Help me figure out which one after 2 yrs of tryin

jbirdie1 · 12-02-2006, 03:04 AM

ok, i have had mandriva installed (3disks) and used live distros of knoppix, linspire, suse, ubuntu and i have narrowed it down to ubutu and mepis. i say mepis because i dont want to use the command interpreter, but i hear its bloated therefore slow? just how much time will i have to spend in command mode with ubuntu? lots or occasionally - i use winders cmd mode once every 2-3 weeks to kill a service or somethng else like that and can handle that...i just dont want to do it like we did back in the 70's-80's when all ya had was a command interpreter!!! plz cast your vote so i can make my distro and set up for my Dual Boot with XP (only till i learn linux then its bye bye windblows). tks for the advice/help, aloha

**K-B** · 12-02-2006, 04:05 AM

If you're sure that one of those two are the ones you want, I'll vote Ubuntu. At least for starters, after you've gained experience I can almost guarantee you that you'll want to start trying others. But for a beginner, I think Ubuntu would be more suited.
Command mode. It is used more frequently in Ubuntu than most Windows setups. But once you get the hang of it, it's not really so hard. In Ubuntu, you can use the GUI (Graphical User Interface) for most tasks, like installing programs, configuring the system.
That's my 2 cents worth.

**Bartender** · 12-02-2006, 07:28 AM

jbirdie -

I drive a bulldozer for a living. No PC training. I've got an Ubuntu Linux PC up & running.

I had to learn about editing fstab.
I'm somewhat familiar with /boot/grub/menu.lst.
I can edit the /etc/apt/sources.list.
I followed arnieboy's instructions to make Automatix functional.
I learned how to disable IPV6, but that was for a friend, not for me!

I had to learn a tiny corner of the huge terminal dictionary to get going. And since thousands of people have done the same things, there's plenty of help.

I keep a 3-ring binder near the PC, with a tab inside labeled "Linux Commands", and I write down good ones when I see them on the forums. I'd encourage any beginner to do the same.

Don't let the terminal scare you off. In just the last year or so Linux has become accessible to anyone with a bit of patience and some basic PC skills. Oh, and broadband. Broadband is a must-have as far as I'm concerned. Wish I had it

yustr · 12-02-2006, 10:05 AM

As a newbie to Linux I did a bit of research like you're doing. I ended up with Ubuntu for three reasons: it was recommended here as being a good 1st time user distro, 2) I found a pretty good manual - Beginning Ubuntu Linux by Keir Thomas and 3) there is an extensive support network. ONE SITE HERE The linked forum can be frustrating as I've found the contributers often assume way too much knowledge on the part of us new users - even in the "Absolute Beginner Talk" threads - go figure.

While Ubuntu is mostly GUI, you will use the Terminal command. But as kbalona and Bartender said, its not all that difficult and I find I use it for the same tasks so once I've mastered those its pretty easy.

I'm typing this on a Windows Free PC...

BeastlyKings · 12-03-2006, 01:50 PM

I would go with Ubuntu.
I've just installed it on my friends compute and he LOVES it, and open office ROCKS.
I am typing this on a windoze free computer also...

I'm running DSL-N linux on this Computer though, but only because it cant handle Ubuntu...
I'ts only got a 300Mhz CPU and 154Mb RAM so it cant handle it.

**src2206** · 12-05-2006, 06:18 AM

Hello birdie

Go for Ubuntu and look for no more. A 5GB partition will be enough to install and run it. And you will be overwhelmed by the number of integrated application.

**Cellus** · 12-05-2006, 03:26 PM

If you have any questions about the terminal window, don't hesitate to ask us.

