As mentioned elsewhere I have a laptop with W8 I bought a few weeks ago. I'm really not happy with W8 and the laptop, while useful is not an essential item as I also have the desktop. It sits mostly in the living room and is used casually in commercial breaks mostly!
So bearing in mind I'm over 60 and not the wizz I once was with new tech and also bearing in mind I want it (if possible) to plug into the house wireless system, use the internet etc, which is the bet distro with the least strenuous learning curve?
Also I suppose - can I install over Windows or is a reformat and start from scratch the best way?
Also #2, I assume most distros are free, yes?
Best Linux?
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Clinton Huxley
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Re: Best Linux?
I did this with Lady H's netbook and it was no problem. Ran Ubunto off a USB stick first, to see if I liked it. If I can do it, anyone can. Just follow the instructions carefully.
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klr
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Re: Best Linux?
There's a world of Linux distributions here: http://distrowatch.com/
But as previously mentioned, I'd go with the most popular: Linux Mint, currently at version 14. Download a 64-bit DVD from here: http://linuxmint.com/
There are four flavours (i.e., interfaces). Mate is my preferred interface, but YMMV (Your Mileage May Vary).
Ubuntu is a good choice for a netbook, but it's lost a lot of desktop/laptop users.
Using a boot DVD (or USB key), it's possible to load almost all versions of Linux in "live" mode, so you can see if they work with the hardware, etc. before you actually install them.
You can choose to install over Windows during the install process - no need to do it beforehand.
But as previously mentioned, I'd go with the most popular: Linux Mint, currently at version 14. Download a 64-bit DVD from here: http://linuxmint.com/
There are four flavours (i.e., interfaces). Mate is my preferred interface, but YMMV (Your Mileage May Vary).
Ubuntu is a good choice for a netbook, but it's lost a lot of desktop/laptop users.
Using a boot DVD (or USB key), it's possible to load almost all versions of Linux in "live" mode, so you can see if they work with the hardware, etc. before you actually install them.
You can choose to install over Windows during the install process - no need to do it beforehand.
God has no place within these walls, just like facts have no place within organized religion. - Superintendent Chalmers
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It's not up to us to choose which laws we want to obey. If it were, I'd kill everyone who looked at me cock-eyed! - Rex Banner
The Bluebird of Happiness long absent from his life, Ned is visited by the Chicken of Depression. - Gary Larson
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Clinton Huxley
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Re: Best Linux?
Would that support a touch screen?
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AND MERRY XMAS TO ONE AND All!
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I shall wear the bottoms of my trousers rolled"
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klr
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Re: Best Linux?
No, although future releases might. But I don't think Rum's new laptop has a touchscreen? 
BTW: There are a couple of ways of installing Linux alongside Windows on the hard drive, although the way some manufacturers set up their Windows systems might make this more difficult to do.
Oh yes.Rum wrote: ...
Also #2, I assume most distros are free, yes?
BTW: There are a couple of ways of installing Linux alongside Windows on the hard drive, although the way some manufacturers set up their Windows systems might make this more difficult to do.
God has no place within these walls, just like facts have no place within organized religion. - Superintendent Chalmers
It's not up to us to choose which laws we want to obey. If it were, I'd kill everyone who looked at me cock-eyed! - Rex Banner
The Bluebird of Happiness long absent from his life, Ned is visited by the Chicken of Depression. - Gary Larson
It's not up to us to choose which laws we want to obey. If it were, I'd kill everyone who looked at me cock-eyed! - Rex Banner
The Bluebird of Happiness long absent from his life, Ned is visited by the Chicken of Depression. - Gary Larson
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Rum
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Re: Best Linux?
Slackware seems very popular too. Kinda like the sound of that one!
Re: Best Linux?
Don't touch ubuntu with a shitty stick. They have sold their souls to amazon. Mint is probably your best bet to start with. If you get into it you can look at something a bit more involved
Outside the ordered universe is that amorphous blight of nethermost confusion which blasphemes and bubbles at the center of all infinity—the boundless daemon sultan Azathoth, whose name no lips dare speak aloud, and who gnaws hungrily in inconceivable, unlighted chambers beyond time and space amidst the muffled, maddening beating of vile drums and the thin monotonous whine of accursed flutes.
