Which Linux Distro?

Saturday, May 19, 2007 by malcontentwindowsuser | Discussion: New Users

i think ill just start off by saying that im not particularly fond of windows. i have used a few linux distros at my frriends house, and i know a wee bit about them, and i have settled on running either ubuntu or fedora. but i understand that it is hard to get ubuntu to actually run on your computer, but it is probably better. so id like to know which one of these two i should get, and a little info on how to install ubuntu and actually get it to work. or if neither of those, which linux distro should i get? thanks for any help!
35 Reply 5 Referrals
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XX
Reply #1 Saturday, May 19, 2007 2:41 PM
It wasn't hard for me to install and run Ubuntu. It took me a little while to get used to different methods, but once I got used to it, it's great.

unclerob
Reply #2 Saturday, May 19, 2007 2:52 PM
the ubuntu distro can be downloaded in various forms, the one you should download & check out is the livecd version which doesn't involve installing anything on your computer. You download the iso, burn it to cd, boot your pc off the cd and ubuntu runs directly off your cdrom without have to erase your hd and installing the os. This allows you to testdrive ubuntu and find out if it will work with your pc hardware or not.

As far as what I've heard, ubuntu is one of the easier linux distro's to install and also one of the most user-friendly linux os's around. Definitely check it out and let us know how it works out for you!   

ZubaZ
Reply #3 Saturday, May 19, 2007 4:05 PM
What windows features are you not fond of?  It might make a difference what linux distro fits you best.

Both install fine.  I like Ubuntu and installed in on my daughter's PC for university.  I'll do the same for the next daughter in the fall.  If they need support I just boot the live distro on my Vista PC to see what's going on.

Armbut
Reply #4 Saturday, May 19, 2007 4:42 PM
go for ubuntu. seriously.

malcontentwindowsuser
Reply #5 Sunday, May 20, 2007 9:48 PM
i dont like how unstable windows is. maybe its just me, but everytime ive gotten my computer with windows fixed, something goes wrong on it. it messes up. the win32 file is corrupted. or, for some random reason, my computer turns off outa nowhere, and i turn it back on, and it tells me that there is no operating system found. (also, i think windows is kinda ugly. ubuntu and fedora look so much better...) they overcharge for their programs, and they all run errors like no tomorrow. it also comes with piles of useless programs that you dont need, and most of these are only demos of the real program.

i mean, dont get me wrong, i like windows a little. it has its pros and cons just like linux and mac have a shortage of popular windows programs that a lot of people use. but from using ubuntu, mac, and fedora, i have to say that those three are better in my opinion.

tjesterb
Reply #6 Sunday, May 20, 2007 10:35 PM
The problems you describe are usually caused by bad sectors on the hard drive, or a bad IDE controller. Switching OS won't help with hardware issues.
If you just want to switch, I like Open Suse. With the exception of YAST needing an overhaul as an update tool, I think it's the most polished desktop distro. Fedora Core is good too.
Windows is my primary desktop, mostly for convenience and compatibility, but OSX would be my next choice.

malcontentwindowsuser
Reply #7 Monday, May 21, 2007 1:14 PM
doesnt Suse cost? and isnt it more for a business aspect? i could get it for free if i really wanted it, but it wouldnt be as much of a hassle for me to get ubuntu. ill still use windows though, solely for the reasons tjesterb named.
is there any way that any of you know to get visual basic to run on ubuntu?

slavalley
Reply #8 Monday, May 21, 2007 2:08 PM
Im pretty sure that it will work once you install wine or cedaga and config them. After all i have most of my games running in Ubuntu 7.04 that way.

scorpNZ
Reply #9 Monday, May 21, 2007 2:39 PM
Signing up to the ubuntu site allows you to get it free on cd,all you do is fill out the request form ,it took me 3 weeks to receive them as i ordered 5,the cd includes the live & install version.

Would'nt hurt to get kubuntu as well it's a good replacement for windows

malcontentwindowsuser
Reply #10 Monday, May 21, 2007 2:57 PM
kubuntu runs on KDE doesnt it? and what about xubuntu? and how are they any different than the regular ubuntu?

thomassen
Reply #11 Monday, May 21, 2007 4:12 PM
Just reformatted my old comp with XP, Vista and Ubuntu 7.04

I have to say this version of Ubuntu looks very slick. The Desktop Effects are cool. Installation was much more friendly than before.

tjesterb
Reply #12 Monday, May 21, 2007 9:45 PM
There are two versions of desktop Suse. One is OpenSuse, which can be freely downloaded and installed. The other is SLED (Suse Linux Enterprise Desktop) which comes with a paid support package.

OpenSuse: WWW Link

SLED: http://www.novell.com/products/desktop/

tjesterb
Reply #13 Monday, May 21, 2007 10:27 PM
....and I still think you Windows problems sound like hardware issues.

XX
Reply #14 Tuesday, May 22, 2007 1:22 AM
malcontentwindowsuser, Kubuntu has a different suit of programs, and contains KDE window manager and not GNOME as found on Ubuntu.

scorpNZ
Reply #15 Tuesday, May 22, 2007 3:42 AM
xubuntu to me is'nt anywhere near as well developed as ubuntu or kubuntu,both these last two are developed by the same team if i'm not mistaken ?? ,ubuntu is most probably more widley used than kubuntu,i just got it to check it out tho when it comes to linux i know jack & intend to teach myself as soon as i get another comp to plonk em on,but i like the blue wallpaper of kubuntu lmao (yes i'm aware it can be changed in ubuntu p)

Jafo
Reply #16 Tuesday, May 22, 2007 10:40 AM

maybe its just me, but everytime ive gotten my computer with windows fixed, something goes wrong on it. it messes up. the win32 file is corrupted. or, for some random reason, my computer turns off outa nowhere, and i turn it back on, and it tells me that there is no operating system found.

That sounds like hardware....something that switching OS won't fix...


malcontentwindowsuser
Reply #17 Thursday, May 24, 2007 11:06 AM
i tried installing ubuntu last night. i couldnt do it. it said it couldnt find the 'x11 server'. because ubuntu wouldnt work, i installed fedora core 6, and it could find my x11 server. so any help on this matter would be GREATLY appreciated. please people....

XX
Reply #18 Thursday, May 24, 2007 4:35 PM
If it is indeed hardware, changing OS will not do anything, you will keep having problems till it is truly broken.

malcontentwindowsuser
Reply #19 Friday, May 25, 2007 11:20 AM
maybe a little bit of it is hardware. but i talked to some ppl who really really know what theyre talking about with ubuntu. we solved it. its because i have an integrate video card and the ubuntu disc is not set to it. i know what it is, i just dont know how to explain it... but we are fixing it.

Jafo
Reply #20 Friday, May 25, 2007 11:47 AM

maybe a little bit of it is hardware.

We're talking about it going gaga in Windows....nothing to do with Linux...if Windows implodes like that it's hardware...so the failure will affect any OS....eg. when a drive is dying it matters not what OS is on it...it'll still die...


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