Choose a Distro for Me

I'm considering getting a distro on my hard drive again (up until now, I have been running Fedora off USB drives), but I do need a distro.

My requirements are (order of importance):
1. Easy to use for a Linux novice
2. Fast and stable but also secure
3. Nice GUI and interface that is easy to use
4. Desktop effects and available themes (Compiz-Fusion would be an added plus)

What would be a suitable distro for me?

Oh and by the way, how hard is it to set up a virtual machine (like VMware) for Linux? The biggest disadvantage is that you can't change your mind and add the space back to Windows after installing Linux on a partition.

 

All of those distributions satisfy your requirements, however Linux Mint is little more than a knock-off of Ubuntu plus some artwork. I see no reason in recommending Mint for you.

Also, I'd like to point out that its pretty hard to pick a distribution for you; its kind of like picking a pair of shoes for someone else. Everyone wants the criteria you specified, but what about the details? My personal preference has always brought me back to Ubuntu.

That said, my best recommendation would be Fedora Core. Fedora has gotten some really nice reviews lately.

 

Yeah, thanks for the reply.

I have tried Fedora and found it quite hard to use for a Linux novice like me.

And I never really considered Linux Mint, but many forum members recommended it. I found that although Mint had one of the best interfaces, it was lacking in stability and speed.

 

[ad]To meet all your requirements, use LinuxMint. I disagree with the people who say it's just a knock-off and has no real advantage because when i used Ubuntu (which is my second choice) i found it hard to use and i was thinking: 'WTF is this, why is it so hard to use and ugly, why doesn't it have all the apps i need to configure and tweak and be easy to use out of the box?".

Then i found LinuxMint and gave it a try, it was faster than Ubuntu, more stable and had the ease of use I've always dreamed about. It was because of LinuxMint, and only because of LinuxMint, that i was able to get rid of Vista once and for all and live happily 100% Linux. It also enables you to do all the hardcore stuff you want to do which is a big plus for people who are experienced. [/ad]

 

I'd definitely recommend Kubuntu. While Linux Mint may look better by default, that's easily changed, and, given you have a separate /home partition (even that may not be necessary now that the (K)Ubuntu installer lets you reinstall but preserve the /home directory), you will never see the default look after your initial setup. Once you've gotten used to Linux, the (K)Ubuntu community is much more valuable than initial appearances.

And make sure you don't use Ubuntu - GNOME is absolutely disgusting, and within a few months, KDE4 will truly begin to take shape, at which point GNOME will look even worse next to it.

 

Hm... I liked the look of Linux Mint, Kubuntu, and OpenSUSE and found Ubuntu to be quite plain.

I'm probably install Linux tomorrow night or the day after that.

 

The problem I had with Mint is it wasn't as up to date as regular Ubuntu was. I'm not a 100% sure about security patches but kernel updates and version updates seem to be behind.

I also remember having problems making it recognize my wifi card even though it was the same version as the ubuntu version that was out at the time. Ubuntu recognized it right out the bat - go figure.

 

Yeah, a huge problem mint is facing is it's out of dated-ness. The current version 4 stable is based off of ubuntu 7.10 and the new elyssa rc2 is based off of ubuntu 8.04 which will obviously be faster and much better overall, but will take some time to release as a final stable version. They also don't have x64 support yet but hope to add it after Elyssa.

 

If Fedora does not suit your taste, then I would recommend Ubuntu. The default look is very tasteful (IMO), but you can always change it. In fact, the looks of a distro are hardly important considering that its so easy to change it beyond recognition.

 

Linux Mint. Why?

1)If you use windows Mint can interface with it through ntfs partition. No need for fat32, and the file limitations.

2)One of the most knowledgeable communities for any distro. No flaming just the facts.

3)Linux Mint is faster than Ubuntu. Only thing faster are Debian distro's such as Sidux.

4)Mint works out of the box. Absolutely noob friendly. Ubuntu is easy to set up if you have been using for a while. It has a steep learning curve for windows users. Mint is pretty much load and go. Not much to do unless you have been around linux awhile and have developed certain tastes in configuration.

