Hi, and welcome to the world of Linux. Linux offers, so many, new and exciting possibilities, to both experienced and novice alike, that it is oftentimes difficult to get started. One solution to such a problem is to familiarize yourself with the feel of Linux before you go any further as to choose a distribution and install it onto your harddisc.

Many distributors are already aware of this and have developed a production that is referred to as a 'LiveCd'. A LiveCd runs off of temporary memory(RAM) allowing you to experiment with Linux without going through the hassle of installation or (if the distribution you pick is unsuited for you needs) un-installation :rolleyes:

'Live Cd's come in versions that are suited for both the experienced programmer and the average computer userand many of them come with a wide variety of valuable features such as: a 'Ms Office' like Suite, 3d animation and graphics programs, photo editors and graphics manipulators resembling high end programs(Adobe, Corel), pdf readers, audio players/manipulators, several intruiging games and more. Note that all LiveCd's are different and range from possessing none to all of the features listed above.

Quote From Super Moderator DMR:
"they(Live CD's) can just boot from a CD and have a fully-functioning Linux operating system running while leaving their current Windows installation totally intact."

Notes:
1.Be sure to check and meet the 'LiveCd's system requirements .(e.g., sufficient: RAM and Processor) before acquiring it
2.having Linux running off of RAM ('LiveCd') also has a downside. You may not be able to save any files onto a hard disc.

Listed below are several LiveCd' distributions. I only tried(and immensely enjoyed) the first two. Most or all of them are designed for the general public and contain a formidable GUI-(Graphical User Interface)
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Santa Fe Linux
Developer: New Mexico Software
Website: http://www.santafelinux.com
Languages: English
Categories: Mainstream/General Public, Debian based, Live CD
Platforms: Intel compatible
Description: Santa Fe features automatic hardware detection and configuration. Our distribution was designed to make the best open source software available to the ordinary user. Good for beginners and experts alike, Santa Fe's simple interface and graphical installer remove the frustration from Linux
Requires:Pentium Class Proccessor, min. 128MB RAM

Morphix
Developer: Morphix Project
Website: http://morphix.sourceforge.net
Languages: English
Categories: Mainstream/General Public, Debian based, Live CD
Platforms: Intel compatible
Description: Morphix is a live-cd distribution designed to be run from a CD-ROM drive with no need to partition and install in your hard disk. It comes in three main types, a LightGUI (small footprint) version, a "medium" version with KDE and a HeavyGUI version that includes both the latest KDE and GNOME along with the OpenOffice suite

KNOPPIX *Has Been Recommended By Knowledgable Members
Developer: Knopper.net
Website: http://www.knopper.net/knoppix/index-en.html
Languages: English, German, Spanish
Categories: Minimalist, Debian based, Mainstream/General Public, Live CD
Platforms: Intel compatible
Description: Full-featured Linux distribution that boots from a CD. Includes the latest version of KDE and OpenOffice. Can be used to work from Linux on PCs without actually installing it, so it is ideal for demonstrations of Linux. Based on Debian.

Quote From Super Moderator DMR:
" I've used a live Knoppix CD on numerous systems, and have been quite impressed with it's ability to detect and configure quite a wide range of hardware devices."

Elearnix
Developer: Elearnix Project
Website: http://http://freeloaderlinux.sf.net/elearnix.html
Languages: English
Categories: Live CD
Platforms: Intel compatible
Description: Live CD distribution designed as a demo of Linux for the curious.

PCLinuxOS
Developer: PCLinuxOS Project
Website: http://www.pclinuxonline.com/pclos/?PHPSESSID=da2afe182c204175dceb18518e9593cd
Languages: English
Categories: Mainstream/General Public, Mandrake based, Live CD
Platforms: Intel compatible
Description: Attractive live CD distribution based on Mandrake. It is user-friendly and aimed at the general public.

