Suggestions?..

I think I've had it with Ubuntu 9.04 but I don't want to go back to Windows. So now I'm looking for a linux distro that is well-supported, runs 64-bit, is good with an atheros wireless card and is not an extreme learning curve for a relative newbie.

About every two weeks I run into graphics trouble with Ubuntu. Now not even my CD is saving it anymore. I'm willing to let my data go down the river if I can just have my laptop back. I'm looking into crunchbang right right now. I'm just really upset that every time I want to do something with my notebook's graphics it leads to a black screen that none of the codes seem to help solve. I really like Linux so far. So what distro should I try just so I can get the machine up and running again?

 

Fedora 11, Linux Mint, Open SUSE, Mandriva, PC Linux OS, all good distros.

I recommend checking out http://www.distrowatch.com/

 

Fedora is only x32 or I'd run it. I'm running through distrowatch at the moment thanks!

 

no, Fedora 11 comes in x64 as well

http://torrent.fedoraproject.org/ for torrents
http://mirrors.fedoraproject.org/publiclist/Fedora/11/ for mirrors

 

Yeah, well you have one of those newish Intel gpu cards that are troublesome in Ubuntu.

Fedora 11 might be a really good choice for you. When ubuntu didn't play well with the intel card in mom's thinkpad, Fedora ran like a charm!

Stay away from Mint since it is based on Ubuntu, it is likely to suffer from the same problems. Same goes for Crunchbang I would think. The next version of Ubuntu will likely correct these problems (due out in October.)

Another nice, but large, distro is Sabayon Linux. It is pretty noob friendly and works well with a variety of hardware.

 

I'm running crunchbang now and had way less problems getting everything up and running. I was a bit worried about fedora 11 as when I tested it on my laptop as a virtual machine it kept on freezing and stalling.

 

Glad to see you're already moving to more hardcore distros. I see much typing in your future. :laugh:

 

I'm counting the codes to Arch Linux. LOL. Anybody know any good tutorials using the terminal? I want to use it more.

 

Not sure changing distros will solve your Atheros problems. The drivers are all from the source code, regardless of distro.

Have you tried NDIS wrapper?

 

what issues are the intel gpu's having in Ubuntu? I've run F11, Ubuntu 9.04, and Windows 7 on my E4300 with no issues.

 

hmm in Ubuntu did you ever try to install the nvidia drivers from nvidi'as web page? Thats the only driver I have been using and the only glitch i have is when there is an update sometimes I have to reinstall the video driver.

 

every time you update the kernel you have to recompile the nvidia drivers. I had that song and dance on my old M2400, but now I have the 4500HD Intel GPU.

 

Each kernel maintains its own kernel tree, where all the modules and drivers reside. So a new kernel will need to have whatever 3rd party driver it needs installed in its own tree. Nothing wrong is happening, that's just the way it works. Just keep on the lookout for updates that include new kernels.