5)Anyone, and I mean anyone, who states that Linux Mint is just a knock off of Ubuntu has never took the time to use it. Kubuntu, edubuntu, exubuntu, geuduntu, fluxbuntu, etc, those are knock-offs. They don't try to hide it. I don't mean to get riled about it but before you put down something you would do well to have used it.

6)Mint is a great starting point. Use it for a while and then, if you must, migrate to another distro. You should find that it will be an easy experience because the longer you use the distro and work with the community, the more you wil learn, a lot of it below the surface.

Don't mean to step on toes here. I am a passionate linux user. It is my sole operating system and I want to see any one interested in it, get the right direction and knowledge.

Thanks for reading.

 

That was great grok, you said everything i would ever need to say about LinuxMint. Good job.

 

I've been able to do this ever since Dapper. In Hardy, the process is ridiculously easy.

http://ubuntuforums.org/ ?

Prove it. I've removed all the unnecessary stuff from K(U)buntu, and it runs very fast for me. I bet a lot of those MintTools are unnecessary as well.

What exactly is so difficult to do in Ubuntu that's easy to do in Mint?

Kubuntu, Edubuntu, Xubuntu, etc. are not knock-offs, they're simply Ubuntu with a different desktop environment. You can even have the packages for both Ubuntu and another "version" in the same install.

http://www.ubuntuforums.org/ ?

 

Ridiculously easy for you but for a beginner it's overwhelming. All pro's start out as newbies.

One of the best, not saying it's better than Ubuntu's but it's a lot better than some of the dead distro forums out there.

Exactly, you had to remove unnecessary stuff, you don't have to in LinuxMint. Also, for your info, every single MintTool is necessary, if it wasn't then it would be removed. the maintainer isn't mentally retarded, he knows what is good and what is crap.

Some quick ones off the top of my head: Setting up wifi with ndiswrapper,no CLI or anything, just go in the MintMenu and select it and set it up in a minute or two. Setting up restricted drivers so that i can use Compiz-Fusion. Easy acess to al the programs i use, i never have to even touch the CLI to use apt-get or use Synaptic to get my necessary programs.

Ok, the biggest change is a different DE, LinuxMint has editions like that, and they come with MintTools.

Some people prefer to learn things by hand and experience, instead of going to Ubuntuforums all the time they like to chat with friends on IM to get help, and mess up their config and cry and fix it an hour later and laugh and cry some more later when they break it again.

 

No, easy for anyone - all you do is select the partition and set the mount point (which is /windows by default) during install, and you're good to go. That's in the manual partitioning. The automated partitioning is even easier.

The stuff that I remove after each install is all done using one command, which removes all the packages I don't need. This is usually just the system search thing, along with a few other daemons that I don't need wasting time on startup. Anything else I configured when I originally installed Kubuntu, and since the settings are in my home directory, they carry over for every install.

As for which MintTools I find unnecessary, I think MintInstall, MintUpdate, MintDesktop, MintConfig, MintUpload, and MintSpace are unnecessary, from the summaries of them on Wikipedia. One maintainer is not capable of creating a distro in which the default packages are perfect for everyone. I prefer to have as few packages as possible, whereas many other people don't. When I said they were unnecessary, I meant they were unnecessary to me. They are probably necessary to the majority of people though.

I haven't had to use ndiswrapper, so I can't comment on that. However, installing restricted drivers is ridiculously easy. I got a popup message right after the desktop loaded in Gutsy asking me whether I wanted to install the graphics drivers. One click, and I was good to go. This was with both an ATi card and an NVIDIA card. As for installing programs, apt-get works great. I'm not sure why you're so against the command line - have you ever tried it?

I'm not sure I understand what you're saying here....

 

I have no experience with Linux Mint, but my best understanding of it is it is Ubuntu with some more built in programs and a different look. They basically say that on the Linux Mint website. You could probably customize Ubuntu by installing programs through the Synaptic package manager (finds and installs programs for you in Ubuntu using ported Debian installers). If you can't get the Ubuntu updates with Mint, that would be a notable minus. However, Linux mint looks cool As far as stability goes, don't use KDE 4 quite yet because its still buggy and might sour you to linux if you start there. Try a distro with a Gnome or KDE 3 desktop.

