malcontentwindowsuser

Join Date 05/2007

Which Linux Distro?

i think ill just start off by saying that im not particularly fond of windows. i have used a few linux distros at my frriends house, and i know a wee bit about them, and i have settled on running either ubuntu or fedora. but i understand that it is hard to get ubuntu to actually run on your computer, but it is probably better. so id like to know which one of these two i should get, and a little info on how to install ubuntu and actually get it to work. or if neither of those, which linux distro should i get? thanks for any help!

Locked Post

Advanced Search

Watch this post

Do not email me updates for this post Email me updates for this post

Successfully updated karma reason!

Join Date 03/2001

+23

It wasn't hard for me to install and run Ubuntu. It took me a little while to get used to different methods, but once I got used to it, it's great.

Successfully updated karma reason!

unclerob

Join Date 08/2006

+40

the ubuntu distro can be downloaded in various forms, the one you should download & check out is the livecd version which doesn't involve installing anything on your computer. You download the iso, burn it to cd, boot your pc off the cd and ubuntu runs directly off your cdrom without have to erase your hd and installing the os. This allows you to testdrive ubuntu and find out if it will work with your pc hardware or not.

As far as what I've heard, ubuntu is one of the easier linux distro's to install and also one of the most user-friendly linux os's around. Definitely check it out and let us know how it works out for you!

Successfully updated karma reason!

ZubaZ

Join Date 11/2001

+917

What windows features are you not fond of? It might make a difference what linux distro fits you best.

Both install fine. I like Ubuntu and installed in on my daughter's PC for university. I'll do the same for the next daughter in the fall. If they need support I just boot the live distro on my Vista PC to see what's going on.

Successfully updated karma reason!

Sign Up or Login and this ad disappears!
There are many great features available to you once you register. Sign Up for a free account and browse the forums without ads.

go for ubuntu. seriously.

Successfully updated karma reason!

i dont like how unstable windows is. maybe its just me, but everytime ive gotten my computer with windows fixed, something goes wrong on it. it messes up. the win32 file is corrupted. or, for some random reason, my computer turns off outa nowhere, and i turn it back on, and it tells me that there is no operating system found. (also, i think windows is kinda ugly. ubuntu and fedora look so much better...) they overcharge for their programs, and they all run errors like no tomorrow. it also comes with piles of useless programs that you dont need, and most of these are only demos of the real program.

i mean, dont get me wrong, i like windows a little. it has its pros and cons just like linux and mac have a shortage of popular windows programs that a lot of people use. but from using ubuntu, mac, and fedora, i have to say that those three are better in my opinion.

Successfully updated karma reason!

The problems you describe are usually caused by bad sectors on the hard drive, or a bad IDE controller. Switching OS won't help with hardware issues.
If you just want to switch, I like Open Suse. With the exception of YAST needing an overhaul as an update tool, I think it's the most polished desktop distro. Fedora Core is good too.
Windows is my primary desktop, mostly for convenience and compatibility, but OSX would be my next choice.

Successfully updated karma reason!

doesnt Suse cost? and isnt it more for a business aspect? i could get it for free if i really wanted it, but it wouldnt be as much of a hassle for me to get ubuntu. ill still use windows though, solely for the reasons tjesterb named.
is there any way that any of you know to get visual basic to run on ubuntu?

Successfully updated karma reason!

Im pretty sure that it will work once you install wine or cedaga and config them. After all i have most of my games running in Ubuntu 7.04 that way.

Successfully updated karma reason!

Signing up to the ubuntu site allows you to get it free on cd,all you do is fill out the request form ,it took me 3 weeks to receive them as i ordered 5,the cd includes the live & install version.

Would'nt hurt to get kubuntu as well it's a good replacement for windows

Successfully updated karma reason!

kubuntu runs on KDE doesnt it? and what about xubuntu? and how are they any different than the regular ubuntu?

Successfully updated karma reason!

Just reformatted my old comp with XP, Vista and Ubuntu 7.04

I have to say this version of Ubuntu looks very slick. The Desktop Effects are cool. Installation was much more friendly than before.

Successfully updated karma reason!

