Yes, mandriva is pretty slick but I don't like the dependency issues you always run into sooner or later. I just installed Suse 10.3 - an absolute nightmare for anyone using 64 bit . Not recommended. If you want all or your RAM, go for Fedora 64bit or Mandriva 64 bit. They are quite similar if you look past the surface.

In threads like these, you will be suggested almost every conceivable distribution... We already have Sabayon!

There is really no reason to switch to linux, if you just want it to mimic windows. Instead of photoshop try gimp. There is no real alternative to Adobe Audition. Audacity is a wave editor... no comparison. The closest thing is Ardour, but I'm not sold on it. It can be used professionally though. I'm still hoping that some day Reaper (by cockos) will get a linux port. That's what I use on windows. I suggest you give it a try.

If you are going to use audio programs along with general desktop use it pretty much boils down to two, which are Ubuntu with the realtime kernel (starting with 7.10 -in a week or two) or the lowlatency kernel 7.04 (current version). JAD is the other one. (I haven't run it for a couple of months, so I can only really suggest Ubuntu at this point. You might want to wait for Gutsy (7.10)
I have no doubt that linux can be used for professional audio already, but even for me - I have nothing but linux at home, and run a small recording studio. - I still run windows in the studio.
Linux is catching up very fast though.

And there is almost no gain in using a 64 windows... Remember you need 64 bit applications to take advantage of it. A tiny little bit more so on linux, but I'm not sold either - I have a 64 bit cpu and run a 32 bit kernel.

I'm running openSUSE 10.2.
VirtualBox is a better choice for you if ur into CS.
Just install a WinXP in the VB(short for VirtualBox),and start it as you start it before, no difference.
I haven't tried running CS on VB, but my friends said it was ok, and the effects were wonderful.
Hope that helps.

Let us keep it simple, If you had an older system I would recommend xubuntu but since you have a new machine ubuntu is just fine. A word of advice though, Linux and Windows are very different it will be tough to get a Linux distro that mimics Windows. That is like trying to buy a dog that chases mice and cimbs trees, try to take Linux for what it is.

Yeah but like mainly im after something that will support all my hardware and is fairly easy to use (although I learn fast lol) and with that wine program it should be exactly what I want.

So far im thinking. Madriva and Fedora although this Ubuntu also sounds good (althought the name makes it sound hard lol)

You're mistaken about this. In order to use more then 4GB of RAM, the distribution simply has to include a kernel configured to do so. Both 32-bit and 64-bit distros can do this.

The Linux kernel has a "High Memory" option. This option allows a 32-bit kernel to access up to 64GB of RAM.

Sure but why would you do that? Bear in mind that PAE comes at the expense of a performance penalty. Not to mention that some applications /drivers will refuse to work when PAE is enabled. Plus: I recently tried to use the server-kernel on Ubuntu 32 bit - no luck, my machine refused to boot. I don't know why but I wouldn't be surprised if it were because of the nvidia driver, which is is advertised on their site as incompatible with PAE extensions. Now if you use something like Fedora 64 bit, you have both 32 and 64 bit libraries so you can have the advantages of 64 bit while still being able to set up things like flash, java, realplayer etc with a very minimal extra effort. And 64 bit may not make much of a difference in most everyday tasks but when it comes to databases and processing multimedia, I can tell you that you'll see a massive gain in performance. And even with PAE, processes will be limited to 2GB.


Stildawn, far from being more difficult, Ubuntu may be the easiest of those three. But, as I pointed out, unlike Mandriva and Fedora, it doesn't combine both 32 and 64 bit libraries in its 64 bit version. Then again, it has some compatibility libraries which will take you a long way. It took me some extra work but I am running Ubuntu 64 bit and it can do about everything that Fedora does - if not more because it has more software to offer and is generally easier to set up and better documented.

Whichever you choose, if you decide to install more than one Linux, make sure that you are consistent with yourself if you have a newer motherboard. Make them all 32 bit or all 64 bit. Memory mapping in BIOS is a real PITA because it will either give you only 3GB under both 32 and 64 bit or all of your RAM under 64 bit but only 2GB under 32 bit.

ok so its looking like Mandriva 64 or Fedora 64? What one is more easyer to use and have less problems that a newbie like me will have trouble with? (dependency issues???)

Also I was wondering how easy is it to access the net with linux? You can use the same connection as Windows? Like I have a home lan connected to a ADSL Router. Will this still work on both windows and linux? (probably a stupid questions lol)

Your internet should work, I would think Mandriva would be more user friendly

ok. Cool.

Can ya make a poll on this forum? lol for people to vote between fedora and mandriva lol.

Also I think Ive figured out that KDE and GNOME are two different types of desktops?? (am I right) that run in linux..... Which one is the best for me?? (cause Ive found out the both Fedora and Mandriva come with both).

yes they are 2 different Desktop Enviroments(DE) there is also xfce which is a lighter desktop environment, I suggest you try them both, there are also tons of window managers like icewm, fluxbox, Enlightenment, etc.

I think you shouldn't use a 64 bit distribution at all. You will run into so many 64-bit specific annoyances. Well, it doesn't hurt to try, but don't waste too much time on it. If it doesn't work, use the 32 bit version.
Ubuntu is perfectly fine btw. I like Fedora too, but It is definitely less noob friendly. Can't say much about Mandriva.

Oskar, could you quote some of those annoyances? Flash, java, opera, realplayer, wine, etc - I've got them all working just fine even though I use 64 bit. Only realplayer is a bit of a problem on Ubuntu.

Stildawn, you can install both KDE and Gnome if you want to. Then you can simply pick one from the log-in screen. And either can be removed again too.

If you go for Mandriva, there is a new release out just today (mandriva 2008.0). Bear in mind that not all its software repositories may be online yet. A new release of Fedora is scheduled for early next month. Ubuntu 7.10 is due in a week or so.

Ok yeah Ill probably go with Mandriva then. Im buying the dvds here in New Zealand, Im not gonna download hence I cant really try them all to make up my mind. Does new versions of Mandriva come with heaps of unsolved problems (like windows vista)?

Also if im gonna have both windows and mandriva, do I install windows first then mandriva and does it come with like a duel boot option? (between mandriva and windows)

Thanks guys.

I've tried several different distro's recently.
I started with FC4 on my old pc, many moons ago but couldn't get FC4, 5, or 6 to run on my new rig (AMD64 4400+ x2 with a nvidia 7300GT) i found Ubuntu very user friendly and requiring the minimum of tinkering i tried Debian but found it troublesome, Mepis i could never get workin properly. I'e just installed Fedora 7 and hey presto it works fab on my new box. it needs a bit of fiddling but i'm up for a little fun.
If you want it to work out of the box Ubuntu is the way to go if not --it's down to personal preference i think mine is Fedora 7.
Take your pick-- If it all falls on it's bum you can always switch to using windows till you find a distro you like

TTFN