Just got a Sony SZ and am wondering which version of linux to use....

Just got a sony SZ 670N. 2.4 gigahurtz 2gigs of ram
I would like to run Linux on it and partition half or so of the hard drive to linux. However I do not know which version of Linux is best for me.
Some things you should know:
I have been using windows all my life. I do not have programming skills but I can follow instructions.
I want something with a great and fun to use interface including things like the cube(I don't have to have the cube specifically but something with multiple desktop feature would be cool).
Keep in mind I am decent with a computer but not amazing so please keep that in mind. I will be using linux mainly for home things like browsing and music. However if there is a linux that is good for business that would be great. Question: can you run microsoft outlook on linux? Forgive me if that question is ignorant in some way but I am new to this.
You may think linux isn't for me but I really want to try something but windows and I don't have a mac.
If there are any other things I should add before you would be able to advise me, please let me know and I'll put it down
Thanks very much

 

A good place to start is the Linux Information Center

 

oh thanks
sorry i didn't see that before

 

You could try Linux Mint 4.0, which is one of the easiest distributions for a beginner

You can't run Outlook on Linux, you will have to use something lilke Mozilla Thunderbird to read mail

 

you can boot to a Ubuntu LiveCD (that you download for free) and use the environment without actually installing it to your hard drive. that way you can mess about with it to see if you like it. once installed (i'm running 7.10), you can have things like the cube, wobbly windows, etc etc.

screenshots of Ubuntu on a Dell looking like OSX:

ubuntu osx blend

ubuntu osx copy

OSX Grass

make sure you thoroughly read through the instructions on partitioning before doing anything as you can potentially lose all your data if you are not careful.

 

If you can follow directions, then you could use ubuntu...although a lot of the time ubuntu just plain works out of the box, so there would not be very many instructions to follow. I find gnome desktop to be a lot better than kde, easier to use and easier to find programs (program naming conventions for gnome are not as screwed up as in kde).
I think you should give ubuntu a shot, and i would go ahead and install it, the live cd won't impress you much since it is slow.

And yes, as NotebookYoozer mentioned, your instruction following skills will be important when you are partitioning your harddrive.

 

Just so that you're aware, the Sony SZ uses a video system (speed uses nvidia 7400 GPU, stamina uses Intel 950GMA) which Linux will not be able use in the same way that Windows does. If anything Linux will only be able to use one card.

 

So do you know whether it uses the stamina card or the speed card?
And is this a bad thing that it cant switch between the two?

I'm leaning towards ubuntu because people seem to think its the best for a linux beginner, which I am.

Also, does the linux equivalent of microsoft outlook allow me to sync with a blackberry?
Basically what I am asking is this:
I will have both vista or xp and linux. I plan to use linux for most of my stuff but vista or xp when I have to.
The programs that I need to work the same way and need to sync up with a computer that I use at work(which will be windows) are aim, windows live messenger, skype, microsoft outlook, microsoft office and maybe a few more.
Am I screwed if I need this to be compatible with a work computer that uses windows?

 

To be honest I don't know whether or not it will choose the nVidia (the more powerful card) or the Intel (weaker). I can't even say whether or not it can switch. The best way to find out is to install a distro and see. A few I would recommend (at least look at all of them):

Ubuntu
PCLinuxOS
Sabayon (its good; so I've heard)
Linux Mint
Fedora (never used it, supposed to be good)
Mandriva (classic)

If you choose Ubuntu, you'll also want to decide on whether you want to use the GNOME desktop or the KDE desktop (heck, maybe even the XFCE desktop). The choices are seemingly endless and very confusing, I know.

Check out www.distrowatch.com for an overview of everything.

EDIT: apparently the SZ's graphic system works. I just googled SZ and Ubuntu to get this:; http://ariel.vardi.free.fr/ariel//vaiosz.html
Take a look.

 

The SZ670 actually has the 8400M GS and X3100 dedicated and integrated respectively. I believe the switch is done in the BIOS because every time you use switch it the notebook requires a restart before it actually changes. I suspect that whatever setting you have it on when you do the install is the setting it will use. Aren't there some people on here that have installed Linux on their Asus U3S notebooks? That notebook also has switchable graphics.

 

There is a script on the forum that runs during boot and checks the video card and switches to which you are using. Ken is correct, you have to reboot to switch between video cards.

Ubuntu is great for new users. It will do most for you, the problem is that after install the video card not used during install has no information in the Xorg conf, the script allows to choose between two differen Xorg Conf's.

 

If you consider Ubuntu, why not Mint?

Look here:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=191680

 

I guess out of the box Fedora 8 will give you more compatibility to this machine. For example the suspend works nicely with Fedora 8 out of the box. For ubuntu you need to use an upgraded kernel.