With that being said, I started my Linux experience trying out some distros like Fedora, Debian, and Ubuntu and found Ubuntu to be the best choice because you can get by initially by just knowing windows, but you learn as you go with the help of ubuntu/linux forums and such. The linux community out there is very helpful.

 

Even though you find it easy, it will be hard for some if not most. If i say turning on the computer is easy then that's an opinion, not fact. Some people think Internet Explorer is the internet, and think Windows is the only OS.

I still find it a waste to do, LinuxMint is made to be OTB and fast and it is.

Well that defeats the whole purpose of the thread then, we're supposed to be helping him choose a distro, not you.

I like the CLI, and i even prefer it sometimes. I'm just saying that for newbies it's best not to require to touch the CLI too much if at all. LinuxMint has the restriced drivers manager but it also has the superior Envy which installs the settings editor for the card which i find to be handy.

I'm just saying you can't call one distro inferior to another, in Linux it's all about preference. Some people prefer to use LinuxMint, some people prefer to have things ready for them OTB and when they want to they can learn things by hand instead of having to visit Ubuntuforums all the time.

 

I don't see anything difficult in automatic mounting of the partition, with no user intervention.

Well, fast is subjective. You can always make it faster by removing stuff.

And who knows exactly what he wants? It's all subjective.

I'm not sure how it can get any easier than one click.

The Ubuntu Forums aren't for the initial setup. I'm talking about how the community is often important in the long term. The forums provide a good community. That doesn't mean you have to use them. There are plenty of other resources, such as the Ubuntu IRC channel on Freenode, which happens to be the largest channel on that network - it averages about 1200 people. Last I checked, the Linux Mint channel had a grand total of 4 people.
I don't see how having everything already set up is learning by hand. If you want to learn everything by hand, try Gentoo. With Mint or Ubuntu, everything is handed to you.

 

You would be surprised, some people don't even know how to turn on their computers.

I agree, but i prefer to have it fast OTB and if i feel like it i can remove stuff, but i don't want to have to remove stuff just so i can get decent speed.

Exactly, which is why i recommend something for him to try instead of telling him "Distro x is better than distro y so try it instead."

It can get plenty easier, such as being automatically installed without any user interaction whatsoever.

You obviously didn't read my post correctly, i said " some people prefer to have things ready for them OTB and when they want to they can learn things by hand instead".

 

Thanks for the replies! I think I have my choices narrowed down to (K)ubuntu or Linux Mint.

A couple questions:
1. Can you configure Compiz Fusion with Linux Mint?
2. For Linux Mint, KDE or Gnome?
3. When will Linux Mint Elyssa come out?

 

1. Yes, with Mint Daryna Main Edition, I only had to install 'compizconfig-settings-manager' to fully use all the CompizFusion options.
2. Well, that's a matter of taste, the Daryna Main Edition comes with Gnome but a great KDE music player, Amarok, is included.
If you want, there is a KDE version of Mint Daryna made by the mint community, link
3. When it's finished. However dumb it sounds, that's the approach the main Mint developer 'Clem' takes.
When his dev. team has ironed out the bugs that are reported by the current Elyssa RC2 users, they will post the final version.
However, I thinks it's save to assume it will come this June/July.

 

Since you already narrowed it down I won't suggest Fedora or Debian as addition choices.

For Ubuntu, take a look at Gnome-Look.

Either way, you are making a good choice by picking Debian based systems. The aptitude package installer is so easy and powerful.

 

I'm probably going to go with Kubuntu or Linux Mint since Linux Mint is better with Gnome (or so I've heard).

 

PC Linux OS 2008 GNOME

Synaptic package manager is the best!
Compiz Fusion works flawless.
It doesn't kill your hard disk like some other distributions (Ubuntu and their derivation).
One click install of nVidia/ATI display drivers.

I'm writing review of PC Linux OS 2008 GNOME and my Acer. It will be finished for two days.

 

Stop spreading FUD, the problem is a firmware issue affecting certain hard drives.
All the other stuff you stated applies to Ubuntu as well.

