[JZ1]

What's the easiest / best free version of Linux to load. I want to load it on my laptop which is running Windows Vista (without impacting Windows). Do I need to partition it or will the install add a boot option to pick the OS?

[no2pencil]

** Topic moved to Computer Support & Operating Systems **

Linux is not C/C++

It's important to know that Linux is the kernel, & each distribution is simply a software set release.

So the important question isn't which one is easiest, it's what you plan on using Linux for. That will dictate which distribution you should install.

[brentsid]

Good question, I am also deciding on playing w/ Linux again. It looks to me like Ubuntu, RedHat, and Suse are the most widely used. I want to know which is best to learn for the IT professional world. Is everyone mostly on RedHat in the "real" world?

[no2pencil]

My desktop at the office runs Slackware & other desktops run Linux Mint. All of our servers run FreeBSD which is Unix. But you'll get mixed results what a beginner should use. It's really about what you need.

Currently I'm doing an install of Cent OS for someone's Webserver. Also worked on Suse & Cent OS Linux servers in the Real World.

[sync350]

I personally use Ubuntu, and when I started with Linux, I found it pretty easy to use. For a Windows user, I think using KDE as a Desktop Environment would probably be a easier transition, but I prefer Gnome, just feels cleaner/smoother. Do some research on the different distributions, as well as the different Desktop Environments, and see which one seems to work the best for you. http://en.wikipedia....top_environment is good information on what a Desktop Environment is, which is not the same as a distribution, but affects the look and feel of the distribution. Anyways, I hope this made sense to you, and let me know if you have any further questions.

[Lemur]

I'd strongly suggest starting with Ubuntu as a newbie to Linux, it tends to be the friendliest of all the distros out there and the easiest to adapt to. Fedora (red hat free) is another good one though not suggested for your first time around.

Personally I'd say progression in linux would be something along the lines of this:

Ubuntu > Fedora > Arch/Slax > BareBones/ Open/FreeBSD

A basic list I just came up with in order of ease vs customization and less default settings. I would stay far away from Arch or above until you know what you're doing or you'll make a nightmare for yourself in no time.

The two I would suggest would be Ubuntu, and Ultimate Ubuntu (Spinoff distro with tons of preloaded software)

[no2pencil]

Lemur, on 24 January 2010 - 11:32 PM, said:

Personally I'd say progression in linux would be something along the lines of this:

Ubuntu > Fedora > Arch/Slax > BareBones/ Open/FreeBSD

This may look good in theory, but I always believe that for those whom want to learn should start with the harder installs first. I have never met anyone (& known it) that started with Ubuntu, & moved on to something else. Most people that want to try Linux start with Ubuntu, & then either get discouraged because it looks like Windows, but doesn't play games, or just becomes lazy & doesn't really learn anything.

But that's just my opinion. I'm sure there are thousands of people out there to prove me wrong. I started out on Slackware, & it made sense to me. Using a bloating Window Manager, gui configs, & package managers just hasn't sunk in for me yet. Doesn't feel like Linux.

[Lemur]

I started Ubuntu fairly early on, then used fedora for quite a while. Currently I've kept fedora but I've been doing testing on VM's for BSD and some more complicated distros

[Nykc]

I have played with several different distros - I use Ubuntu for my production machine and have a desktop with Debian installed on it. I will most likely stick with Ubuntu on my production machine, but I am also looking to play with something a little more hands on.

[olibenu]

u can virtualbox fedora like i do

[Trakker]

mandrake > red hat > slackware > gentoo (stage1) > ubuntu.
I got my hands dirty.

Honestly just think of your skill level and how much you like a challenge. If you want to return home from work and have your video driver crash when you try and get on the internet, you might want something like slack or gentoo or something else you can build from scratch. You'll get your hands in the dirt, use the CLI, and get a degree of control you've never had before. If you're looking for something you can sit down and browse the internet on with ease, you might look into mandriva, suse, fedora, or ubuntu.

[Anarion]

First I started with Fedora on my laptop and then installed Debian on my desktop... and I love Debian so much :wub:
Ubuntu is quite easy, also Fedora is not hard at all... but I didn't like them.

[programble]

I recommend Linux Mint for something even friendlier and easier to use than Ubuntu.

On a side note, this is what my Linux journey looks like:

Ubuntu -> Linux Mint -> Arch

[Trakker]

I've been wanting to try out Linux Mint for quite some time now. I've actually got all the releases since 2 years ago stored on my drive, just never found a candidate for an install.

[DaneAU]

If you want to work as if you are on a windows os, without actually being on one then install ubuntu. As for partitioning the drive, you will need space to install linux as it will create its own partitions. I wouldn't go much lower than 30GB free space to install it on. I think there are tools for windows to create blank partitions from empty space on a drive however someone here may know which is best. I started off with ubuntu then moved on to Fedora, then to openSUSE which i stayed on for a while now i have moved back to Ubuntu 9.10 Karmic which i have found to be hassle free in all respects. It does everything i need it to do for a desktop work environment. I have a home server running CentOS which allows me to do the web/backup/ftp server stuff that you may be after. Its really a matter of preference, in the end they are all very similar, if you want a 'work' machine then going a full on distro like redhat will suffice, however if you really just want your toes in the pond then you really cannot go pass Ubuntu or openSUSE, both are popular for good reason, my advice is to download a few spend the time installing each and trial them for a day, at the end pick one and stick with it.