Linux distro opinions wanted

[GMan 2112]

I have recently acquired a free PC & want to convent it to Linux from Win 98.I have looked at different Linux distro reviews on the web but would value advice/experiences from any Linux PHs gurus.

So the question is: Which Distro would you recommend.

Debian or Fedora are my front runners at the moment.

Requirements/questions are:

1.) Non commercial distro prefered - Is it worth paying when free distos exist?

2.) Distro for a Linux newbie - I know that generally Linux is a lot more user friendly now but are there amy distros to avoid? Im fairly IT literate but only ever used windoze.

3.) Are any distros to be avoided as they don't have many/good applications written for them? Its only for home use so internet/multimedia/mail/ apps preferred.

4.) What else should a windoze convert be aware regarding the differnt distros?

Any help would be appreciated.

[Zod]

I always go back to Suse after trying others. Suse Personal 9.2 is available free. It has everything you could need and, if you have an nvidia card, it is easy to get the 3d drivers installed for playing games.

>> Edited by Zod on Monday 7th March 00:06

[Mr E]

Another vote for Suse here.

Fedora is ok. Slackware is a personal favorite as it's the most 'unix' distro out there.

[ErnestM]

GMan 2112 said:

4.) What else should a windoze convert be aware regarding the differnt distros? Any help would be appreciated.

If you don't like the command line, don't even think about it...

...and, oh yes, you will also have to learn a whole new paradigm to use the command line

Have fun

ErnestM

[catretriever]

I've only tried installing Linux the once, but I was hugely impressed with the distro I chose...

Libranet

Once I'd burnt the images to CD the installation was a complete walk in the park. I would highly recommend it.

[_Dobbo_]

Another vote for SuSE here. I've installed many distro's including Redhat 6,7,8,9 SuSE 6,7,8,9 Fedora, Debian, Mandrake, Slackware etc.. and I've always felt that suse was the slickest, and easiest to use if you are coming from windows.

Here's a useful resource if you want to try different flavours:

www.linuxiso.org

[TheExcession]

I cut my Linux teeth on Suse and found it to be pretty good and easy to get into.

Most of the commercial stuff I do is on RedHat.

best
Ex

[GMan 2112]

Think Ill give SUSE a go then.

Thanks to all for the comments.

[egoboss]

GMan 2112 said:

I have recently acquired a free PC & want to convent it to Linux from Win 98.I have looked at different Linux distro reviews on the web but would value advice/experiences from any Linux PHs gurus. So the question is: Which Distro would you recommend. Debian or Fedora are my front runners at the moment. Requirements/questions are: 1.) Non commercial distro prefered - Is it worth paying when free distos exist? 2.) Distro for a Linux newbie - I know that generally Linux is a lot more user friendly now but are there amy distros to avoid? Im fairly IT literate but only ever used windoze. 3.) Are any distros to be avoided as they don't have many/good applications written for them? Its only for home use so internet/multimedia/mail/ apps preferred. 4.) What else should a windoze convert be aware regarding the differnt distros? Any help would be appreciated.

for £80 suse seemed very good value - being a saddo unix bod from may years ago, i converted a spare win2000 laptop to suse in a couple of hours and even the free apps work quite well. it's still pretty arcane re: getting drivers for wifi card, etc, etc, but surprisingly good and a lot cheaper than the £600 i spent on basic s/ware rebuilding my primary xp laptop that got screwed.

but, personally, bring back sparc based laptops with x-windows!

[agent006]

I've got Suse up and runnign on my laptop just after reading this thread. Fairly easy install if not as idiot proof as XP.

[icamm]

egoboss said:

but, personally, bring back sparc based laptops with x-windows!

You could try Solaris x86.

[egoboss]

icamm said:

egoboss said: but, personally, bring back sparc based laptops with x-windows! You could try Solaris x86.

are they still selling it?

ahhh, sco xenix and ixi desktop ....

[_Dobbo_]

egoboss said:

are they still selling it? ahhh, sco xenix and ixi desktop ....

They stopped for a while but now it's back

[tuffer]

Suse is nice to use but I found a lot of dependency issues (which can be really tiresome), most things seem to install under RedHat a lot easier. As mentioned Linuxiso.org is a good source.

[egoboss]

_Dobbo_ said:

egoboss said: are they still selling it? ahhh, sco xenix and ixi desktop .... They stopped for a while but now it's back

ta!

[Bodo]

Another vote for SuSE. I used to start with 7.3, later changed to Debian, then to Fedora and now back to SuSE 9.2 since it is available as an ftp iso DVD.
I've never had an easier to use Linux before, and all hardware is recognised during installation!

I think it is easier to install than Windows, since it provides an entirely configured desktop; including applications and security stuff. Ready to use after 30min. of installation.

List of download mirrors here

[Marshy]

I'd put a vote in for Debian here. Primarily because apt absolutely rocks.

You want to drag a package off the net? apt-get it, and all the dependancies get sorted for you. Compare that to rpm dependancy hell.

The testing release is getting very stable now too - reckon we'll soon see a successor to Woody.

And it's free, completely.

[BaconBonce]

If you want a beginners distro, take a look at [url]www.ubuntulinux.org[/url].

Completely free and dead easy. I'm new to Linux and was impressed - as I was with Suse and Fedora