Which Version For Me... Help

KingMBC · Jan 8, 2005, 03:26 PM

Which Version Of Linux Is Best Suited For Me?
Please Help Me. Thanks,

Help, Iam currently looking for the best Linux version to run on my pc,
Does anyone know which is the best version to suit me:
Baisiclly i want my version of Linux to be very like windows is there a version of Linux which is very like windows - lol
Any help would be very grateful.
Thanks

- To use office documents.
- Surf The Web
- Play afew online games
- Even to use normal Windows programs

Scar_T · Jan 8, 2005, 09:38 PM

Almost every lastest release of each linux distribition has a friendly installation and a lot tools for make its use more easy to the user. My favorite linux distro is Mandrake, it's really friendly and looks really cool

, but a lot of people recommend to use Suse, so any of those 2 would be a nice choice for a beginner

.

With any linux distro you can:

- Use office documents with OpenOffice.
- Surf the web. There are several web browsers fro linux, i.e. firefox.
- Play a few online games. If you are talking about games like java games or swf games, yes you can.
- Use normal windows aplication with a tool named Wine, but it depends a lot of what app you are trying to run and you'll have to read about its configuration.

DarkFoss · Jan 8, 2005, 11:05 PM

Tough question to answer without knowing your hardware specs.

To play online games you'll most likely need to install configure Wine/Cedaga(pay version) since alot of games do not have a linux installer and are windows only. For using Windows programs under Linux you'll need to install one or more of the following Win4lin, CrossOver Office, VMware, probably forgetting a few here, none are free programs.

There are several that are much like windows.

1. Xandros,
You can download a free bittorrent open Circulation version 3.0 to try. For awhile you were able to download a 30 day fully operatonal version of their buisness edition version 2.0, not sure if thats still an option. It came with StarOffice as an optional install to OpenOffice. Also came with a fully functional CrossOver Office plug-in. It installed flawlessly on my Abit NF7-s Barton 2500 Ati 9700pro everything was detected and properly set-up. Even networked to my windows box. A fairly large selection of packages you can choose from. Some flexability as far as installing from outside their "warehouse" but outside apps can break the system. Seems that the latest version has some issues from browsing the users forum, highly recommend downloading the free version before commiting to a paid version.

2. Linspire,
Another windows like distro that has a wide variety of pre-packages software to choose from, most free some pay as you go. Features Click and run for painless installations. I personally haven't tried it. They also have a free live version you can try via bittorrent . Not much more for me to say since I haven't tried it.

3. Suse 9.2 Professional
Probably not quite as windows like as the first 2 but very much beginner friendly from what I've read . It has a free live evaluation version that you run from the cd to try rather than installing it good way to get a "feel" for it before buying.

Other noteworthy options are Mandrake 10.1 and Fedora Core 3. Mandrake also has a live version, MandrakeMove.

I highly recommend trying the live evalutation versions first rather than doing an install whenever possible. I also recommend reading up on backing up and restoring your master boot record, and if you have any partition image software do defrag and make a fresh image before installing linux just to be safe. When you decide on a version to try visit their homepage and browse the user forums look for hardware compatability issues. If you have a spare harddrive I'd recommend disconecting your windows drive and do a few installs on the other hd first before trying a duel-boot.

Here's a couple of links to get you started
http://distrowatch.com/?newsid=01482
http://www.linuxiso.org/

There's plenty of distro's to try so take your time and explore a bit before settling on one. It all comes down to personal preference

KingMBC · Jan 9, 2005, 08:29 AM

Thanks DarkFoss,
You have been a realy help to me, i think am gona try Linux Mandrate,
Is this a free Op, or do i have to pay?
Thanks, vbmenu_register("postmenu_528117", true);

DarkFoss · Jan 9, 2005, 11:44 AM

Your most welcome

Mandrake does have a free version to download. You'll find the links at distrowatch. I'm duel booting the 64 bit version myself, although until Ati releases it's linux driver this week all I've been able to enjoy is the comand-line

On my previous rig 10.1 Official ran perfectly.

Welcome to DH btw

SaberZ · Jan 15, 2005, 01:42 PM

Personally I've used Mandrake, Suse, and FC3.

Mandrake, the installer is very very friendly, the distro feels good, except I had lots of issues installing packages with MDK 10. Was just a big chain of packages needing other packages even though I installed what was required.

Suse 9.1 is what im currently using right now, installer as fugly as it is, is very easy to use. Getting into the OS and installing items via YaST saves time and avoids using the command line for the most part from my experience. Getting things installed and setup was a breeze, definetly my favorite distro. Picked up on how to do mostly basic and semi advanced functions within a day or two of constant playing around with it.

FC3 I've heard so many great things about it, and tried to use it. During the install my LCD monitors(2 of them) couldnt display the install res (712xsomething) which was the only issue I had, but couldnt do much since i couldnt even get it into the GUI(novice).

I heard great things about Debian, pain to setup right, but once its ready everyone says its fantastic. Haven't tried it myself though.

Right now Im on my Suse machine, and honestly I love it. Never thought I'd be using nix, but I am, only for work right now, might do my home machine if only i could get World of Warcraft to run without any issues.

http://www.rpmfind.net

good place to search for lib's or items you might need for program dependencies.

