Want to use Linux to to browse web and receive email. Easiest Linux?
 

Hi
Have a laptop with Ubuntu installed. Ubuntu seems like overkill for reading email and surfing the web. Would like an easier Linux to learn

Hi,

Okay, you dont learn Linux, you get into it, it kinda grows on you. That said, Ubuntu is a winner, even if it seems overkill.
Ubuntu is an easy distro, but, if you'd feel inclided to try an alternative, Macpup, or Puppy are great little lite-w8 distros...
Be aware, though, that it requires a reinstall that will ultimately make you end up where you are now: using a browser to surf and a mailreader to read the mails.
Werther Ubuntu, MacPup, Fedora, Arch or any other distro, you'll find Firefox on any of them, or Evolution.
The choice in your case may not really be the distro, but the software on that distro.
Personally, I'd stick with Ubuntu. It's a helpfull all-rounder. Maybe, though, an alternative set of software tools for your purpose could be called for, dunnow...

And, by the way bien venido aqui!

Thor

If you think that Ubuntu is overkill for your tasks try Bodhi Linux, it is eaysy to use and comes only with a basic install, where you choose what to install afterwards.

Why do you call it a over kill? Ubuntu comes with firefox web browser and thunderbird email client with works great for web and email. Those are what I prefer anyways. How ever I hate some thing about it and I really hate that unity desktop. I install gnome 3 which I'm not like so well neither. But I'll rant about that another time ;).

So what is it about ubuntu that is a overkill and maybe we can give you solutions.

If it works then don't Fool with it.

I never follow that advice.

I would have suggested Ubuntu with eyes closed, BEFORE the last two releases. It used to work out of the box for everything in a high number of cases. But lately its quality has suffered in exchange for trying new stuff that isn't actually finished.

The result is that a whole lot more of people reports problems everywhere (for example I hang around Ubuntu tech support channels on IRC and it is noticeable there). As such, I can no longer recommend it for non-technical people.

That said, my mother is using Linux Mint (based on Ubuntu but without most of the unstable stuff) without any problem whatsoever since more than a year now. So that distro is my new recommendation for people wanting to begin with Linux and minimize the chances of having problems.

Note I'm not saying that Ubuntu is "guarantee" of trouble. But I do say the chances are way higher now than before.

Besides, Mint's default interface will seem more familiar to you if you are used to Windows.

Just my 2c.

Linux Mint 11
 

I would also recommend Linux Mint as an easy Linux distro. Unlike Ubuntu (on which it is based) it works without having to install any extras. For example with Mint I have never had issues with wireless connections or setting up printers. Another good distro which is easy to use is PCLINUXOS.

You don't say what you find overkill. If you don't like the web-browser or email programs, just try different ones. If you don't like the GUI, you could switch to a distro using Xfce, like Mint or SalineOS. Try them from live CD first, though, incase you find the solution is worse than the problem!