12-02-2006, 03:04 AM	#1 (permalink)
jbirdie1 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 74 OS: winxp	Help me figure out which one after 2 yrs of tryin ok, i have had mandriva installed (3disks) and used live distros of knoppix, linspire, suse, ubuntu and i have narrowed it down to ubutu and mepis. i say mepis because i dont want to use the command interpreter, but i hear its bloated therefore slow? just how much time will i have to spend in command mode with ubuntu? lots or occasionally - i use winders cmd mode once every 2-3 weeks to kill a service or somethng else like that and can handle that...i just dont want to do it like we did back in the 70's-80's when all ya had was a command interpreter!!! plz cast your vote so i can make my distro and set up for my Dual Boot with XP (only till i learn linux then its bye bye windblows). tks for the advice/help, aloha

12-02-2006, 04:05 AM	#2 (permalink)
K-B Moderator, Linux Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: NY Posts: 2,876 OS: Vista, Ubuntu My System	If you're sure that one of those two are the ones you want, I'll vote Ubuntu. At least for starters, after you've gained experience I can almost guarantee you that you'll want to start trying others. But for a beginner, I think Ubuntu would be more suited. Command mode. It is used more frequently in Ubuntu than most Windows setups. But once you get the hang of it, it's not really so hard. In Ubuntu, you can use the GUI (Graphical User Interface) for most tasks, like installing programs, configuring the system. That's my 2 cents worth. __________________

12-02-2006, 10:05 AM	#4 (permalink)
yustr Asst. Manager, The Conversation Pit Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Connecticut shore Posts: 6,040 OS: XP Pro My System	As a newbie to Linux I did a bit of research like you're doing. I ended up with Ubuntu for three reasons: it was recommended here as being a good 1st time user distro, 2) I found a pretty good manual - Beginning Ubuntu Linux by Keir Thomas and 3) there is an extensive support network. ONE SITE HERE The linked forum can be frustrating as I've found the contributers often assume way too much knowledge on the part of us new users - even in the "Absolute Beginner Talk" threads - go figure. While Ubuntu is mostly GUI, you will use the Terminal command. But as kbalona and Bartender said, its not all that difficult and I find I use it for the same tasks so once I've mastered those its pretty easy. I'm typing this on a Windows Free PC... __________________ If there are lawyers or politicians involved, logic may be a very poor tool for reaching a conclusion.

12-05-2006, 06:18 AM	#6 (permalink)
src2206 TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Kolkata, India Posts: 2,068 OS: WinXP Pro SP3 My System	Hello birdie Go for Ubuntu and look for no more. A 5GB partition will be enough to install and run it. And you will be overwhelmed by the number of integrated application. __________________ Registered Linux user #426065

12-05-2006, 03:26 PM	#7 (permalink)
Cellus Moderator Networking Team Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 2,664 OS: Windows Vista Business SP1, Windows XP Professional SP3 My System	If you have any questions about the terminal window, don't hesitate to ask us. __________________ TSF Networking Team Virus/Trojan/Spyware Removal Help Donate!

12-02-2006, 07:28 AM	#3 (permalink)
Bartender Mentally divergent Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Chehalis, WA, USA Posts: 1,285 OS: W2K, Ubuntu 8.04	jbirdie - I drive a bulldozer for a living. No PC training. I've got an Ubuntu Linux PC up & running. I had to learn about editing fstab. I'm somewhat familiar with /boot/grub/menu.lst. I can edit the /etc/apt/sources.list. I followed arnieboy's instructions to make Automatix functional. I learned how to disable IPV6, but that was for a friend, not for me! I had to learn a tiny corner of the huge terminal dictionary to get going. And since thousands of people have done the same things, there's plenty of help. I keep a 3-ring binder near the PC, with a tab inside labeled "Linux Commands", and I write down good ones when I see them on the forums. I'd encourage any beginner to do the same. Don't let the terminal scare you off. In just the last year or so Linux has become accessible to anyone with a bit of patience and some basic PC skills. Oh, and broadband. Broadband is a must-have as far as I'm concerned. Wish I had it

12-03-2006, 01:50 PM	#5 (permalink)
BeastlyKings Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 106 OS: Ubuntu Linux 7.10 32Bit My System	I would go with Ubuntu. I've just installed it on my friends compute and he LOVES it, and open office ROCKS. I am typing this on a windoze free computer also... I'm running DSL-N linux on this Computer though, but only because it cant handle Ubuntu... I'ts only got a 300Mhz CPU and 154Mb RAM so it cant handle it.