Favorite linux distro, version 3 i think Options

[Maccabee]

Before I ever install a distro I research it to make sure im not wasting my time. Everyones ultimate goal when distro shopping is something light, good looking, user friendly, usually its best to have something with some kind of community and something you like the feel of!

For a long time i didnt think about steering away from gnome, and I didnt like kde cause normally it was more ugly but when i saw kde distros they looked more complete and I just liked the feel. I tried mandriva and it was a lot faster than ubuntu and I like it a lot. I looked at other distros like it and the top distros that I find that were very similiar were

mandriva
openSUSE
linux mint

I think i have decided those are my favorite three kde distros and Ive been liking kde better then gnome so my favorite distro is...

Linux mint!

I like the look and feel and its fast and comes with codecs(doesnt really matter) preinstalled and even though in the end many distros are so similiar I just decided I it was my favorite!

I understand if you say "tldr". Just tell me your current favorite distro.

[Uronacid]

Ubuntu, why? Cause I like the cleanliness of it. I also like debian. I really don't have preferences on speed of OSs.. I like whatever is lightweight, and clean.

So, clean in terms of appearance? I can see what you mean. Ubuntu is also my favorite, but for different reasons. It's the only linux OS I can install on someones computer that won't leave them feeling aggravated.

[illriginal]

Ubuntu. But Kubuntu as well... I like both honestly

But I've used Ubuntu much longer.

I'll try out Linux Mint when I read more about it. Something put me off about it a while ago... but things could have changed by now.

[Uronacid]

Yes, from startup, it's already a lightweight appearance, it has tiny icons for everything, so it's aesthetically pleasing. You don't have to go through all the trouble of configuring a UI that will match what ubuntu already gives to you. I heard holly gave you a BSOD on your windows computer

I forget what she did to my computer. I put that thing through hell anyway. It needs to go blue screen sometimes, but it's never unexpected. Crisis on Enthusiast will make my computer cry sometimes.

[Maccabee]

Ubuntu is nice. I guess it is easier since if you wanna find something out ubuntu is much more googlable. Like almost all linu tut's are for ubuntu. its like photoshop and gimp. Both are great but photoshop is better because its the industry standard, everyone uses it and it has a massive community. Ubuntu is always prob more customizable. But i dont think it looks as nice.

click to enlarge

Also mint is faster.

[fameONE]

Linux Mint IS Ubuntu with just a few preset desktop effects and modification to the general appearance. It's Synaptic Package Manager, Ubuntu Repositories, and, well, the Ibex kernel.

[illriginal]

Meh... Mint doesn't have too much of a nice GUI. It looks too 90s to me. Maybe Mint will get a little face lift then I'll be willing to install it on my machine.

[heyo-captain-jac...]

The computer I'm on right now is using Mandriva 2009. It flies on this machine, which normally can't even run XP.

[Maccabee]

^I think mandriva is the fastest distro ive used. I like how mint looks! And I like it cause it is ubuntu but it has a different feel that I like. And its faster.

[Maccabee]

I have a question? Of all the distros you have used what seemed to have to use the least terminal/cmd? In linux youll eventually come across a time when you have to use code. Usually theres another way but thats what i mean when i say the most complete distro. The one that has the most stuff and like a control panel like windows and what not and ways to do stuff that dont involve command line.

I dont care if its 4Gb distro but what would you say is the most complete as I described it above.

[illriginal]

The least? lol... Uh ubuntu/kubuntu... That's why the latest versions (8.10) are a bit heavier, because the Linux community is getting lazier.

Just get used to scripts... back in the day I used to compile my own applications and my own drivers. Lazy people are killing the core of Linux with their laziness

[Uronacid]

The least? lol... Uh ubuntu/kubuntu... That's why the latest versions (8.10) are a bit heavier, because the Linux community is getting lazier.

Just get used to scripts... back in the day I used to compile my own applications and my own drivers. Lazy people are killing the core of Linux with their laziness

So linux is dying now?

[Maccabee]

The least? lol... Uh ubuntu/kubuntu... That's why the latest versions (8.10) are a bit heavier, because the Linux community is getting lazier.

Just get used to scripts... back in the day I used to compile my own applications and my own drivers. Lazy people are killing the core of Linux with their laziness

What? I dont understand that post.
But yes. What would be the best linux distro for the laziest person.
And what would be closest to a os that you pay for. like windows. Im not saying I want to duplicate it I just want something that ia more filled with features that save time like windows.

[illriginal]

So linux is dying now?

It's not dying... it's just progressing more to become like windows. Maybe you should read the full context.

