which linux?

i.r-fool · 10-30-05, 05:56 AM

I hear there are so many linux os's out there, especialy ones that are questionable. i am thinking of trying linux out to see if its any good. are there any opinions as to what i should look for, like eg. i see there's many different companies or so that release their own linux. so should i try one of them, if so which one is best, or should i go for the one of the free ones?

Daneel Olivaw · 10-30-05, 07:58 AM

Fedora Core is my favorite for noobs.

Linux is FREE.

Why the h would you pay.

kgroombr · 10-30-05, 10:55 AM

Mandriva, used to be Mandrake (www.mandrivalinux.com), is my first recommendation for a new linux user. Most say it is a pretty easy install.

I would recommend downloading the distros that the folks here recommend, and loading them one at a time, play with it a few days, and blow it away with the next distro. Each distro has something that appeals to a group of people. There really isn't the "best" distro IMHO, it is just what you like.

I have loaded a good twenty or so different distros over the years. I probably should do a comparison again to see how they all stand.

If you get fairly good with Linux and want to jump in head first, go with Gentoo (www.gentoo.org). I find it an excellent all around distro, but it is not for a new user. Start with a stage 2 install.

Ken

**ricercar** · 10-30-05, 01:33 PM

IIRC RedHat (Fedora Core) is the most common Linux among the customers of my workplace's shipping products for Linux. We also use Fedora core for our server product (VMware ESX Server)

Then SuSE, then Mandriva. You can expect to find help on the web from just about any Linux, but the most common Linuxes have the most prevalent posting of problems, and the most widespread posting of solutions.

I find SuSE wonderful for their support of ThinkPads, but for nForce desktops, I choose Redhat

i.r-fool · 10-30-05, 04:11 PM

I tried looking 4 drivers 4 my pc to go with linux, but I only found drivers for my display card (ATI). I couldnt find any linux drivers 4 my m/board (pf5 extreme) - is there any other place where one can find drivers for components 4 linux except from the manufacturers site?

tabanus · 10-30-05, 04:37 PM

If you just want to try Linux out first, you could do a lot worse than try Knoppix (http://www.knopper.net/knoppix/index-en.html) which you run from a CD or DVD, and is based on Debian. Personally I use Gentoo, because of it's configurability and ease of updating, but it takes ages to install and fully set-up.

Subtestube · 10-30-05, 05:23 PM

I just recently moved to the most recent release of Ubuntu, and I have to say, I'm rather impressed. Very nice, and pretty easy to set up.

Daneel Olivaw · 10-30-05, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by i.r-fool

I tried looking 4 drivers 4 my pc to go with linux, but I only found drivers for my display card (ATI). I couldnt find any linux drivers 4 my m/board (pf5 extreme) - is there any other place where one can find drivers for components 4 linux except from the manufacturers site?

I know that Fedora carries a huge amount of drivers, you probably don't have to worry about that. Linux is very mature now.

Though an ATI card for Linux might not be a perfect fit.

evilghost · 10-31-05, 09:00 AM

Another vote for Ubuntu.

retsam · 10-31-05, 10:22 PM

Quote:

If you just want to try Linux out first, you could do a lot worse than try Knoppix (http://www.knopper.net/knoppix/index-en.html) which you run from a CD or DVD, and is based on Debian. Personally I use Gentoo, because of it's configurability and ease of updating, but it takes ages to install and fully set-up.

knoppix...boots right from the cd...no formats no partitions...nothing ...just load and go ...great way to get your feet wet....
i use knoppix-std by the way .... its great if your into security...

evilghost · 11-01-05, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by retsam

knoppix...boots right from the cd...no formats no partitions...nothing ...just load and go ...great way to get your feet wet....
i use knoppix-std by the way .... its great if your into security...

Most of the newer distributions will also have a live CD version, like Knoppix. I know Ubuntu has one as well.

wnd · 11-01-05, 01:26 PM

I use Debian GNU/Linux sid myself, but from what I've heard, I'd recommend Ubuntu for people who are new to Linux. And just to start another war between Gnome/KDE, you may want to try Kubuntu as well.

10-30-05, 05:56 AM	#1
i.r-fool Registered User Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 10	which linux? I hear there are so many linux os's out there, especialy ones that are questionable. i am thinking of trying linux out to see if its any good. are there any opinions as to what i should look for, like eg. i see there's many different companies or so that release their own linux. so should i try one of them, if so which one is best, or should i go for the one of the free ones?

