Which version of Linux is best for an absolute rookie?

EDDY1 · 10-02-2013, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ladycog

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

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.

Ladycog · 10-03-2013, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EDDY1

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.

Ladycog · 10-03-2013, 10:49 AM

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!

jamison20000e · 10-03-2013, 11:06 AM

Fun, fun...

Ladycog · 10-04-2013, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamison20000e

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.

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

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...?

jamison20000e · 10-04-2013, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ladycog

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...?

I made the mistake of my first laptop (this one)$ony it only supports win (had 7) and was $200+\- more because of it but the right Linux (in our case almost any Linux) or a tweaked Linux works on any machine, my next will be:

Quote:

Originally Posted by rokytnji

Sold my eeepc 900 last night with LXLE on it for the money I wanted. I am going to sell my eeepc 701SD next and then maybe the unlocked Blackberry Phone and my 4 inch Android Tablet also.

The Moral of this story. I bought one of these.

Posting with it now.

Code:

 inxi -MFxz
System:    Host: biker Kernel: 3.10-2-486 i686 (32 bit, gcc: 4.7.3) 
           Desktop: Xfce 4.10.2 (Gtk 2.24.18) Distro: SolydXK 1 solydxk
Machine:   System: manda product: Intel powered classmate PC version: Gen 1.5L
           Mobo: N/A model: N/A Bios: American Megatrends version: CM94515A.86A.0024.2008.0715.1716 date: 07/15/2008
CPU:       Single core Intel Atom CPU N270 (-UP-) cache: 512 KB flags:  (nx pae sse sse2 sse3 ssse3) bmips: 3191.75 clocked at 1600.00 MHz 
Graphics:  Card: Intel Mobile 945GSE Express Integrated Graphics Controller bus-ID: 00:02.0 
           X.Org: 1.12.4 drivers: intel (unloaded: fbdev,vesa) Resolution: 1024x600@53.3hz 
           GLX Renderer: Mesa DRI Intel 945GME x86/MMX/SSE2 GLX Version: 1.4 Mesa 9.1.6 Direct Rendering: Yes
Audio:     Card: Intel NM10/ICH7 Family High Definition Audio Controller driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 00:1b.0 
           Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture ver: k3.10-2-486
Network:   Card: Realtek RTL8101E/RTL8102E PCI Express Fast Ethernet controller 
           driver: r8169 ver: 2.3LK-NAPI port: ec00 bus-ID: 01:00.0
           IF: eth0 state: down mac: <filter>
Drives:    HDD Total Size: 30.0GB (42.8% used) 1: id: /dev/sda model: SAMSUNG_HS030GB size: 30.0GB 
Partition: ID: / size: 6.8G used: 4.1G (63%) fs: ext3 ID: /home size: 20G used: 8.0G (44%) fs: ext3 
           ID: swap-1 size: 1.58GB used: 0.00GB (0%) fs: swap 
Sensors:   System Temperatures: cpu: 63.0C mobo: N/A 
           Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: N/A 
Info:      Processes: 137 Uptime: 1:01 Memory: 384.0/2017.7MB Runlevel: 2 Gcc sys: 4.7.3 
           Client: Shell (bash 4.2.45) inxi: 1.9.12

I own 2 of these now. It comes with a water proof keyboard and is a toughbook type netbook also. My other one I installed a 64gig SSD drive and run AntiX on it. I only needed to bump up the ram on this unit to 2gig to get a good running low cost netbook going.

That quote is from the page. I really don't know if they ship to the EU. It might be B.S. for all I know. I might just get me another one if I sell something today.>>>>>Edit

one.

Or, I will build a case for my Raspberry Pi which I love!

The main problem is finding out how to search well then ask the right questions to get the updates done right... I actually moved away from Ubuntu because it was too easy and I miss the challenge that comes with more control.

Here is a good description of a live operating system as I did not read this entire thread.

I use Debian 7 experimental set to text log in if I:

Code:

startx

it's in to KDE with lighter options (e.g: Xfce, OpenBox, Gnome, etc.) available but for you after some searching, I would suggest dual booting as vista will still have some life and it is easier to ease in

enjoy.

Sumguy · 10-04-2013, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ladycog

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...?

Many Linux distros will make your feeble machine seem like a super-computer!

Vista came with my 2007 Compaq 3GHZ P4.... I could literally tell no difference between that, and my old 500Mhz IBM from 1998- it was pathetic. I had had enough a Microsh&t at that point, and installed Linux....and suddenly, it felt like I really was in the 21st century!

Unlike Windows, which requires that you constantly upgrade your equipment; Linux is backward compatible. Lots of people buy cheap old obsolete 'puters, and throw a super-light Linux distro on it...and VIOLA[sic]! They have a functional computer that works better than many modern machines running Windows.

You'll be amazed at the difference!

k3lt01 · 10-04-2013, 02:58 PM

Unless you will derive some specific benefit from a smaller distro you are probably much better off sticking to one of the majors while you are learning.

