Which Linux Version Is Right For Me?

Sorry Bob but I think I will stick with Windows. I used Linux since Red Hat 5. Never could get it to work all the apps on the internet that I like. In fact I thought Windows 2000 and Xp were more stable than Linux. Vista feels more like Windows 98 but I am waiting on lucky 7, hope it is a good as you say. Cheers - Edward

I´ve just installed Ubuntu package.
It seems to work fine, but I cannot use my Nvidia graphics card with two monitors.
There are a lot of tips of how to do this but they didn´t work.
So I´m a little disappointed...

Don't forget the BSD options:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_BSD_operating_systems

I've tried to install Ubuntu on an MS Virtual Machine for at least the last three releases, and it just will not install. Ubuntu's solution to the problem? "Use VMWare". Sorry, but that does not solve the problem!

VirtualBox for Windows works best on Windows having Ubuntu as a virtual system. MS does not want you to use any other OS with there VM. Only windows OS allowed. I might be Wrong.

I had no problem installing Windows or Ubuntu as a VM.

IVERYLM
in GA
Computer Tech

Try Ms virtual pc 2007 (free download) to run Ubuntu 810 or 904. I had success with both on 2 XP computers. My main is a dual core Amd and spare is Intel P3. Good way to experiment with Linux. It's bewildering at first, but visit the Ubuntu forums for tips on running commands in terminals and updating video and sound card drivers. And Open Office is included in distro.

I use Ubuntu. You can go to google and search for solutions to most every problem that anyone has using Ubuntu and find them. Also there are tons of tutorials available all over the place to teach you how to use Ubuntu. Ubuntuforums.org also offers solutions to most problems anyone will run into. I visit http://popurls.com often. That site has a feature that allows you to sort the news listed there under topics. One of the topics you can put at the top of the list is Linux. It will show you popular linux related sites and news articles many of which are related to Ubuntu. Linuxtoday.com is a good resource for Linux related news. There are lots of programs available for Linux from the Synaptic Package Manager in Ubuntu. Linux Mint seems to have all of Ubuntu's packages from Synaptic and more. I chose Ubuntu over Linux Mint though because Ubuntu works with http://www.allmyapps.com which makes reinstalling packages easier (even if you forget what you had installed) after reinstalling Ubuntu especially if you use aptoncd and install the packages from a disk backup. See how this works at http://nerdmess.wordpress.com/2009/10/02/allmyapps-com-aptoncd-quick-ubuntu-reinstall/ if you are interested. This is just one example of the many tutorials applicable to Ubuntu Linux. Even if you don't choose Ubuntu you should probably at least try it, because it is that good. If you install Ubuntu be sure to check out the package ubuntu-restricted-extras and the free ubuntu docs under the support section of http://www.ubuntu.com to find out how to get started with Ubuntu and how to play encrypted DVDs and stuff. Good luck with your quest.

I have tried several Linux flavors. I have a dual boot Linux/Windows on my laptop (Linux Ubuntu/Windows Vista Home Basic), and rarely boot into the Vista partition.

I really like Linux Mint. I also have a P3 computer that I am going to put Phoenix OS on when the new version comes out, which should be any time. If you don't know about Phoenix OS, as I understand, it is the free version of what used to be called "Lindows". This OS looks very promising. You may want to check out the website at http://www.phoenixos.org/. NO, I am not in any way connected to this project, other than it looks like it may be a winner. I have tried an older version and was very impressed.

I am fairly good with computers, but am a newbie with Linux. I had a question about PhoenixOS and asked them on the forum and received a very quick and courteous reply.

"Puppy" is the easiest to install & use and very good for a small distro. Still not Win-dows though!

Why isn't VectorLinux mentioned? It is FAST; according to Ubuntu refugees on the VectorLinux user support forum, VectorLinux is notably faster than Ubuntu and its derivatives. The entire distribution fits on one CD. It comes completely set up with programs most users need for browsing, e-mail, multimedia (codecs included), photo management, word processing, spreadsheets. Many additional programs are available in the distro's repositories and if you can't find what you want, you can request it on the user support forum and a packager will probably try to create a package for it.

VectorLinux is very easy to use and the forum is newbie-friendly and knowledgeable. There are numerous how-to videos available at www.opensourcebistro.com that show how to do everything from installing the OS to creating packages. VL is based on Slackware and comes in three versions: VL 6 Standard uses XFce as its default desktop (and yes, it comes with a Start button equivalent, as do most desktops for Linux); VL6 Light, which is set up to be friendly to old, slow hardware but is excellent for providing a base for building whatever kind of system you want and comes with IceWM as its desktop; and VL SOHO, version 6 of which is currently in beta and uses KDE 4 (5.9 is available).

Check them out at
http://vectorlinux.com/downloads

Have tried other flavors before selecting ubuntu. I like the ease of installation + smooth operation. Config is dual boot winxp/linux. I'm old, a great grampa, so it took a bit longer but now I'm quite comfortable with Q ubuntu.

I'm curious: If I switch from Windows Vista to Unbuntu or some other Linus OS, would any of my files and/or programs be affected by the switch? Would I have to reinstall anything?

EDITOR'S NOTE: I don't really care to quote John Lennon, but it's just like starting over. Linux is a completely different operating system, so your Windows programs will not work there. That said, there are some solutions that let you run Windows (or Windows programs) on a Linux desktop. See http://askbobrankin.com/running_windows_on_linux.html

I was wondering, can you still use the standard games that you buy for Windows computers on a Linux system?

The reason I ask is that I'm really wanting to switch over but my husband really likes his games so if I change to Linux will he want to shoot me or something??

This is badly out of date, and of dubious benefit even for vintage 2009.

DebIan is deliberately obscure and best left to 'developers', Ubuntu is only marginally less so, Xandros seems stuck in 2009, trying to catch up to Canonical's Ubuntu, Novell's OpenSUSE or RedHat's RHEL/CentOS/Fedora - as these all see Linux as a basis for selling paid support.

Currently (2013/01) Zorin may come closest to friendly to people accustomed to Windows, still with a wide gap; no Linux or Unix system is particularly comprehensible to them. Linux Mint is also a step in the friendly direction; the gap remains wide. Mageia holds promise, as does SolusOS, Fuduntu, and several others.

DistroWatch is still around, and a good place to start searching. PenDriveLinux provides good tools (YUMI and UUI) for (somewhat more safely) trying out many Linux systems. Another try-before-you-buy tool is Rufus (at rufus.akeo.ie). (Of course, if you're already a Linux geek, there's unetbootin.)

The Deli Linux link goes to a page in German with no English apparent. Linux-watch has become linuxfordevices and is for hardware geeks. The OLPC project survives; their wiki page points to several Linux systems a developer might use on older hardware.

But really, doesn't this all deserve a rewrite and update?

[This email address will self-destruct in 59 minutes.]

I have used 15 popular Linux distros over the years and have settled on ChaletOS. What a great look and easy to use. Of course, having some experience with Linux is a plus.