recommend me a linux distro

[otispunkmeyer]

i have an old machine here that im using. it runs xp just fine, but i fancy experimenting.

whats a linux distro thats simple to use (ie no cobbling drivers together by hand etc)

i want to be able to simply, surf the web, email, messenger with a microsoft life cam webcam, encode divx (as easy as the divx converter is)

also ill need it to be able to work with my freecom DNAS hard drive (its capable of both Direct and Network attached storage modes) and also ill need to sync my dell axim x51v

i'd imagine the last two will simply be impossible on linux, but then again i know nothing about linux

also unfortunately i have an ATi card in this machine, and last i heard Ati's linux support wasnt the best

 

[SleepWalkerX]

Ubuntu or OpenSUSE are my choices, but the hardware setup depends entirely on what components you're using.

You can rip dvds using DVD::Rip. If you try the latest gaim betas you should be able to use your webcam.

Your freecom NDAS should be usable under linux from browsing around teh interweb. Setting it up might be more of a pain for someone who hasn't used a linux based distro before.

ATi support is not the best even though it has picked up tremendously in the linux arena over the last year, but there are proprietary drivers that get 3d acceleration and they shouldn't be too hard to setup (if you even need the acceleration).

 

[pkme2]

Ubuntu is the most popular install because the users find it very user-friendly. Ubuntu ranks #1 and the rest #2.

Whichever you plan to install, Ubuntu works with just about anything.

 

[DasFox]

I don't believe it I make a post to answer these questions, AnandTech makes it a sticky, so how could you miss it, and still people don't even look and still ask what Linux should they use.

Here is your answer:
http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=34&threadid=1949879&enterthread=y

ALOHA

 

[DasFox]

Linux is Linux, saying something works on one and not the other is not a correct answer. Hardware support comes from the Kernel, all Linux versions, AKA "Distros" support the same hardware. If a piece of hardware is working on one version of Linux over another then the developers simply did not compile that support in, and in some special cases make their own patches to the kernel for support, but this isn't the case to often.

Applications like what's just been mentioned here dvd::rip, gaim, and all of the ones you can think of run on any Linux version the same as another, there is nothing that makes any Linux more special then another for running either hardware or software. What one can run all of them can run.

Sorry guys I don't mean to be rude but I made this post mentioned above to avoid situations like this that only spread confusion.

Linux is Linux, they are all basically the same.

Understand what Linux is first please before giving advise, Linux is the kernel.

ALOHA

 

[namityadav]

DasFox, My personal opinion is that answers like yours .. which try to be politically and technically correct do not help a new-comer like otispunkmeyer. For a newbie, he has been very knowledgable about what he wants to ask. He gave information about what he needs to do, and asked what distro is going to be simplest for him to try. Ease of use, very nice package manager, a large repository and a very good community support is what he needs. I'd agree with other posters in saying that he should start with Ubuntu. And if something doesn't work, then check out the ubuntu forums. He'll get all the help that he may need there.

 

[DasFox]

Sorry if I wasn't clear here, the post I made has people starting out with the number #1 rated distro, by Distrowatch which happens to be Ubuntu, then going from there with the other top 4.

I never said not to use Ubuntu, but what I am saying is not to just limit him to it. Ubuntu is only popular because it's what most newbies go for because they don't know any better, not because it's superior to any of the other top 5 distros.

Ubuntu, Fedora, Suse, Mandriva, Mepis, etc.... They all have their pros, and cons. There is no perfect distro.

The best approach for someones best benefit is to say, "Go and try a few, and then see what you think."

namityadav I wasn't trying to be politically, or technically correct that is not the point. The point is Linux is Linux, and the top 5 distros for a newcomer are all very equal in quality and ease. Actually if you've read my post you'll see I'm doing the correct thing to help the newcomers like otispunkmeyer, I'm only giving them facts about Linux, and then letting them make a decision, it's real easy to do.

If you read the post I made, it's not to give anyone our own ideas as to what we think, but rather to let them know that Linux is a personal choice. Everyone sharing their own thoughts and ideas typically ends up just confusing people, all they really need to do is just go out and try a few of them till they settle on the one they like.

This isn't a difficult thing to do, pick a distro. I can tell you from experience many things not good about Ubuntu, and many other distros for that matter, but again I'm not here to tell people what to pick.

Let people understand the facts, and let them make the choice, read the post I made, and you'll see it's not a difficult thing at all, that's why I made it to help people that keep coming on the forum asking what Linux should I use, and now they have a simple approach to this.

I have roughly over 7 years experience in Unix/Linux, and I share that experience to help people, not confuse them, or share with them any of my own opinions. I only give them the information so they can decide.

Remember just because you like a particular distro doesn't mean everyone else will.

ALOHA

 

[otispunkmeyer]

well i have a cd of ubuntu, it comes with a install disc and curiously a disc where you can run it directly off the CD.... i supppose thats so u can try it without installing it.

ill give it a whirl, but if i cant sync my axim or use my external hard drive in NAS mode then its really no good

 

[Forsythe]

Gentoo!
If you're a noob then Debian. Remember to find a printer and print some documentation. Both are excellent dist's.

Gentoo is my system, something about compiling everything myself just make me happy.

 

[doog519]

First off you have taken the time to check into what might work with your system.

I would read the sticky and then narrow it down to a couple of distro's that you might want to try.
And then download and burn live CD's. The live CD's will show you how well your system matches up with the distro.
Also you might want to try and figure out what for desktop you want to run KDE or Gnome.

For a beginner with Linux it does make life a lot easier if your system is compatible with the distro.
Alot of times if it doesn't, you will just get furstrated because you can't get nothing working and go back to Windows
For me ...Ubuntu installed and I didn't have to configure anything it found it all.
I mostly run Suse 10.1 for me it just feels like a good match. Plus I am using KDE for desktop. But it was harder to setup.
But then again all good things take a little sweat.

Good Luck and let us know how you make out.

 

[nweaver]

actually....linux insn't just linux

/duck


things like the restricted modules, and ATI drivers be packaged into Ubuntu (and I think mepis does as well) set it into a somewhat different catagory as far as "ease of use" imho

and some use a more modern kernel, that can make or break broadcom cards without ndiswrapper. Not that I disagree with anything else. 1. Look at the sticky, 2. try the top 5 distro's for a week each (imho) and then decide where you want to stick.

 

[R3MF]

SUSE.

 

[Robor]

Ubuntu Edgy Eft

 

[w00t]

Ubuntu