Which version of Linux????

FredT · 01-25-2008, 09:34 PM

Hi Everyone,

I really don't know anything about Linux, so excuse my lack of knowledge.

After using Linux on a computer at school, I discovered it was a free operating system, and I thought it might be interesting if I installed a copy on my computer at home. But when I went to try it out, I found that there were many, many different distributions to choose from and not all of them were free.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to which version I should download?

Thanks

**sobeit** · 01-25-2008, 09:38 PM

the most popular one is Ubuntu. You can run it from the cd to see if you like it so you will not have to mess up your current system.

YOu can download it from here

If you want something that works closer to windows try kubuntu

both distros are from the same people.

tomiro · 01-27-2008, 09:26 AM

Well, actually PCLinuxOS is the the most popular, by some 20% as of today according to distrowatch.com. The PCLinuxOS desktop is easy to use for anyone who has ever used Microsoft Windows. http://www.pclinuxos.com

PCLinuxOS is also the best all time seller at On-Disk.com

Another worth looking at is Linux Mint. Basically it's Ubuntu only better. It's built with Ubuntu as it's base. Their homepage is http://www.linuxmint.com

Both PCLinusOS and Linux Mint will run live just from the CD so you can ensure it will work on your computer before you even have to consider installing anything.

If it's an older PC (Windows 98ish) Zenwalk Linux can be an excellent choice. 5.0 just came out about a week ago and I'm using it right now on an older IBM Thinkpad. Thus far I've been very happy with it.

hiflyr91 · 01-27-2008, 01:11 PM

PCLinuxOS 2007 is very easy to understand and use. It's not the only Linux version that is. It is, however, the only one I've successfully gotten any Windows fanboys to convert to.
Like Zenwalk, it will run on older hardware. I've run it perfectly stable on an old IBM with an 833mhz P3, and 512mb of ram. If you have newer hardware, PCLinuxOS is blazing fast.
Mandriva is nice, and user-friendly, as are Ubuntu, and OpenSuse. I've also heard good things about PCBSD, though I haven't used it.
Good luck in whatever you choose. Trying different versions until you find the right one for you is part of the fun.

ncsu1983 · 02-01-2008, 09:48 PM

Depends on what applications you need. Start your research with these sites:

Distrowatch (http://distrowatch.com)
Live CD List (http://www.frozentech.com/content/livecd.php)
Linux Online (http://www.linux.org)

Before wiping out your MFST HDD and installing Linux, test drive Linux with a live CD. I'd recommend burning a copy of at least one of the following:

Puppy Linux
Damn Small Linux
Wolvix
Feather Linux

Most machines, even old ones, will run on one of these.

**sandman55** · 02-01-2008, 10:56 PM

There are so many to choose from I use Ubuntu (though I haven't tried many others) they have a good forum for advice. As others have said try it from the disk first (Live CD) that way you can see if you like it before you install it. If you have trouble getting it to work from Disc report back here because you may need to set your CD/DVD to boot first in the bios.

01-25-2008, 09:34 PM	#1 (permalink)
FredT Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 210 OS: Mac OS X 10.5.2 and XP SP2	Which version of Linux???? Hi Everyone, I really don't know anything about Linux, so excuse my lack of knowledge. After using Linux on a computer at school, I discovered it was a free operating system, and I thought it might be interesting if I installed a copy on my computer at home. But when I went to try it out, I found that there were many, many different distributions to choose from and not all of them were free. Does anyone have any suggestions as to which version I should download? Thanks

01-25-2008, 09:38 PM	#2 (permalink)
sobeit TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: NEAR Posts: 6,174 OS: windows/linux	Re: Which version of Linux???? the most popular one is Ubuntu. You can run it from the cd to see if you like it so you will not have to mess up your current system. YOu can download it from here If you want something that works closer to windows try kubuntu both distros are from the same people. __________________ Do not feed the trolls.

01-27-2008, 09:26 AM	#3 (permalink)
tomiro Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Rochester NY Posts: 5 OS: Zenwalk Gnu/Linux 5.0	Re: Which version of Linux???? Well, actually PCLinuxOS is the the most popular, by some 20% as of today according to distrowatch.com. The PCLinuxOS desktop is easy to use for anyone who has ever used Microsoft Windows. http://www.pclinuxos.com PCLinuxOS is also the best all time seller at On-Disk.com Another worth looking at is Linux Mint. Basically it's Ubuntu only better. It's built with Ubuntu as it's base. Their homepage is http://www.linuxmint.com Both PCLinusOS and Linux Mint will run live just from the CD so you can ensure it will work on your computer before you even have to consider installing anything. If it's an older PC (Windows 98ish) Zenwalk Linux can be an excellent choice. 5.0 just came out about a week ago and I'm using it right now on an older IBM Thinkpad. Thus far I've been very happy with it. __________________ Thank you, tomiro

01-27-2008, 01:11 PM	#4 (permalink)
hiflyr91 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 12 OS: WINXP SP2/PCLinuxOS	Re: Which version of Linux???? PCLinuxOS 2007 is very easy to understand and use. It's not the only Linux version that is. It is, however, the only one I've successfully gotten any Windows fanboys to convert to. Like Zenwalk, it will run on older hardware. I've run it perfectly stable on an old IBM with an 833mhz P3, and 512mb of ram. If you have newer hardware, PCLinuxOS is blazing fast. Mandriva is nice, and user-friendly, as are Ubuntu, and OpenSuse. I've also heard good things about PCBSD, though I haven't used it. Good luck in whatever you choose. Trying different versions until you find the right one for you is part of the fun.

02-01-2008, 09:48 PM	#5 (permalink)
ncsu1983 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Midwest USA Posts: 38 OS: Linux My System	Re: Which version of Linux???? Depends on what applications you need. Start your research with these sites: Distrowatch (http://distrowatch.com) Live CD List (http://www.frozentech.com/content/livecd.php) Linux Online (http://www.linux.org) Before wiping out your MFST HDD and installing Linux, test drive Linux with a live CD. I'd recommend burning a copy of at least one of the following: Puppy Linux Damn Small Linux Wolvix Feather Linux Most machines, even old ones, will run on one of these.

02-01-2008, 10:56 PM	#6 (permalink)
sandman55 TSF Enthusiast Join Date: May 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 4,322 OS: WinXP Pro SP3	Re: Which version of Linux???? There are so many to choose from I use Ubuntu (though I haven't tried many others) they have a good forum for advice. As others have said try it from the disk first (Live CD) that way you can see if you like it before you install it. If you have trouble getting it to work from Disc report back here because you may need to set your CD/DVD to boot first in the bios. __________________ Charlotte at the beach