Best Linux distro for a beginner

[MattD]

Originally Posted by sanddrag

I was able to boot Knoppix and get online and on IRC but I couldn't figure out how to add a network printer. Also, it froze a couple times.

I think I'm going to try Fedora next. It's installer and menus seem pretty friendly, at least as far as I can tell by looking st screenshots.

If you have any problems with your printer under Fedora, www.linuxprinting.org has lots and lots of information, so it might be a good place to check out.

[felipe.tonello]

here at my home I use Kubuntu (it's the ubuntu with KDE).. because I prefer KDE not Gnome...

Why don't you try a Brazilian dirstro?? it's for beginners too =D It calls Kurumin
www.kurumin.com.br

SUSE is a good one to learn too... uses Gnome too..

cya

[Pat McCarthy]

I'm a Linux novice and I'm trying to use my old computer to run it.
By 'old', I mean, an AMD K6-3D processor and 128 MB RAM. It currently runs Windows 98.

I'm using a Ubuntu live CD and also making a Xubuntu live CD as well.
So far Ubuntu won't get past the little rectangle showing the Ubuntu logo and some icons being loaded within it, the last one reading 'Nautilus'. I'm assuming that the graphical interface might be a little too beefy for this old box. Am I correct?

I am making the Xubuntu live CD assuming that since it says it runs better on old machines, that it will work.

[sanddrag]

Originally Posted by Pat McCarthy

I'm a Linux novice and I'm trying to use my old computer to run it.
By 'old', I mean, an AMD K6-3D processor and 128 MB RAM. It currently runs Windows 98.

I'm using a Ubuntu live CD and also making a Xubuntu live CD as well.
So far Ubuntu won't get past the little rectangle showing the Ubuntu logo and some icons being loaded within it, the last one reading 'Nautilus'. I'm assuming that the graphical interface might be a little too beefy for this old box. Am I correct?

I am making the Xubuntu live CD assuming that since it says it runs better on old machines, that it will work.

Try burning the iso slower, like 4x or even 2x if you have time. Sometimes for some reason when you burn too fast it gets corrupted. If that doesn't work, try the alternate CD. If you can't get Ubuntu to work, play around with Mepis, Knoppix, PCLinuxOS, and Freespire. I pretty much like them all.

[Bill_Hancoc]

I wouldnt recomedn Fedora Core unless you have some idea of how linux works....i have it and i got it to work on a external hard drive and havnt used it since the week after i installed it about a few months ago....i cant get online and when i downloaded the drivers for my internal wireless card i read the "read me" and i decided that it was just easier to not go online...havnt relly had any use for it otherwise...

[Matt Krass]

Originally Posted by sanddrag

Try burning the iso slower, like 4x or even 2x if you have time. Sometimes for some reason when you burn too fast it gets corrupted. If that doesn't work, try the alternate CD. If you can't get Ubuntu to work, play around with Mepis, Knoppix, PCLinuxOS, and Freespire. I pretty much like them all.

The LiveCD for Dapper Drake is very very finicky I've found, no problems with the alternate and as a rule of thumb, I always burn at minimum speed if I have the time, it's just less likely to screw up.

[yongkimleng]

I personally haven't used Ubuntu.. but Knoppix was great for exploring and casual work & web surfing on a PC without a hard drive.
The latest Fedora Core has been great for me.. I've been able to play almost all multimedia files using VLC and streaming online radio using mplayer!
Great addition to my living room I must say. Hope installation would be a breeze for you.. a fast disc drive helps!

[thegathering]

Originally Posted by sciguy125

Check out Knoppix. It comes on a live CD, so you don't have to mess with your hard drive. It's not really any better than others, but it doesn't force you to do anything permanent. It'll give you a chance to play with everything before you commit.

Ye, Knoppix or Phlak, both live CD/usb drive. I use Phlak because I can get pretty down and dirty while still having something that I'm not risking a Windows HDD over.

[Alexa Stott]

Originally Posted by Pat McCarthy

I'm a Linux novice and I'm trying to use my old computer to run it.
By 'old', I mean, an AMD K6-3D processor and 128 MB RAM. It currently runs Windows 98.

I'm using a Ubuntu live CD and also making a Xubuntu live CD as well.
So far Ubuntu won't get past the little rectangle showing the Ubuntu logo and some icons being loaded within it, the last one reading 'Nautilus'. I'm assuming that the graphical interface might be a little too beefy for this old box. Am I correct?

I am making the Xubuntu live CD assuming that since it says it runs better on old machines, that it will work.

If you really want to use an Ubuntu distro, definitely go with Xubuntu. I believe that Ubuntu (or Kubuntu, depending on your preference) is recommended to be run on computers with a minimum of 256 MB RAM, and Xubuntu was created for older, slower computers likes yours. Or so I've been told.

Of course, many other good Linux distros have been mentioned in this thread that you might want to try out.

Good luck!

[Pat McCarthy]

Originally Posted by AtalanteStar25

If you really want to use an Ubuntu distro, definitely go with Xubuntu. I believe that Ubuntu (or Kubuntu, depending on your preference) is recommended to be run on computers with a minimum of 256 MB RAM, and Xubuntu was created for older, slower computers likes yours. Or so I've been told.

Of course, many other good Linux distros have been mentioned in this thread that you might want to try out.

Good luck!

Yeah, that's what I'm finding. It looks like I'm going to have to use the alternate CD's lower memory install as well.

[Alexa Stott]

I actually tried installing Xubuntu on a really old comp with 95 MB of RAM. When I posted a question on the Ubuntu forums about an error I got, they had a few suggestions.

You can go here for a way to install it on a low memory system.

Also, there is Ubuntu Lite and D.amn* Small Linux.

*There isn't really a period between the D and A, but I had to put it there because of the language filters...

[Pat McCarthy]

I've got Xubuntu running on my old machine! (Finally)
It seems to everything but multimedia pretty well, faster than Win98 did on it.

[MattD]

Originally Posted by Pat McCarthy

I've got Xubuntu running on my old machine! (Finally)
It seems to everything but multimedia pretty well, faster than Win98 did on it.

I would try using EasyUbuntu on it to see if that helps with the multimedia.

[Jeremiah Johnson]

I've been thinking about putting Ubuntu on my laptop. I just want something better than Windows and OSX can't go on it. What are the advantages of a Linux system over Windows and how compatible is it with most programs? AOL and other stuff like that.

[Alexa Stott]

Originally Posted by Budda648

I've been thinking about putting Ubuntu on my laptop. I just want something better than Windows and OSX can't go on it. What are the advantages of a Linux system over Windows and how compatible is it with most programs? AOL and other stuff like that.

With Linux, you can do things like talk online to people, surf the internet, and Ubuntu comes with OpenOffice, so you can use it to type reports, make spreadsheets, presentations, etc.

It comes with TONS of freeware (some pre-installed, and some you have to install yourself). They have media players, photo editors (including a Paint-type program and GIMP), some pretty cool games, and Firefox.

If you're looking for some specific programs, check out the Wine Application Database.

I've found Ubuntu to be really great. It runs smoothly, it's easy to use, and I've never gotten an error [except one time I crashed my media player and it told me that shouldn't be happening... ].

I dual boot my laptop, with Windows XP Media Center Edition installed on it, as well. I mostly only use it for programming stuff for robotics.