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'R.D.D.'
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erry Linux FC3.
Hello there! This Christmas .. your Gift is an updated Fedora Linux version: FC3! At the end of November 2005 Fedora Core 3 was released. I have installed it on a test computer to put it through it's paces. So far, real cool! It incorporates the new FireFox 1.0 web browser and additional secure linux features. Word Processing? Use OpenOffice! Web Browsing? Try FireFox! Email? Evolution. Web Development? Quanta Plus. Accounting? GnuCash. Your only real problem will be the overwhelming choice of free open source applications to choose from.
Why would you abandon the good ship Microsoft for the great unknown Fedora Linux? Well, for one thing. Microsoft costs too much. At my local retailer the Standard WinXP package is listed at $330 and WinXP Pro is $470. Standard Office is $570 and Office Pro is $670. Granted, when you buy a hot new computer, Microsoft often makes sure you also get the XP system bundled with the hardware, hopefully at some price less than the retail store outlet. Some lame excuse about trying to prevent piracy .. but, it seems that the poor customer is actually the one being robbed. Eeek, a pirate. With the open source Fedora Linux, on the other hand, the software is encouraged to be shared and can legally be installed on any number of machines. Once you get used to where everything is, you will find that it can do most everything that the MS products can do - often better and at a much better cost (i.e. pretty much free). Continue reading, dear reader.
Step 1. Aquire. Get the latest CDs. With a good PC and fast internet connection you can download them yourself and burn them to CD. Just go tohttp://fedora.redhat.com/download and follow the detailed instructions. Or, you can pay for a CD set. I got my first copies on CD from the Computer Helper Guy athttp://www.chguy.net. His current price for 4 CD set is about $20 ($17 US). Or you can hire a consultant, such as myself, to hold your hand or do it for you. It is still much cheaper than the WinXP alternative (i.e. almost free+install vs expensive+install).
Step 2. Install. You will probably need all 4 CDs to install the program. Youcan leave your old copy of Windows on the computer and select at bootup which operating system to run, but I suggest for simplicity to just stick to using Fedora alone. If you are trying to save data first or need to do something tricky, call me or one of my clones and get help. Starting with a blank HD is easiest. So: you pop the first CD in the drive, reboot the computer, and follow the prompts to install. It works for me.
[Tip: Make sure your computer is set to boot from CD. This is set in your computer BIOS setup.]
Step 3. Enjoy. OK, so you will want to configure the desktop and setup your printer and internet and stuff. I prefer the K-Desktop to the Gnome default. I like to use mplayer to view streaming video like byutv.org .. see next month on tips on tweaking and configuring the Fedora Linux system you will come to love.
Aquire, Install, Enjoy. Merry Linux!
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