So many distros to choose from...?

Noob2Linux · 10-20-2009, 10:10 AM

I am looking at scrapping W!ndows off of my laptop, and going with Linux. Not a dual boot, but a full install. I've played with several distros. Ubuntu, Mandriva, PCLinuxOS, Mint, CrunchBang. They all have there good points, the best ones that I've found are Mint, and Mandriva. I have Mint7 on a bootable thumb drive, and I really enjoy it. I just am looking for more info from other Linux converts. So any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

**wmorri** · 10-20-2009, 10:33 AM

Hi,

Welcome to TSF!!

I would like to know a little more about what you are looking for? Your question is very open ended and there could be a billion answers to it. If you some questions then we can take it that way, or just somethings that you are hung up on?

Cheers!

Noob2Linux · 10-20-2009, 11:49 AM

First off i guess i should shed a little background on myself. I've always been a techie, been working on computers since 2000, more of a hobby than a career. Since the economy tanked, I got downsized, and am now looking for work in the computer field, just got my A+ cert.
I don't like Windows, I've always considered it a necessary evil, and I'm not cool enough or got the kind of $$ to be a Mac user. I've always liked the principle of open-source. That's why i began looking into migrating to some kind of Linux OS.

I'm really looking for a simple OS, that will handle surfing the web, I watch shows on Fancast alot. and basic word processing. When I tried Ubuntu and its cousins, it wouldn't do Flash out of the box, I know that there are downloads for flash.
When I use Mandriva and Mint, they meet all my requirements out of the box. I also like the mintinstaller and packet manager that Mint has built in.

Frozencrow · 10-21-2009, 07:33 PM

I personally use mint and have not extensively tested mandriva. I have it on a livecd but beyond that i don't use it much. I find mint very neat and orderly and everything is found very easily. You can just open up the mint menu and type in whatever you are looking for which i think is a great touch =D with no lag whatsoever. I also have found that mint is very easy to customize. It has a little application built in caled simple compiz effects which allows you to do whatever with desktop effects and so on.

Noob2Linux · 10-21-2009, 09:51 PM

Thanks for the input crow, I run Mint off of a usb drive, so i can personalize it and save it. Like you I've only run Mandriva off a Live CD. I really like mint. I think I'm just going to jump into it. do a full install on my laptop.

tokki · 10-23-2009, 03:52 AM

I use mint too (after having tested a lot distros..) and for my particular use I liked (desktop use).
Simple, nice-looking, with some goods "distro-utilities" (like the application manager) and complete. Yes, it's "ubuntu-based", so I could go for ubuntu as well, but I liked it more... just an opinion thoug

Bye

sdcougar · 10-24-2009, 10:29 PM

Does Mint or other distros run Adobe?

tokki · 10-25-2009, 06:33 AM

Adobe what? If you mean "Adobe Flash player" as a plug-in for a web browser, then yes.

Instead if you're talking about programs like Premiere of Photoshop I'm afraid not, you should use some emulation like Wine or try with virtualization.

sdcougar · 10-25-2009, 01:29 PM

Sorry, I should'a been specific. No, I'm don't use photoshop. Was wondering about PDF files, can your read them? Can you write them?

tokki · 10-25-2009, 01:42 PM

Yes, almost every distro has a reader already installed. If not, there are plenty of free readers for linux.

You can also create PDF, for example with Open Office you can export your document (Write (similar to Word..), Calc (similar to Excel), etc...) to a PDF file.

shuuhen · 10-26-2009, 10:57 AM

Most programs that I've used have a Linux version or alternative. Matter fact, I know Adobe used to make a Linux version of Acrobat Reader (not sure if it's still available). Personally I use kpdf (okular for KDE 4) and xpdf. There are some other ones available as well. You can create PDFs in many ways. If a program does not have the capability built in, you can get a PDF printer (like CUPS-PDF) to make a PDF out of anything you can print. Another way is to use TeX/LaTeX or something like TeXmacs.

**wmorri** · 10-26-2009, 12:31 PM

If you are using gnome then you can use the installed program called Document Reader (I believe, I am at work and not on my laptop so I am not sure).

Cheers!

10-20-2009, 10:10 AM	#1 (permalink)
Noob2Linux Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Oregon, USA Posts: 5 OS: xp sp3, Mint7	So many distros to choose from...? I am looking at scrapping W!ndows off of my laptop, and going with Linux. Not a dual boot, but a full install. I've played with several distros. Ubuntu, Mandriva, PCLinuxOS, Mint, CrunchBang. They all have there good points, the best ones that I've found are Mint, and Mandriva. I have Mint7 on a bootable thumb drive, and I really enjoy it. I just am looking for more info from other Linux converts. So any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

10-20-2009, 10:33 AM	#2 (permalink)
wmorri Moderator/Fedora Amb. Join Date: May 2008 Location: /pm/etc Posts: 2,805 OS: Window 7/Fedora 10 My System	Re: So many distros to choose from...? Hi, Welcome to TSF!! I would like to know a little more about what you are looking for? Your question is very open ended and there could be a billion answers to it. If you some questions then we can take it that way, or just somethings that you are hung up on? Cheers! __________________ Linux Forever!

