Which Linux Distribution is Best for a Newbie ?

[imported_Revolution]

First time I'm going to use a Linux OS.
I'm going for dual boot.
Currently I'm using Windows XP.
Please suggest me a good linux distributor which will be easier for noob like me.
Thank you.....

 

[thedarkwolf]

Pretty easy to say Ubuntu if for no other reason then its damn popular so if you do have an issue finding out how to fix it is easier.

 

[aceO07]

Ubuntu

 

[lxskllr]

Originally posted by: aceO07
Ubuntu

 

[compman25]

Originally posted by: lxskllr

Originally posted by: aceO07
Ubuntu

3rd that!

 

[mb]

http://xkcd.com/456/

 

[Schadenfroh]

openSUSE 11 is pretty easy to use, but yeh... nothing beats Ubuntu for ease of use.

 

[AnonymouseUser]

Originally posted by: mb
http://xkcd.com/456/

http://xkcd.com/528/

 

[BlueAcolyte]

PCLOS
Zenwalk
Ubuntu
OpenSUSE

 

[IamDavid]

Originally posted by: lxskllr

Originally posted by: aceO07
Ubuntu

even my 64 year old mother runs it.

 

[Brainonska511]

Ubuntu or Kubuntu; though KDE 4.1 had some issues when I was running it on my laptop. Supposedly fixed most of them in 4.2.

Overall, Ubuntu was easy to use and set up, but I eventually went back to Windows XP after a couple of months of full-time Ubuntu use because of various things I wanted to do (play games, better battery life in XP, lack of hdd space to run two OSes...)

 

[frostedflakes]

Another vote here for Ubuntu.

I had tried it a few years ago and it wasn't bad then, but recently loaded 8.10 on a system and wow, can't believe how much better it has gotten. Linux has really made a lot of progress in the last few years, I am anxious to how much it will progress in a few more.

And as thedarkwolf mentioned, if you do run into any problems the Ubuntu community is huge, you should be able to find a lot of help.

 

[imported_Revolution]

Thanks to all for your replies.....
I have ubuntu 8.10 Live DVD.

Which way is better :
1.install from dvd on unallocated partition
2.install from hdd using wubi ?

Please guide me !

 

[AnonymouseUser]

Originally posted by: Revolution
Thanks to all for your replies.....
I have ubuntu 8.10 Live DVD.

Which way is better :
1.install from dvd on unallocated partition
2.install from hdd using wubi ?

Please guide me !

1 is best. 2 is easiest and slower.

 

[VinDSL]

Originally posted by: aceO07
Ubuntu

True!

Ubuntu, in the Linux Community, is generally accepted as being a n00b distribution, e.g. for ppl that don't know what they're doing.

If you know anything about computers, you'll probably grow tired of it rather quickly, but...

Everybody has to start somewhere!

 

[VinDSL]

Originally posted by: thedarkwolf
Pretty easy to say Ubuntu if for no other reason then its damn popular so if you do have an issue finding out how to fix it is easier.

Actually, there's a LOT to be said about that!

In reality, about 80% of your "experience" will come from the 'Community' you're involved with...

There are 100's a Linux distributions! As an example, some distros are supported by turd-world governments, like Brazil or Estonia - so, if you're Brazillian or Estonian, that's the distro you'll want to use - and the list goes on.

The Ubuntu Community is flooded with n00bs, asking dumb questions - and getting dumb answers from other n00bs. If that's what floats your boat, go for it.

Then... when you get a little experience under your belt and know which direction you want to go, switch to a more appropriate distro.

 

[VinDSL]

Originally posted by: Revolution
Thanks to all for your replies.....
I have ubuntu 8.10 Live DVD.

Which way is better :
1.install from dvd on unallocated partition
2.install from hdd using wubi ?

Please guide me !

I've used Live CD's and Live DVD's. Personally, I think Live CD's are the way to go.

If you install it from a Live DVD, when you do an update (or whatever) you will be asked to insert the DVD in the drive all the time. Why? Because the OS will include it in the Repo (software source) list. The DVD is easy to disable in the Repo list, but most n00bs are too inexperienced to figure it out, so I would suggest using a Live CD instead.

And, yes, let the Live CD make the partitions for you (from unallocated space). This is WAY beyond your capabilities if you've never used Linux before.

Basically, everybody wants to run Linux, but nobody wants to install it - that's what Live CD's are all about!

Let the Live CD do all the work for you - sit back, and enjoy!

 

[DivideBYZero]

Originally posted by: VinDSL

Originally posted by: thedarkwolf
Pretty easy to say Ubuntu if for no other reason then its damn popular so if you do have an issue finding out how to fix it is easier.

Actually, there's a LOT to be said about that!

In reality, about 80% of your "experience" will come from the 'Community' you're involved with...

There are 100's a Linux distributions! As an example, some distros are supported by turd-world governments, like Brazil or Estonia - so, if you're Brazillian or Estonian, that's the distro you'll want to use - and the list goes on.

The Ubuntu Community is flooded with n00bs, asking dumb questions - and getting dumb answers from other n00bs. If that's what floats your boat, go for it.

