Which linux distribution is best for my laptop?

Question

I have a Compaq Presario C50Z-100 CTO Laptop, with 1 gb ram, a NVIDIA 8200M G integrated graphics card, and an AMD ATHLON DUAL CORE QL60 (2 CPUS) ~1.9GHZ

so, which is the best linux distro for my laptop?

Answer 1

I hate to be the guy that say, "Yeah, what she said," but XxCourtneyxX is right.



Ubuntu



Let me try and give some reasons that she hasn't covered already.



* Choice of desktop environments. Ubuntu supports Gnome, KDE (Kubuntu), and Xfce (Xubuntu) as "native" desktop environments. So, no matter which one you end up liking the best, it is easy to install and well-supported. And it is easy to install more than one and have a choice.



* Huge repositories. Literally, every Linux application you could ever want is available through the repositories. I bought an Ubuntu book with a chapter on compiling from source. The example the author gave was a program that -- he admitted -- you would not need to compile from source because it is in the repositories. He couldn't even come up with an example of a program that wasn't there.



* Synaptic package manager. Makes accessing those repositories and installing/uninstalling new software a piece of cake.



* Great community support. I know, XxCourtneyxX already said this. But it should be repeated. Ubuntu has a very large following, so it is easy to get help. It has excellent forums and excellent community documentation. It even has a site very similar to Yahoo!Answers, but just for Ubuntu.



So, yeah, Ubuntu. I would get several live CDs for various *buntus and Ubuntu remixes, along with some other distros. Try them. Figure out what you like the best (remember, most full-featured distros perform pretty slowly off of the LiveCD).



One caveat: I cannot find your graphics card on the list of Nvidia cards supported by Ubuntu ( http://us.download.nvidia.com/XFree86/Linux-x86/169.12/README/appendix-a.html ). But the list is two releases out of date, so there might be no problem there.



Hope this helps!

Answer 2

Whichever one recognizes your wireless card right off the bat. Check Linux for Laptops webpage for comments on your model.



Mepis AntiX basic recognized mine right away by running the set up network script in the menu.



Find someone who uses linux and use the same version they use, even better if they have the same laptop.



Once you get one linux running you can worry about pretty pictures and menus later.



Download and burn Linux CDs by using utorrent and Linux Tracker. Burn to CD R/W so you don't use up the local landfill with CD-Rs. Don't try to download DVD linuxes. Buy them from Frozen Tech or OSDisc.



Ubuntu is very popular right now and easy to get help setting up.



Install virtualbox and run windows there instead of on a separate partition.

Answer 3

Take a look at Linux Mint 6 which I can thoroughly recommend and works pretty much 'out of the box'



To decide if you like it RUN IT LIVE !



Linux Mint 6 Release notes

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



Linux Mint 6 Download

http://www.linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=31



If you decide you like it



Linux Mint 6 installation tutorial

http://www.howtoforge.com/the-perfect-desktop-linux-mint-6-felicia



You download the ISO. image of Linux Mint 6 then you need to create a Bootable CD from the ISO. This can easily be done using Brasero/Nero Burning ROM or similar software. Linux Mint 6 can be run straight from the LiveCD you have created without touching your Hard Drive.



Screenshot of my custom LiveDVD of Mint 6 running Beryl 0.2.1

http://s266.photobucket.com/albums/ii256/Linux_Ubuntu_geek/?action=view¤t=Screenshot-1.png



Remember you can RUN IT LIVE !



ON TO WIRELESS SUPPORT



Here is the Official Ubuntu Wireless Documentation which also applies to Linux Mint



Cards Supported

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/WifiDocs/WirelessCardsSupported



Troubleshooting/General

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/WifiDocs/WiFiHowTo



In the event of your Wifi card being unsupported you can use Ndiswrapper Here is the Official Ubuntu Ndiswrapper Documentation

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/WifiDocs/Driver/Ndiswrapper







LUg.

Answer 4

Ubuntu. It is the easiest linux to use for a newbie.. And if you are asking this question you aree newbie, no offense. They have a large support community, forum, IRC chat channel and more. It is such a great choice that the Dell corportation in late 2008 started releasing someone computers pre-installed with Ubuntu instead of Microsoft, exciting isn't it?!

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Your video card is fully suported.