Which Linux is best???

[Henny]

I'm a newbie so my goals are:

1. Easy to learn comming from a Windows background
2. Robust GIU interface. (windows like look and feel)
3. Ease of finding mainstream apps
4. Home/general purpose PC (actually I'm using a second system just to start playing around with Linux)
5. Support forum help. (my background is not Unix)

I'm thinking Fedora, Linspire, or Kubuntu would be good "get started" Linuxes.

Any suggestions. There are too many choices out there.

 

[Raincity]

All the distros for workstations are pretty much the same these days and hassle free. Keep downloading and installing untill you find something you feel like sticking with. I use SUSE personally.

 

[n0cmonkey]

Ubuntu.

 

[qbek]

I second Ubuntu.

AFAIK, Linspire isn't free, so I wouldn't spend $50 or thereabouts just to try it.

Also, all distributions come with a bunch of applications on the install CDs (from email clients, web browsers through office suites and programming tools). Fedora install comes with a much larger choice of apps (4CDs vs 1CD for Ubuntu). However I would advise against Fedora since for legal reasons it does not support a couple of things out of the box (like mp3), so you could be disapointed.

Also, I would probably try a Live Linux CD (like Knoppix or Live Ubuntu), before I installed anything on the HD.

 

[KoolDrew]

Originally posted by: n0cmonkey
Ubuntu.

 

[calyco]

Originally posted by: KoolDrew

Originally posted by: n0cmonkey
Ubuntu.

 

[BlueWeasel]

As others have said, you could pick any of the popular workstation distros, as they are all good choices.

I recently installed Linux as the 2nd OS on my laptop, and tried several distros before settling on one. A few of my personal favorites included PClinuxOS (my #1 choice), MEPIS, and VectorLinux. They are all Live CDs with no need to install to the hard drive if you want to give them a try. Finally, you'll be able to get started quickly as they all have a "Windows friendly" interface with the KDE manager.

Ubuntu is nice as well.

 

[P0ldy]

Kubuntu for similarity to XP interface.

SimplyMEPIS too.

 

[Nothinman]

Any suggestions. There are too many choices out there.

You're not going to get anything other than people's opinions. What you're asking is like walking into a bike shop and asking which is the best, pretty much everyone is just going to tell you what they use.

They're free, download and try them all.

 

[bowserjs]

I use Suse

 

[Henny]

Last night I tried Suse 9.1 vs. Ubuntu vs. Kubuntu.

I don't care for Ubuntu due to the Gnome I/F. I found Kubuntu and Suse 9.1 much more intuitive. It's a close call between these two.

I see there's a Suse 9.2 and 9.3. Are there any compelling benefits in these later versions. (at least 9.2 can be installed from the FTP server).

I read a review that Kubuntu (with the KDE I/F isn't all that stable). Anyone have any experince with it??

 

[qbek]

I have not heard that Kubuntu is any less stable than Ubuntu.
Ubuntu is a GNOME based distribution and AFAIK Kubuntu is a modified distribution with KDE instead of GNOME. Perhaps instead of Kubuntu you could try something KDE based like Knoppix or Mepis. Or stick with Suse.
Also, I wouldn't worry about installing the absolutely latest distro. If your hardware supports one, stick with it until you get more experience. The difference between Suse 9.1 and 9.3 isn't like the one between Win95-Win98, it's much more gradual (and frequent as well).

 

[pelikan]

I like Ubuntu. You may want to look at which distro supports your hardware because if it doesn't you are in for some serious schooling. Being new to Linux it was quite difficult and time consuming to get my ATI X800 working. I still haven't been able to get sound from my Audigy 2 Value. But I am really enjoying the learning process.

 

[Randabis]

I use Kubuntu. It fills your qualifications at any rate.

As far as stability, I've found it to be just as stable as standard Ubuntu, but YMMV.

 

[Vad3r]

I would also suggest ubuntu. Sounds like you are going to be wanting KDE, as it's more like Windows. As disk space isn't an issue to most these days. May I suggest getting ubuntu, then apt-get KDE. You would then have both to mess around with. When it's all setup, you will have a "logon screen" with drop down menu, simply choose gnome or kde.

Numbers 1 and 2 - KDE
3. Ease of finding mainstream apps - apt-get is a very nice thing to have in linux
5. Support forum help. - the ubuntu forums are amazing (not to take away from the great members here of course ). But what I mean is, nearly all GUI, games, network, firewall, well, nearly everything has been asked and answered already. Most popular apps and things, have a "guide", tells you how to get it, how to install it, confiqure it....
I truely am in awe of the help/support backing ubuntu. Just like the members here, ubuntu forums are very helpfull with any questions you have.

Have a look at the ubuntu guide , I think you'll be impressed with it.

edit: by the way, I myself do want both gnome and kde. I asked both here on Anandtech and the ubuntu forums which to get. Both suggested ubuntu, then apt-get KDE. If you have no intentions of using gnome, then by all means, get kubuntu.