Puppy
Developer: Barry Kauler
Website: http://www.goosee.com/puppy
Languages: English
Categories: Mainstream/General Public, Minimalist
Platforms: Intel compatible
Description: Puppy is a tiny distribution but with a full suite of GUI apps and loads entirely into a 48M ramdisk. This means that all applications start in the blink of an eye and respond immediately. Puppy will fit into the "small distro" category, but is not floppy based. Also fits the live-CD based category, but not limited to that as can install to any storage media.

Zen Linux
Developer: Zen Linux Project
Website: http://www.zenlinux.org/
Languages: English
Categories: Mainstream/General Public, Debian based, Live CD
Platforms: Intel compatible
Description: Live CD distribution based on Debian.
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Enjoy The World Of Linux. Fast, Reliable, and Inexpensive..What More Could You Want From an OS? :D !

To All:

If anyone has had a particularly pleasant experience with (a) specific LiveCd(s), and would Like to recommend it to the average user, feel free to post it here.

If possible, please include a description of the system requirements for the LiveCd'(s) you recommend, and include a brief message describing why you recommend the particular 'LiveCd' to others.

Note:To save everyone some time, I'll let you know that all the 'LiveCd' Distributions listed above are 'Intel' Compatible.


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Enjoy The World Of Linux. Fast, Reliable, and Inexpensive..What More Could You Want From an OS? :D !

Hey Everyone! :)
Check this link out -->"http://www.linuxlinks.com/Distributions/"
You'll find LOTS'a info and listings of popular distro's to help you decide wich Linux or Linux LiveCd is best for
You.

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Enjoy The World Of Linux. Fast, Reliable, and Inexpensive..What More Could You Want From an OS? :) !

To All:

The better Rating a thread has, the bigger the chance of someone visiting that thread. If you have benefited from this thread and would like others to benefit as well (or if you feel you are being mislead and would like to spare others the mistake you feel you have made). please click the 'Rate Thread' tab at the top of the page, to rate this thread and increase (or decrease,) the flow of users viewing this thread.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Enjoy The World Of Linux. Fast, Reliable, and Inexpensive..What More Could You Want From an OS? :) !

Hi, and welcome to the world of Linux. Linux offers, so many, new and exciting possibilities, to both experienced and novice alike, that it is oftentimes difficult to get started. One solution to such a problem is to familiarize yourself with the feel of Linux before you go any further as to choose a distribution and install it onto your harddisc.

Many distributors are already aware of this and have developed a production that is referred to as a 'LiveCd'. A LiveCd runs off of temporary memory(RAM) allowing you to experiment with Linux without going through the hassle of installation or (if the distribution you pick is unsuited for you needs) un-installation :rolleyes:

'Live Cd's come in versions that are suited for both the experienced programmer and the average computer userand many of them come with a wide variety of valuable features such as: a 'Ms Office' like Suite, 3d animation and graphics programs, photo editors and graphics manipulators resembling high end programs(Adobe, Corel), pdf readers, audio players/manipulators, several intruiging games and more. Note that all LiveCd's are different and range from possessing none to all of the features listed above.

Quote From Super Moderator DMR:
"they(Live CD's) can just boot from a CD and have a fully-functioning Linux operating system running while leaving their current Windows installation totally intact."

Notes:
1.Be sure to check and meet the 'LiveCd's system requirements .(e.g., sufficient: RAM and Processor) before acquiring it
2.having Linux running off of RAM ('LiveCd') also has a downside. You may not be able to save any files onto a hard disc.

