which linux distribution?

Question

well, i am a new guy to the penguin world. i want to start using a linux version because mainly, open source fascinates me..i'm just entering college now..i hav been using windows since my first grade...and a couple fo months ago, i bought a macbook pro 13..and from then on, i felt that unix(or linux) is the way to go..

this is my first shot at linux..and many have suggested that ubuntu is very good for beginners because of its huge community..i did a little research and i found out that even opensuse is also pretty good....

i have a 5 year old pc, which has 1 gig of memory with an integrated graphic memory of about 256 mb, and a pentium 4 2.26 ghz processor..

i wonder if ubuntu 10.4 can run with all the visual effects turned on..and how easy is opensuse...cuz i m willing to experiment...

and honestly i don't want to run linux on my mac yet ;)..its just that i want to experiment first on my old pc...

and do all linux versions have support for printers and scanners? cuz i have a hp psc-1410 all in one...and my dad uses this pc only for scanning and all that...he'll kill me if he's not able to scan :P....

need some help guys, this is the first time i m gonna install linux...

and as far as live cd goes, i ve tried it out earlier, and for some reason, it just wouldn't start...i ve already checked ubuntu when it was in its 6th version, and it worked ok..but then i was very young..

sorry for the long description, but then may be soon, i ll be helping out other guys ;)

any help would be appreciated :D

Answer 1

I thoroughly recommend Linux Mint 9 Main Edition which is built upon Ubuntu 10.04 Its easy to install and easy to use plus it comes with much of the software you are likely to need preinstalled



Linux Mint 9 Download

http://www.linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=52



The Perfect Desktop - Linux Mint 9 (Isadora)

http://www.howtoforge.com/the-perfect-desktop-linux-mint-9-isadora



Linux Mint 9 User Guide Download pdf.

http://www.linuxmint.com/rel_isadora.php



You download the ISO. image of Linux Mint 9 then you need to create a Bootable LiveCD for installation



Linux Mint 9 can also be run direct from the LiveCD from Booting up without touching your Hard Drive



Also worth considering :



Linux Mint 9 LXDE

http://www.linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=60

http://linuxmint.com/rel_isadora_lxde.php



Fedora Remix (Fedora with elements of Linux Mint)

http://fcoremix.wordpress.com/2010/05/25/lucky-13/

http://iso.linux.hr/community-fedora-remix/

http://docs.fedoraproject.org/en-US/Fedora/13/html/User_Guide/



Ubuntu 10.04

http://www.ubuntu.com/desktop/get-ubuntu/download

http://www.howtoforge.com/the-perfect-desktop-ubuntu-10.04-lucid-lynx

http://ubuntuguide.org/wiki/Ubuntu:Lucid



Again Linux Mint 9, Fedora Remix and Ubuntu 10.04 can be run direct from the LiveCD/DVD without touching your Hard Drive



Also you can try out as many different Linux distros. as you like on LiveCD until you find the one thats right for you DISTROWATCH.COM gives full listings (second lists the major distributions)

http://distrowatch.com/



Major Linux Distributions

http://distrowatch.com/dwres.php?resource=major





LUg.

Answer 2

Download it for free from the website and you won't need a CD.



Your computer should be fine.



Ubuntu sucks because it is open source but nobody ever updates their packages or mirrors and since it updates it's version frequently it voids all that crap. You never know whether links or packages you're getting are even valid.



I'm sure it's good if you know what you're doing, but otherwise I'd say stick to Microsoft. Even if you do know what you're doing you still have to sort through a sea of cmd terminal crap to get things done there are icons for in MS.



The only perks are the amazing speed differences. From the time you turn your computer on to the time your browser is connected and set for surfing is probably about 20-25 seconds for me. I can't lie about how nice that is. I use Chrome too.



Plus there are so many downloads that are not Linux compatible. If you're not doing programming or design I'd say stick to MS, maybe Mac. If you are it's a good learning tool and it'll be a much better asset.

Answer 3

I also recommend Ubuntu for you and your older machine.



@WillD: Linux has and menus icons for everything too. A Linux user seldom needs to use any "cmd" shell commands for routine operations. I cannot imagine where you have been all these years. Ubuntu, Fedora, Mandiva, etc, are all very stable and heavily supported. And there is certainly no shortage of software packages for Linux! If anything there are too many choices.

Answer 4

of path Linux is extra helpful than abode windows yet bear in mind Microsoft grew to become into the 1st as a manner to communicate and persons like myself have been reported interior the era questioning it grew to become into the wonderful ingredient considering that sliced bread. We have been ALL fooled. What approximately Vista and the WOW element that under no circumstances labored. haha. Your superb, abode windows isn't the wonderful and under no circumstances would be. Linux hasn't have been given the subject concerns that Microsoft has have been given. What approximately each and all of the internet explorer browsers that under no circumstances paintings precise. the only reason abode windows continues to be getting used with the aid of maximum persons is the undeniable fact that abode windows has extra applications than the different, or perhaps a number of those do no longer paintings the wonderful. i ought to circulate on and on approximately Microsoft and bill Gates yet i'm going to enable it go at that. BTW, I easily have used Linux and that i'm questioning of going decrease back to it for sturdy. Eric.