best linix/unix distro for replacing windows
- Thread starter wijcc
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What is the best distro of linux/unix as a replacement for windows xp. Just to use the machine for general purposes, internet browsing, office, downloading etc?
Thanks in advance guys
id say ubuntu 7.10
www.ubuntu.com
if not pclinuxos is a good one too.
OpenSuse is nice too.. see my thread: http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=17793979
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For a non-enthusiast I'd recommend SuSE. Ubuntu is my favorite and I've converted a few Windows users into Ubuntu fanatics.
Different distros have very different methods doing things, and so it would be better if you could try out as many different distros as possible to see what you like. Here are some of the best ones to try out:
If you're not that bothered though go with either PClinuxos or Ubuntu.
- Ubuntu
- PClinuxOS
- Mint - it's based on Ubuntu though so it's very similar, just with a different design
- Mepis
- Sabayon
- Opensuse
If you're not that bothered though go with either PClinuxos or Ubuntu.
Gutsy does it slightly differently and most people [including myself] have got it working with only a short amount of fiddling. Many others haven't had any problems.
There is only a minority who haven't been able to do anything about it - from what I have seen through my searching today.
bcm4306 PCMCIA card, nothing I've tried after trawling through countless forums worked, it also seems to take twice as long to boot as the previous version and what do you get in return? compiz .. tacky.
I think you are just unlucky, as Gutsy runs much faster on my laptop than Feisty and it moves like greased lightning on my main rig.
Compiz is just a feature that can be turned off. Slagging off Gutsy for Compiz being not to your taste would be like slagging off Windows because Windows Media Player looks crap.
Fedora is a good, desktop-oriented one as well
Fedora is not a good distribution because of the fact that it exists to improve their enterprise linux (designed for server market)... which means fedora lacks some desktopish features out the box. It is also very obsessive about being free and not including any binary drivers like nvidia or tools to install them. Unless your a advanced linux user, I wouldnt use it.
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Gutsy is much quicker on this machine (2600+, 1GB RAM) than Feisty was. It now boots just as quickly as XP does, whereas it used to take considerably longer.
For a new user, I'd have to say to try Kubuntu first... KDE is a bit more welcoming to average Windows users than Gnome is. The Ubuntu community is very impressive and will be a useful source of info for someone starting out with *nix.
Otherwise, I liked Mandriva, so would recommend that too. Similarly, OpenSuSE is a popular choice, although personally I didn't get on with it.
For a new user, I'd have to say to try Kubuntu first... KDE is a bit more welcoming to average Windows users than Gnome is. The Ubuntu community is very impressive and will be a useful source of info for someone starting out with *nix.
Otherwise, I liked Mandriva, so would recommend that too. Similarly, OpenSuSE is a popular choice, although personally I didn't get on with it.
This what I love about Linux. There is so much choice and it is pretty hard to not find one you get on with. If you don't like something you can change it.
You have practically no choices at all with Windows - apart from how much you are willing to spend.
You have practically no choices at all with Windows - apart from how much you are willing to spend.
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As above Red Hat is most common due their enterprise support. CentOS is a free clone of Red Hat identical is every way except for branding. This, however, is unsupported.
SuSE is popular in traditionally Novell-oriented shops. Debian is also a player in the market.
