Which OS to go for

[s18000rpm]

1. Mandriva
2. OpenSuSE
3. Freespire
4. Ubuntu
5. Kubuntu

(if this list is not good, suggest something else)

these OS are suggested by "Linux Distribution Chooser"

got that link from here - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)
thanks @FilledVoid


i want it to be a bit easy on newbie
Main Purpose = Internet surfing.


------------------------------------
i'll be installing one on this PC-
m/b = Intel 965WH with integrated gfx. - gma x3000
1GB RAM, c2d e4500, 80GB HDD, NEC DVD Writer
XP SP3 & Vista SP1 installed.
using DataOne BB with UTStarcom WA3002-g4 modem

btw, can you guys suggest a linux os for this laptop-
Compaq m2000
intel celeron m370 1.5GHz, 256MB RAM,
m/b = intel i855GM with igp gma extreme gfx. 2
purpose = online surfing

[Faun]

Ubuntu without a hitch !

[FilledVoid]

^On a 256 MB Ram Laptop????

Personally I'd go for Ubuntu or Mint for the desktop . For the Laptop I would use something small and easy . I think Zenwalk or DreamLinux should be fine? I haven't used either so someone is going to have to confirm that .

Is that router a USB one or Lan port one. Configuring a USB one is going to be a pain in the rear.

[Faun]

^^I was talking abt 1GB wala Lappytoppy

for 256 MB try KDE mod on Arch (but before that you have to pass average linux IQ test)

[infra_red_dude]

Originally Posted by s18000rpm

1. Mandriva
2. OpenSuSE
3. Freespire
4. Ubuntu
5. Kubuntu

(if this list is not good, suggest something else)

these OS are suggested by "Linux Distribution Chooser"

got that link from here - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)
thanks @FilledVoid


i want it to be a bit easy on newbie
Main Purpose = Internet surfing.


------------------------------------
i'll be installing one on this PC-
m/b = Intel 965WH with integrated gfx. - gma x3000
1GB RAM, c2d e4500, 80GB HDD, NEC DVD Writer
XP SP3 & Vista SP1 installed.
using DataOne BB with UTStarcom WA3002-g4 modem

btw, can you guys suggest a linux os for this laptop-
Compaq m2000
intel celeron m370 1.5GHz, 256MB RAM,
m/b = intel i855GM with igp gma extreme gfx. 2
purpose = online surfing

Desktop -> Latest version of Linux Mint ( = Ubuntu + extras out of the box)

Laptop -> Xubuntu/Zenwalk

[mehulved]

Recommended is to go for mandriva on the desktop and zenwalk on the lappy. But going by ubuntu on desktop and xubuntu on laptop, you can share a lot of applications between them. Thus, reducing the amount of data to be downloaded.

[s18000rpm]

thanks guys.

i'll try mandriva & ubuntu.(desktop)

btw, a newbie question - do mandriva & ubuntu share same file system for partition? (or all distro do)

[Faun]

ext3, xfs, jfs, reiserfs etc are some filesystem you can format where u install it.

though select ext3 as filesystem, its stable and feature rich.

there is lot to learn while having fun !

[FilledVoid]

And as a recommendation if you are going to install any I recommend creating a /home partition also. It makes distro hopping quite easier.

[Rahim]

I would rather install Linux Mint than Ubuntu for the simple reason Mint is Ubuntu plus you have all the non-oss appz already installed in Mint (flash,java, audio/video codecs) and create a separate /home partition as Filledvoid suggested.

AS for the lappy, Zenwalk would be fine

[ray|raven]

Zenwalk would be best for the laptop.
Nitish is using it on P-III 1GHz with 256 Megs of RAM and according to him , its flying on it.

Lowest I've personally gone with Zenwalk is a Cel-1.2Ghz with 256 Megs of RAM.
Disabling unwanted services and dri , i had enough free RAM to do most day-to-day stuff.

[praka123]

celeron pc ,you would like to use antixmepis.
http://antix.mepis.org -> for the ease of package management too(debian).

[MetalheadGautham]

Originally Posted by FilledVoid

^On a 256 MB Ram Laptop????

Personally I'd go for Ubuntu or Mint for the desktop . For the Laptop I would use something small and easy . I think Zenwalk or DreamLinux should be fine? I haven't used either so someone is going to have to confirm that .

Is that router a USB one or Lan port one. Configuring a USB one is going to be a pain in the rear.

DreamLinux ? I remember hearing about it somewhere... Isn't it something based on Sid along with Xfce ?

Originally Posted by T159

for 256 MB try KDE mod on Arch (but before that you have to pass average linux IQ test)

Not just IQ test, you also need to read up lots and lots of theory and know the meaning of several words.

