Linux virgin seeks distro..

[TeePee]

... for long term relationship. GSOH, etc also required.


I'm fed up with windows, basically, and I want to give something new a try and learn a few new tricks. I've been told Debian is a good distro for a newb, any other advice?

[Jonny M]

I managed to install Debian and get a nice GNOME session working.

Until I broke X.

But it's pretty easy to fix, Linux tends to kill processes, and tell you, rather than just let the system fall over.

[Nemeliza]

I have used Fedora 1 and it aint too bad, but then again the only method of comparison i have is FreeBSD, Try that too if you are feeling nuts!

[Dorza]

See the purple part (wait for it) of my sig below. Can be tricky to install for a total newbie but once uve reached the desktop its pretty easy to use. Updating is easy aswell. Tbh i havent installed it, but ive read its easy to update and use. You might also want to give slackware or college linux a go, the latter is actualy built/based on slackware.

[directhex]

big mother guide to linux @ comingsoon.com

[Stoo]

Mandrake 10 is pretty n00b friendly

[arsen]

easy = fedora 2, hard = slack, easy-med = debian, gentoo
depends what your looking for, they are all the kinda user ones imo, few others but yeh, duno much about linux on servers ;D wait for hex's guide imo

[ikonia]

see the thread a couple down for a good bit of detail on this topic

[0iD]

I've used Suse for many years & whilst a lot of people don't like it due to it's hand-holding, I've always found it versatile. Good for noobs, my kids use it.

Personally tho, I prefer FreeBSD.

[counterclockwis]

Mandrake 10 is buggy as hell... I put up with it for a while (I'm pretty experienced with Linux but wanted something I wouldnt fiddle with during exams )

Try the new Debian (beta but very good) installer - Very newbie friendly, and minus the package downloading time (debian downloads most packages with a 1 line command, but gui's such as synaptic are available too) it only took about 5 mins for a base system, and 15mins to fully install.

I'd recommend this to anyone - also I recommend jumping in at the deep end and fully ditching windows for at least 2 weeks - this give you time to learn how to do everything you normally do with your machine. ask lots of questions, and use linux google to your hearts content.

If you must use mandrake, use 9.2, it's far more stable than 10 (and is actually quite good, though I hate to admit it )

Most important thing is to ask questions the Linux community is fantastic, but you have to ask or people won't help