Suggestions for newcomer to Linux

[lauren]

I am a total newbie when it comes to Linux. Since I am going to be installing Vmware on my desktop soon, I am wondering which distributions of Linux would be the best for me.

I have already used a little bit of Ubuntu, and I am planning on installing Linux Mint as well.

Any not well known distributions that people suggest?

Thanks for the help!

[shovenose]

Re: Suggestions for newcomer to Linux

Well, I was going to recommend Linux Mint 11. If you're going to running any sort of servers, I would recommend CentOS, or (almost as good and awesome because it's CLI only), Ubuntu Server. But since I doubt you're going to running servers on a Vmware emulated PC, stick with Linux Mint

[digge]

Re: Suggestions for newcomer to Linux

What distribution is best can only be answered truly by you. We all have very different opinion on how things supposed to work and what kind of look and feel we feel best with. That said however i can give my take on it, which of course might not be at all what you like.

For desktop use i would say Ubuntu/Kubuntu/Lubuntu/Xubuntu,Mint simply due to the fact they have the bigger user base and if you hit a snag you're likely to find help easy enough in their forum. Might not be the best speed wise from what ive seen lately.

Arch is becoming somewhat of a favorite of mine, can be a bit more tricky to do things at times as its not quite as "automatic" as the *buntu ones, but in return it at least feels faster and more stable.

For servers i mostly go for debian, they are quite fast at patching security things if you go for a stable build.

The best way to find out what you like is simply to install them, preferably in a VM or if you have a spare machine and try for yourself what you like.

[ratdude747]

Re: Suggestions for newcomer to Linux

I reccomend linux mint to newbies... I use fedora 15, but my needs are different than yours.

[shovenose]

Re: Suggestions for newcomer to Linux

I've never used Fedora. I might check it out, that's the 2nd recommendation I've gotten in a week. Does it have a nice interface?

[lauren]

Re: Suggestions for newcomer to Linux

Thanks for all of the suggestions. So far, I know that Linux will not be replacing my Windows needs, but I do want to know how to use all of the major OS (ie, Windows, Mac, and Linux). I know about Wine, and how it can run windows programs.

[sofTest]

Re: Suggestions for newcomer to Linux

I haven't tried it yet, but I've been reading a bit about Zorin, a new Ubuntu spin off. Their main focus is to mimic the different Windows interface versions + OS-X. That might be useful for users migrating from those environments.

[ratdude747]

Re: Suggestions for newcomer to Linux

I've never used Fedora. I might check it out, that's the 2nd recommendation I've gotten in a week. Does it have a nice interface?

if you are willing to learn and have decent graphics, yes. it is called gnome 3.0 aka gnome shell. It is very different than anything you have used before. i personally love it but if your graphics are older, then the fallback mode is all you can get and is lame.

It sounds like you have a newer computer so you might want to read up on gnome shell and give fedora 15 a test drive via live cd.

I haven't tried it yet, but I've been reading a bit about Zorin, a new Ubuntu spin off. Their main focus is to mimic the different Windows interface versions + OS-X. That might be useful for users migrating from those environments.

for windows clones they make something kalled kde, found in kubuntu. it is very klose to windows vista and 7 interface wise.

I never was a big fan of the windows interface...

[shovenose]

Re: Suggestions for newcomer to Linux

I find KDE to be very slow and bloated. Zorin looks awesome though I'm going to see if it works well on my old laptop (ThinkPad X31).

[everell]

Re: Suggestions for newcomer to Linux

I also run Fedora.....in fact, Fedora 10. Runs OK so just haven't bothered to upgrade.

[mockingbird]

Re: Suggestions for newcomer to Linux

I find KDE to be very slow and bloated. Zorin looks awesome though I'm going to see if it works well on my old laptop (ThinkPad X31).

The new KDE is supposed to be a breath of fresh air. We'll know when/if the next Kubuntu distro incorporates it,

It's true, Gnome is a lot more well put together and polished than KDE, but I still prefer KDE because I can make it look like Windows.

[sofTest]

Re: Suggestions for newcomer to Linux

if you are willing to learn and have decent graphics, yes. it is called gnome 3.0 aka gnome shell. It is very different than anything you have used before. i personally love it but if your graphics are older, then the fallback mode is all you can get and is lame.

It sounds like you have a newer computer so you might want to read up on gnome shell and give fedora 15 a test drive via live cd.



for windows clones they make something kalled kde, found in kubuntu. it is very klose to windows vista and 7 interface wise.

I never was a big fan of the windows interface...

I know about KDE and have tested Kubuntu. I can't really see that as a Windows clone, and I think that's the only distribution I've really disliked. Gnome is fine, if one can tolerate the bloat that it has become. Privately, my currently only Linux box runs Lubuntu. I like my boxes lean and mean. I'm going to test Zorin, not for my own use, but possible recommendation for people used to only Windows. I've been running *nix on servers since the middle of the 90th, when the company I then worked for migrated from Digital VMS to Digital Unix. My first desktop Red Hat box was around 1998/-99, so I know my way around them. Come to OS I'm a pragmatist, selecting first by which applications I want to run, and second what gives me the the the best performance on given hardware (hence Lubuntu). Off course, it also has to by supported by regular security updates if it shall be networked.

[gerg]

Re: Suggestions for newcomer to Linux

I decided to install Zorin mostly because i had not heard of this spinoff yet. I really like the fact that everything works out of the box. I have to admit I have not used linux Mint since it was basically first conceived and it was fairly stripped out and not very functional yet so i cannot give a proper comparison. I am not a beginner user but it's always fun to try something new so if you need another vote I would say try out Zorin

[smason]

Re: Suggestions for newcomer to Linux

I'm a huge Centos fan, and use it for a variety of servers both at home, and at work.
For those who don't know, it's basically Red Hat Enterprise Linux, with the non-open source stuff removed, the RH branding removed, and no support from RH.

Fedora is basically the bleeding edge of the RedHat distros. Works fine, but if you want stable, and tested, Centos is your best bet. I live at runlevel 3, so can't really comment on how purty the gui is