Thread: which linux version should i get?

  1. #1
    Geo Geo Geo-Fry
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    which linux version should i get?

    Hey everyone, before I even get into the topic, I would like to say that I was sure that at least a few people have asked this same question here before. So I tried searching, but the things I searched for came up with thousands of results, and I'll be honest, if it's not on the first results page, it is, as far as I'm concerned, not there. I really don't want to take the time to look through all 2,200+ results for a thread that I think might be there. So if anyone feels that I shouldn't have even posted this because I could have found it searching, I'm sorry but I couldn't find it. If you do know a particular thread, just hook me up with a link and I'll go there.

    Anyway, I'm thinking of downloading a version of Linux to install. I'm not exactly sure why yet, maybe because I think that it would be cool to have an OS that most people don't have, or maybe I'm just looking for a change from Windows, or maybe it's something else. I really don't know. At first, I was going to just head on over to Redhat and get a nice, new Linux there. But then I thought about it, and I decided that I wanted something with more functionality at the cost of user friendlyness (sp?). I use XP home right now, and I have to say, I'm not retarded. I don't need a balloon to pop up and tell me that I've installed a new program, I WAS THERE WHEN I INSTALLED IT. I don't need a "wizard" for every little task I do, I can handle it. I need a OS that will not be bothering me all the time with things that may be helpful to an average user who doesn't know much about computers, because, in general, those are just annoyances.

    On the flip side, however, I would not consider myself a computer guru. I could not operate soley on a CLI. If I could, I would just use DOS. I need a Linux version that is in between the two, a little user friendlyness to help me out, but mostly advanced functionallity that I can't get with Windows. So if anyone knows a good type of Linux for these specifications, please post it here.

    One last thing, going back to Redhat from before, I've never used it before, and I'm not actually sure that it is, in fact, not what I'm looking for. But it seemed to me that Redhat is one of the biggest flavors of Linux, and since it is, it would have more users who might need those windows-like functions, like balloons and wizards and such. But as I said, I've never used it, so I could be entirely off base.

    Thanks in advance for anyone who takes the time to read this and help me.
    "You can lead a man to Congress, but you can't make him think."
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    "Roses are red, violets are blue, I'm schizophrenic, and so am I."
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  2. #2
    PC Fixer-Upper Waldo2k2's Avatar
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    Mandrake, redhat, and suse all fit what you're looking for. I personally like Mandrake.
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  3. #3
    Registered User
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    Im having great fun with fedora, redhats latest distro. Join in on mircs www.freenode.net in the fedora channel and you will find it quite active with people willing to help on issues. It uses yum for updating (up2date) which is quite nice. I have been learning Assembly and furthering my knowledge in C/C++ and found most of the necessary tools I needed included in the package. It isn't perfect but so far really fun.

  4. #4
    Much older and wiser Fountain's Avatar
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    I used Mandrake for a while, it was ok.

    And if balloon tips bug you so much, why not just add the 'no balloon tips' line to the registry?
    Such is life.

  5. #5
    ¡Amo fútbol!
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  6. #6
    Geo Geo Geo-Fry
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    Okay, so Mandrake seems the be the most common choice, I'll try that out. And the balloons were just the first example that came to mind of extra things that I don't really need, not the sole reason I'm getting a new OS. I was also not aware of the fact that I could disable them. Anyway, thanks for the input.
    "You can lead a man to Congress, but you can't make him think."
    "The Grand Old Duke of York
    -He had ten thousand men.
    -His case comes up next week."
    "Roses are red, violets are blue, I'm schizophrenic, and so am I."
    "A computer once beat me at chess, but it was no match for me at kick boxing."
    "More and more of our imports are coming from overseas."
    --George W. Bush
    "If it weren't for electricity, we'd all be wacthing TV by candlelight."
    --George W. Bush

  7. #7
    PC Fixer-Upper Waldo2k2's Avatar
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    as far as a new OS goes, if it's not broken, don't fix it.
    It's fine to try linux, but it's not everyones cup of tea...unless you are going to put some real time into it you'll probably get a few things configured, toy with it, then it'll sit for a while. Whatever you do just don't format your windows drive, linux will sit next to it just fine.
    I usually only use linux if I want to do some serious coding...other than that windows will do most everything else just fine.
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  8. #8
    Registered User TravisS's Avatar
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    I agree with Waldo... it took me about 5 years to really get into Linux. I started with RedHat 6.1, tried 7.1 a couple years later, and finally only within the last month or two have made a real transition to RedHat 9. In fact... I'm typing this from Linux right now.

    Unless you're willing to put some serious time into it, Linux isn't exactly the easiest thing to learn.

  9. #9
    & the hat of GPL slaying Thantos's Avatar
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    Debain here, but its not really "user friendly"

  10. #10
    Registered User axon's Avatar
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    echo waldo and travis, I use Linux at school 100% of the time, and thats because all I do there is code. At home I have XP and redhat 9.2; use xp most of the time. If you are very new to linux (sorry didn't read the whole op) then I suggest getting redhat....it is a very simple and easy to use and learn linux environment for the beginner

    some entropy with that sink? entropysink.com

    there are two cardinal sins from which all others spring: Impatience and Laziness. - franz kafka

  11. #11
    30 Helens Agree neandrake's Avatar
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    Re: which linux version should i get?

    Originally posted by Geo-Fry
    "Roses are red, violets are blue, I'm schizophrenic, and so am I."
    Schizophrenia is NOT Dissociative Identity Disorder. The illusions of schizos are only one personality of high order. Ex: In the movie Arsenic and Old Lace, the uncle thought he was Teddy Roosevelt. People who have multiple personalities have D.I.D.
    Environment: OS X, GCC / G++
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  12. #12
    5|-|1+|-|34|) ober's Avatar
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    hey... take it to a PM, kthxbai.

  13. #13
    Microsoft Lover afreedboy's Avatar
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    By the way how should I quote to get the original message writer name??? Like Originally Posted by???

    I am quite stupid.

  14. #14
    5|-|1+|-|34|) ober's Avatar
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    Use the "quote" button at the bottom right of that person's post. (next to the edit button)

  15. #15
    Microsoft Lover afreedboy's Avatar
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    Lightbulb

    Originally posted by ober5861
    Use the "quote" button at the bottom right of that person's post. (next to the edit button)

    Wow!! Surprise!!!!!!! Thanks you very much

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