linux mint vs. freespire vs. dreamlinux

I am a UBUNTU user. Recently I have decided to remove windows from my home computer also.

But my sister and Dad like to keep the usage simple and I dont use it and neither am I always around to help them out.

So I have decided on these 3 Distriobutions with most out of the box support.

Mint has almost all codecs including DIVX and is supporting the vast UBUNTU repositories

Dreamlinux is really easy on resources with a nice look.

Freespire get most support and CNR with Linspire (I guess thats paid)

which should I go for?

 

If you have already paid for Windows, I'd say it is best to keep it, especially if the only ones using it apparently don't know much about computers and will have more trouble with Linux.

 

Nopes its not licensed. And hence the reason I want to move to linux.

lots of viruses, adwares and crashing problems are just add ons.

 

I would install either Ubuntu or Linux Mint. If you want something up and running quickly, then just install Linux Mint, as it has all the hardware support of Ubuntu with all the necessary codecs. Ubuntu is more up-to-date though.

Freespire/Linspire has horrid hardware detection. I didn't recognize my wireless card, screen resolution, sound card, or even NIC card if I remember correctly, among other things. Everything except card reader works out of the box in Ubuntu. I've never used DreamLinux.

 

To answer your question directly, of the choices listed, I think Linux Mint would be best; I've tried and liked it, though I prefer Ubuntu. However, I think PCLinOS 2007 would be better still and easier for your sister and father to use, especially initially. In my own experience, PCLinOS is the easiest, most ready to use as soon as it's installed distro available. Experienced users probably would like it least because it's relatively bloated with apps, way too simple to be challenging and manly (LOL), and the learning curve is so short and simple that as a Linux learning experience/tool, it probably is very weak.

 

The newer distributions of Ubuntu might be worth considering. Can you burn a Live CD of the operating systems that you are considering? It might be worth doing that for the candidates then letting the people who are going to be using the computer choose. After all, they will be the ones having to live with the operating system, navigate it and work through any quirks it may have while you aren't around to help them with all problems Linux related.

I'm sure the members of your family are intelligent people so letting them try out the OSes and then letting them know the pros and cons of each (maybe in basic terminology) might be the best option.

 

Linux Mint - The best of the ones you listed, imo. Granted, it is too much like Ubuntu, but that may not be a bad thing. It is beautiful and bit more convinient to use than Ubuntu.

Freespire - I cannot say I have any experiences with this. The newest version with AFIAK Kubuntu with proprietary codec/drivers. I am not sure if it has good userbase nowadays.

Dreamlinux - Good XFce distro based on Debian Etch. IMO it is a pretty solid distro, albeit with some quirks. However, it has very small English-speaking userbase.

I always prefer Mepis Linux for newbe-friendly distro. The stable release of new version 7.0 is coming out soon. It is debian-etch based KDE distro.

The latest OpenSUSE has came out recently, and is supposed to be pretty good. And of course, Ubuntu Gutsy is coming out soon - I think both would be good candidate for new users. Both will be reasonably easy to use, and have strong support and huge community.