Best Distro For A Newcomer?

sattarkf · 03-18-2011, 01:43 AM

In linux we have various types(ubuntu,red hat,fedora,....etc) which one is best to install in laptop and can be used easily when compared to windows

repo · 03-18-2011, 01:50 AM

Welcome to LQ

If you are a beginner, I would suggest you go for ubuntu
You can download the live CD, to see if your hardware is supported, no need to install.

Kind regards

EricTRA · 03-18-2011, 01:59 AM

Hello and Welcome to LinuxQuestions,

Go over to DistroWatch.com, download some LiveCD/DVD and try them out to see if your hardware gets detected correctly and if you like the distro you're trying. The one you stick with at the end is the one that's best for you. As pointed out by repo, Ubuntu is a pretty good starting point if you're new to Linux and does a good job in detecting and enabling hardware. Depending on the hardware you have available it might be slow because it's pretty 'bloated', that's why I'm pointing you to DistroWatch.com to try different distros. Have fun with Linux.

Kind regards,

Eric

johntaw · 03-18-2011, 03:35 AM

Mandriva in KDE enviroment is a good 'Linux starter' for Windows users.

XavierP · 03-18-2011, 05:34 AM

Moved: This thread is more suitable in Linux-Newbie and has been moved accordingly to help your thread/question get the exposure it deserves. The thread has also been renamed to allow others to understand the content.

soplin · 03-18-2011, 05:56 AM

If all you want to do is flip a switch and use the Internet, play some games and do some office work, then Ubuntu, Mandriva or PuppyLinux should suffice. Laptops tend to have a lot of proprietary problems with wireless, cameras and bluetooth connectivity which is why I think Ubuntu is better for laptops. If, however, there are no driver problems then PuppyLinux is great because it is fast and everything pretty much works out of the box, though it sometimes has problems with touch pads.

Mandriva/PCLinuxOS is great if you want a little more control of your computer but by using a GUI interface instead of a console.

For stability, Slackware, Fedora or Debian are great but they tend to lack certain proprietary support for out of the box use. Also, the console may become your best friend.