Upgrade complete. Now what version of Linux do I chose?

[Galactus]

Ok so I finally made time (since I never have any free time) to finally upgrade my computer. Nothing fancy just upgraded the motherboard and the memory. I want to give a big thanks to farmkid, for all the help. So now that that is done, I have to decide what version of Linux to run.

So far I have been running live CD's of Ubuntu and Xubuntu. They seem fine enough, so I don't really have any complaints. I tried running Freespire but I can not get it to work. I thought about trying Fedora next.

So which version would you say is best for a newbie like myself. Anything to keep from having to buy a copy of Windows XP.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

This is a question I have too. Been running XP, but the support is going away soon,and I've been thinking about Linux for a long time anyway, at least as a dual boot with XP.

 

[Non Sync]

Fedora 9 is the most recent of that series. I've run it up in a virtual machine but that's about it.

 

[Shaytan]

So which version would you say is best for a newbie like myself. Anything to keep from having to buy a copy of Windows XP.

It depends of your needs.
I'd say if you want a gnome desktop, try go with Ubuntu. Its biggest advantage is its vivid community of users, that can be very helpful for a newbie.
But avoid the KDE version of Ubuntu (Kubuntu) it's not as good.
For a KDE distro, I recommend Mandriva (I'm using it right now), the last one - Mandriva Spring - is very easy to install and easy to use plus, it's beautiful and integrates perfectly the compiz effects.
I've tried OpenSuse 11 last week, not bad but compiz was not as easy to use.

 

[The Doctor]

OS X.

Why use the pretender when the real deal is readily available for your needs?

 

[Paxil]

This is a question I have too. Been running XP, but the support is going away soon,and I've been thinking about Linux for a long time anyway, at least as a dual boot with XP.

Do you consider 2014 soon? Because that's when XP support will end.

 

[rgb1701]

So which version would you say is best for a newbie like myself. Anything to keep from having to buy a copy of Windows XP.

Welcome to Linux and the OS that embodies the ideals of Trek

You should use Linux Mint without question. It's Ubuntu Hardy with all the "extras" )Flash, Java, codecs, etc) installed for you, plus lots of nice add ons and utilities included.

www.linuxmint.com

Download "Elyssa" v5.0 r1.

For fun, try MacPup Dingo, PuppyLinux 4.0 with a Mac OSX theme
http://tipsforeveryone.com/macpup/

 

[Garrovick]

OS X.

Why use the pretender when the real deal is readily available for your needs?

Linux will over take Apple in a few years if Jobs continues to maintain his computer club as is.

I'm trying to move from XP to Linux (Ubuntu) this weekend.

 

[Just_Bob]

OS X.

Why use the pretender when the real deal is readily available for your needs?

My son just built a new Intel based system and did a bit of OS X research. He purchased Leopard on a whim and performed the installation....flawless. OS X runs like a dream come true on his new pc. He spent three days running tests waiting for a mishap to occur, nothing - all good. He then purchased the Mac ver. of Adobe PS. This is where I thought he gambled his money away on an assumption, I was wrong.

There's not a MS OS or app anywhere to be found on his system. He dropped linux as well. I do realize that Macs are now Intel based but I just did not think my son would find complete success. I tried out OS X for three hours or so and found it to be an amazing platform. I think I'm hooked.

I wonder what would happen if Apple released their OS for PCs.

 

[Paxil]

I wonder what would happen if Apple released their OS for PCs.

There would be lots and lots of crashes and driver problems due to the fact that its not optimized for the wide variety of hardware out there.

 

[Galactus]

Thanks rgb1701 ,I never heard of Linux Mint. I decided to go with Ubuntu, but trying to install flash, etc is starting to give me a headache (my kids just have to have flash, right now!), so an alternative with that stuff already included would great. The very idea of using terminal is taking me back to the late 80's and bad computer lab experiences.

I know the biggest challenge for me is finding the drivers for everything. I just don't have that much free time to devote to this. I can see this will be a very slow process.

So are there any others out there like Linux Mint I should consider to make my trek into these virgin waters?

 

[Just_Bob]

I wonder what would happen if Apple released their OS for PCs.

There would be lots and lots of crashes and driver problems due to the fact that its not optimized for the wide variety of hardware out there.

At the present, you are correct. I certainly did not mean to suggest that OS X, in its present form, should be commercially offered to pc users today. However, Apple could easily address driver issues in the future.

 

[The Doctor]

OS X.

Why use the pretender when the real deal is readily available for your needs?

Linux will over take Apple in a few years if Jobs continues to maintain his computer club as is.

I'm trying to move from XP to Linux (Ubuntu) this weekend.

Could I have what you're smoking please?

It sounds awesome.

For the rest of us sober chaps who realize that the Linux install base on the personal user side is less than half of one percent, your assertion seems like something of an over-reach.

Not to mention that 'linux' isn't a monolithic entity and none of the prominent distros has the backing to take their game prime-time.

I've been running OS X for more than a year now, and I'm never going back.

 

[backstept]

OS X.

Why use the pretender when the real deal is readily available for your needs?

Linux will over take Apple in a few years if Jobs continues to maintain his computer club as is.

I'm trying to move from XP to Linux (Ubuntu) this weekend.

@ Stig - Linux is hardly a pretender, and it's free, unlike the Mac OS

@ Garrovick - try installing Ubuntu inside Windows with Wubi. after installation it appears in Add/Remove Programs so you can remove it easily (why you'd remove it I dunno ). I'm a total linux noob and I loved how easy it was. Now I don't presume to know your level of experience with linux, but I think this method is far better than dealing with partitions etc