SliTaz is an OS available in many different actual versions and a lot of obsolete versions available for very old hardware possibly working better with old software as such. The actual versions include very small “text only versions” (just enough to start or fashioned fully to work in text mode) as well as starting directly in graphics mode. SliTaz always proposes a stable version of the OS as well as a version being in constant development in which the newest packages are to be found for testing purposes. The users have to decide which way they prefer: Graphics or not, and/or stable or testing.

The next consideration is how to get and (begin to) use SliTaz. As SliTaz is distributed directly, it is completely free (but not the non-free proprietory code downloadable from distributors using a download script recognizable by the name «get-something»; you may download these using the SliTaz script but you have to respect all of the possible conditions imposed by the owner), you can get SliTaz for no cost and do whatever you want with it. You can get it provided as is and all that you decide to do with SliTaz becomes your responsibility. Please be fair to the authors if you change something in his/her work or if you use it for other purposes as originally intended.

You will probably begin to use SliTaz by getting it online. You can also proceed differently by building SliTaz from Scratch. This way is also documented but probably rare among the fans using the distribution.

There are 3 ways to get SliTaz stuff online:

1. download a SliTaz base distro directly from an internet network complete with a very short bootable application.
2. download a Slitaz base distro online as a first step and then activate it using one or more steps.
3. complete the environment by adding packages also downloadable online.

Apart from software; SliTaz offers a complete scope of services:

1. http:www.slitaz.org : information and news concerning the activity of the SliTaz community.
2. http:doc.slitaz.org : complete documentation on SliTaz Linux which realizes a specimen of Linux with all its main functions and without major concessions: Slitaz uses «root», «password» and «user» like most other serious Linux versions. All the stuff is detailed in the SliTaz Handbook. It can be considered as a short, but complete reference for all Linux beginners (especially if they do not work with SliTaz on a daily basis). The SliTaz doc also includes Guides being more orientated towards SliTaz and specific tasks.
3. http:forum.slitaz.org : discussion point for the SliTaz community in many languages.
4. http:scn.slitaz.org : SliTaz Community - read more at the web page and look on the top right hand side of the page to discover yourself the other branches of the community. Please note the IRC channel as you can often get help directly on it!

Using a Slitaz CD (internet start as well as traditional ISO start) or a Slitaz floppy (only internet start), nothing else to do! If a prepared Slitaz CD / Floppy is in the CD / Floppy drive before the PC starts, only start the PC and follow the instructions on the screen!

Before you start, you can also insert an USB memory with prepared file system «ext3» into one of your USB connectors. This memory will automatic be the place where your data will be saved (Linux users say “home”).

More easy can be nothing else!

If this kind of handling can't be used, SliTaz offers a lot of solutions adapted to about other starting problem and wishes!

The next chapter will introduce you to do something else!