What? I dont understand that post.
But yes. What would be the best linux distro for the laziest person.
And what would be closest to a os that you pay for. like windows. Im not saying I want to duplicate it I just want something that ia more filled with features that save time like windows.

I don't even know how to answer your question other than Ubuntu/Kubuntu are the only distro closest to Windows, in regards to noob-friendly. And I'm willing to pay for Ubuntu...

[Maccabee]

Ubuntu is free? There are many distros that are just ubuntu but have many additions and have been modified for the better.

Is there a dvd version you can pay for?

[Uronacid]

It's not dying... it's just progressing more to become like windows. Maybe you should read the full context.

I'm getting the impression, you're calling people who don't have time to learn how to make scripts and create custom drivers... lazy. If everyone did that, you and I would be out of job. :/

Ubuntu is free? There are many distros that are just ubuntu but have many additions and have been modified for the better.

Is there a dvd version you can pay for?

You can probably buy the dvd, or burn it for yourself. I don't think the distro costs anything.

[illriginal]

I'm getting the impression, you're calling people who don't have time to learn how to make scripts and create custom drivers... lazy. If everyone did that, you and I would be out of job. :/

No one gets paid in the Linux community for developing drivers unless they work for a company who personally pays him/her to develop such things. So yes, I'm calling people who don't have the time to learn how to use terminal commands or compile for that matter, drivers, lazy.

Ubuntu is free? There are many distros that are just ubuntu but have many additions and have been modified for the better.

Is there a dvd version you can pay for?

All Linux distros are downloadable and free. There's a couple or few that you actually have to pay for because they're primarily for commercial/server use. If Ubuntu is much larger than 700MB, then yes, of course you can purchase their DVD. Which I can imagine, would be no more than $15 per copy.

I don't understand what you mean that there are many distros that are just Ubuntu but have different additions or have ben modified for the better.

In general, Linux is installed, and you, the user, are supposed to build the rest of your Linux box for your means. Unlike Windows which comes with everything installed which causes the operating system act very slow.

[heyo-captain-jac...]

Compiling drivers is a pain in the ass. It's not difficult or anything. It's just so tedious. I could be doing much more entertaining things with my time.

[illriginal]

That's the beauty of Linux though... it teaches you many things

[Uronacid]

No one gets paid in the Linux community for developing drivers unless they work for a company who personally pays him/her to develop such things. So yes, I'm calling people who don't have the time to learn how to use terminal commands or compile for that matter, drivers, lazy.

Many people who don't understand these things aren't lazy. They just don't have the time to learn because they're busy specializing in other areas. Maybe they're auto-mechanics, firefighters, plumbers, heating and cooling experts, graphic designers, musicians, or accountants. Who knows what they could be. They just don't have the time to learn how to build drivers or use the terminal.

People don't have time to learn. This is the vary reason linux has not taken control of the market and you're criticizing the developers and/or users for acknowledging the problem and attempting to fix it. Linux is not user friendly, and that is its flaw. Why should Joe, who's been using Windows XP for years, switch to Linux? I'm sure you could give him a host of reasons, but moment he realizes he'll need to re-learn everything he knew about computers is the moment he'll turn away from it.

An operating system needs to make itself available to the novice user that doesn't have time to learn about its unique ins/outs yet be customizable enough for the power user to make any adjustments he or she desires. As it stands, Linux is for power users. Linux devs need to change that, and to change that they'll need to develop an easy way for novices to use them. A so-called "lazy" way.

[illriginal]

No thanks. Linux should not progress itself into another windows environment. I highly doubt they'll ever do that to themselves. What you're asking for is too much work for not getting paid. Linux was not meant to make and keep people stagnant, Linux was meant to create ideas within the community and to share those creative ideas, then build together. Not to make a group of people work 40 hours a week, who have a life outside of the Linux community, only to develop a windows like operating system and not get paid for it.

You have the wrong idea about Linux.

The Libs are even getting into computer engineering.

[Uronacid]

The Libs are even getting into computer engineering.

The must have all day to browse the web. After all, they only need get up to collect their welfare checks.

[Maccabee]

Huh? You can customize linux? You mean like the internal coding.

And yes exactly. I dont even understand what you guys mean by compiling drivers and programs although Id like to learn how but most people just dont have time. most computers have enough ram to power the os it comes with so theres no point for most anyone to use linux. If you like linux so much then mac os x is the best os cause it has all the features that people like about linux but it is the most user friendly os there is.

You get what you pay for with linux. pun.

And i what i mean by the dvd is I know mandriva has a dvd version that is the same as the cd version but has some extra features that couldnt fit onto the cd.

[heyo-captain-jac...]

