuxViking · 2007-10-18 01:13:26

I feel the same way, I switched to arch about a week ago and I am very impressed with some things. Before this I used Fedora, Ubuntu and a few "user-friendly" ones. But I was kind of disappointed with the fact that these distros give you tons of pointless software. I mean I am all for programs but why should I be forced to take more than 4 different media players and burners (all of which will not have dvd, mp3,etc support)? Especially considering that you can just burn cds and dvds from the command line. But even though I like Arch more, I still appreciate the time and effort that dedicated programmers put into designing such excellent operating systems in linux...
Anyways I agree that Arch is really cool and I also love the "light and fast" approach.

peets · 2007-10-19 03:50:52

Yes.I don't understand why arch isn't more mainstream. Probably lack of marketing. But let's keep it that way; maybe my ideals of self-marketing quality content will find a real-life example with arch linux. Has there ever been a bad review for arch?

Misfit138 · 2007-10-19 17:11:18

peets wrote:

Has there ever been a bad review for arch?

Yes.
I read one review which was pretty negative, and kept comparing Arch to Slack, which was the author's favorite. If I remember correctly, the reviewer was European, possibly French, but I can't remember his name or his site off the top of my head.
There were, of course, many unhappy comments posted after the review, by people who were trying to stick up for Arch and tell him where he went wrong, myself included. Anyone else remember this review? Someone posted it here about 8 or 9 months ago I think.

Matt3o · 2007-10-19 17:26:18

Misfit138 wrote:

Anyone else remember this review? Someone posted it here about 8 or 9 months ago I think.

maybe this one?
http://www.beranger.org/index.php?page= … ticle=2034

hint: http://www.google.com/search?q=review+n … tnG=Search

Last edited by Matt3o (2007-10-19 17:26:58)

Misfit138 · 2007-10-19 18:53:02

YES! You nailed it! I even read my comments from almost a year ago, and found myself agreeing with, well, myself.

LinuxViking · 2007-10-20 15:06:18

I can't understand how someone could complain about a distro that lets you personalize it yourself. If you mess it up it's your fault...

Arch Linux

#1 2007-09-13 15:52:30

newbie experience

#2 2007-09-13 16:46:31

Re: newbie experience

#3 2007-09-13 17:51:46

Re: newbie experience

#4 2007-09-13 19:27:25

Re: newbie experience

#5 2007-09-14 00:41:18

Re: newbie experience

#6 2007-10-15 09:07:38

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#7 2007-10-15 09:35:31

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#8 2007-10-18 00:25:15

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#9 2007-10-18 01:13:26

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#10 2007-10-19 03:50:52

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#11 2007-10-19 17:11:18

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#12 2007-10-19 17:26:18

Re: newbie experience

#13 2007-10-19 18:53:02

Re: newbie experience

#14 2007-10-20 15:06:18

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