What Linux should I use? Newbie?

Question

Hey, I'm thinking of dual booting Linux with Windows 7, I need some advise though, I know I need to start on an easy one to get used to everything and I need to work my way up, what should I use? Also, I wondered what's the difference between Unix and Linux, any tutorial links are welcome thanks:)

Answer 1

the choice is yours,



but i suggest looking at this, its pclinuxos



http://www.pclinuxos.com/?page_id=180



ubuntu and mint may be recommended for you by others, but if you notice there are some problems with them, namely certain hardware not being recognised, lack of proprietary drivers (needing to add the restricted packages) and a couple of other things, (ubuntu will not run on my machine without tweaking with a terminal - not for new users)

people will have you opening a terminal and using commands, even to install software



gnome is the desktop by default and can be quite off putting because its nothing like windows,



pclinuxos is, basically, the easy version of mandriva linux - so easy that my 8 year old daughter uses it on her laptop (i myself have mandriva installed on my pc)



it uses the kde desktop which is most like windows (in fact when i installed win7 in a virtual machine, i actually thought that it was based on kde at first glance)



so if you want an 'easy' linux go with the ones medium to advanced users tell you to,

if you want a really easy one then follow in the footsteps of an 8 year old

Answer 2

I would say Linux Mint for a first Linux. Ubuntu used to be an OS which was optimized for people who don't know a lot about Linux and it is still not AWFUL but they have shifted their attention to eye candy and I'm finding most newbies get confused by what you have to do to get it running.



Linux Mint has an interesting phenomenon associated with it by the way. I started in slackware and played with Red Hat, Debian, Fedora, Slackware and Gentoo before settling on Slackware again. That was typical until Linux Mint came along. There are just a lot of people who find it is customizable to their EVERY need and they never try anything else. That's why though it's not on any of my computers it is what I am recommending.



Finally for a newbie the difference between UNIX and GNU/Linux is insignificant. Both are modular operating systems and many of the same programs help build them. The Linux kernel is more forgiving but you are better off waiting to learn about that. Here is a good tutorial:



http://info.ee.surrey.ac.uk/Teaching/Unix/

Answer 3

For a man or woman acquainted with Linux, Ubuntu ie the main pretty counseled Linux. For a man or woman who has by no skill used Linux, Mint Linux is the 2d pretty counseled Linux. as quickly as you get conscious of Linux and how it works, then the transition to different distributions develop into much less complicated for you. in case you're a gamer, hold abode windows and set the notebook up as twin boot, which permits you to come to a decision on which working equipment you opt to apply. this provides you with the better of the two working structures. do no longer assume Linux to be like abode windows. maximum Linux you are able to run from the LiveCD without ever setting up it.

Answer 4

Whatever you do, don't fall into the trap of Ubuntu. People will tell you it's the best for beginners, but in my experience it was a big disappointment. Follow the other advice about using Mint. It is much easier to adapt to for a noob, as it will seem more like Windows than Ubuntu would. I would suggest Mint 9 LTS (Long Term Support), but only because it is much better looking than Mint 10 (imo).

Answer 5

I recommend Ubuntu, most definitely! When you download the CD, it will give you the option to instal it via Wubi. Wubi allows you to install Ubuntu in a "virtual hard-disk" so that it doesn't physically tamper with your HD. Wubi automatically configures your machine so that it starts like a dual-boot machine, but without having to repartition your hard-disk! This means that if you really want to revert back to windows, you wouldn't have messed up your hard disk. If you would have installed it natively to your hard disk, Ubuntu would slice your harddrive into at least two more pieces! The main drive and the swap partition. This in turn, will slow down both operating systems due to the spindle in your harddisk having to move an unprecedented physical distance due to the newly created partitions in your hard drive. If you end up not liking Linux, you can uninstall it easily from windows again as if nothing happened!

Answer 6

Linux is different from windows and the terminology can be confusing. For best results read the ubuntu documentation.

Good luck

Answer 7

If you are new at Linux you should start using it with Ubuntu. Its design much more like Windows and it is a good choice for learning the basic principles.



visit the page http://www.ubuntu.com/

Answer 8

Installing Ubuntu as a dual-boot with Windows without partitioning

http://psychocats.net/ubuntu/wubi



Download Ubuntu Desktop Edition

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



You download the ISO. image of Ubuntu 10.10 then you need to create a Bootable LiveCD for installation

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BurningIsoHowto



Ubuntu 10.10 can also be run straight from the LiveCD from Boot without touching your Hard Drive



Download Ubuntu Desktop Edition (Windows installer standalone Download) no LiveCD needed

http://www.ubuntu.com/desktop/get-ubuntu/windows-installer



Ubuntu 10.10 (Maverick Meerkat) User Guide

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



I thoroughly recommend Linux Mint 10 Main Edition which is built upon Ubuntu 10.10 Its easy to install and easy to use plus it comes with much of the software you are likely to need preinstalled



Linux Mint has a similar installer called mint4win (mint4win works the same as the Ubuntu Windows installer so the instructions outlined above are almost identical)



You keep Windows as it is, mint4win only adds an extra option to boot into Linux Mint. mint4win does not require you to modify the partitions of your PC, or to use a different bootloader, and does not install special drivers. It works just like any other application.



mint4win keeps most of the files in one folder, and if you do not like it, you can simply uninstall it as any other application.



Boot in to windows insert the Linux Mint LiveCD and you will offered the option of installing inside windows which is where the mint4win installer comes in, you will be asked how many gigabytes you wish to allocate to Linux Mint (I recommend 8gb) then you set a password for your installation then click install and thats it.



Once Linux Mint is fully installed upon starting your PC you will be given a choice of which operating system you want to use Windows or Linux Mint



Linux Mint 10 Download

http://www.linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=67



Linux Mint 10 User Guide

http://linuxmint.com/rel_julia.php



Linux Mint 10 as with Ubuntu 10.10 can also be run straight from the LiveCD from Boot without touching your Hard Drive







LUg.

Answer 9

Of course you may need to try out Ubuntu as a newbie like you. Go to the Ubuntu website to download from the Internet or order by CD (only applied in some regions i guess)



More information here: www.ubuntu.com

Answer 10

I would first ask what hardware you are using. I think PCLinuxOS is a good start and it has everything for people wanting to transfer from Windows.

Answer 11

Ubuntu should be your first choice, there is a lot of help available including my own site and my youtube channel (youtube.com/srajure)