Free OS to play with...

Skeeter · 31 Oct 2009 at 01:38

Hi guys

Every time an Ubuntu release comes out, I download it, I usually stick it on some machine, I play with it for a while, then I get bored. Then the next release comes out, and I do the same, lol.

My laptop is used solely for browsing the web and msn and things for when I cba to turn my PC (Win7) on or want to lounge on the sofa, etc. So seen as Im bored of the Ubuntu download-install-getbored cycle, are there any other OS's out there (free, so likely linux based) that are nice and clean and simple that I could have a play with. Reading up on it, what I would love is Google ChromeOS, but while we are waiting for that, are there any linux distro's that are similar.

(oh yeah, while I used to love the geekyness, im no longer interested in spending hours in the console doing stuff, so a linux distro thats nice and simple to setup and install stuff on is prefered, its why I like Ununtu)

zetec452 · 31 Oct 2009 at 01:45

If you’re bored of Ubuntu and don't want the whole download-install-getbored then Linux isn't for you (or any other operating system for that matter

).

The ubuntu netbook looks decent and isn't necessarily for netbooks. I ran it on my 15.4 laptop in which worked well.

alex24 · 31 Oct 2009 at 01:49

I don't think there is anything else for you that isn't some sort of ubuntu variant. Perhaps you should just stick to windows - I've been really impressed by Windows 7.

Skeeter · 31 Oct 2009 at 01:59

Ive just found the UNR release which I didnt know existed, so thats something to play with. Im not looking for a solid replacement for Windows, I just like to play with new stuff and my laptop is the ideal candidate as its a spare computer that i dont store anything on, so formatting and installing things is no worry. Its just my linux 'playing' has bene very limited to the standard Ubuntu releases lately.

Rwac · 31 Oct 2009 at 11:35

Good OS has come along quite nicely since it first came out.

http://www.thinkgos.com/gos/index.html

Minimoke · 31 Oct 2009 at 14:09

That Good OS looks quite pretty, I might have to try that later on

whitecrook · 31 Oct 2009 at 14:53

www.distrowatch.com

Skeeter · 31 Oct 2009 at 15:09

gOS Cloud looks exactly like ChromeOS. Did Google copy gOS's idea, or are gOS trying to build Cloud before Google get ChromeOS out?

vidda · 31 Oct 2009 at 15:17

Legitimate screenshots of ChromeOS have been released?

craptakular · 31 Oct 2009 at 17:37

gOS has been going for ages.

Skeeter · 31 Oct 2009 at 18:18

gOS has, but their 'Cloud' os is in development, and the premise behind it seems to be the same as Google ChromeOS.

Hades · 31 Oct 2009 at 18:55

Two to look at:

OpenSolaris
OSX on a PC

masterluke · 31 Oct 2009 at 19:57

im struggling to understand the getting "bored" bit... IMO operating systems arent supposed to provide entertainment. If it runs the applications that you need reliably and in a user-friendly way then its a good job done.

Skeeter · 31 Oct 2009 at 20:42

Hades said:
Two to look at:

OpenSolaris
OSX on a PC

OSX on anything other than Apple hardware isnt legal

masterluke said:
im struggling to understand the getting "bored" bit... IMO operating systems arent supposed to provide entertainment. If it runs the applications that you need reliably and in a user-friendly way then its a good job done.

Windows runs my applications perfectly well. But I have a PC that does that. My laptop is for fidling. Im a firm believer of learning by using, so while I could just stick windows on it and be happy, id rather try lots of other stuff, if for no other reason that to know about them.

Installing UNR 9.10 now. Looking forward to ChromeOS tho

masterluke · 31 Oct 2009 at 20:58

fair enough - wouldnt get too excited about chromeOS though if i were you.. its just a very lightweight linux distribution for netbooks

Bolly · 7 Nov 2009 at 23:59

Never tried it:

http://www.tuxradar.com/content/30-days-haiku

Or a quick look for 'Alternative OS':

http://royal.pingdom.com/2008/09/26...tems-and-what-they-could-mean-for-the-future/

On my eeePC I'm using CrunchBang- yes, it's an Ubuntu distro, but it's stripped down and fun to play around with:

http://crunchbanglinux.org/

CaptainCrash · 8 Nov 2009 at 11:36

Skeeter said:
Windows runs my applications perfectly well. But I have a PC that does that. My laptop is for fidling. Im a firm believer of learning by using, so while I could just stick windows on it and be happy, id rather try lots of other stuff, if for no other reason that to know about them.

I think if you're not interested in the "geeky" aspects and fiddling around in the console, then you'll find most Linux distros pretty much of a muchness, with only the choice of desktop environment and package management setting them apart. In that case, you might as well stick with one distro and just install various desktops to play around with (you can do that very easily in Ubuntu).

If you're interested in learning new stuff, you could check out OpenSolaris as suggested above... to be honest it's nothing much to write home about as a desktop OS, but of course it has one killer feature (ZFS) which sets it apart from all the Linux distros (FreeBSD uses ZFS as well, but Solaris will have the latest and greatest).

Hades · 8 Nov 2009 at 14:04

Skeeter said:
OSX on anything other than Apple hardware isnt legal

It is not illegal.

It may, however, be against the license T&C's. Although in my view this is not certain in some conditions.

craptakular · 8 Nov 2009 at 14:32

Just shove an Apple sticker on your hardware

PermaBanned · 8 Nov 2009 at 18:15

Why would you bother going through all the trouble and torment - as well as spending the money on the disk to use an OS that's no better than the free alternatives?