Which version of Linux is best for an absolute rookie?
 

I very much want to try a Linux operating sysytem, as a way to become independant from Microsoft and Apple. In looking around, there seems to be a dizzying amount of Linus iterations available, and I have no idea where to start.

Hello

I'd recommend trying Mint Linux, or maybe OpenSuse.

i guess linux-mint would be good since it has audio/video codecs and flash installed by default (though technically illigal in the us).

Mint or Opensuse are good
Mint is in the Debian family
OpenSUSE is mostly in the RPM redhat family

BUT "Ladycog" you will need to put in time to LEARN something new

i am guessing you are about 16 to 18
you used windows for 10+ ??? years

are you a Microsoft "point and click" drone
or a windows "power user"
as in can you hack the windows system registry

or do you not know what " cmd.exe" and "regedit.exe" are

Hello, Ladycog. It's wonderful that you're thinking of trying Linux, and your question about how to begin is very logical, since there's a lot of "Linux" out there. Could you share what you're hoping to do with Linux and use it for? If you're aiming for a fairly typical desktop or laptop system for surfing the internet and playing music and so forth, I agree with the other respondents who suggested Linux Mint. You can download the operating system directly from the linuxmint.com website. I'd suggest either the Mate or Cinnamon varieties, or perhaps Linux Mint Debian Edition. For music, I think Mint comes with Banshee, and you'll also have Firefox, but downloading other software is easy if you have other preferences.

You could try PClinuxOS or Pinguy. They're both excellent distros for newbies.
http://www.pclinuxos.com
http://pinguyos.com/

If you want to get right to using, I'd recommend Mint. It's a fine distro.

There will be a learning curve. Linux is not harder than Windows, but it is different. Expect it to be different.

Hi -

10-15 years ago, most people would probably recommend Redhat or SusE. 2-5 years ago, the most common answer would probably have been Ubuntu. At the moment, Mint seems to be a popular recommendation for beginners.

Each of these distros are still alive and well today, and each would make an excellent choice for a "first distro".

Suggestion:

Definitely consider Ubuntu, and definitely take a look at this link: Which-linux-distro-is-better-for-beginners

But most important: Have fun!

IMHO...

I usually recommend my distro Debian, but out of curiosity I installed LMDE & it just worked even the wireless that I have to install from non-free repos in debian.

What I use
 

Hi, I am new to Linux and have found that Mepis 11, Ubuntu 12.04 LTS work for me.
Everything works, all the time, easy to install.
Tried over 60 Distro's over the past few weeks, none work as good, for me, as the above.
Yet to try Debian, thats next on list.


Cheers

Biff

Mint is good- but just plain old Debian (On which Mint is based) is even better....and these days, it comes ready to use, with codecs and everything. And it "just works". I had switched from Windows to Ubuntu 3 years ago (DON'T go near Ubuntu now...it's changed, and is now a Hellish clone of Windows!) and have just switched from Ubuntu to Debian....and the current Debian was actually easier to install and set-up than Ubuntu (which is hailed as a beginner's distro)...and it just plain worked...with no futzing. Internet and everything, worked right from the git-go! And believe me...I may have switched to Linux 3 years ago, but I'm still a clueless noob (That's the trouble with these "easy" user-friendly distros... they work so well, that one is not really forced to learn anything...).

And you'll never out-grow Debian. It's easy enough for a noob...and yet powerful enough for the pros.

You can install Debian, and take five minutes to click around and explore, and you'll be right at home with it. In my opinion, these user-friendly modern Linux distros are EASIER to use than Windows.

i'll throw fedora into the ring becuz my opinion is that the live-usb creator is the easiest i've come across:
https://fedorahosted.org/liveusb-creator/

i'm sure to get many responses about its only supported for 6 months and your cpu will blow up after that countdown expires but i like it none the less.

my recomendation is for you to try a few live-usb's until you settle on the one you like (live-usb's are good since you dont have to mess with your system to install it).

I am the newest of the new probubly and hope it is ok here to post this. Apologies if not. I went to Ubuntu less than a year ago. Liked it from Windows but had a few issues with the Unity interface. Was running 12.04 LTS. After searchung around I found Linux Mint 15, Olivia, Cinnamon. Love it as a newbee and share it with others. Myself, I still forget how to update the clamtk engine. lol. All in all just go Linux and enjoy it.

Ubuntu or Mint, give them both a spin from live dvd or usb, and then decide which you like better.

If you want to learn from scratch, Slackware is great.

If you don't care about learning from scratch, but gradually, perhaps Linux Mint KDE and Mageia are better options.

Mint would be my choice for a new user. Heck, I'm using it now as my desktop and I've used many other distros for years (Debian, Slackware, etc.) For a desktop that just works out of the box, it is Linux Mint Xfce for me. I think the Xfce desktop is the better choice with Mint for a new user wanting something that looks and feels kinda, sorta, like Windows back in the 2000/XP days.