Huh? You can customize linux? You mean like the internal coding.

And yes exactly. I dont even understand what you guys mean by compiling drivers and programs although Id like to learn how but most people just dont have time. most computers have enough ram to power the os it comes with so theres no point for most anyone to use linux. If you like linux so much then mac os x is the best os cause it has all the features that people like about linux but it is the most user friendly os there is.

You get what you pay for with linux. pun.

And i what i mean by the dvd is I know mandriva has a dvd version that is the same as the cd version but has some extra features that couldnt fit onto the cd.

facepalm
Wrong
You get more than what you pay for, and that's not a pun.

[Maccabee]

facepalm
Wrong
You get more than what you pay for, and that's not a pun.

I realize you can customize everything about how it looks.

[mipadi]

Huh? You can customize linux? You mean like the internal coding.

Sure. The source code for the Linux kernel is freely available, as is the source code to most Linux-compatible software, so in theory you can modify it. Doing so, of course, requires extensive programming expertise; the Linux kernel in particular is quite complex.

[illriginal]

I realize you can customize everything about how it looks.

You can customize pretty much everything of everything in Linux. Linux is like a uhm... canvas and you manipulate everything on that canvas to do whatever it is you want it to do. So as long as you have the knowledge, with linux, anything is possible... it just takes a lot of dedication and patience.

If you were a Unix master... you can literally create a linux distro.. you can literally break Ubuntu down and rebuild it completely the way you want it.

[Maccabee]

Whats *nix? Or unix? I here a bit about it.

[illriginal]

Whats *nix? Or unix? I here a bit about it.

Unix is compared to DOS commmand. lol... That's the core of Linux.


Unix = no to barely any GUI

Linux = GUI to eye candy

[mipadi]

Unix = no to barely any GUI

Mac OS X is a Unix, and has an extensive GUI.

[Maccabee]

We sorta veered off subject. What your favorite distro?

Thomas - ubuntu and debian

Uronacid - Ubuntu

Me - Id like to say just one but Im gonna say Linux Mint for first and mandriva/opensuse tied for second.

mandriva and open suse seem very similiar to me. I have yet to try openSUSE though

Once I can try open suse and play with mint for a few days ill be able to make my conclusion between pretty much all the distro that are out there and try and stick with it. Gentoo is also on my trying list.

[heyo-captain-jac...]

Mandriva and openSUSE are my favorites.

I haven't tried Linux Mint yet, but I'm going to soon. That and Red Hat. I'd like to try it.

[Maccabee]

Too bad you have to pay for red hat. I dont even know where to go to buy it.

[heyo-captain-jac...]

http://www.amazon.com/Red-Hat-Linux-9-0-Pe...l/dp/B00008QODZ

[Maccabee]

If you buy it directly from them you have to pay per month:
https://www.redhat.com/apps/store/desktop/

Cant you buy directly from them but just get a disc? When i can I like buying direct. not from amazon or something.

[Maccabee]

I dont understand what the difference is between 64 and 32 computers? I understand 64 bit computers have the ability to run 64bit os's and programs but besides that whats the point/ Is it any better or faster?

[illriginal]

I dont understand what the difference is between 64 and 32 computers? I understand 64 bit computers have the ability to run 64bit os's and programs but besides that whats the point/ Is it any better or faster?

64bit can read a max, of 32GB of ram. If I'm not mistaken.

A friend of mine has a Slackware server and his motherboard allows him to have up to 32GB of ram. He has a Quad Core cpu which is 64bit as well.

[mipadi]

I dont understand what the difference is between 64 and 32 computers? I understand 64 bit computers have the ability to run 64bit os's and programs but besides that whats the point/ Is it any better or faster?

It has to do with the architecture of a processor.

Every processor has a "word size", which is the maximum size of data that can be handled by the processor at once. In other words, the processor moves data around in word-sized chunks. So a 32-bit processor can deal with 32 bits at a time, whereas a 64-bit processor can deal with 64 bits at a time.

Particularly this affects memory operations. In a processor, every slice of memory must be "addressable", i.e., there has to be a way to represent each slice as a number in the processor. 32-bit processors, therefore, can address up to 2^32 slots of memory, whereas a 64-bit processor can address up to 2^64 slots.

[Maccabee]

So how much memory can a 32bit processor handle? 8 if im not mistaken.
So out of these three processors which would be best?

a 2.8ghz qaud core processor 32 bit

a 3.2 ghz dual core processor 32 bit

or a 2.5 ghz dual core processor 64 bit

all have their perks. I dont think i have a need for a 64 bit but the decision between more ghz and extra core's or whatever seems like a hard decision.

