[SPlutard]

I'm thinking of making the switch to Linux on my computer (or at least a half-switch). I've been looking around at the different types of Linux from Fedora to Mepis, as well as Mandrake, Mandriva, SuSe and Ubuntu. I can't really seem to find any good resources to help me decide which to chose.

I'm looking for something that's newbie-friendly, but I'm not really looking for windows all over again. I'd probably be using it for basic day-to-day school stuff, surfin', and codin'. THe only thing is that I've got a wireless network that it would have to work with (but I don't think that'll be a problem).

I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions as to a type to check out (listed above, or otherwise) or maybe a good site that compares them, perhaps giving advice to newbs like me?

On a side note, a friend of mine has Mepis, and he likes it a lot. I'm happy to use Mepis, based on what little experience I have with it, but maybe there's something more suited to my nebulous needs?

[rahulbatra]

Try a liveCD like Ubuntu. IMHO, its really pretty decent despite some minor bugs here and there. Also for a new guy, if you want a HDD thing, go for Mandriva (bloated true, but easy to use). I also find the Fedora series pretty well balanced.

[SPlutard]

So.... pretty much just try a few with a CD boot (no installation), and see what I like best? Sounds fine to me.

This post has been edited by SPlutard: 26 February 2006 - 12:10 PM

[MarkoDaGeek]

I agree, thats what I would do too... I know Ubuntu is geared twords people who are new to linux, it has good user friendlyness along with solid advanced options... but most linux Distro's are doing that these days.

[Mrafcho001]

Ubuntu > All other distors i've tried.

Its easy to use, has that thing that has all that software/libraries and what not. Pretty user friendly.

Go with that, if you dont like it, you are most likely not gonna like the other Linux Distros.

[SPlutard]

Ok, cool. I ordered their free disks so I can check it out. I think it's cool that, unlike many other 'distros.', I wasn't forced to pay proprietary fees and service fees for software that's supposed to be open source.

Definitely going to give it a shot.

[Mrafcho001]

Yeah, you'll have to wait about 4 weeks though, they ship the disks from France.

I wonder why France...

[SPlutard]

That kinda sucks. Oh well - I'm not in any rush.

I wonder why France too....

[Kyuubi]

SPlutard, on 26 Feb, 2006 - 07:58 PM, said:

Ok, cool. I ordered their free disks so I can check it out. I think it's cool that, unlike many other 'distros.', I wasn't forced to pay proprietary fees and service fees for software that's supposed to be open source.

Definitely going to give it a shot.

The GNU liscence does not say that the compiled program must be free, only that the source must be distributed with the program.

Anyway, I've tried a few of the more popular distros (fedora, mandrake, and lately ubuntu). I have no idea why, but I absolutely hated mandrake. Fedora made me jump through hoops to get my wireless card to work (had to update/patch the kernal among other things)

Ubuntu, however is incredibly easy to get into, mostly because of the "apt-get" utility which makes updating and installing software incredibly easy, probably even easier than windows. Really the only thing that's every annoyed me about ubuntu, is that by default it uses the gnome desktop enviroment instead of kde, which seems to be the more popular of the two.

[SPlutard]

Does that mean that, while the Gnome desktop is the default, it is possible to switch to the kde desktop, if you wanted to?

[Nova Dragoon]

yes, you'll need to use apt-get or one of its guis (ie synapic) and install KDE, no big deal

They actually ship from the netherlands now, I guess its because Canonical found cheap cd production facilities there. They are HQ'd in the Isle of Mann, and I dont know of many Media factories there ;-)

[Amadeus]

SPlutard, on 27 Feb, 2006 - 01:54 AM, said:

Does that mean that, while the Gnome desktop is the default, it is possible to switch to the kde desktop, if you wanted to?

Yep, or you could go to Kubuntu instead.

[SPlutard]

major difference(s)?

[Kyuubi]

the only real difference between kubuntu and ubuntu is that one installs kde for you, and the other installs gnome, when your first install the os. Also, ubuntu has a brown theme where kubuntu has a blue theme.

[SPlutard]

I'm looking at their site and it looks like everything costs about $2.00. Not exactly a lot, but am I looking in the right place? There a free version anywhere?

Nevermind - I found the download section.... how stupid of me. Sorry.

--> Downloading a live disc to check it out. Thanks!

This post has been edited by SPlutard: 27 February 2006 - 08:01 PM