You will get different answers from different groups or "fanboys". We have people here who will say Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Fedora, even Slackware but what they don't know is what you already know? If you are have never used a PC before in your life go for Ubuntu or Linux Mint both of these will hold your hand throughout the support life of the distro version. If you want a little challenge try Fedora or Debian.

Please keep reading as my reply to Eddy1 may also help to influence your choice.

Eddy you may not be aware that DebianLive also offers a non-free iso for download. They install the non-free firmware at instal time (it is even available in the Live image) just like LMDE does. The only reason to use LMDE is for LinuxMint specific modifications or packages (MATE or Cinnamon). Here is the list for x86 (32 bit) and here is the list for x86-64 (64 bit). Choose your flavour (with a gui of course) install it and your on your way.

Yes that's great to know, the last debian-live iso that I had was squeeze, which actually fit on cd.

Which Debian to use please?
 

Hi k3lt31,or anybody,could you advise me on which non-free iso to download?
list for x86-64 (64bit) would prefer the LXDE one.
Looking at the list following your link is a bit confusing for a new to Linux person and is that one the whole Distro?

Thank you in advance if you could assist.

Cheers

Biff

EDDY1 has done it for you. Just remember to download one with .iso being the last part of the name and the name of a Desktop Environment also in it. Files with something after the .iso are for information and not the actual image you want. Another thing about those iso images is they are hybrid images meaning you can put them onto a usb (using the dd command) and install it to the PC from the usb drive. That means you don't waste a CD/DVD everytime you download one.

Not recommending a distro. But if lost with all the choices and vague terminology that we take for granted are just flying/zooming over your head and you still don't know what the heck is going on.

The links in my sig make for good reading before installing and running Linux on any of your gear.

I would think the title of the thread, "Which version of Linux is best for an absolute rookie?" gives a pretty clear indication of what the OP knows.
I think we can assume the OP is at least a reasonably experienced computer user, or they wouldn't have said, "I very much want to try a Linux operating sysytem, as a way to become independant from Microsoft and Apple." I highly doubt you would hear those words said by someone who has never used a computer before. Someone never having used a computer would not even know the difference between "Microsoft, "Apple" and "Linux", let alone the definition of an "operating system". I think people here are giving some pretty good recommendations based on the title of the thread. You sneaking in a veiled insult by calling others "fanboys" for their recommendations is not really called for.

OP - Some distros are better at holding your hand through the tough times than others. But that does not mean you are required to take advantage of any hand holding offered. If you want to forge ahead on your own and get into the technical details, you can do that with any distro. ANY distro. You can do just as much, and learn just as much, from the command line of Ubuntu as you can from the command line of Slackware. But as a newbie, it is nice to have some hand holding available to help you in the initial stages of your learning. It is also good to use a distro that other new learners tend to use. That way you have a large community of others similar in experience to youself to draw help from. If you were to ask, "How to I play a DVD in Linux?" you would get massively different instructions from, say, the Ubuntu/Mint community than you would get from the LFS ("Linux From Scratch") community. I dare say, as a newbie, you would not want to hear about how to accomplish it in LFS.

The OP has only 1 posting & hasn't responded or acknowledged the help or services offered to them.

Although my firs thought is Ubuntu, what do you want to use it for (exact winblow$\mac$uck$ replacement) and\or learning or???

PcLinux was nice out the box. :D

Also check http://zorin-os.com/

Maybe because the computer they're wanting to put Linux on, but is currently running Windows, has done what Windows computers tend to do (get infected with something, blue screen, lockup, or otherwise crap out on you)? ;)

1 day? Needs a week for me...

An absolute rookie of what?

I don't assume anything. I ask questions for clarification so the OP can get the help (from everyone) they require rather than the help people who assume (guess) they know exactly what the OP is talking about think they need.

If they don't watch TV or listen to the radio or haven't had discussions with people about these things then this is a fair comment. If however they have talked to others and listened to the radio or watched TV and have come here to obtain more advice because they want to learn then this comment assumes alot.

I agree but I believe more input from the OP, who hasn't been back since, would help to give them better options.

You know something, this tendency for people to take insult where none is made is old. You can't read emotion, you can't sense infering of insult, you are assuming something that is not reality. If pointing out to the OP that some peoples recommendations may well be biased because they are fanboys of certain distros and would never in their life consider anything else is a veiled insult then so be it. There are bigger insults in LQ for people to worry about but you go and report me for posting that.

I did no such thing. Who's making assumptions now?

Debian link
 

Hi and thanks for all assistance given.
I downloaded Debian from the link above and Installed it on my computer, to ages and had to reboot 4 times as the insulation kept crashing.
Going through the install menu..well I think it was Grub..very involved.
Got to take media out then reboot..in my case USB stick..couldn't get it to the home screen.
I have downloaded, installed 63 Distro's in the last 2 weeks, so I don't think it was me.
Although, set up was nothing like I have uncounted before.

Maybe corrupted files on stick..did format fat32 on stick same as always.

