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Linux and you

Kong76 Oct 16 2010 01:01 PM

Anyone here run a modern version of Linux they'd like to recommend? I've had computers with it before, Red Hat years ago when they were pretty young and Novell on another one years later. I have a laptop that needs an operating system and I'll only be using it for email and internet while away from home and don't want to bring my work laptop with me. Ubuntu anyone?

Fman99 Oct 16 2010 01:47 PM Re: Linux and you

I have three Linux machines at my house. My web server (which was formerly my desktop running XP) is running Debian, which I like greatly. My backup server, which was my dad's old PC, is running Xubuntu - it has less memory and runs better with the XFCE desktop environment (though that one boots with X turned off, just CLI). My netbook dual boots, it came with Windows XP and I installed Jolicloud on it. It's a variant of Ubuntu that is meant for netbooks and laptops and it's very "cloud" oriented, so if you're using it primarily to surf the web it works great. It requires Internet to reach everything but supports lots of laptops. No Office software on it though. Ubuntu is a good choice for someone who hasn't used Linux in a while, it's got a pretty well polished front end and comes with OpenOffice as part of the install. Xubuntu and Ubuntu are both derived from Debian and use the same package manager, have the same locations for restart scripts and so on. I have used RHEL at work and at work many of the Linux systems I use run CentOS or Fedora. Both may be better choices for a former RHEL guy like yourself. You may want to check each of them out by booting them as a Live CD, if for no other reason to verify that the OS will recognize your wireless card, or allow you to download drivers for it, and then get your laptop online. Good luck.

A Boy Named Seo Oct 16 2010 02:07 PM Re: Linux and you

Second the CentOS rec if you're familiarity lies w/ RH. Have a bunch of play servers at work & we always put CentOS on em. The way Ubuntu/Debian handles root (via 'sudo') tripped me out at first and everything felt a little different and I couldn't really be bothered to learn it. If you (KC) want to get under the hood and console around lots, CentOS might be easier, but Ubuntu might learn you some new, neat stuff. Can't comment much on the look/feel of either graphical desktop.

Kong76 Oct 17 2010 03:33 PM Re: Linux and you

Wow, I figured you two would chime in ... didn't expect such a fast response and I didn't notice until now. Thanks, I'll post as I figure out what to do next.

vtmet Oct 25 2010 12:14 PM Re: Linux and you

I had no Linux experience until last fall. My son's hard drive crashed, reformatting his drive and reinstalling Windows didn't work right either (a bunch of system files weren't there)... Because I had no Linux experience, I started looking for versions that were: free, easy to install and easy to use. Ubuntu 9.10 was my choice. And I was surprised how easy it was to install and use. The only bad thing was that it disabled the sound card. Ubuntu has a support forum, so I asked for help on that problem; and someone had a fix for me within that day. I've used Ubuntu on that computer for a year now, and it's the fastest computer in the house and plays video the best with a lot less buffering time than you see with WIndows platforms. I also heard that Linux Mint was based on Ubuntu, but that Mint tried to adapt Ubuntu's open source platform while also being able to run programs that were made for Windows OS. I setup the computer for "Dual Boot" between Mint and Ubuntu; both working fine. I was a little hesitant to upgrade from Ubuntu 9.10 because of the initial sound issue. However, once I found that Mint worked without any sound problems; I decided to upgrade to Ubuntu 10.04 (Ubuntu offers a new version FREE every 6 months with the title being the release date 10 means year & the .04 part meaning April release). Ubuntu 10.04 and Mint 9.0 are running together with both working fine. Mint is written to be a little more simplistic and to appear/work more like Windows. However, I think the graphics work better for Ubuntu. But IMO, both are good choices for someone that wants a free version of Linux without a lot of computer hacker experience. By the way...I've read that "Wireless" keyboard/mice don't support Linux platforms. I bought the Logitech Wireless keyboard/mouse Combo MK320 for $20 at Staples recently; and it works great with Linux. I have this computer hooked up thru the HDMI port on my 32 inch HDTV and can watch tv shows from Hulu.com and it's no downgrade from watching it on cable.

vtmet Oct 25 2010 12:38 PM Re: Linux and you

not to sound like an idiot, but...I really like using Linux, but I don't have the programming background that seems very prevalent in the Linux & Open Source community...is there any good reading material available to try to bring me up to speed on the jargon/etc that is associated with either one? I'm not a real big fan of Microsoft, but at the same time, I don't speak Linux very well either...