Linux: Which Distro?

[nobody]

Hey everyone.
I'm completely new to Linux. I have no idea how it works or what versions or good or even why I want to use it, but I'm bored so whatever. So what would be the best version for a complete new kiddo? I don't want something that looks and acts like Windows, I want something new. I don't mind a challenge, but I also don't want to be toying with it for like a week trying to get it to work and then getting all flustered and giving up.

So any suggestions my friends?

[λ]

Hmm.. perhaps try something like Knoppix first?

Knoppix is a liveCD, so you can download and burn it and reboot, and see whether any of your hardware works and all :) It won't touch your hard drive at all.

As a main distro, Ubuntu (http://ubuntulinux.org) looks cool, it's what I've been recommending to people for a while. It's got a good irc channel (#ubuntu on irc.freenode.net) and community in general. It's based off a linux distribution called Debian, which is very highly regarded (although slightly difficult to use) and ships with something called GNOME (http://gnome.org).

[nobody]

Well I want to completely get rid of windows off one of my machines, it's basically my spare computer so if I trash it, oh well. So I'd like the linux version to format my harddrive and be the only OS on the box. So do you think I should try out this Ubuntu thing?

Thanks for the help =)

[nobody]

Alright so I downloaded this Ubuntu thing, burned it to a disk, restarted my computer and no dice. I went into my bios and set my CD drive to load up first. So my computer turns on, spins the d drive, flashes a cursor in the top left on the monitor for a sec and then loads up windows. Any suggestions?

[teet]

I dual boot with Windows XP and Fedora Core 2.

http://fedora.redhat.com/

Fedora is the open-source off shoot of Redhat (redhat is no longer free...it's for businesses, servers, etc.).

It has a really nice installer with it...almost as easy to install as windows.

-teet

[999]

Did you burn it as an iso so its bootable or just a data cd? Not really necessary but you might want to delete your windows partitions before you install. Im sure Ubuntu can do it (never used it) but it might make your first time installing a bit easier.

[λ]

I dual boot with Windows XP and Fedora Core 2.

http://fedora.redhat.com/

Fedora is the open-source off shoot of Redhat (redhat is no longer free...it's for businesses, servers, etc.).

It has a really nice installer with it...almost as easy to install as windows.

-teet

The main thing is, installing windows is actually harder than installing most linux distros nowadays.. just Joe User doesn't go through it.

Also, xxviii: try posting here (http://www.ubuntuforums.org/)

[ya3]

I'd recommend Slax. It's a LiveCD. It's good ;)

...but since you want to go full on Linux, I'd highly recommend Fedora - http://redhat.com/fedora. It's the best, and seems like one of the most reliable and professional distros I've come across. Plus, the company, RedHat, actually makes proper (not free) versions of Linux for enterprise networks and servers, etc. So they seem like they know what they're doing. Other Linux companies just seem dodge... Plus, Fedora comes with this absolutely beautiful GNOME theme called... err... blue-something (?). Anyways, it looks a lot like OS X (minus the aqua and metal).

Go Linux :D

[signifer123]

Thanks for the cool linux thing the linux freeware version i found was over 1.4 gigs download for a demo thanks for the help

Edit: dang it my dad won't let me put linux on my comp :( o well maybe some day i will get anotehr comp and i can trash this one

[ya3]

Thanks for the cool inux thing the linux version i found was over 1.4 gigs download for a demo thnks for the help

EDIT: just realised what you were saying ;) soz

[λ]

I'd recommend Slax. It's a LiveCD. It's good ;)


...but since you want to go full on Linux, I'd highly recommend Fedora - http://redhat.com/fedora. It's the best, and seems like one of the most reliable and professional distros I've come across. Plus, the company, RedHat, actually makes proper (not free) versions of Linux for enterprise networks and servers, etc. So they seem like they know what they're doing. Other Linux companies just seem dodge... Plus, Fedora comes with this absolutely beautiful GNOME theme called... err... blue-something (?). Anyways, it looks a lot like OS X (minus the aqua and metal).

Go Linux :D

It's called bluecurve - and Canonical are not dodgy ;) they're funded by entrepreneur Mark Shuttleworth (founded Thawte Consulting, who got bought out by VeriSign).

Plus, it's not exactly hard to get the bluecurve theme. As a matter of fact, I have it on my gentoo box - just a matter of
emerge redhat-artwork.

Ubuntu seems to be making a lot of waves in the GNOME community, that's why I chose to recommend it. Of course, it's your choice entirely xxviii :)

[nobody]

Thanks for the info everyone. If I can't figure out Ubuntu I'll try Fedora. Thanks again everyone.