I think I will go and buy the latest Linux magazine, it has Debian DVD included in the Mag.

Will I start another thread or keep using this one.
Any suggestions, advice appreciated.

Many thanks

Biff

My statement
That is a very good response to a claim you yourself made, I was actually confirming what you said, by the way your quote is still there

I need to put these in order.
Bottom line an experienced wins or mac user wouldn't have a bsod within a day & would also be able to fix it.

*sigh* you just don't get it It was not an assumption, I was telling you to report me if you feel what I did was such a bad thing that you needed to chastise me over it. Report me or move on, build a bridge, get over it, get a life, harden up (as Anisha Kaul says), do you get the drift yet?

That is a good idea, just be aware that it is probably not a "live" cd. Installation will be similar but you wont get to see the product before you install.

Debian from DVD disk on Linux Format mag
 

Hi..after my event of downloading..and trying to work out what version.. and Torrents..I purchased Linux Format Magazine..with Free DVD(good to read on the train to work)DVD was Debian 7 ( Wheezy)
Eventually loaded, menu came up.. click on Debian 7..waiting..reboot 2 times..waiting..them it starts to load.
Lots of questions..don't know the answers..I am new at this..did google everything.
Its like a foreign language... some old people (I mean me)need time to digest it all, think logically about it.

Ok..now it is on the desktop..the wait is over..
Audio not working..google ..terminal here we come..still not working..more questions and Terminal saying they are going to report me for doing something wrong.

Solution..leave it alone for a week ..
More Google..........

Cheers and thanks

Biff

Here are 2 screenshot tours on how to install Debian Wheezy
http://www.circuidipity.com/install-...shot-tour.html
http://www.debianadmin.com/debian-7-...reenshots.html

The first one is the text based installer and the second is the graphical installer. The questions are all the same and the important ones (such as timezone, country, mirror) give you choices.

Hi, thanks Cobber for the links, I will reinstall Debian 7 and use the guide in your post.
It makes it look easier than what I was looking at.

Cheers

Biff

Slackware 14 I am just learning it is good idea to start with the basic now I have to learn how to do things in Linux OS - if you get one that does everything for you then you don't learn as much as it is already been done

Just guessing. I own some netbooks that only take usb installs.
I usually use unetbootin. The guess is. Some Distro installers when
running off of a pendrive live during the install process see the pendrive as /dev/sda1 and the internal hard drive as sdb1. This confuses the hell out of a bootloader install when you say install grub to root or mbr or gpt of sdb and when you reboot.
Boom, grub error because now instead of internal drive being (hd1,0)
/dev/sdb1
it now is after install
(hd0,0)
/dev/sda1.

Imagine how confusing this can be to a new Linux user. I have experienced this first hand in certain Linux installers like Lubuntu/LXLE. Like I said. Just a country boy bikers guess.

A CD or DVD install does not exhibit this behavior. Just pendrive
live installers. If I am wrong. Oh Well. Won't be the 1st time.

Wow, I thought this was supposed to be a "friendly" community. I sure didn't expect to be patronized with my first entry! Just so you know, I am fully capable of learning. My age is a few times sixteen or eighteen. I have been using windows for almost 30 years. I would not call myself a power user, but nor would I assign "drone" as my designation. I have used the command prompt and worked in the registries, although I admit, with instruction. I am not a programmer. Thanks all the same for your help.

Thank you!

Thank you to those who offered positive comments. They were very helpful.

Hopefully in all the replies you found a couple of good distributions to work with. I hope you find them usable and enjoyable.
For the record, I'm running Debian (Testing version) at this point, using the Gnome Classic desktop, and it worked *almost* out of the box. (There was some non-free firmware I needed to download.) I think I'll be sticking with it for a long time. If you have any other questions, don't hesitate to post. Of course, there's no guarantee you won't get a few curmudgeonly replies.

I did say thank you to everyone for their positive advice, which I really do appreciate.

I am sure many people will be looking for similar info. So please let us know what Linux flavor you choose and how that works for you.

Take care and good luck in all your activities.

My apologies for my statement , but there are a lot of 1 post members & once we respond to a thread we follow it as far as we can. I myself check for updates on my subscribed threads pretty much a few times a day after work. Also will follow this thread until the end . So please accept my apologies.

Oh, I absolutely do! I am certain I will ask a lot more questions, as I figure this out.

So Many Choices!
 

I've been given some great advice - thank you to all! So many recommendations werew received, it's going to take me a while to investigate them, and the courses and tutorials presented. I will Keep workint on this, and let everyone know what I end up doing. Before that happens, however, I will probably need to ask a LOT more questions!

Fun, fun... :hattip:

My OS etc.
 

I am embarrassed to tell you that I have a Dell Inspiron 1521 laptop running Vista, which was the only choice when I took advantage of an employee discount program where I worked at the time. I have never liked Vista, and now I am just sick of Microsoft all together, and their constant upgrades/planned obsolescence. I hope linux is still possible on my feeble machine...?