Installing Ubuntu on my laptop

My laptop is a Toshiba Satellite A200 PSAE0C-AH608C it came with vista but I didn't like the way it ran with 1GB of ram so I put XP on it. I am a Engineering student but I really don't need windows on my laptop because I have a powerful desktop for my engineering programs. I mostly use my laptop for surfing the net, emails, msn or typing papers. I have used ubuntu before so I know how it works the only thing stopping me is I read about Linux and issues with laptop hard drives with load cycle counts increasing fast killing the hard drive faster then it should. Is this issue real or just some rumor?

specs:

Intel® Core™ Duo Processor T2450 2.0GHz
1 GB DDR2
160GB HD
Mobile Intel® 945GM Express
Realtek ALC861 sound
Intel 3495 wireless

 

That is not an issue at all, you've heard wrong. Your laptop is plenty powerful for using Linux. Although i recommend LinuxMint to you if you're a beginner and all you've tried is Ubuntu.

 

Thanks for clearing that up. I was looking at Linux mint but the version based on hardy heron is only in beta so is it still safe to use? I am still new to Linux but have used ubuntu.

 

I suggest you use the version based on gutsy, as it's stable and safe and still up to date. You'll want to download this version.

 

Your wrong their buddy, it CAN be an issue, only on laptops however.

OP, read this http://www.overclockingwiki.org/forums/showthread.php?t=1645

As for which version to try, well ubuntu 8.04 is great but so is mint. Just stick to the stable version and use the package manager to update your entire system (this way you will still have all the latest software but with more stability)

 

Ok thanks downloading now.

 

Fedora is great too, if you want to try that. Try the live cd's first.

 

Ah, i see. Thanks for the correction. i shoulda done some reading up.

Fedora is a little harder to use than Ubuntu or Mint, as it uses RPM and many people find DEB to be easier to use than RPM. So for a newbie Mint or Ubuntu would be something easier for them.

What did you decide to go with?

 

I decided on Mint.

 

Nice choice, Mint is a great distro.

 

Great choice, mint is great for beginners, i think you'll really like it. Do you already know how to burn the ISO to a CD-R and boot into a LiveCD Session?

 

Yes I think I know how to. It's the same as burning a ubuntu live cd?

 

Yup, exactly the same.

 

You definitely need to try Gentoo - you don't have to mess with any of this confusing "Live CD" stuff

 

Have been trying Gentoo now for what seems forever, srunni. LOL

Got the damn distro installed (or so I thought), yesterday, but it refused to do anything. As I type, the minimal install is sitting in the CD tray. The Live CD installation, at least for me, does not work. Am going to try one last time - this will about the 134th time, I think.