Which Linux distros works with my PC?

Question

I have a HP Pavilion, Intel Core Quad, 32-bit, 4GB RAM and 420GB HD. I am looking forward to replace my Windows Vista with one of the Linux distributions.

I am looking forward to get: Ubuntu and Linux Mint, and possibly Fedora or Debian.

According to my PC's specs, which distros are compatible? Which one do you recommend me to get?

Can you also please list key features and differences between these four? I will give you Best Answer if you do all of this.

Answer 1

mint is based on ubuntu, ubuntu is based on debian



fedora is totally different,



all have various desktop environments, but they all come with gnome as default,

all have roughly the same software and applications,



mint and ubuntu use debian packages,

ubuntu is the most popular out of the four,



all debian based systems create 2 partitions on install, fedora does not as its not debian based,

fedora creates 3 partitions - /, swap and /home



fedora and debian follow the free software route, mint and ubuntu do not, they use proprietary drivers as well as free, open source,



fedora is 'sort of' the testing base for redhat linux, which is a commercial paid version of linux,

it uses rpm's for packaging via yum - the others use .debs via apt,



if you need to do a re-install or image then fedora is the better choice as you can install a new system to / only, all files and folders in /home will not be touched,

when/if you image your fedora system then you just need to image /, /home will not be imaged so the actual image is only around 2gb,

a lot easier to handle than a massive image that a debian based distro will have,



there's more but basically thats it

Answer 2

D. All of the above. My own prejudices in that would be Fedora, Debian, Linux Mint and Ubuntu in that order but I am not you. If you already are familiar with a particular distro, USE it. If not, I hate Unity (Ubuntu) and GNOME 3 (Fedora, but you can switch desktops very easily on it). Debian is optimized for computer science. Linux Mint is a decent attempt to make it useful to the average user -- which is what Ubuntu USED to be before it got into what it does these days.

Answer 3

Ubuntu is no longer a decent Linux distro. Canonical have become arrogant and ignored users needs however well voiced across the many Forums that make reference to Ubuntu. For example Ubuntu 11.10 will not offer the classic GNOME Desktop and it will not include the Synaptic Package Manager despite the fact many users do not want these changes. I used to have much time for Ubuntu starting with Ubuntu 6.10 finishing with the last decent release which was Ubuntu 10.04 LTS



Ubuntu is now losing ground to other distros. such as Fedora and Linux Mint (Ubuntu based)



Fedora often throughout releases includes new software and features a generation before other mainstream distros. Most notable being Fedora 15 featuring GNOME 3 which can only be described as outstanding and a drastic improvement on the Ubuntu Unity Desktop

http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=fedora



It is worth mentioning that the Linux Mint team have tamed Pure Debian to the extent that is almost as easy to install and use as its Standard Ubuntu based Edition. It would seem Linux Mint Debian Edition (LMDE) is the way forward for the distro. but its not quite there yet. The current RC of the latest ISO respin is now available to download and as with Fedora can be run from the LiveDVD

http://blog.linuxmint.com/?p=1807



Overall a Linux based platform can perform most of the tasks equally as well as a proprietary platform using OSS. Linux does have its limitations with some applications and in particular gaming.



If you need to continue using Windows an upgrade to Windows 7 would make sense.



I thoroughly recommend Linux Mint 11. Its easy to install and easy to use plus it comes with much of the software you are likely to need preinstalled.



Linux Mint 11 Download

http://www.linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=81



How To Dual Boot Linux Mint 11 and Windows 7

http://www.linuxbsdos.com/2011/06/11/dual-boot-linux-mint-11-and-windows-7/



Linux Mint 11 Release Notes/Installation Guide/User Guide

http://linuxmint.com/rel_katya.php



Also worth considering is Linux Mint Debian Edition



Linux Mint Debian Edition Download

http://www.linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=88



How To Dual Boot Linux Mint Debian Edition and Windows 7

http://www.linuxbsdos.com/2011/04/23/how-to-dual-boot-linux-mint-debian-edition-and-windows-7/



You download the ISO. image of any of the above distros. then you need to create a Bootable LiveDVD

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



All can also be run straight from the LiveDVD from Boot without touching your Hard Drive





LUg.

Answer 4

Xubuntu, from the makers of Ubuntu Linux, is especially designed for use on older desktops with constrained hardware. the only caveat is the laptop's BIOS firmware could desire to be extra moderen than 1999-2000. sounds like XP. It does run as a "stay CD", so which you would be able to try all your hardware in the past you attempt to place in it on your perplexingchronic. Get it here: FreeSpire Linux (sounds like Vista) is likewise properly worth a glance: FYI: I had FreeSpire working on a DELL Pentium III with 512MB of RAM, and an nVidia MX400 (and downloaded driving force), so 256 MB RAM won't be adequate. the two are unbelievable possibilities for "abode windows Switchers".