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=795327 :

 

You're contradicting yourself here. First you say that it's not easy enough for the Windows partition to be detected and mounted automatically, then you say it's easy enough for the drivers to be installed automatically? Besides, the reason the drivers/codecs aren't installed automatically is because they are illegal to install in certain countries, such as the US. Canonical doesn't want to cause their users to inadvertently break the law.

It is fast OOTB, that's never been an issue. I was just saying that it can be even faster if you want it to be.

Yes, and that's the idea behind Ubuntu. The forums are usually for later.

 

Yeah, it's pretty easy, especially in Elyssa (i have it installed on both my machines). I personally like gnome more but i'm a kde hater so it's just your choice. Elyssa will come out soon, as Baserk said June/July probably June because clem works fast. I've been bug testing it and the RC2 is very bug free if you need updated software, shouldn't be a problem for you.

 

I was merely suggesting how it could be made easier as a jest at "i can't see how it can get any easier", i know they can't in actuality.

 

So any programs that work with Ubuntu will work with Linux Mint?

 

Exactly. <linuxtext>

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarcasm_mark

Be more clear next time ;/

 

I've always jumped around trying different distros and I have always come back to Ubuntu. My main problem is that I just despise the look of KDE. On a different note, I have tried Linux Mint and I felt it was so dumbed down that I couldn't perform using it, as well as hardware detection didn't work as nicely as Ubuntu. So...if you're just starting out, give Mint a try to get a feel for Linux and when you're ready to get a little more advanced, move to Ubuntu.

 

Only thing I don't really like about Linux. It's depleting my stockpile of CD's! I have 6 LiveCDs for Linux. Ubuntu, Fedora, OpenSUSE, Mandriva, Kubuntu, and Linux Mint!

 

Vista uses entire DVD's so maybe you should try to download and burn all the editions of vista and see how many CD's that wastes.

 

Everybody loves a poll....Gooooo Kubuntu !!!!!

 

I wasn't exactly being serious.

 

It would only use two AFAIK, I know the vista that I downloaded from the windows section, when I installed it using virtual box and didn't put in a key it came up with all the 32bit versions of vista so I presume the 64bit would have the same.


Probably wrong though...

 

I know, that's why i played along.

 

My vote goes to openSuSE. Version 11 RC1 is out now with all kinds of additions and fixes. It's incredibly easy to set up and I really like the yast system.

Plus it's got a cool logo.

 

No, you're right actually. All the versions of Vista for x86 and all the versions for x64 are on 1 DVD each. So only two DVDs. But he was jk ;/

 

I migh try it, i really like the SLAB menu that openSUSE has but i hate kde, it's the main reason i use LinuxMint. I'll try it out and see if i can find a gnome version while i'm at it.

 

I'd go with Ubuntu, if you choose "advanced" on the last promt, you can choose to install Grub on Ubuntu's partition, and then go back into Vista and use EasyBCD to add it to Vista's bootloader.
Then you can delete linux whenever you want.

 

84% 'buntu's incl Mint....I would easily go for Mandriva Spring also.

 

I would take Fedora 9 adding LIVNA repository for not so open source RPMs. Works pretty good for me since version 7, NVIDIA GPU works like a charm, Compiz/Beryl/Emerald also and it is really easy to use.

 

I was having the same problem until I started using DVD RW. Now I keep the distro on my HD and when I want a Live CD / DVD I just burn it from my HD to a rewritable DVD overwriting the one that is there. I keep a good Live CD that I can use to burn from in case I find I can't access my distro (never has happened).

 

According to your requirements I would sugest either Mepis or Linux Mint. I have found that I have trouble with using Compiz-Fusion but it is due to my graphic card and not the distros. I have a NVIDIA GeForce Go 7300 with 128MB memory and I suspect that the amount of memory is the reason for my problems. I am not a Linux Guru by any means and I have not had any problems with either Mepis or Linux Mint and can't really decide which is better. Hope this helps.

I tried VMware and had to reinstall the distro to get rid of it. I use VirtualBox and it works fine setup is easy and straight forward except for an error in the help manual. The manual was written as if it was for Windows and added Linux as an after thought. The result is when it tells you to paste a line into the terminal the line it gives you leaves the word Linux out.