Then... when you get a little experience under your belt and know which direction you want to go, switch to a more appropriate distro.

Wow. You're an OS snob. Fail.

 

[lxskllr]

Originally posted by: VinDSL

Originally posted by: aceO07
Ubuntu

True!

Ubuntu, in the Linux Community, is generally accepted as being a n00b distribution, e.g. for ppl that don't know what they're doing.

If you know anything about computers, you'll probably grow tired of it rather quickly, but...

Everybody has to start somewhere!

BS... I've tried several distros, and always come back to Ubuntu. The reason is because it's polished, and it works. It'll do as much, or as little as you want it to. If you want a basic gui to web browse with you can easily do that, if you want to hack around in the internals it'll do that also. Linux asses put it down because it's popular, pure and simple. Ubuntu is the standard to beat, but instead of putting in the work to beat it, they try to diminish it's accomplishments to make themselves feel uber 1337

 

[compman25]

Originally posted by: VinDSL

Originally posted by: aceO07
Ubuntu

True!

Ubuntu, in the Linux Community, is generally accepted as being a n00b distribution, e.g. for ppl that don't know what they're doing.

If you know anything about computers, you'll probably grow tired of it rather quickly, but...

Everybody has to start somewhere!

Opinions are like assholes, everyone's got one.

I started my unix/linux journey in 96 with SCO and Slackware. 13 yrs later I'm using Ubuntu.

 

[VinDSL]

Originally posted by: compman25
Opinions are like assholes, everyone's got one...

Agreed!

And, sometimes the truth hurts!

Look, don't take my comments the wrong way...

I run Ubuntu 8.10 on one of my LAN machines (XP/Ubu dual-booter). And, I like it just fine, thank you! WoW runs great on it...

I also run a Slackerware web server, here at the house. And, I like it just fine too!

Dittos for our CentOS production web server in Atlanta. Perfect OS for that app!

Having said that, I wouldn't even consider running Slackware or CentOS on my desktop. I prefer openSUSE!

Does that make me an "OS snob"?!?!? I don't think so! LoL! Don't be so sensitive...

Ubu has it's place - and the fact of the matter is - it's designed for n00bs!

Nothing wrong with that, BTW. I recommend it to ppl all the time!

 

[VinDSL]

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh
openSUSE 11 is pretty easy to use, but yeh... nothing beats Ubuntu for ease of use.

Coincidently, I don't know which version of "openSUSE 11" you're running, but...

I upgraded to KDE 4.2 a couple of days ago (using it right now) and it rawks!!!

I was drifting toward dumping KDE 4.1 in favor of Gnome, but KDE 4.2 fixed all that!

Now I'm considering dumping Gnome...

LoL!

I'm sooo conflicted with this KDE vs Gnome situation!

The thing is, KDE 4.2 is the way of the future - no doubt about it - unless Gnome can pull a rabbit out of their hat.

And, Gnome is what most Ubu users are running, no?

I've never used Kubuntu, but maybe that's the route to go... NOT Ubuntu.

 

[lxskllr]

Kubuntu uses KDE. I much prefer Gnome.

 

[VinDSL]

Originally posted by: lxskllr
Kubuntu uses KDE. I much prefer Gnome.

Yeah, me too - at least I preferred Gnome last week!

I was reading an interview with Linus Torvalds a couple of days ago...

http://www.computerworld.com/a...asic&articleId=9126619

Another open-source project that underwent a big change was KDE with Version 4.0. They released a lot of fundamental architectural changes with 4.0, and it received some negative reviews. As a KDE user, how has this impacted you?

I used to be a KDE user. I thought KDE 4.0 was such a disaster, I switched to GNOME. I hate the fact that my right button doesn't do what I want it to do. But the whole "break everything" model is painful for users, and they can choose to use something else.

I realize the reason for the 4.0 release, but I think they did it badly. They did so may changes, it was a half-baked release. It may turn out to be the right decision in the end, and I will retry KDE, but I suspect I'm not the only person they lost.

I got the update through Fedora, and there was a mismatch from KDE 3 to KDE 4.0. The desktop was not as functional, and it was just a bad experience for me. I'll revisit it when I reinstall the next machine, which tends to be every six to eight months.

The GNOME people are talking about doing major surgery, so it could also go the other way.

I guess that's where I was at (a few days ago - around the time of the article)...

I didn't realize how bad openSUSE KDE 4.1 sucked until I installed Gnome! Then, I 'much preferred Gnome' too, but...

On a whim, I booted into openSUSE KDE 4.1 and saw that KDE 4.2 was stable, so I upgraded to it - and all I can say is, "WOW! THEY FIXED IT!!!"

And, now I look at everything differently!

Gnome looks pathetic and dated NOW - at least in the openSUSE 11.1 implementation.

You might want to give KDE 4.2 a whirl... :thumbsup:

 

[imported_Revolution]

Originally posted by: VinDSL
Basically, everybody wants to run Linux, but nobody wants to install it - that's what Live CD's are all about!

Let the Live CD do all the work for you - sit back, and enjoy!

"Use Live CD or DVD but no installation"

So,it is the best way for noob.....