B. Roberts

Good afternoon everyone.
My name is Blair and I'm new to this forum. I regret that I haven't yet had an opportunity to peruse the informative postings and replies but hope to do so very soon.
In the meantime, I wish to install Linux after having tried Knoppix and I've prepared a separate harddrive just for this purpose. Can someone suggest a Linux OS that's uncomplicated, very user friendly and amenable to use. There are so many of them out there. Which one is it going to be? Your time is much appreciated. /B.

karanga

Hi Blair,

If you are totally new to Linux I would suggest either Redhat or Mandiva (formally Mandrake). I have just upgraded to Mandiva 2006 using the free iso download. You will find the installation probably less painfull than a Windows Install and have a running system working with little need for any further config providing the computer you are running Linux on is fairly new and not using obscure hardware.

Once you have run Linux for a while and climbed the steep learning curve you will be in a far better position to decide which flavour of Linux is for you.

Good luck and pop back if you have any questions.

Dan

shuuhen

Ubuntu is known to be a good distribution to start with (although I have never worked with it myself). I've given SimplyMEPIS disks to some of my friends and I've worked with it a little (on their machine). They should be very similar distributions, so it shouldn't matter which one you choose.

Volt-Schwibe

it seems the newest versions of alot of common ones are coming with simplified installers, and configuration tools.

mandrieva
redhat
suse
ubuntu

all have nice setups that make it easy for an ex windows addict to familliarize themselves with linux.

i myself still don't like mandrieva, i still use the last mandrake 10 release because of the flaws and such i found in mandreiva, although that was a while ago.

subgeniusd

Xandros 3.0

Arathald

I'm partial to Ubuntu myself. With the release of Dapper Drake (v6.06), it has become even easier to migrate from windows to Linux. Ubuntu also has some really nice user-friendly features, makes isntalling new software very easy (Comes from its parent project, Debian; RedHat/Fedora is also good at this, although it has fallen behind on support and updates to my knowledge).

It is true that there are wide range of ditros available that will give you a great experience, so it's really up to you, and if you don't like one distro, the installations are so easy that you can install another one over lunch.

mr-e-commerce

Debian is very nice if you spend some time doing a little homework on it.

K-B

I like suse, I found it very easy to use and configure. I've tried Ubuntu, didn't like it mainly because of the GNOME. Kubuntu didn't seem to have as many features as Suse. I also have worked with Xandros, didn't like it because it didn't detect my hardware properly. Now that the 6.06 versions came out in Ubuntu family, I'm going to try Kubuntu again.

Arathald

There's also Xubuntu which comes with the XFCE interface, which I don't myself like (I like Gnome), but may be a good alternaive option for some of you

K-B

Thats on my Must-Try list

rayf

I have been happy with Xandros

STLTech

I have recently installed Fedora Core 5 and it is very user friendly. Instalation is simple and for wired networking, not much configuring. If you are using wireless it takes alittle effort.

Volt-Schwibe

i have to retract my previous statements about mandriva.

i have since installed it again, and i am getting along with it just fine this time.

must have been a bad install the last time.

subgeniusd

Hi guy- One year Xandros user here, "advanced newbie". Recently installed X 3.0 on brand new Acer notebook and previously reinstalled X 3.0 so am somewhat familiar with the process. But installing OSes is like tinkering with hand grenades to us Techie wannabes. You must see the cries for help on other Linux forums.

Your post caught my attention because recently picked up latest Linux Journal which included a shiny new Mandriva One dvd. Sitting right here on my desk pulsing "play with me". I'm on the Mandriva website at this moment on a different computer and ManOne looks very impressive with every feature an average user would need. Questions:

1. Will this automatically overwrte the current OS?

2. Do you just insert into dvd drive and follow the setup wizard?

3. Do need to go into the BIOS setup and change boot order to cd/dvd?

4. Do you need to set up various partitions and swap partitions first?

I suspect #1 and #2 are not true. If #3 and #4 are true will the ManOne setup wizard guide me through this?

I am by nature a reckless tinkerer but have learned my lesson the hard way (three Xandors reinstalls actually) and would very much appreciate your advice.

(I posted this here since you are subscribed to this thread and should see a topic notification. If the moderator moves it to a new topic thread I'll check back tomorrow. Thanx again.)

Volt-Schwibe

ManOne is alot like knoppix.

it runs from the cd, unless you install it.

i think the installer takes care of partitioning like any other distro would...

i think.

now you make me want to give it a serious look.

being how i haven't played with ManOne much, i can't tell you a whole lot, although for #3, the answer is yes.

funny though, i'm not subscribed to this thread here i don't think.

subgeniusd

Hi V-S: Just installed Opera 9.0 (Linux) which I am using at this moment. Really cool and works on Google video now.

OK so can run from dvd like Knoppix so I don't have to be such a scaredy cat about "dual booting". And I need to change the BIOS setup which is no prob.

i just installed Maxthon on one of my XP machines yesterday and now Opera 9.0 and that is about all the program changes I can handle for the moment. I will try ManOne tomorrow but before will check back here to see if your ManOne experimentation has been fruitful.

BTW----tomorrow is Xandros 4.0 release day!!!! Look out GoliathSoft, DavidXan is coming out swinging! I plan to semi-retire this oldish Microtel laptop (1.2Gb/512R/60Gb)specifically for experiments like---MandrivaOne.

Cool avatar.

Bartender

B. Roberts -
Do you have broadband at home?

Volt-Schwibe

thank you. i made that myself, and it took me so long to make it, i will probably use it till the end of time.

Carcass

When I started out on Linux my first was Amigo Linux - its very easy to install - you do not need to re-format the hdd to a Linux partition - just keep it at the M$ Fat / fat32 or ntfs. All you do is extract the archive that it comes on onto the drive and your done (inc. X - config, so GUI will run).

Also SuSe does have a very easy GUI installer..... There are so many out there - a good site to try out is www.linux.org.

I hope this helped.

Wilber

I have been looking at starting with Linix too. I use it at work (Fedora core 3), so I am not too familiar with being the system manager and root etc.

I had heard Gentoo was quite a fun little package that was easy to update with newer versions without reinstalling. Also I hear the documentation is excellent which may be good for a new user getting used to a linux system. But that is all I really know about it. Does anyone know if it is worth trying? I noticed no one has mentioned it at all as an option for a newer user.