Originally Posted by s18000rpm

btw, a newbie question - do mandriva & ubuntu share same file system for partition? (or all distro do)

No. You can share a /home partition but not a / partition.

Originally Posted by T159

ext3, xfs, jfs, reiserfs etc are some filesystem you can format where u install it.

though select ext3 as filesystem, its stable and feature rich.

there is lot to learn while having fun !

I recommend ext3 as the best default FS if you are a newbie and don't know what to choose. By a miracle I too chose that the first time I was prompted to select an FS from ubuntu 7.04 installer. No idea why, but I have no regrets

Originally Posted by FilledVoid

And as a recommendation if you are going to install any I recommend creating a /home partition also. It makes distro hopping quite easier.

+1
You should ask a performance seeking distro hopper like me that question. Its damn awssome to have a seperate /home partition, but for best security, its very much recommended to use only ext3 on it because its a dual journal FS.

Originally Posted by ray|raven

Zenwalk would be best for the laptop.
Nitish is using it on P-III 1GHz with 256 Megs of RAM and according to him , its flying on it.

Lowest I've personally gone with Zenwalk is a Cel-1.2Ghz with 256 Megs of RAM.
Disabling unwanted services and dri , i had enough free RAM to do most day-to-day stuff.

Is it because of Slackware or because of Xfce ? And should I try Xfce on arch ?

[Dark Star]

+1 to Mandriva http://www.techenclave.com/reviews-a...sh-111577.html

[MetalheadGautham]

Originally Posted by Dark Star

+1 to Mandriva http://www.techenclave.com/reviews-a...sh-111577.html

curious: how are mandriva's system requirements comapred to ubuntu ?

[k6153r]

I like Xubuntu, but very few seem to even consider it.

[MetalheadGautham]

Originally Posted by k6153r

I like Xubuntu, but very few seem to even consider it.

because xubuntu xfce has little advantage over arch or debian gnome

[The_Devil_Himself]

Mint gets another vote,but you might wanna check if your graphics aren't blacklisted,if they are you will have use generic drivers which don't exactly suck,but no compiz-fusion or any 3dish game...

[MetalheadGautham]

Originally Posted by The_Devil_Himself

you will have use generic drivers which don't exactly suck,but no compiz-fusion or any 3dish game...

which means they suck
generic = VESA isn't it ?

[Dark Star]

Big no to VESA>> Its just to slow and will provide slide like performance while using FF.. You can use Mandriva, DreamLinux and Ubuntu

A big no to F9 Though SUSE 11.0 can be considered

[Rahim]

If you want out of the box approach (java,flash,movies,mp3s) then go for Mint but if you dont mind downloading stuffs then Mandriva/openSUSE for sure.

[FilledVoid]

After some time Compiz becomes more of a pain than a must have. I seriously fail this logic where distro creators are adapting to the Eye candy is king approach.

Mandriva is a good choice but I've found some folks asking some weird questions about Software installation Management on it. Haven't tried SuSe as Much as I would have wanted to so can;t comment there.

The reason I said Mint is because of its default contents and it doesn't look bad at all. It saves you quite a bit of work you would have to do on Ubuntu or any of the other distros. Another Distro you could consider is Sabayon.

Now if you are also into the habit of experimenting and doing insane experiments then yes you could try Arch Linux on those configurations. As long as you follow the Beginner Guide Word to Word you should be absolutely fine. Although I wouldn't recommend it, its definitely one of the fastest ways to learn a bit more in Linux.

[mehulved]

fastest way is to install gentoo.

[infra_red_dude]

^^^ OMG.. someone ban this gentoo spammer!!!

[hellknight]

If you want KDE4.. then try OpenSUSE 11.. better than Fedora 9

[CadCrazy]

Get Mac Book Pro LOL .
Hac/Macintosh effect

[mehulved]

Originally Posted by CadCrazy

Get Mac Book Pro LOL .
Hac/Macintosh effect

Originally Posted by infra_red_dude

^^^ OMG.. someone ban this gentoo spammer!!!

Rather, these 2 wanna-be macboys should be banned

[nitish_mythology]

I have personally tried DreamLinux n' Zenwalk on my p3 1ghz 256MB ram n 16MB ati gfx.
Both work well........Though I wll recommend Zenwalk!

antix for debian style package management(which is a necessity!)

[Faun]

get Ubuntu (you will understand some linux)

Mandriva is dumb, though it has good hardware compatibility. But the point of using linux is to learn it too. OpenSUSE 11 KDE4 is buggy, so dont install it unless u wish to upgrade KDE 4 after install. Fedora 9 is somewhat unusual this time.

Ubuntu IMO is best for newbie who like to learn few things too.