10-20-2009, 11:49 AM	#3 (permalink)
Noob2Linux Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Oregon, USA Posts: 5 OS: xp sp3, Mint7	Re: So many distros to choose from...? First off i guess i should shed a little background on myself. I've always been a techie, been working on computers since 2000, more of a hobby than a career. Since the economy tanked, I got downsized, and am now looking for work in the computer field, just got my A+ cert. I don't like Windows, I've always considered it a necessary evil, and I'm not cool enough or got the kind of $$ to be a Mac user. I've always liked the principle of open-source. That's why i began looking into migrating to some kind of Linux OS. I'm really looking for a simple OS, that will handle surfing the web, I watch shows on Fancast alot. and basic word processing. When I tried Ubuntu and its cousins, it wouldn't do Flash out of the box, I know that there are downloads for flash. When I use Mandriva and Mint, they meet all my requirements out of the box. I also like the mintinstaller and packet manager that Mint has built in.

10-21-2009, 07:33 PM	#4 (permalink)
Frozencrow Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 42 OS: Windows XP Home S3	Re: So many distros to choose from...? I personally use mint and have not extensively tested mandriva. I have it on a livecd but beyond that i don't use it much. I find mint very neat and orderly and everything is found very easily. You can just open up the mint menu and type in whatever you are looking for which i think is a great touch =D with no lag whatsoever. I also have found that mint is very easy to customize. It has a little application built in caled simple compiz effects which allows you to do whatever with desktop effects and so on.

10-21-2009, 09:51 PM	#5 (permalink)
Noob2Linux Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Oregon, USA Posts: 5 OS: xp sp3, Mint7	Re: So many distros to choose from...? Thanks for the input crow, I run Mint off of a usb drive, so i can personalize it and save it. Like you I've only run Mandriva off a Live CD. I really like mint. I think I'm just going to jump into it. do a full install on my laptop.

10-23-2009, 03:52 AM	#6 (permalink)
tokki Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 11 OS: Vista	Re: So many distros to choose from...? I use mint too (after having tested a lot distros..) and for my particular use I liked (desktop use). Simple, nice-looking, with some goods "distro-utilities" (like the application manager) and complete. Yes, it's "ubuntu-based", so I could go for ubuntu as well, but I liked it more... just an opinion thoug Bye

10-24-2009, 10:29 PM	#7 (permalink)
sdcougar Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 5 OS: xp	Re: So many distros to choose from...? Does Mint or other distros run Adobe?

10-25-2009, 06:33 AM	#8 (permalink)
tokki Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 11 OS: Vista	Re: So many distros to choose from...? Adobe what? If you mean "Adobe Flash player" as a plug-in for a web browser, then yes. Instead if you're talking about programs like Premiere of Photoshop I'm afraid not, you should use some emulation like Wine or try with virtualization.

10-25-2009, 01:29 PM	#9 (permalink)
sdcougar Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 5 OS: xp	Re: So many distros to choose from...? Sorry, I should'a been specific. No, I'm don't use photoshop. Was wondering about PDF files, can your read them? Can you write them?

10-25-2009, 01:42 PM	#10 (permalink)
tokki Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 11 OS: Vista	Re: So many distros to choose from...? Yes, almost every distro has a reader already installed. If not, there are plenty of free readers for linux. You can also create PDF, for example with Open Office you can export your document (Write (similar to Word..), Calc (similar to Excel), etc...) to a PDF file.

10-26-2009, 10:57 AM	#11 (permalink)
shuuhen Manager Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Colorado Posts: 980 OS: Mac OS 9.1, Mac OS X 10.5.8, WinXP Pro, FreeBSD 6.0, Gentoo Linux My System	Re: So many distros to choose from...? Most programs that I've used have a Linux version or alternative. Matter fact, I know Adobe used to make a Linux version of Acrobat Reader (not sure if it's still available). Personally I use kpdf (okular for KDE 4) and xpdf. There are some other ones available as well. You can create PDFs in many ways. If a program does not have the capability built in, you can get a PDF printer (like CUPS-PDF) to make a PDF out of anything you can print. Another way is to use TeX/LaTeX or something like TeXmacs. __________________ Has it been a few days since I replied to your thread? Don't panic! I'm a busy college student and may forget a post if I'm extra busy (or it might just take me a while to be able to do a decent reply). If you still need help and are awaiting my reply after a few days, PM me about it. When posting what errors you get, please give the full message. It makes helping you much easier. Last edited by shuuhen; 10-26-2009 at 10:59 AM.

10-26-2009, 12:31 PM	#12 (permalink)
wmorri Moderator/Fedora Amb. Join Date: May 2008 Location: /pm/etc Posts: 2,805 OS: Window 7/Fedora 10 My System	Re: So many distros to choose from...? If you are using gnome then you can use the installed program called Document Reader (I believe, I am at work and not on my laptop so I am not sure). Cheers! __________________ Linux Forever!