So, Ubuntu is not cutting it. Printer and game and other problems. You don't want to waste time. You just want something that works. So naturally people suggest Slackware. Or Debian. Sure. Or maybe Arch. Heck, why stop there? Why not build your own Linux from scratch?

Mint, OpenSuse, PCLinuxOS, Mageia, Mandriva, Vector, Gentoo, Debian, Ubuntu, Mac, Windows (very popular -- I hear it's good for games too). So many options.

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I'd say just use which ever linux suits your needs...

of course i know what Dongan and Dragons is.. but what does that have to do with it? j/k no i have no idea what you are talking about. I am running the latest version of ubuntu. and the rest of what you said did not make sence to me lol im doomed. I know that the "code" part looks like something i would past in a terminal

that right see you're learning already yo!

now just place your fingers one on the CTRL (button) and another finger on the ALT (button) and then hit one of your F keys then just go up nd down the line until you get back inside of Ubunututututu that is another terminal (if Ubunututututu is set up like that which it should be) the little termainl you see inside UBUNUTututututu and other Linux/Unix/Windows system is actually called a terminal emulator ..

are you screwing with me? that just made my screen black and i had to reboot?

that is the termainal without xorg .... but I am not going to install Ubuntututu to see what they did with it... you should have been able to toggle back to your GUI in a NORMAL Linux system.... I do it when ever I screew up something I just jump into another tty by that process and edit the file I screwed up.

read the 2nd answer on this question at stack exchange

If you start (boot) a gui you don't start a terminal. If later you start a terminal within a gui that is an 'emulation'.

In no way am I an expert in printers but... there seems to be an interpretation problem between postsript and other methods/interpreters and to cut a long story short not all printers work on all os's.

If you have an old printer it might not work on the latest Windows, this is not because it cannot but because they want you to buy a new one- or at least they do not want to look after their paying customers.

You do not need to use usb HDD's to install other os's dvd's will go into external drives.

Fred.

No, there really isn't much that's better for beginners. Ubuntu is good for beginners. So is Linux Mint. So is OpenSUSE. So is PCLinuxOS. So is Manjaro. So is Mageia. Since you already have Ubuntu installed, I recommend sticking with that.

Distributions like Slackware and Arch are not good for beginners.

Perhaps the web interface would be easier. Try http://localhost:631/ and see.

Click on the wifi applet and see. Use that to disconnect and reconnect. It's kind of a common issue with wifi, whether you're using Linux or Windows or whatever, I feel.

Open the Ubuntu Software Centre. Type in Ubuntu Restricted Extras. Install this. Also, search for vlc and install that too (it's a better player for movies and dvds, I feel). This gives you the codecs for movies and dvds.

ETA: If you can't find the package, you may need to expand your software sources. So, from the top menu items in the Ubuntu Software Centre, select Edit/Software Sources, and then make sure that under "Ubuntu Software: downloadable from the internet", that both
"Proprietary drivers for devices (restricted)" and "Software restricted by copyright or legal issues (multiverse)" are both selected along with the others.

I have no specific suggestion. Again, try the Ubuntu Software Centre. In the lower left corner there's a list of categories. Select games, then select Simulation, and have a look. I just did this myself, and found a game called TORCS (The Open Racing Car Simulator) listed.

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that is like saying I want to be a doctor what is a good profession for beginners? then telling them a bedpan checker is a good palce to start.

the best way to learn Linux is to just jump into it and do your research on a need to know basis. Because for the most part all linux distros will already be set up enough for a first time user to be able to get to the internet, look at porn and even youtube, perhaps even write a letter using a office app. e-mail and such

if they are going to be setting up a web server then it too is all the same to set up apache in a linux the only difference is to find out where that one put the directores and modify needed files to reflect the same. you can even set up the web base directroy on the user side for that matter.

it is all bascily the same. Linux/GNU the more one gets away from the good linux is the ones that mimic Windows more like Ubuntu. it gives you what they think is best for you in how to get things done. it deprives the user of actually learning how to use Linux/GNU the way they should. How to get around and figure out how to get it to work if it no longer does. or how to set up a desk top the way they want it and not how Ubuntutu or others what it to be.

