Switching to GNU/Linux

[Optionryder420]

This is going to be an ongoing thread about my switch over to a GNU/Linux system. I'm going to be needing lots of help probably since I've only owned one computer that had linux on it before (ubuntu).

Here are my needs of my computer:
Word processing for classes
Internet and email (which are a given with any OS)
Music


I don't remember the specs on my computer, currently I'm at work, I'll post them when I get home. But I have dual monitors and one of my concerns is will Linux support this?

My other largest concern is transferring my music. If I bought an external HD would I be able to transfer all my music to that, and then again back to the computer once I install GNU/Linux?
Is there an easier way of getting my music onto the computer?

Also, what distro's should I look in to?

I'll do more research when I get home, just trying to get this quick post off before my boss sees!

[oddballz194]

I'm moving this to Everything *nix, which is where it belongs (discussions about Unix and similar systems go there, and GNU/Linux is a Unix work-alike).

[Optionryder420]

When in the fuck did this site get a unix section?

This actually pisses me off that everything needs its own little section, I just saw a military section.

There are far too many sections and subsections here now.

Originally Posted by Optionryder420

There are far too many sections and subsections here now.

I don't even want to imagine what your "My Documents" looks like.

If you already have some experience in Ubuntu, then I would suggest going back to it. Ubuntu studio perhaps?

[Optionryder420]

What're even the differences between the different distros?

Also, I have my computer organized very well with sections. I just believe these are too many forum subsections. I mean, take a look, there are a bunch of sections with only <200 topics.

[oddballz194]

Originally Posted by Optionryder420

When in the fuck did this site get a unix section?

I would guess sometime last year.

[Optionryder420]

Damn, I'm way behind on totse.

[Prometheum]

Originally Posted by oddballz194

I would guess sometime last year.

It has to be way older than that. It predates the other OS forums by a long while.

To the OP:

Any Gnu distro will do those things. I assume "listening to music" is the usage case, rather than "producing or creating music", so if I'm wrong, then this post is wrong, but otherwise, any distro will do those three things.

Ubuntu will work fine. So will Fedora; with only minimally more work (if any). So will Slackware or Gentoo, with a moderate amount of more work.

I suggest you just install the latest Ubuntu. I've heard about auto-migration features in the installer for the last two or so versions, but never having to migrate myself I don't know how well they work. If you don't feel like doing that, then the external drive will work fine for data transfer.

Here's a hint, though: Format your filesystem with at least a / and a /home partition. This allows you to reinstall the entire OS, while keeping your files and configurations safe from harm. This will come in handy some day if you find the habit now.

[Optionryder420]

Yeah, I really need to partition off my HD.

I always mean to do it, but last time I rebuilt my pc, I just got a new HD and was going to use dual HD's... but for some reason, which I can't remember at the moment, I never did it... in fact I still have my old HD too, so I'm probably going to load all my music files onto an external HD from both HD's and then I'm going to install ubuntu.

What formats of music can gnu/linux not use? I'm pretty sure all my files are mp3's or wmp files.

Originally Posted by Optionryder420

Yeah, I really need to partition off my HD.

I always mean to do it, but last time I rebuilt my pc, I just got a new HD and was going to use dual HD's... but for some reason, which I can't remember at the moment, I never did it... in fact I still have my old HD too, so I'm probably going to load all my music files onto an external HD from both HD's and then I'm going to install ubuntu.

What formats of music can gnu/linux not use? I'm pretty sure all my files are mp3's or wmp files.

I'm fairly sure you mean what formats are available for GNU/Linux platform. On top of my head: MP3, OGG, WAV, FLAC, MP4.