There are two versions of desktop Suse. One is OpenSuse, which can be freely downloaded and installed. The other is SLED (Suse Linux Enterprise Desktop) which comes with a paid support package.

OpenSuse: WWW Link

SLED: http://www.novell.com/products/desktop/

Successfully updated karma reason!

....and I still think you Windows problems sound like hardware issues.

Successfully updated karma reason!

Join Date 03/2001

+23

malcontentwindowsuser, Kubuntu has a different suit of programs, and contains KDE window manager and not GNOME as found on Ubuntu.

Successfully updated karma reason!

xubuntu to me is'nt anywhere near as well developed as ubuntu or kubuntu,both these last two are developed by the same team if i'm not mistaken ?? ,ubuntu is most probably more widley used than kubuntu,i just got it to check it out tho when it comes to linux i know jack & intend to teach myself as soon as i get another comp to plonk em on,but i like the blue wallpaper of kubuntu lmao (yes i'm aware it can be changed in ubuntu p)

Successfully updated karma reason!

Jafo

Join Date 03/2001

+1846

maybe its just me, but everytime ive gotten my computer with windows fixed, something goes wrong on it. it messes up. the win32 file is corrupted. or, for some random reason, my computer turns off outa nowhere, and i turn it back on, and it tells me that there is no operating system found.

That sounds like hardware....something that switching OS won't fix...

Successfully updated karma reason!

i tried installing ubuntu last night. i couldnt do it. it said it couldnt find the 'x11 server'. because ubuntu wouldnt work, i installed fedora core 6, and it could find my x11 server. so any help on this matter would be GREATLY appreciated. please people....

Successfully updated karma reason!

Join Date 03/2001

+23

If it is indeed hardware, changing OS will not do anything, you will keep having problems till it is truly broken.

Successfully updated karma reason!

maybe a little bit of it is hardware. but i talked to some ppl who really really know what theyre talking about with ubuntu. we solved it. its because i have an integrate video card and the ubuntu disc is not set to it. i know what it is, i just dont know how to explain it... but we are fixing it.

Successfully updated karma reason!

Jafo

Join Date 03/2001

+1846

maybe a little bit of it is hardware.

We're talking about it going gaga in Windows....nothing to do with Linux...if Windows implodes like that it's hardware...so the failure will affect any OS....eg. when a drive is dying it matters not what OS is on it...it'll still die...

Successfully updated karma reason!

yeah, but it was fine when i put fedora on it. no troubles at all. but it couldve been that some of the other times i had windows, i had a pirated version that wasnt very good. i got the one i have now fixed two years ago and its fine. i still get the corrupted win32 messages when i boot up sometimes, but it still runs fine. since i got it fixed the last time, ive seen not one blue screen of death, so its doin fine. i just dont like windows and see no reason to have it with that being the case.

Successfully updated karma reason!

Join Date 03/2001

+23

Maybe you lucked out that fedora didn't put any critical files into bad sectors if it was bad hard drive, or it did something different that bypassed problem hardware. In any case it will not last forever.

Successfully updated karma reason!

Jafo

Join Date 03/2001

+1846

but it couldve been that some of the other times i had windows, i had a pirated version that wasnt very good.

You get exactly what you pay for....

Successfully updated karma reason!

but it couldve been that some of the other times i had windows, i had a pirated version that wasnt very good.

You get exactly what you pay for....

didnt pay for it! and the windows xp that i have now, although it is pirated, is still better than the one that comes on a computer you could buy. the hard drive probably is bad tho. its been under a few virus attacks, but hey when youre broke, you take whatever you can get!!!

Successfully updated karma reason!

Jafo

Join Date 03/2001

+1846

but hey when youre broke, you take whatever you can get!!!

No, when you're broke you learn to go without.

A pirated XP will always be inferior to the REAL version...as the latter is legally/properly supported with updates/revisions.

You pay 'nothing' and you can expect exactly that....

nothing.

Not only won't you have a supported OS you will find reticence on the part of those who are legal users to help those who are not.

Wincustomize.com is owned and supported by a software company who rightly has a zero tolerance for warez users, and being a Microsoft Accredited Partner that includes the MS OS...

Successfully updated karma reason!