[illriginal]

It has to do with the architecture of a processor.

Every processor has a "word size", which is the maximum size of data that can be handled by the processor at once. In other words, the processor moves data around in word-sized chunks. So a 32-bit processor can deal with 32 bits at a time, whereas a 64-bit processor can deal with 64 bits at a time.

Particularly this affects memory operations. In a processor, every slice of memory must be "addressable", i.e., there has to be a way to represent each slice as a number in the processor. 32-bit processors, therefore, can address up to 2^32 slots of memory, whereas a 64-bit processor can address up to 2^64 slots.

This ^

So how much memory can a 32bit processor handle? 8 if im not mistaken.

32bit can only handle roughly 3.3gb of ram.

So out of these three processors which would be best?

a 2.8ghz qaud core processor 32 bit

a 3.2 ghz dual core processor 32 bit

or a 2.5 ghz dual core processor 64 bit

Why not just get a 3.0ghz 64-bit processor?

all have their perks. I dont think i have a need for a 64 bit but the decision between more ghz and extra core's or whatever seems like a hard decision.

Hm... you can get a 3.0ghz Dual Core processor, that's 64bit.

[Maccabee]

But if we arent talking about 64 bit which of the two is better?

[illriginal]

But if we arent talking about 64 bit which of the two is better?

Eh... higher speed + cache size is what matters. But seriously, no one in their right mind would want to purchase a primitive 32bit processor. That's just... unheard of o.O;

[Maccabee]

Are most processors from new egg 64 bit? I think onl amd processors can be.

[illriginal]

Are most processors from new egg 64 bit? I think onl amd processors can be.

lol....

[Maccabee]

lol....

Are noobs that funny?

[illriginal]

Are noobs that funny?

Intel makes 64 bit processors.

[Uronacid]

Are noobs that funny?

Intel makes 64-bit processors. They just don't advertise them as such.

[Maccabee]

Mandriva and openSUSE are my favorites.

I haven't tried Linux Mint yet, but I'm going to soon. That and Red Hat. I'd like to try it.

hmmm...one thing I dont really like about Mandriva and openSUSE is that they use KDE.

I mean I like KDE better especially when it looks good like it does in mandriva and openSUSE and how they both have many graphical thingies and how fast they are but I think its harder to customize how they look and stuff.
But I think if I started using linux I wouldnt really care about the customizing and stuff.


Also I was looking on the openSUSE website and I noticed that if you buy the dvd and have it shipped which costs 60 bucks you get all these features:

With this purchase, you get:

* 90-Day Installation Support (phone or e-mail).. not available from the download site
* Printed Start-up Manual
* Dual Layer DVD

Office Software

* OpenOffice.org 3.0.3
* Desktop search Beagle 0.3.8
* Tasque 0.1.7
* Catalogue database: Tellico 1.3.4
* Personal information manager: Evolution 2.24.1, Kontact 4.1.2
* Wine 1.1.6

Internet and E-mail

* Voice over IP (VoIP): ekiga 3.0.0 Linphone 2.1.1, Twinkle 1.3.2
* NetworkManager 0.7
* Peer to peer clients Bittorrent, Ktorrent and Monsoon
* Web browser: Firefox 3.0.3, Konqueror 4.1.3, SeaMonkey 1.1.12
* E-mail: Evolution 2.24.1, Kontact 4.1.2, Thunderbird 2.0.0.17
* Instant Messaging: Kopete 4.1.3, Pidgin 2.5.1, Empathy 2.24.1

Multimedia

* Banshee Music management 1.3.2, AmaroK 2.0
* Music and video player: kaffeine 0.8.7
* PulseAudio 0.9.12
* Audacity 1.3.5
* CD/DVD burner: k3b 1.0.5
* Gnash 0.8.4

Graphics

* Image manipulation program: GIMP 2.6.1
* Vector illustration: Inkscape 0.46
* Photo management: F-spot 0.5.0.3, gwenview 1.4.2, dikigkam 0.9.4S

Desktop Environments

* GNOME 2.24.1
* KDE 3.5.10
* KDE 4.1.3
* Xfce 4.4.2
* 3D desktop using Compiz Fusion
* Security
* Finger print recognition
* Intrusion prevention: AppArmor 2.3.1
* SELinux basic enablement
* SUSE Firewall
* Virus scanner: AntiVir 2.1.10.15
* Spam filter: SpamAssasin 3.2.5

Development Tools

* gtk+ 2.14.4
* Python 2.6.0

But I couldnt find a list of features that come with the DVD Iso you download for free off their site. Can anyone find it? Is it exactly the same?