When you say you are sick of constant upgrades what do you mean? Changing from Windows versions (XP to Vista to 7 to 8) or updates within a version?

Planned obscelescence happens, there have been a few people here recently saying they have problems with Ubuntu 10.04. The likely answer is it is now unsupported and they need to upgrade to a newer version. 10.04 is a little over 3 years old. Windows XP is 12 years old and is about to reach EOL (End Of Life). Ubuntu's "regular" releases have 9 months of support now so I wouldn't use them if I were you but an Ubuntu LTS (Long Term Release) has support for 5 years now so that is a viable option.

Fedora has a 13 month life cycle so if you choose Fedora you will be updgrading every 12 months or so if you miss every second release. Debian has moved to an approximately 2 year release cycle but supports Old Stable for approximately another 12 months after the new Stable release so you get approximately 3 years of support. Linux Mint is Ubuntu based versions and has LTS releases that get a longer support cycle than the regular releases. The last Linux Mint LTS was Mint 13 Maya from memory. It also has a Debian based version called LMDE which is a semi-rolling release meaning you install it once and when the updates come through you update it, you should never have to install it more than once because it just updates to the newer version on its own. LMDE's support cycle is continuous, meaning it doesn't have a planned obscelescence.

Sumguy · 10-04-2013, 03:08 PM

I'm a hater of upgrades AND updates, and rarely do them (I used Windows98 till 2007! -Updated it ONCE). That is one of the reasons I went with Debian (stable branch)...it's basically old when you get it....and it'll just keep working as it did when I installed it, until and if some radical new technology comes along that makes updating/upgrading really necessary. Current Debian LTS is supported to 2017- and will likely work for years after that without problem.

And at least with Linu, I actually do the updates (sometimes), as they actually work, and don't break the system.

Up until a few weeks ago, I was still using Ubuntu 10.04, and it was still working fine, even though it is no longer supported. I just wanted to get away from Ubuntu, because the newer incarnations of it are too bloated/too Windows-like/contain spyware/crapware/ etc. (Not to mention the Unity fiasco...)

But (for the OP) Linux is truly a different world. Things that we dreaded in Windows; things that didn't work or do what they were supposed to do, actually work and do what they're supposed to, in Linux. After a while with Linux, you get over the scared-kitty Windows way of thinking.....and begin to really [virtually] liv!!!!

Stealth Bot · 10-04-2013, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ladycog

I am just sick of Microsoft all together, and their constant upgrades/planned obsolescence.

And don't forget MS collaboration with NSA and providing them with windows' exploits and access to your machine.

k3lt01 · 10-04-2013, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sumguy

Current Debian LTS is supported to 2017- and will likely work for years after that without problem.

There is no such thing as a Debian LTS.

Debian Stable (currently Wheezy) will have support for approximately 3 years, 1 year of that will be as Old Stable after Jessie (current Testing) becomes Stable approximately 2 years after Wheezy become stable. 2013+3=2016 not 2017.

Read this to get details of Debians release and support cycle.

Ladycog · 10-04-2013, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stealth Bot

And don't forget MS collaboration with NSA and providing them with windows' exploits and access to your machine.

Yes, exactly! Also why I decided I didn't want to switch to Apple, either.

EDDY1 · 10-04-2013, 09:21 PM

I can say that although DEBIAN isn't LTS years is quite a bit of time & you can just upgrade right into the next release.

PECONET009 · 10-05-2013, 06:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ladycog

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.

First thing you will need to do:
What kind of system do you have at this time
I:E, do you have a 32bit system or a 64bit system?

How much memory do you have on your system.
If you have more than 3gb of ram you can install/test a 64bit distro.
If you have less than 4gb of ram then you will need to install/test a 32bit distro.

Get to know the system you are running now so that you are not mixed up with the many packages that are out there on the Internet.

If you need more help please ask on here so that we can do just that.

cascade9 · 10-05-2013, 07:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sumguy

I'm a hater of upgrades AND updates, and rarely do them (I used Windows98 till 2007! -Updated it ONCE). That is one of the reasons I went with Debian (stable branch)...it's basically old when you get it....and it'll just keep working as it did when I installed it, until and if some radical new technology comes along that makes updating/upgrading really necessary. Current Debian LTS is supported to 2017- and will likely work for years after that without problem.

Win98 was 'end of life', out of support on July 11, 2006. I dont know how you handled it that long.

Yes, there is a radical new technology that makes updating/upgrading necessary. Hacking, bot nets and security issues of all kinds.

Its a really bad idea to use an unsuported OS and/or unpatched/insecure/not updated system if the system ever touches the internet.

Quote:

Originally Posted by PECONET009

How much memory do you have on your system.
If you have more than 3gb of ram you can install/test a 64bit distro.
If you have less than 4gb of ram then you will need to install/test a 32bit distro.

You dont need 4GB or more RAM to run 64bit.

I use a 1GB/64bit boxxen almost every day (I wouldnt suggest 64bit on less than 2GB of RAM for most people though).