-=> Quoting Adam Mead to All <=-
 AM> UNIX??? LINUX??? whats the difference!..
UNIX is a group of different operating systems, all very much alike.
Linux is not a UNIX OS, it is simply a UNIX-alike OS, but NOT UNIX.
 AM> linux x-windows?????
The GUI in most UNIXes and UNIX-alikes is referred to as X.
 AM> 1: has a proper GUI that dont crash and looks good!
With most (probably all by now) Linux distributions you will get a
decent GUI. The appearance, functions and usability will greatly vary
depending on what window manager (user interface, actually) you will be
using.
 AM> 2: that will run all the Linux/unix stuff (meaing compatible)
Most UNIX software out there will run on Linux.
 AM> 3: is there such a thing as AOL or Compuserve program for Linux like
 AM> with windows?..
I doubt that, but who knows.
 AM> 4: what linux version/whatever do i need???? which is best??
You need a Linux distribution. For a beginner, I'd suggest RedHat.
Slackware is pretty good too, but as it is a sort of bare-bones
distribution, you need a little experience to be able to set it up
(I use Slackware). Then there is Debian, which I think is also quite
good, but I think you should start out with RedHat.
 AM> 5: where do i get it from in the UK!?
Check in your local computer shops and bookstores. It's a pretty cheap
multi-CD package. I'd reccommend that you buy InfoMagic's CD collection.
It has the most common distributions and a load of software on about six
CDs (might be more by now).
 AM> 6: how much will it cost me???
Not much. Linux and most of the software for it is freeware or distributed
under the GNU public license (free). You'll only pay for the actual CD, not
the software on it.
 AM> 6: Does linux have a 'dos' type shell?? (no 'p' takers!.. i mean a
 AM> shell to the actulal system command line like with
 AM> windows/win95/os2..
Yes, by default Linux is text-mode and command line driven. The GUI is
extra.
 AM> 7: internet & Comms!!! what sort of support does it have!!!
Linux has builtin networking support. The entire system is built with
networking and multiple simultaineous users in mind. Linux will work
just fine with most modems and ISPs who use standard PPP (or SLIP).
If you have an ISDN adapter with a Siemens chipset on it, dialup internet
support gets even better.
 AM> 8: Anyone got a list of Commands for the Unix shell with
 AM> details on what they do?.. like for instance in dos.. 'dir : gives
 AM> directory listing of currunt
 AM> dir. switches .....' etc
I'd suggest that you buy a Linux for beginners -book.
 AM> 9: Programming under Linux.. i do Turbo Pascal 7 programming at the
 AM> moment is there a Pascal for Linux????
There is GNU Pascal. I don't know very much about it since I don't know
Pascal. I use c/c++.
-=[ Count Zero / TBH - Jussi Hamalainen - email count@theblah.org ]=-
... 637 days, 2 hours, 36 minutes and 3 seconds to 1.1.2000
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