Expert: Robert McIntosh - 3/12/2009

Question
Can you please advise me? I've recently been introduced to Linux Fedora core 5, having been using windows xp for so long...what a difference!! It took a lot of getting used to, to say the least. Can you please advise me, is there an up to date version of Linux? Like you get windows98 and then Windows xp and now Vista, and so I'm told they're bringing out a 'Windows 7'. But is there a up to date version of linux please? Thank you for your time.

Answer
Hi Chris,

Yes, there certainly is a more recent version of Fedora Core.  They're up to version 10 now.  You can find resources on how to get it at http://fedoraproject.org/get-fedora  The common upgrade strategy with Fedora Core (and most Linux/BSDs that I've used) is to back-up data in /home, /etc, /root and any custom applications you've installed and reinstall the OS from scratch.  Then, move the back-up back onto the hard drive after a succesful operating system installation.  That's the cleanest, most trouble-free way of upgrading.

I'd also make sure your hardware lives up to at least the recommended hardware requirements:

400MHz+ Pentium-class processor
256MB+ RAM
9GB+ Hard Drive space

Although, if it were me, I'd be unhappy with anything less than

1GHz Pentium-class processor
2GB RAM
80GB Hard Drive

Hope this helps!

-Robert