Thread: Linux Version reccomendation

  1. #1
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    Linux Version reccomendation

    I'm looking into getting Linux for my college Notebook, but I am (as you can tell) pretty new to the whole *NIX thing. I'm wondering what version of Linux is good for new users, but at the same time teaches me skills so I can move on and use the more advanced versions of Linux rather than leech to the user-friendly ones.

    My first friend told me to get Gentoo Linux, but friend #2 said that Gentoo is mostly console based and I really know nothing about the Linux commands. He told me I should get Ubuntu, but friend #1 shuns Ubuntu. So I'm asking for some third party ideas on which version of Linux I should use.

    Thanks ahead of time.

  2. #2
    C++ Witch laserlight's Avatar
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    If you are new, Ubuntu would be good. They have a fair amount of hand holding.

    From what I have heard, system76 is worth a look.
    Quote Originally Posted by Bjarne Stroustrup (2000-10-14)
    I get maybe two dozen requests for help with some sort of programming or design problem every day. Most have more sense than to send me hundreds of lines of code. If they do, I ask them to find the smallest example that exhibits the problem and send me that. Mostly, they then find the error themselves. "Finding the smallest program that demonstrates the error" is a powerful debugging tool.
    Look up a C++ Reference and learn How To Ask Questions The Smart Way

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    Wow thanks, that site is really helpful.

    I think I'm going to buy my laptop from there. Pretty cheap, too.

  4. #4
    Reverse Engineer maxorator's Avatar
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    SUSE uses much disk space, but is worth a shot.
    "The Internet treats censorship as damage and routes around it." - John Gilmore

  5. #5
    Disrupting the universe Mad_guy's Avatar
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    I'd advise Ubuntu if you want an easy to install linux distro for beginners. You can learn from it, and it's a good starting point for learning to use linux.
    operating systems: mac os 10.6, debian 5.0, windows 7
    editor: back to emacs because it's more awesomer!!
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    website: http://0xff.ath.cx/~as/

  6. #6
    Cat without Hat CornedBee's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Pobega
    My first friend told me to get Gentoo Linux, but friend #2 said that Gentoo is mostly console based
    That's nonsense, but Gentoo still isn't the right distro for Linux newbies. I follow the others in recommending Ubuntu, or Kubuntu, if you've heard better things about KDE than Gnome. Personally, due to continuous problems with Gnome's session manager, I much prefer KDE.
    All the buzzt!
    CornedBee

    "There is not now, nor has there ever been, nor will there ever be, any programming language in which it is the least bit difficult to write bad code."
    - Flon's Law

  7. #7
    Devil's Advocate SlyMaelstrom's Avatar
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    Just jump right into Slackware... man up a bit. Geez.
    Sent from my iPadŽ

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    Quote Originally Posted by SlyMaelstrom
    Just jump right into Slackware... man up a bit. Geez.
    Yes Sly, you said it... another "manly" distro is Debian. It's not too hard to use, and it's almost as fast as Slackware.

  9. #9
    Moderately Rabid Decrypt's Avatar
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    I have to agree with Sly as well. I fooled around with SuSE for awhile, but didn't learn nearly as much as the week I installed Slackware (no windows manager) onto my laptop. I think (from my limited experience) that you'll learn much more about how Linux works that way. Go with the command line only for awhile; get to know your computer.
    There is a difference between tedious and difficult.

  10. #10
    The Right Honourable psychopath's Avatar
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    I use Mandriva, which I much prefer over Debian. Maybe i'm just not man enough to handle Debian.
    M.Eng Computer Engineering Candidate
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    Robotics and graphics enthusiast.

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    Im using ubuntu right now, and I have to say it is the best i have used thus far. I tried Suse, but it didnt like my hardware and wouldnt start. Another really easy disto to use is xandros.

  12. #12
    {Jaxom,Imriel,Liam}'s Dad Kennedy's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Pobega
    My first friend told me to get Gentoo Linux, but friend #2 said that Gentoo is mostly console based and I really know nothing about the Linux commands.
    You mean there is something other than the command line???

    Agree with Sly -- Slackware.

    Agree with CornedBee -- KDE - if you wanted something like graphical web pages. . . doesn't anybod (else) use gopher anymore? -- j/k.

  13. #13
    pwns nooblars
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    Slack with fluxbox, no need for the KDE/Gnome stuff takes too much resources for my taste.

  14. #14
    Reverse Engineer maxorator's Avatar
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    My friend has SUSE set up on a very old computer, works fast with no problems.
    "The Internet treats censorship as damage and routes around it." - John Gilmore

  15. #15
    Registered User Jaqui's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by SlyMaelstrom
    Just jump right into Slackware... man up a bit. Geez.
    take your own advice, use Linux from Scratch or DIY Linux.
    where you have to chase down the sources for everything you want installed and build it yourself, not download a prebuilt os like a wimp

    Ubuntu / Kubuntu / Edubuntu all have one critical error, they use a no root account and sudo only securty model, which makes them as vulnerable as any windows box to malware exploitation. No-one that ants to have a secure and reliable system would even concider using them.

    Xandros, Vector*, Archie, Yellodog ... [ basically all single cd distros ]
    each are targeted at a specific use / user experience, they all have extremely LIMITED resources available, as in software to work with their customised layout.

    Pick a gui by default distro if that's what you want. the main GUI options boil down to GNOME for the Macos look and feel or KDE for Windows.
    the light weight, low resource using options blackbox, fluxbox, enlightenent** windowmaker..... [ long list ]

    the gui by default distros are all but lfs, diy, slak, debian and gentoo, the rest treat you like microsoft, keep you in the dark and feed you bullsh!t.

    you won't really learn the power of linux by using a gui on it, you'll only learn that from the cli.

    *Vector SLAK based single cd distro
    **enlightenment is the only one with a truly minimal gui, no taskbar, no system tray, no menuing, outsde of the popup menus for each mouse button, minimal support for any bloat.
    Quote Originally Posted by Jeff Henager
    If the average user can put a CD in and boot the system and follow the prompts, he can install and use Linux. If he can't do that simple task, he doesn't need to be around technology.

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