Version of Liniux thats easy to use

[Zeorymer]

I'v never used linux before and aim looking for a version that easy to use for a noob, any suggestions?

thanks

 

[GhettoFob]

Ubuntu

 

[Zeorymer]

Originally posted by: GhettoFob
Ubuntu

Do you personally use it? How do you like it? What about stability and funcutionality?

 

[sgleo87]

I am new to linux also and I use Suse. I haven't had any problems with it and all my hardware worked with my laptop (even my wireless internet). Other distros that are easy to use are Ubuntu and Mandrive (formerly known as Mandrake). Here is a website with user reviews of the different distros http://www.linuxquestions.org/reviews/index.php
Just take a look at them and try some out. It is really a matter of preference so you have to decide what you like.

 

[Zeorymer]

Thanks sgleo87 I'll take a look at that website.

 

[Jay]

I've dabbled for several years and run back to Windows like a scared child until I came across PCLinuxOS. It's been so much more easier migrating, I've put on my laptop and configured my e-mail client (which I wouldn't do unless I was serious about this).

Some high points, great hardware recognition (including my internal Wireless G card), sound, video, etc.

And the best part is the download is a LiveCD, so you can boot into it and play without installing and then if you do like it, then you can install to your hard drive.

 

[The Linuxator]

Fedroa Core

 

[drag]

Try Knoppix. It's a Live Linux cd and it allows you to run a KDE desktop without having to install any software on your computer. Basicly you boot up the cdrom and the OS runs directly from the cd without having to have anything installed.

It's quite commonly used.

That's the safest and easiest way to try out linux that I know of.

 

[SoundTheSurrender]

Ubuntu.

 

[DidlySquat]

Ubuntu is one of the easiest to use, but at the same time is one of the most powerful due to availability of thousands of software packages. Also it has by far the most support.

 

[SleepWalkerX]

If Kubuntu is similar to Ubuntu in packages, then I wouldn't recommend Ubuntu. Before, I installed Kubuntu Flight 3 (a dapper release) and it supported the rt2500 driver, but when I degraded to Kubuntu 5.10 to install automatix, it didn't. It detected my texas instruments wifi card and ethernet card, but I couldn't enable either of them.. I had this problem in Flight 3, but I was able to fix it. And of course, I had the same problem I had back in Warty, where it didn't setup my display correctly so I had a text login (although I knew how to fix it). And then there's no gcc installed so I can't exactly compile my drivers once I copied then over from my windows partition. But who knows, Ubuntu is probably better with all this.

Everything was easier to work with in Suse, only reason I'm hesitant to switch back is because I want access to more packages in regards to repositories.

 

[wpshooter]

To answer your question quite honestly, if you have no experience with Linux, you are going to find that NONE of them are "EASY" to use. You are probably in for a very stiff learning curve.

 

[SleepWalkerX]

Originally posted by: drag
Try Knoppix. It's a Live Linux cd and it allows you to run a KDE desktop without having to install any software on your computer. Basicly you boot up the cdrom and the OS runs directly from the cd without having to have anything installed.

It's quite commonly used.

That's the safest and easiest way to try out linux that I know of.

Very good idea, in fact I would recommend SimplyMepis. It allows you to run from the cd and has an installation application on the desktop that's incredibly easy. This distro comes with java, flash, and I think even multimedia codecs like mp3.

I would also recommend PCLinuxOS because I've heard its just as easy, but its rpm based (off Mandriva I believe) and Mepis is backwards compatible with debian's respositories.

 

[AnonymouseUser]

Mandriva

 

[RebateMonger]

If you don't want to keep reformattng computers to try different versions of Linux, consider downloading a trial version of Microsoft Virtual PC 2004. Then install various Linux versions in VPC windows.

Many Linux versions work in VPC. Each version of Linux will become a single, large, file on your PC that you can delete with one click. You can boot a Linux install ISO from your hard drive. No need to burn an install CD.

You can't directly access USB devices, nor will 3D graphics card functions work inside of VPC. But you can access a shared folder in both Windows and your VPC boxes.

A quick introduction to VPC 2004

 

[Gamer X]

How about Linspire ?

 

[smack Down]

In the easy to use catagory they are basicly the same but with slighty different wrappers. The only area with any siginificant difference is in package aviablity.

 

[Basie]

Linspire is good. Xandros I like even better. Most of these Distros are easy to use as is. It sometimes
gets complicated when you want to add software, graphic drivers and play the latest games. That's when
you wish you had the ease of the windows installer.

 

[Robor]

I would vote for Ubuntu just because it's got great community support and Automatix (http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=66563) makes it very easy to get up and functional.

 

[scottish144]

www.Distrowatch.com Click "Major Distributions" in the Upper Right, any of those (except gentoo) is ur best bet.

 

[w00t]

ive heard ubuntu didnt work for my pc though

 

[sourceninja]

Ubuntu is great, I've used it for a long time. My personal favorite is gentoo, but ubuntu is an awesome OS.

 

[vtohthree]

I was just about to start a thread about Linspire, but of course I did a search first and stumbled upon this one. I am in the market for an Linux based OS as well. Anymore input on Linspire? I bring it up because it is mass marketed as "the easiest linux to use in the world" or something a long those lines.

 

[drag]

Linspire is "ok". The main issue with it is that it uses the 'root' account for the default user.

This is a serious serious problem, a flaw in it's design and implimentation and it seems that Linspire doesn't care, which is not a good sign. They have nice features besides that though that you can't get anywere else.

Other then that it's ok. It's based on Debian. Debian is usually considured hard to use, which it is only for new users. Try Ubuntu, it's a good place to start. Most people try 2 or 3 distros until they find something that works best for them.

Keep in mind that what one distro does, another one can do. It's open source and software and hardware is pretty much equally supported across everything.. However the differences are more of taste and default setups.

 

[pkme2]

I intalled Ubuntu on my old PII for a lark.
I have Fedora Core 4 on my new A64 build.
Ubuntu was easy to install and I found very easy to use.
This distro is really perfect for beginners. I rate it 9.0 out of 10.

I use FC4 as my main preference for writing script and other tasks.