Which Linux type to use ??
 

Hi all, I'm new here....
Now,I'm looking to set up one of my laptops as a 'Linux only' machine. I've had a fella at my home tonight,telling me about 'RoboLinux 8.2'..... I've had a quick look at this and it seems to be some sort of 'shell' to run other windows based systems inside it....would that be correct,please ??
I have previously thought that Linux Mint Cinnamon 17.1 (or .2) would be the right one for me,but now I'm confused again !
Basically,I'm looking for a 'stand alone' Linux system,which has the look and operability (interface) of XP (for familiarity purposes),but which doesn't have the flaws and spying of windows systems ! I'm trying to remove myself from the spying/tracking/advertising practised by the likes of windows/google et al.
I am also wanting to get on the dark web/dark net/deep web (take your pick),as I believe that there is far more to research on there ??
I have never used Linux before,so would appreciate some guidance from experienced users. I am not what you'd call particularly 'techy' when it comes to these things,so plain and simple explanations would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance...

should add that Security and privacy are paramount !

Welcome to LQ!

LinuxMint 17.x is a Great Choice.
Some users report that the KDE Desktop is very "windows'ish"
See http://www.linuxmint.com/release.php?id=23 for 32 or 64 bit versions.

I have upgraded a number of systems for non-techie people that were running XP and are now running Linux Mint 17. I have some of these that have been using the systems for almost 2 years with rarely an issue. They are using Libre Office to replace the functions of Microsoft Office.

Using Linux will remove the spying by Windows and using www.duckduckgo.com as your search engine will stop the spying by Google on this system.

The deep/dark web is probably not a place that you want to go exploring at this point.

Thank for the swift response guys !.....
Would I be correct in thinking that 17.1/2 mint will do what 'robo linux' will ? Is it just case of adding the functions that I want,to effectively emulate the XP interface ?? (There are sooo many versions of Linux !).
Could someone explain the differences etween 17.1/2 andRobo Linux,please ??

Oh and Lance.... why would it not be advisable to go on the deep/dark web,please ??
Just trying to learn,spread my wings abit.....

Thank for the swift response guys !.....
Would I be correct in thinking that 17.1/2 mint will do what 'robo linux' will ? Is it just case of adding the functions that I want,to effectively emulate the XP interface ?? (There are sooo many versions of Linux !).
Could someone explain the differences etween 17.1/2 andRobo Linux,please ??

Oh and Lance.... why would it not be advisable to go on the deep/dark web,please ??
Just trying to learn,spread my wings abit.....

Oh and I already use 'DuckDuckGo' as my start page....

double post...oops

What's up with the editing on here ??

One reason is that it adds additional layers of technology, so it would be best to become more comfortable so you do not think of yourself as non-techie before you venture there.

Yes,I see. That's logical.

That tends to be me all over.....trying to run before I can walk,lol !!

* Typical man.....You have a flat pack of something.....try to build it before reading the instructions ! Well,it usually works !!.....heh !

Until it's proven otherwise, Robolinux is nothing but a marketing hype that charges $$$ for parts of the system. It is just a Debian based system that integrates Virtualbox - any Linux distro can do that.

Walk before you run, start simple. What hardware are you intending to use as it makes a huge difference as to what distro will run well.

Microsoft STOLE a lot of ideas from the KDE desktop manager for win8 and 10
some things for win7

KDE and Gnome had the rotating 3d cube desktop first
and the the 4 virtual window reflection "zoom out" way before windows did

put it this way
the eye candy CRAZE has ran it's course on Linux and Microsoft is just now getting sick that illness


as to what "distro" you install
read then READ SOME MORE

a linux computer operating system is just that
A OPERATING SYSTEM

not a program to run

but WHY!!! stay with the 2001 XP UI idea ?????????
it is after all 15 years out of date

yes xp was BETTER than ME , 2000 and 98
BUT!!!!!!!!! the Amiga / com64 gui( clone of IBM's) was way better back in 1995

this is my KDE4 desktop on OpenSUSE 13.2
-- KDE is VERY VERY customizable ( maybe TOO customizable)
http://imgbox.com/fSAj1uWk
-- or see image at bottom
the "desktop" is basically a DECORATION page
PLEASE!!!!!! do not place 5,000,000 "installers" and "zips" and unknown things" on the desktop

Linux IS NOT WINDOWS!!!


there is a secondary window "plasmoids" tool that you can use for program launchers
( the box i have on the top left )
http://kde-look.org/index.php?xcontentmode=70x77x78

or like the weather plasmoid i have on the top right
-- yes win7 JUST added this old VERY OLD idea of your local weather right in front of you

see that green chameleon head where the XP "start" would be
-- same function BUT
you do not have to click START!!!!!!! to turn off the computer !!!!!

PS.
the background image is a mosaic i made from the New Horizons Pluto images

The link below gives a fairly accurate representation of the more frequently used distributions of Linux with links to the home page of each. On the right side of the page is a 'Page Hit Ranking' with a listing and you can check any of them out (including Robolinux) for yourself since you are the one who will be using it and know what you want/need. The second link gives you the opportunity to get info on Linux on older computers.

http://distrowatch.com/

http://distrowatch.com/search.php?ca...=Old+Computers

Some more things to look at:

1. Pictures and descriptions of the different desktops available
http://www.renewablepcs.com/about-li...-gnome-or-xfce
KDE used to be like Windows, but now it's a riot of special effects. If you have an older computer, it may be a bit sluggish. The closest common desktops to XP would be Xfce or Mate.

2. A guide to the software available in Linux
http://linuxappfinder.com/alternatives

If you're using XP, I presume your computer might be a bit old. Mint Mate will run in 512 MB of RAM, and it's an excellent distro for beginners and experienced users alike. AntiX MX, with the Xfce desktop, will run in only 256 MB: not quite so beginner-friendly, but still not rocket-science (that'd be Arch or Gentoo!) Download a Linux and boot it from DVD or USB stick. Try it for a couple of weeks and see what you think.

The feature of Robolinux you mentioned, a pre-configured VirtualBox, is a commercial product. For that matter, so is Robolinux: the free download is only a demo. Personally I can't see any value in paying for what you can get for free.

By way of a bit more info from me.....

I mentioned about having an 'XP' like interface,because mostly that is where I came into the world of computers. I had the original XP on my desktop system 3 weeks before it was officially released.....and that is the system that I've run for most of the time since.
Having said that,I am writing this post on an Windows 7 laptop ! I just don't like it as much as XP tho'....
Both my present laptops are dual boot machines. This one runs an AMD 64 bit Athlon dual core @ 1.8Ghz....has 3 Gig of ram and a 500 meg/gig (?) hard drive.It's dual booted with Win7 and an earlier version of Linux....for which I've forgotten the username and password !! Doh!
The other laptop uses a 32 bit Intel chip,with similar ram and hard drive capacity. This one is dual booted with XP3 and Vista (which I don't like at all.).
They are both Toshiba Equium p200's,17'' ....

Thanks for the various links....I shall take a look...see what I can glean from them.

I do have a full version of Linux Mint 17.2 Cinnamon (64 bit),that came with a Linux magazine that I bought recently...... Do you think that this would be o.k. to load on one of my machines,to test ??
The disc also has on it,OpenSuse 13.2 64 bit and 'Bohdi' 32 bit.... Any feedback on these,please ??