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 !