10-30-05, 07:58 AM	#2
Daneel Olivaw Northwood hugger Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Montreal Posts: 1,244	Re: which linux? Fedora Core is my favorite for noobs. Linux is FREE. Why the h would you pay. __________________ -Intel Core2 Duo 4300 (3.0GHz) \| Asus P5N-E SLI \| 6GB Corsair CVS PC2-5300 \| GF8800GT 512MB \| Western Digital 1TB Raid0 \| Antec SLK2600AMB \| Antec Earthwatts 500W -Intel Pentium4 2.4C (3.4GHz) \| Asus P4P800 Dlx \| 2GB Crucial Rendition PC-3200 \| GF6800LE 128MB \| Seagate 200GB \| Antec Overture II \| Antec TruePower 2.0 480W Mild agnosticism —the view that the existence or nonexistence of God or gods is currently unknown but is not necessarily unknowable, therefore one will withhold judgment until/if more evidence is available. A weak agnostic would say "I don't know, but maybe you do."

10-30-05, 10:55 AM	#3
kgroombr Using Linux Since 1995 Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 130	Re: which linux? Mandriva, used to be Mandrake (www.mandrivalinux.com), is my first recommendation for a new linux user. Most say it is a pretty easy install. I would recommend downloading the distros that the folks here recommend, and loading them one at a time, play with it a few days, and blow it away with the next distro. Each distro has something that appeals to a group of people. There really isn't the "best" distro IMHO, it is just what you like. I have loaded a good twenty or so different distros over the years. I probably should do a comparison again to see how they all stand. If you get fairly good with Linux and want to jump in head first, go with Gentoo (www.gentoo.org). I find it an excellent all around distro, but it is not for a new user. Start with a stage 2 install. Ken __________________ Kenton A. Groombridge kgroombr@comcast.net http://home.comcast.net/~kgroombr/

10-30-05, 01:33 PM	#4
ricercar fugue master Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: silicon valley Posts: 1,603	Re: which linux? IIRC RedHat (Fedora Core) is the most common Linux among the customers of my workplace's shipping products for Linux. We also use Fedora core for our server product (VMware ESX Server) Then SuSE, then Mandriva. You can expect to find help on the web from just about any Linux, but the most common Linuxes have the most prevalent posting of problems, and the most widespread posting of solutions. I find SuSE wonderful for their support of ThinkPads, but for nForce desktops, I choose Redhat __________________ I used to drive a Heisenberg, but whenever I'd glance at the speedometer, I'd get lost.

10-30-05, 04:11 PM	#5
i.r-fool Registered User Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 10	Re: which linux? I tried looking 4 drivers 4 my pc to go with linux, but I only found drivers for my display card (ATI). I couldnt find any linux drivers 4 my m/board (pf5 extreme) - is there any other place where one can find drivers for components 4 linux except from the manufacturers site?

10-30-05, 04:37 PM	#6
tabanus Registered User Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 37	Re: which linux? If you just want to try Linux out first, you could do a lot worse than try Knoppix (http://www.knopper.net/knoppix/index-en.html) which you run from a CD or DVD, and is based on Debian. Personally I use Gentoo, because of it's configurability and ease of updating, but it takes ages to install and fully set-up.

10-30-05, 05:23 PM	#7
Subtestube Anisymbolic Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Wellington, New Zealand Posts: 1,365	Re: which linux? I just recently moved to the most recent release of Ubuntu, and I have to say, I'm rather impressed. Very nice, and pretty easy to set up. __________________ Dr Possible: Core 2 Duo E6400 on Gigabyte GA-965P-DS4. Galaxy GeForce 7600GT. 2GB Corsair XMS 2 DDR2-6400 RAM (CL5). ATi Theatre 550 Pro. Windows XP MCE. All stored in Piano black Antec Sonata II, with a broken door. Mobile: ASUS M2400N, Pentium M 1.5 GHz. 512 MB DDR RAM. Intel EXTREME graphics. Windows XP SP 2 / Ubuntu 5.10. Ridiculous DOES not have an 'e' in it. It comes from "ridicule" and has less than nothing to do with the colour red.

10-31-05, 09:00 AM	#9
evilghost Registered User Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 3,606	Re: which linux? Another vote for Ubuntu.

11-01-05, 01:26 PM	#12
wnd Nerd, Geek, Freak Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Finland Posts: 703	Re: which linux? I use Debian GNU/Linux sid myself, but from what I've heard, I'd recommend Ubuntu for people who are new to Linux. And just to start another war between Gnome/KDE, you may want to try Kubuntu as well. __________________ web \| cat Christianity, noun: The belief that a cosmic Jewish Zombie who was his own father can make you live forever if you symbolically eat his flesh and telepathically tell him you accept him as your master, so he can remove an evil force from your soul that is present in humanity because a rib-woman was convinced by a talking snake to eat from a magical tree. [mad.frog]

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