Listed below are several LiveCd' distributions. I only tried(and immensely enjoyed) the first two. Most or all of them are designed for the general public and contain a formidable GUI-(Graphical User Interface)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Santa Fe Linux
Developer: New Mexico Software
Website: http://www.santafelinux.com
Languages: English
Categories: Mainstream/General Public, Debian based, Live CD
Platforms: Intel compatible
Description: Santa Fe features automatic hardware detection and configuration. Our distribution was designed to make the best open source software available to the ordinary user. Good for beginners and experts alike, Santa Fe's simple interface and graphical installer remove the frustration from Linux
Requires:Pentium Class Proccessor, min. 128MB RAM

Morphix
Developer: Morphix Project
Website: http://morphix.sourceforge.net
Languages: English
Categories: Mainstream/General Public, Debian based, Live CD
Platforms: Intel compatible
Description: Morphix is a live-cd distribution designed to be run from a CD-ROM drive with no need to partition and install in your hard disk. It comes in three main types, a LightGUI (small footprint) version, a "medium" version with KDE and a HeavyGUI version that includes both the latest KDE and GNOME along with the OpenOffice suite

KNOPPIX *Has Been Recommended By Knowledgable Members
Developer: Knopper.net
Website: http://www.knopper.net/knoppix/index-en.html
Languages: English, German, Spanish
Categories: Minimalist, Debian based, Mainstream/General Public, Live CD
Platforms: Intel compatible
Description: Full-featured Linux distribution that boots from a CD. Includes the latest version of KDE and OpenOffice. Can be used to work from Linux on PCs without actually installing it, so it is ideal for demonstrations of Linux. Based on Debian.

Quote From Super Moderator DMR:
" I've used a live Knoppix CD on numerous systems, and have been quite impressed with it's ability to detect and configure quite a wide range of hardware devices."

Elearnix
Developer: Elearnix Project
Website: http://http://freeloaderlinux.sf.net/elearnix.html
Languages: English
Categories: Live CD
Platforms: Intel compatible
Description: Live CD distribution designed as a demo of Linux for the curious.

PCLinuxOS
Developer: PCLinuxOS Project
Website: http://www.pclinuxonline.com/pclos/?PHPSESSID=da2afe182c204175dceb18518e9593cd
Languages: English
Categories: Mainstream/General Public, Mandrake based, Live CD
Platforms: Intel compatible
Description: Attractive live CD distribution based on Mandrake. It is user-friendly and aimed at the general public.

Puppy
Developer: Barry Kauler
Website: http://www.goosee.com/puppy
Languages: English
Categories: Mainstream/General Public, Minimalist
Platforms: Intel compatible
Description: Puppy is a tiny distribution but with a full suite of GUI apps and loads entirely into a 48M ramdisk. This means that all applications start in the blink of an eye and respond immediately. Puppy will fit into the "small distro" category, but is not floppy based. Also fits the live-CD based category, but not limited to that as can install to any storage media.

Zen Linux
Developer: Zen Linux Project
Website: http://www.zenlinux.org/
Languages: English
Categories: Mainstream/General Public, Debian based, Live CD
Platforms: Intel compatible
Description: Live CD distribution based on Debian.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Enjoy The World Of Linux. Fast, Reliable, and Inexpensive..What More Could You Want From an OS? :D !

Hello...I'll have to try some of those but I already have one of the best linux distros...SimplyMepis 3.3 issued in 2004.I've tried the new mepis and I don't like it as much.i've installed mepis to hard drives 14 or 15 times.all good.installed knoppix3.9 to the hard drive.real nice desktop.still,always return to mepis.I heard kanotix is good but have yet to try it.I keep trying different linux`s to see if any are as good as simplymepis but they are not up to mepis as far as I am concerned...just thought I'd get a word in ...seeing how you never put mepis in your lineup...give it a try and you may be surprised...k :D
I run a dell Gx150, 933Mhz pen3 coppermine, 512 Mb ram, 80 gig maxtor drive

This is a great guide, fragmented_user. I would also like to recommend a LiveCD.

Ubuntu
URL: http://www.ubuntulinux.org
Description: This is my favourite distro, which also has a LiveCD available of the distro. It is very simple to use, and most hardware works out of the box. I would recommend - for those of you that have a DVD burner - that you download the Install/Live DVD, so you can try out the LiveCD, and if you like it, just reboot the machine to install it.

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