Getting started - help and shortcuts needed

Linux and Windows both work fine. I have not tried using Quartus in Xubuntu. I have tried Ubuntu and it was a pain. Centos is painless.

I'd recommend installing VirtualBox, and then install either Centos or Windows in the VM, then install Quartus into that.

The BeMicro requires special drivers, so I'd start with the DE2 board.

Here's a tutorial that uses the DE2 and BeMicro:

http://www.alterawiki.com/wiki/using_the_usb-blaster_as_an_sopc/qsys_avalon-mm_master_tutorial

I need to update it for the newer tools, but the Qsys walk-through is still appropriate.

Cheers,

Dave

PS. The BeMicro drivers for Linux and Windows have been posted to this forum, so you should be able to find them via a search. If you cannot, just email me, and I'll dig them up, I should have a copy on a USB drive.