Best distro for a newbie?
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- Re: Best distro for a newbie?
Best distro for a newbie?
01-10-2008 8:28 PM
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But I get annoyed that on the rare occasion there is a magazine, newspaper article or TV prog ("Click" on BBC for example) about this, it is always Ubuntu that is recommended as a starter. I tried it as my first distro and was nearly put off Linux for life. Why?
1. It doesn't initially include all the "proprietary" software (eg Flash) that you need for even basic use and so for a computer dummy (ie. normal home user like me) it becomes a nightmare to configure when you don't even know your way around the OS.
2. It requires an understanding of Command Lines. What are they? Why? Whats wrong with desktop management - sorry, GUI I should call it!
3. If you need admin rights, you're invited to open a terminal. What's a terminal? And type "sudo" whatever that is......
I'm now Linux-only and love it, but fear that I will never be able to persuade others to try it until it becomes more user friendly and less geekish. It was PCLOS that eventually converted me (didn't have any of the three problems above) and I have since found Mepis and Mint to be pretty good for the beginner as well. Does anyone have any other recommendations?
Re: Best distro for a newbie?
01-10-2008 9:18 PM
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Re: Best distro for a newbie?
01-10-2008 9:21 PM
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It can be modified and upgraded but havnt got into that yet, most of the system files etc are hidden, just like window, but can be found.
got it mainly to go on hols, works a treat, even the wife can use it :D.
Re: Best distro for a newbie?
01-10-2008 9:23 PM
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Regards .....
Re: Best distro for a newbie?
01-10-2008 10:05 PM
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I have just started with Linux a few months ago. I installed Ubuntu dual booted with XP.
I did have some problems setting up the dual boot and the install generally because I was playing around. Once I got that figured out (with help from the Linux guys on here) everything was dead easy. I didn't have any of the issues you are referring to while setting it all up.
I would recommend Ubuntu to anyone trying Linux for the first time.
Having said that I have a live cd of PCLInuxos ready to try on my other laptop. When I have installed that I will be able to comment on any differences I find.
Re: Best distro for a newbie?
02-10-2008 12:25 AM
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It has improved greatly over the last couple of years with regard to the integration of add-on software such as flash etc.
Any operating system (even Windows :-[) will need you to use the command line - occasionally.
It's best to gain some facility in it's use while your system is working - you may need a command line when a problem strikes.
"In The Beginning Was The Word, And The Word Was Aardvark."
Re: Best distro for a newbie?
02-10-2008 4:07 AM
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pclinuxos
knoppix
mint
suse
mandriva
sabayon
have a read of this:
http://www.techradar.com/news/software/operating-systems/the-14-best-linux-distros-465771?artc_pg=1
it picks out 14 distros and says what's good about them and why to try them.
whichever you settle on, good luck and have fun.
Re: Best distro for a newbie?
02-10-2008 8:05 PM
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Quote from: axisofevil It's best to gain some facility in it's use while your system is working - you may need a command line when a problem strikes.
This gets to the root of my complaint. I don't believe it should be necessary to learn a new language (CLI). Linux will never appeal to the masses if you need to be a geek to use it .
That is why so far I have settled for PCLOS. I used the remaster facility to burn a new live DVD, and when I did foul things up I was able to re-install with all configuration intact in about 20 mins. No CL needed.......
Maybe I'm just getting too old
Re: Best distro for a newbie?
02-10-2008 8:16 PM
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Re: Best distro for a newbie?
02-10-2008 8:18 PM
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Re: Best distro for a newbie?
02-10-2008 8:39 PM
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Re: Best distro for a newbie?
02-10-2008 9:30 PM
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Quote from: pierre_pierre this thread clearly show the reason why Lunux has only intruded into the Bill Gates empire to the extent of 2.5% - it is far to Geeky,
Well, despite the fact that Linux can be far too geeky for most users (although as it has been said it does not need to be so) the main reason that MSWindows has much wider appeal is quite simple: marketing. Billions of dollars of it. When was the last time that you found an advert about Linux desktop in a tabloid, broadsheet, billboard, bus stop, radio, TV, cinema, etc.?
Your average 'computer literate' American would not know what Ubuntu, or CentOS is if you were to hit them on the head with it - indeed typical response is: "does this run on Windows"? The problem is that the US has dictated over the years what the de-facto OS is (on the grounds of interoperability) for those who want to do business with them. All European governments duly obliged by paying the MS/US tax for running all their public sector PCs. Of course for the rest of the world the word interoperability implies open standards. For clear economic reasons the US has chosen Billy Gates.
Re: Best distro for a newbie?
02-10-2008 9:58 PM
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Re: Best distro for a newbie?
02-10-2008 10:03 PM
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Windoze calls theirs notepad, Linux has a selection of various text editors.
Have you ever filled out entries in your hosts file?
Perhaps done things in a "batch file"?
Have you noticed that when something is wrong, you can diagnose the problem by entering simple commands into a command line?
Perhaps you want to check a connection with the ping command?
etc, etc
"In The Beginning Was The Word, And The Word Was Aardvark."
Re: Best distro for a newbie?
02-10-2008 10:15 PM
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The fact that anyone can make there own livecd/distro remaster is a strong selling point.
The only thing I would say hinders newbies and pclinuxos at the moment is that the current iso is a bit dated (for newer hardware) although the will be a new iso released soon (yes i am aware that 'soon' started in april, but trust me soon is gonna happen .... soon)
The other distros I would recomend to a newbie, would be Puppy, a great distro , small but full featured I think for older hardware the 2.15CE version is still very usable. both Mandriva and Mint would also be good choices, Klikit Linux (kubunty based) is also getting a good name for the newbie although I have yet to try it (I am not so keen on the *bunties)..
As for another OS that could be installed and managed by a newbie, (but is not a Linux Distro) I think PC-BSD7 would be another good choice .
as for the CLI its not to be feared - i think some people like to reinforce a false belief that it is difficult or confusing, in some ways it can be a quicker, easier and more effective solution than some GUI's. It is also a must for app trouble shootin' (if clicking on an icon does not work, try to launch the app via a Konsole that way you ewill see the issue warning/error that stops it from launching)
I would say to the newbie learn some basics or some CLI apps, if X ever fails it is handy to have and know how to use a text web browser like (w3m or links/lynx) and a text based irc/chat client (like irssi and finch- part of pidgin) could help get someone back up and running quickly.
Jase
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