So what Linux distro should I look into?

from WinCustomize Forums
So I have tried Fedora Core 3 and didn't care for it much! What I am looking for is a easy to use for a noob linux distro that has a easy to use apt get function and is easy to learn. I'm looking into Gentoo and SimplyMepis - should I be looking into any other Distros?
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Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
"Windows" is easy, I've heard-tell....
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I would definitely reccomend Mandrake, Terry, if you haven't tried that yet. It's a great distro and very good for new users of Linux to learn the basics in. Plus it's also available as one of those 'live' CD based distro's as well, so you can try it before installing to see if it suits you.
Star Control: Origins
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
As for live cd's, I would recommend Knoppix. Heck, email me shotgun_989 at yahoo.com with your address and I'll mail you the cd incase you are on dailup. Other than that, whatever you can install usually works.
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Oh...party poopers....try DSL then....fits on a mini CD.....total size 50 meg....
Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
FOr a Noob, most definately look into a Debian based distro. SimplyMEPIS is a very good choice. It has a GUI apt get software that makes installing/uninstalling software a breeze. Unless you don't mind paying, then Linspire is also a very good Linux noob choice (it's also Debian based).
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I use Suse. It's friendly to new users, but is also good for power users.
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I tried Mandrake 10, but it wasn't a good "fit" for me. I was going to install a Suse partition, but I've heard so many things about SimplyMepis here and on other sites, I think I'm going to try it first.
Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I would reccomend Ubuntu, it focuses largely on "just work"ing and has a six month release cycle. It's Debian-based so includes apt-get and Synaptic (apt-get package manager for Gnome), as well as the simplified Ubuntu Update Manager in their upcoming release. Also it has sponorship from Canonical so should stay free. I tried Mandrake 10 and didn't like it either, but I like Ubuntu a lot.

http://www.ubuntu.com
Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I would like a distro that has a GUI interface in KDE. Maybe Gentoo is worth looking into again. I'm also looking for a distro that has drivers for my Nvidia card and a CD Writer program and a MP3/MPEG/CD Audio player like WMP 9.
Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I second endtime with Ubuntu. It's a great distro - and the only one I found that automatically picked up all of my hardware. It also has a great 'safe' way of handling root privileges.
Reply #12 from Stardock Forums Top
Stay away from Gentoo if you're just learning the OS... It's meant for people who really want to get every ounce of power out of their systems and know how to go about doing it. It's a good distro to move to later once you are comfortable with Linux.

Now, are you looking to Linux just to replace Windows and want one that's easy and ready to go out-of-the-box? Or are you looking to learn the OS and want to become comfortable enough with it to be able to go in and tweak the hell out of it?

If you're looking for out-of-the-box ease, check out one of the Debian spin-offs listed above. (Though I'd normally recommend Fedora, doesn't get much more simple than that)

If you're looking to invest some time and learn Linux, I highly recommend Slackware. It's the distro a lot of people cut their teeth on when entering the Linux world. I found it was the perfect mix of user-friendlyness and hard-core techno geek. It will force you to read a lot of how-tos, you'll spend your first few days at the command prompt with no GUI most likely as you just get your bearings straight. This is the best way to learn Linux as once you get a GUI, you're less likely to go in with a terminal window and do things manually. GUIs are great, but they hurt learning.

My $0.02
Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Ubuntu is great, with the added bonus that they send you CDs for free with free shipping to anywhere in the world check out http://shipit.ubuntulinux.org/.

Personally I use a combination of Ubuntu and Topologi (www.topologilinux.com).
Reply #15 from JoeUser Forums Top
While I'm a Slack user, I have tested and used a great many distros over the years. I would have to say that of the ones mentioned above, SimplyMepis or Ubuntu would likely be what you are looking for. Of the two, I would say from personal experience that SimplyMepis is the better of the two based upon the fact that it is uses Debian packages where Ubuntu relies heavily on many Ubuntu-centric packages.
Reply #16 from WinCustomize Forums Top
No thanks guys. I decided to stick with Windows XP for now until Linux matures a bit more. Besides - My digital camera only works on Windows.
Reply #18 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I'm also looking for a distro that has drivers for my Nvidia card and a CD Writer program and a MP3/MPEG/CD Audio player like WMP 9


Fedora's got that. Fedora also has KDE as an option.

The cd writer is in the address bar drop-down.
Helix works like WMP9/10, but you might need to click to get the realplayer.
The nVidia drivers are easy, you just go to the unofficial FedoraFAQ website.

Try Tux racer before the vid card drivers and then after. It's a hilarious difference.
Reply #19 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Meowy - I own Fedora Core 3 - I don't like it. Fedora is NOT the best distro out there.

I'm a Windows XP guy!
Reply #20 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I got the Dvd version of fedora core 3 but haven;t had much of a chance to try it out as yet, but if I don't like it for some reason, can mandrake upgrade it like Xp over 98, or does it have to be uninstalled first?

A newbie question cos I've not seen any info on this
Reply #21 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Linux distros cant be 'upgraded' to another distro. That's just like attempting upgrading XP to Solaris. They are actually whole different OSes.


I like Fedora fine. That is what I'm typing this in. IE6, Fedora Core 3. I'm using wine to use IE6.
Reply #22 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I has been having great time with SimplyMepis. It works even with laptop with 500 mhz AMD k-6 2 with 64 mb ram before 8 mb held for video card.
Reply #23 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I use ubuntu, actually the kubuntu version with KDE. I use the Live Version and it really rocks. It "Just Works!" Seriously... I have an HP Laptop and it boots right up, and I have no problems with it at all.
Reply #24 from WinCustomize Forums Top
KDE would be the best bet for the user enviroment. That's what I use on Fedora, just go into add/remove and check 'K Desktop Enviroment.'

It really is nicer.