Which distro for new notebook

firstborn · 12 Jun 2006 at 11:16

Hi,

I need to install Linux on a new laptop for a colleague at work. Specs are:

2GHz Intel core duo, Intel 945GM chipset with embedded graphics
2GB RAM
80GB HDD
Intel 3945 WLAN Card
Media card reader

Think thats all that matters. Any suggestions as to which distro would give me a hassle free install. The chap only uses Unix and has never used windows.

Cheers

Steve

Radiation · 12 Jun 2006 at 18:31

I tried Ubuntu before and it seemed pretty good, they had a new release recently too, though your wanting it for a laptop so i have no idea if thats any good as i don't know that much about linux.

AJUK · 12 Jun 2006 at 19:05

Ubuntu without doubt, it will work very well on that spec.

leezer3 · 12 Jun 2006 at 19:17

Much of a muchness really

Whats he using for a display manager?- Ubuntu is very much Gnome focused, & even in Kubuntu KDE support isn't as good as that from other distros.
I'm also a fan of Mandriva, which is a very nice distro but comes with tons of stuff that might be seen as unnecessary. (Very nice installer though

)

-Leezer-

firstborn · 13 Jun 2006 at 22:14

leezer3 said:
Much of a muchness really
Whats he using for a display manager?- Ubuntu is very much Gnome focused, & even in Kubuntu KDE support isn't as good as that from other distros.
I'm also a fan of Mandriva, which is a very nice distro but comes with tons of stuff that might be seen as unnecessary. (Very nice installer though )

-Leezer-

CDE - no bells and whistles needed. He'd prob get away with just vi and g++.

I'm only really concerned about the installation process and the hardware being detected properly. It's been years since I carried out a linux install and remember it to be a right pain.

BoomAM · 14 Jun 2006 at 21:20

Ubuntu i'd say.
Relativly painless to get it installed, and recognised 95% of my HW off the bat.

M0KUJ1N · 14 Jun 2006 at 22:10

blimey, last time I used CDE was when I was a student on Solaris! I'd imagine if he is after a fairly minimalist UNIX-y install most distributions Id recommend slackware or debian, possibly Ubuntu as it has some nice userland tools for installing apps.
Installing linux has came on a long way since the bad old days imo, although I would still be tempted to just point your co-worker in the way of some documentation or give him an install CD, as otherwise you could become embroiled in providing support for this machine.

firstborn · 15 Jun 2006 at 23:31

M0KUJ1N said:
as otherwise you could become embroiled in providing support for this machine.

Well as it's part of my job spec I doubt I'll avoid that. I look after our Unix boxes anyhow so hopefully it'll not be too much of a problem once installed. My last linux install was about 5 years ago and it proved a right pain in the rear!

Think I'll give Ubuntu a go first and see how things go.

Cheers All

Hades · 15 Jun 2006 at 23:52

I've used various Linux's on a couple of laptops. Never had a problem so far. The only issue was a non-compatible wifi PCMCIA card which I replaced. In hindsight it was probably my inexperience at the time and I guess I could have got i working now.

With regards to Ubuntu I've just installed the latest version on my desktop (6.06 "Dapper Drake"). It's easily the best distro I've used. I really do like it a lot. Everything just works. Two tips:

1) The www.ubuntuforums.org are fantastic. If you have a problem then someone has usually already fixed it and posted a step-by-step guide.

2) Take a look at Automatix (search for it on the site). It installs loads of things for you. Admittedly you won't learn by doing so, but it's great if you just want the job done quickly.