this may sound like a stupid question but...

Armed Nuke · 06-01-2008, 01:05 PM

all my life i have been running versions of windows. first 98, then xp and now vista. i admit i love using it but most everyone else i know uses either it or leopard. lately i have been wanting another operating system that i can put on a 10 gb partition. i was wondering what the best free operating system would be. basicly, the only reason i want it is to be "different and cool" it just needs to fit in 10 gb of space and have a really really neat gui. i don't really care how useful it is as i plan to use vista as well.

**sobeit** · 06-01-2008, 01:12 PM

I know the feeling - it as happened to me a time or two...

give linux a try. The good thing about it is that theres live cds where you can actually run it from the cd. I recommend ubuntu. The latest version (8.04) can be installed like any other windows program. Then on the boot, it will finish the installation. You can remove it in add/remove.

No matter what you do, make sure you have a backup of your windows or files you cannot afford to lose. Most likely nothing will happen - but unfortunately things do.

Armed Nuke · 06-01-2008, 06:14 PM

thanks :) yeah i know what you mean about backing up files......i played around with a grub bootloader once and backing up files paid off. which of the operating systems you mentioned has the neatest graphical user interface?

**wmorri** · 06-03-2008, 07:07 PM

Well, Ubuntu has a pretty straight forward gui. I mean all distros have a pretty straight forward gui to begin with. It is all about what you want to do with it. There are programs like Compiz fusion that allow you to have 4 desktops on a cube, and switch between them. So have a look at different distros, like Ubuntu, or Fedora Core 9. Those are the two most prominent, distro.

Cheers!

Armed Nuke · 06-03-2008, 08:37 PM

thank you very much :) i decided on ubuntu but i had not heard of compiz fusion. i'm checking out their site now.

LIL L · 06-03-2008, 09:06 PM

try the new mac leopard. it can be dual booted with vista.

tech-installers · 06-04-2008, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Armed Nuke

all my life i have been running versions of windows. first 98, then xp and now vista. i admit i love using it but most everyone else i know uses either it or leopard. lately i have been wanting another operating system that i can put on a 10 gb partition. i was wondering what the best free operating system would be. basicly, the only reason i want it is to be "different and cool" it just needs to fit in 10 gb of space and have a really really neat gui. i don't really care how useful it is as i plan to use vista as well.

Freespire 2.0

**sobeit** · 06-04-2008, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LIL L

try the new mac leopard. it can be dual booted with vista.

this can only be installed on an apple computer.

**sobeit** · 06-04-2008, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Armed Nuke

thanks :) yeah i know what you mean about backing up files......i played around with a grub bootloader once and backing up files paid off. which of the operating systems you mentioned has the neatest graphical user interface?

As previously mentioned, it all depends upon what you do with it. If you are just looking for something different, you can also change your windows gui using programs such as windowblinds or by changing your themes.

LIL L · 06-04-2008, 07:08 PM

it can to be done. go /* link removed by moderator */

**sobeit** · 06-05-2008, 05:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LIL L

it can to be done. go /* link removed by moderator */

I never said it could not be done but doing so violates apples eula which is why I said it can be only installed on an apple computer.

See this link

Armed Nuke · 06-07-2008, 02:24 AM

thanks for all the help :) i am now running ubuntu and am all decked out with various componets.

06-01-2008, 01:05 PM	#1 (permalink)
Armed Nuke Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 33 OS: Vista home premium SP1, Ubuntu	this may sound like a stupid question but... all my life i have been running versions of windows. first 98, then xp and now vista. i admit i love using it but most everyone else i know uses either it or leopard. lately i have been wanting another operating system that i can put on a 10 gb partition. i was wondering what the best free operating system would be. basicly, the only reason i want it is to be "different and cool" it just needs to fit in 10 gb of space and have a really really neat gui. i don't really care how useful it is as i plan to use vista as well.

06-01-2008, 01:12 PM	#2 (permalink)
sobeit TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: NEAR Posts: 7,433 OS: windows/linux	Re: this may sound like a stupid question but... I know the feeling - it as happened to me a time or two... give linux a try. The good thing about it is that theres live cds where you can actually run it from the cd. I recommend ubuntu. The latest version (8.04) can be installed like any other windows program. Then on the boot, it will finish the installation. You can remove it in add/remove. No matter what you do, make sure you have a backup of your windows or files you cannot afford to lose. Most likely nothing will happen - but unfortunately things do. __________________ there's been global warming since the ice age

06-01-2008, 06:14 PM	#3 (permalink)
Armed Nuke Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 33 OS: Vista home premium SP1, Ubuntu	Re: this may sound like a stupid question but... thanks :) yeah i know what you mean about backing up files......i played around with a grub bootloader once and backing up files paid off. which of the operating systems you mentioned has the neatest graphical user interface?

06-03-2008, 07:07 PM	#4 (permalink)
wmorri Moderator/Fedora Amb. Join Date: May 2008 Location: /pm/etc Posts: 2,814 OS: Window 7/Fedora 10 My System	Re: this may sound like a stupid question but... Well, Ubuntu has a pretty straight forward gui. I mean all distros have a pretty straight forward gui to begin with. It is all about what you want to do with it. There are programs like Compiz fusion that allow you to have 4 desktops on a cube, and switch between them. So have a look at different distros, like Ubuntu, or Fedora Core 9. Those are the two most prominent, distro. Cheers! __________________ Linux Forever!

06-03-2008, 08:37 PM	#5 (permalink)
Armed Nuke Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 33 OS: Vista home premium SP1, Ubuntu	Re: this may sound like a stupid question but... thank you very much :) i decided on ubuntu but i had not heard of compiz fusion. i'm checking out their site now.

06-03-2008, 09:06 PM	#6 (permalink)
LIL L Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: NC Posts: 243 OS: xp home edition	Re: this may sound like a stupid question but... try the new mac leopard. it can be dual booted with vista.

06-04-2008, 07:08 PM	#10 (permalink)
LIL L Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: NC Posts: 243 OS: xp home edition	Re: this may sound like a stupid question but... it can to be done. go /* link removed by moderator / Last edited by shuuhen; 06-07-2008 at 03:44 PM. Reason: Linked material violates Apple's EULA*

06-07-2008, 02:24 AM	#12 (permalink)
Armed Nuke Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 33 OS: Vista home premium SP1, Ubuntu	Re: this may sound like a stupid question but... thanks for all the help :) i am now running ubuntu and am all decked out with various componets.