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lol, and installing slackware will make you cry if you have never used linux before
Outside the ordered universe is that amorphous blight of nethermost confusion which blasphemes and bubbles at the center of all infinity—the boundless daemon sultan Azathoth, whose name no lips dare speak aloud, and who gnaws hungrily in inconceivable, unlighted chambers beyond time and space amidst the muffled, maddening beating of vile drums and the thin monotonous whine of accursed flutes.
Code: Select all
// Replaces with spaces the braces in cases where braces in places cause stasis
$str = str_replace(array("\{","\}")," ",$str);-
Clinton Huxley
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Re: Best Linux?
The vicious wars about slightly different versions of linux start............now!"I grow old … I grow old …
I shall wear the bottoms of my trousers rolled"
AND MERRY XMAS TO ONE AND All!
http://25kv.co.uk/date_counter.php?date ... 20counting!!![/img-sig]
I shall wear the bottoms of my trousers rolled"
AND MERRY XMAS TO ONE AND All!
Re: Best Linux?
What you want is a KDE based distro (easy for WIndows converts) with a big and easily accessible software repository (Debian based) with all the popular apps and stuff you'd likely need already packed in. Might I suggest NetRunner?
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klr
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Re: Best Linux?
It's one of the oldest distributions. It probably still works quite well, but ...Rum wrote:Slackware seems very popular too. Kinda like the sound of that one!
If Aza says that, you might be advised to give it a miss.Azathoth wrote:lol, and installing slackware will make you cry if you have never used linux before
I look at Linux first and foremost from the perspective of a user, not so much a developer. If something installs and runs without a hitch, and is easy to use ... it tends to get my vote. I tested any number of distributions about a year ago, and I still keep an eye on any new major (and even minor) releases. I have to say though that Mint seems to be just what I want. All that remains is which interface to use.
God has no place within these walls, just like facts have no place within organized religion. - Superintendent Chalmers
It's not up to us to choose which laws we want to obey. If it were, I'd kill everyone who looked at me cock-eyed! - Rex Banner
The Bluebird of Happiness long absent from his life, Ned is visited by the Chicken of Depression. - Gary Larson
It's not up to us to choose which laws we want to obey. If it were, I'd kill everyone who looked at me cock-eyed! - Rex Banner
The Bluebird of Happiness long absent from his life, Ned is visited by the Chicken of Depression. - Gary Larson
Re: Best Linux?
I vote Mint also.
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Pappa
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Re: Best Linux?
I didn't realise that had happened with Ubuntu, the last version I used was 12.04. While it's obviously easy to opt out of all the Amazon stuff, an automatic opt in seems a bad move for a linux distro, and a pretty bad business model for Canonical too.Azathoth wrote:Don't touch ubuntu with a shitty stick. They have sold their souls to amazon. Mint is probably your best bet to start with. If you get into it you can look at something a bit more involved
Still, I think Ubuntu's an excellent OS, and especially good for a linux newbie. It would only take 30 seconds to disable all the Amazon stuff.
Another good alternative is Debian. Extremely stable and has an excellent package system.
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Re: Best Linux?
I'm running a personalized version of 11.10. I can't upgrade because I've changed too much shit.. apparently. I'm happy with it though. Also, always KDE. Gnome sucks donkey dong.
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klr
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Re: Best Linux?
I've found Mint to be excellent as well when downloading packages and/or installing updates.Pappa wrote:I didn't realise that had happened with Ubuntu, the last version I used was 12.04. While it's obviously easy to opt out of all the Amazon stuff, an automatic opt in seems a bad move for a linux distro, and a pretty bad business model for Canonical too.Azathoth wrote:Don't touch ubuntu with a shitty stick. They have sold their souls to amazon. Mint is probably your best bet to start with. If you get into it you can look at something a bit more involved
Still, I think Ubuntu's an excellent OS, and especially good for a linux newbie. It would only take 30 seconds to disable all the Amazon stuff.
Another good alternative is Debian. Extremely stable and has an excellent package system.
God has no place within these walls, just like facts have no place within organized religion. - Superintendent Chalmers
It's not up to us to choose which laws we want to obey. If it were, I'd kill everyone who looked at me cock-eyed! - Rex Banner
The Bluebird of Happiness long absent from his life, Ned is visited by the Chicken of Depression. - Gary Larson
It's not up to us to choose which laws we want to obey. If it were, I'd kill everyone who looked at me cock-eyed! - Rex Banner
The Bluebird of Happiness long absent from his life, Ned is visited by the Chicken of Depression. - Gary Larson
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