Good luck and enjoy

Jan 8, 2005, 03:26 PM	#1
KingMBC DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 2 Rep Power: 0	Which Version For Me... Help Which Version Of Linux Is Best Suited For Me? Please Help Me. Thanks, Help, Iam currently looking for the best Linux version to run on my pc, Does anyone know which is the best version to suit me: Baisiclly i want my version of Linux to be very like windows is there a version of Linux which is very like windows - lol Any help would be very grateful. Thanks - To use office documents. - Surf The Web - Play afew online games - Even to use normal Windows programs

Jan 8, 2005, 09:38 PM	#2
Scar_T DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 84 Rep Power: 0	Almost every lastest release of each linux distribition has a friendly installation and a lot tools for make its use more easy to the user. My favorite linux distro is Mandrake, it's really friendly and looks really cool , but a lot of people recommend to use Suse, so any of those 2 would be a nice choice for a beginner . With any linux distro you can: - Use office documents with OpenOffice. - Surf the web. There are several web browsers fro linux, i.e. firefox. - Play a few online games. If you are talking about games like java games or swf games, yes you can. - Use normal windows aplication with a tool named Wine, but it depends a lot of what app you are trying to run and you'll have to read about its configuration. __________________ Scar_T - Parasite Coder

Jan 8, 2005, 11:05 PM	#3
DarkFoss DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Downers Grove IL Posts: 696 Rep Power: 0	Tough question to answer without knowing your hardware specs. To play online games you'll most likely need to install configure Wine/Cedaga(pay version) since alot of games do not have a linux installer and are windows only. For using Windows programs under Linux you'll need to install one or more of the following Win4lin, CrossOver Office, VMware, probably forgetting a few here, none are free programs. There are several that are much like windows. 1. Xandros, You can download a free bittorrent open Circulation version 3.0 to try. For awhile you were able to download a 30 day fully operatonal version of their buisness edition version 2.0, not sure if thats still an option. It came with StarOffice as an optional install to OpenOffice. Also came with a fully functional CrossOver Office plug-in. It installed flawlessly on my Abit NF7-s Barton 2500 Ati 9700pro everything was detected and properly set-up. Even networked to my windows box. A fairly large selection of packages you can choose from. Some flexability as far as installing from outside their "warehouse" but outside apps can break the system. Seems that the latest version has some issues from browsing the users forum, highly recommend downloading the free version before commiting to a paid version. 2. Linspire, Another windows like distro that has a wide variety of pre-packages software to choose from, most free some pay as you go. Features Click and run for painless installations. I personally haven't tried it. They also have a free live version you can try via bittorrent . Not much more for me to say since I haven't tried it. 3. Suse 9.2 Professional Probably not quite as windows like as the first 2 but very much beginner friendly from what I've read . It has a free live evaluation version that you run from the cd to try rather than installing it good way to get a "feel" for it before buying. Other noteworthy options are Mandrake 10.1 and Fedora Core 3. Mandrake also has a live version, MandrakeMove. I highly recommend trying the live evalutation versions first rather than doing an install whenever possible. I also recommend reading up on backing up and restoring your master boot record, and if you have any partition image software do defrag and make a fresh image before installing linux just to be safe. When you decide on a version to try visit their homepage and browse the user forums look for hardware compatability issues. If you have a spare harddrive I'd recommend disconecting your windows drive and do a few installs on the other hd first before trying a duel-boot. Here's a couple of links to get you started http://distrowatch.com/?newsid=01482 http://www.linuxiso.org/ There's plenty of distro's to try so take your time and explore a bit before settling on one. It all comes down to personal preference __________________ Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety,deserve neither Liberty nor Safety. Ben Franklin, 1755

Jan 9, 2005, 11:44 AM	#5
DarkFoss DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Downers Grove IL Posts: 696 Rep Power: 0	Your most welcome Mandrake does have a free version to download. You'll find the links at distrowatch. I'm duel booting the 64 bit version myself, although until Ati releases it's linux driver this week all I've been able to enjoy is the comand-line On my previous rig 10.1 Official ran perfectly. Welcome to DH btw __________________ Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety,deserve neither Liberty nor Safety. Ben Franklin, 1755

Jan 15, 2005, 01:42 PM	#6
SaberZ -Android Fanatic- Join Date: May 2003 Location: North Jersey Posts: 451 Rep Power: 42 System Specs	Personally I've used Mandrake, Suse, and FC3. Mandrake, the installer is very very friendly, the distro feels good, except I had lots of issues installing packages with MDK 10. Was just a big chain of packages needing other packages even though I installed what was required. Suse 9.1 is what im currently using right now, installer as fugly as it is, is very easy to use. Getting into the OS and installing items via YaST saves time and avoids using the command line for the most part from my experience. Getting things installed and setup was a breeze, definetly my favorite distro. Picked up on how to do mostly basic and semi advanced functions within a day or two of constant playing around with it. FC3 I've heard so many great things about it, and tried to use it. During the install my LCD monitors(2 of them) couldnt display the install res (712xsomething) which was the only issue I had, but couldnt do much since i couldnt even get it into the GUI(novice). I heard great things about Debian, pain to setup right, but once its ready everyone says its fantastic. Haven't tried it myself though. Right now Im on my Suse machine, and honestly I love it. Never thought I'd be using nix, but I am, only for work right now, might do my home machine if only i could get World of Warcraft to run without any issues. http://www.rpmfind.net good place to search for lib's or items you might need for program dependencies. Good luck and enjoy __________________ SaberZ- -Vostro 1500 w/Windows 7 x64 -Intel Core 2 Duo 2.4ghz (Penryn) -320GB WD Scorpio 7200 RPM HDD -4GB Patriot DDR2 800 (2x2GB) -Nvidia 8600M GT 256

Jan 9, 2005, 08:29 AM	#4
KingMBC DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 2 Rep Power: 0	Thanks DarkFoss, You have been a realy help to me, i think am gona try Linux Mandrate, Is this a free Op, or do i have to pay? Thanks, vbmenu_register("postmenu_528117", true);