Windows to Ubuntututu? Ubuntututu is their idea of WINDOWS using Linux/GNU software.

Just choose an easy distro such as mint or any other distro that is updated reasonably often.

Comparisons at

Not everyone wants to know everything about their OS. Some people just want to USE a computer, and not CARE HOW things get done. For those people, Slackware or Arch are simply unsatisfactory. You have to spend too much time actually administering the system. For a majority of the users in the world, Slackware isn't a good choice, because they don't have any DESIRE to do all the management that is required, they just want a sytem that works, and they've decided they don't like being spied on by Microsoft. Ubuntu is a good choice for that type of user. Slackware is a very poor choice for that type of user.

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Ubuntu is not a good choice.
I find it needlessly complicated.

I mainly use LMDE, although Debian would be a good choice.

i think op decided to stick with windows in the end.

Ubuntutututu is just a microsoft Windows knock off. wantabe windows ... I've used it then moved on . and on . and on... MATE Cinnimon kde even in Slackware is already set up. Slackware is not that hard to set it to start up in a GUI instead of typing start x .. it alread has the basic apps installed ... it is not that hard to use. ARCH is a world of its own. even in how to install it. so I cannot talk about ARCH because I've never used it. but even SLack has xfce and kde and other de and wm to use UBUtututu is Ubuntututu. you got a jump through hoops to get that DE out of their and get something else in it.

Linuxis just the kernal what desktop or WM can be used on all of them, some distros are eaiser to swap between these DE and WM then others.

Slakware is basicly a peice of cake to use .. until you want to install other apps then that in itself is not even that hard to do.

Linux is not for wussies Windows is.

then thier is even a lerning curve with WINDOWs if you've never used it.

I can install Cinnimon or MATE and any of the other DE or WM on this system too. it is a bare bones to start out with system. reguardless of what they pick to use they still are going to have to learn how to configure and maintain it

Ubuntutu calll me AntiUbuntututu but I'm not the only one who thinks it is too much like Windows.


furthermore I was just expressing my option I am not in no way stopping anyone from doing what I did. installed a butt load of different Linux/GNU distros and tried them out for a week or two before moving on to the other one until I found one I liked. even in that with all of them their is always going to be the samr basic what YOU have to know how to do this in order to operate it. with everyone of them,

that being

how to install apps, update apps and run and shut down apps and your system.

Slakware, debain, Void, ARCH, and evryone else all have different ways of doing the same things .... oh now i am ranting...

the point being is it does not matter whcih one you use you're still going to have to learn how to do them basic things even in windows. it is all the same . so to me this what is a good distro for beginners is a silly question.

because it all boils down to you're going to be a beginner on every one of them distros that does what the basic things one has to know how to do, in their own way . .which is only the what is the name of the function calls to do the same thing.

But the OP never said, "I'm a newbie, but I really want to learn Linux." He or she said that they used to have Windows, but there were security issues that mucked it up, so he or she was trying Linux -- but basic things, like playing a DVD or working a printer, weren't automatically set up, and so they wanted to know if there was a distro that would more automatically set shit up -- you know, plug and play or whatever they call it.

Here's a quote: "OK well maybe i should just go back to windows I dont really have time to go through each problem and learn to fix every little thing. That is why i was just hoping there would be a much easier version to use."

The answer then is NOT to say, "You should get an advanced distro for intermediate to advanced users and really take the time to learn."

Using your medical analogy, it's like someone saying, "I was feeling a bit ill, and I went to a doctor who didn't even do the basics in the check up. Do you know of a different doctor I can see that will take the time to more thoroughly examine and hopefully fix me?" Your response would be: "Well, you should study to go to medical school, that way you can fix yourself!" Everyone else's answer would be, "Perhaps go back to Dr. Ubuntu and be a little more specific in your requests or maybe try Dr. Mint."