New Starter of Linux

^ I dont know why people talk about such things. I have always found following instructions in howtos and manuals pretty clear. And have worked for the first attempt almost 99% of times.

IMO all it needs is a open mindset to explore and learn things.

How to : Enable Multimedia Suport in Ubuntu 7.10.
Add this guide to your to read list

+1. its pretty easy.. I don't know when people will remove the old image of Linux from their mind Those who stilll think Linux = DOS and Commandds.. Check my Kubuntu desktop

@ Dark star, I have a friend who is fairly knowledgeable, is on the tvm lug, but still hasnt been able to get his MSI RS482 onboard's hardware drivers to work flawlessly. Have you actually gotten proper hardware acceleration on an ATI GPU? It's not an issue for me anyway. I have an nvidia.

Shashank_re's comment does have an element of truth to it. You do need some time and resources to get a linux install to work on your terms. It's like that for any new OS. A veteran linux guy on our company bulletin boards needed significant help to get used to vista . even i found the transition bewildering

^ I have a x1900gt and I dont have any problems with it on Ubuntu. The only challenge in late 90s was to make SIS6215 work for X11. After that I havent had any problem with hardware compatibility.

from 97 till now I have used linux on 3 pcs and a notebook of mine without any problem. And have installed linux for quite a few people, but never had to do much. The max work I have done is spending 40+ minutes for the above mentioned problem.

The max problem I have seen is dependency related issues around 2002-2004, but things have improved a lot in last 2-3years in this regard.

I think what Dark Star meant was regarding the - LOTS of patience thing.

I have never faced such a situation, even I was a linux noob once (Actually still am one)

random2. driver support for some ati cores are fine on linux, the others still suffer .

If you are concerned about installing ATI driver, and compiling and installing one from ATI seems daunting for you as a newbie to Linux, there is a program you can download here called ENVY for Ubuntu and Mint, that will install the latest version for you. It is always a good thing to learn to do it on your own, but I have heard ATI drivers can be a little trickier than nvidia, which I have always found best to download and install the nvidia binary oneself.

Ubuntu all the way

@ Greenhorn.. Yes I have installed Ubuntu on my Moms lappy with ATI mobility radeon 2400 .. It worked liked charm and as far as that Mobo is concerned.. I am afraid that ATI might not be providing support for that Mobo VGA since it is old

As far as Shashank comments ..I totally disagree !! after the release of OS like PCLOS, Mint and all .. Its preposterous .. That one needs to learn Linux.. and if one doesn't even have presence of mind that I can't do a heck about it Well I started using Linux [Fedora] when I was in 8'th standard .. Now I didn't even read a guide while using it Done the whole Installation and Configuration without any help The only thing that pissed me was that he was suggesting him to use to XP instead, as Linux is a weakling I never stopped any user to use Windows though I am against it The same is applicable for Windows users. . If he wants to try let him .. It is his decision..

I don't know about recent ATI cards, but my 9800pro worked flawlessly on Ubuntu. I even got compiz working on it very well, even though i'm just a linux beginner.

OK i dont want to start a war here but i want to say one last thing.Even i have used linux b4(Ubuntu,Suse) and iam not any hardcore fan of windows or linux.Iam just a END USER.
I got my first computer in 2004 which had XP preloaded.I didnt have any idea about computers b4 infact i asked the saystem admin(it was HCL branded PC) to change the wallpaper!!! But soon i got used to it and learnt a lot of things within 1month and i was very comfortable and that too without ANYONEs help.I could even install XP or any OS! I didnt have even net connection.
But later(in 2006) i got net connection after seeing many posts on linux,i installed SUSE.One word to say about it: ITS TOUGH.But still i tried to use it.Later i installed Ubuntu and its same!NOT AT ALL EASY.I googled googled and googled to get even a simple things.For every thing i had to go to terminal and type some sudo command.Installing any software was *********.I heve never done any googling to get things done in XP!After almost a month of using it i asked myself "Why do i need all this headache?Why do need to google every minute for small things?Why do i need to type 100 commands?Why? and Why?
Then i switched back to XP and leading a happy life.Actually even after that i installed Linux but couldnt...................
Now you please dont fight with me.But tell me why i(infact any windows user) have to install and use LINUX....
And dont tell me that linux is free and xp is 5000bucks.I got my XP free and infact even vista free.So why do i need to worry whether it is open source or not??

you might have gotten XP free. not all of us do.

@ shashank_re - exactly the reverse happened with me , i started using windows 98 and then installed windows xp when i started using computers about 4 years ago , but everytime my computer got infected with stupid virus/spyware/adware even after using an antivirus/antispyware , i had to format my machine because some or the other function got disabled

and then i started using linux , it was pretty easy to do so , except once i didnt have to google even once and that to because i wanted to change some core system files

for users who just want to simply browse/listen to music etc there isnt any such need

@shashank, What you said was valid abt 5yrs ago, but now, linux has become much more user friendly...There isnt a gui for everything, but they are working v.hard on it too...Try something like ubuntu, and regular tasks will be a breeze with just initial hiccups...Like you spent time with windows spend some with 1particular linux distro..

@darkstar, buddy this is the general story...I personally too hav a hardtime using linux too, i mean in windows, things are pretty thought out, but that seems sometimes missing in linux, mostly because the tools existing are not made from the user point of view but for merely providing functionality..Im not saying all, but some..
I mean i cant find a native adsl dialer for ubuntu!!!

But i agree, linux is not inferior, in no situation is it less than windows..Its jus as powerfull if not more, when in the hands of a person who knows wat he's doing...

linux = peace of mind. not you, not anybody can mess up your pc

with windows , its a constant battle to keep the damn thing safe and secure. Linux is like taking a vacation from all that

^^I think you have used only Windows 98! All the linux fanboys blindly say virus virus virus...........I havent faced any problem with virus/spyware till now.And i dont take care of the Antivirus.Just install it and forget.It will take care of the rest...